*
I want to know what’s wrong with vinyl
siding.
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Replies
*
If you can't stand back and look at a vinyl siding job and see whats wrong, you can probably use it and live with it. I'm not trying to be smart or anything, I'm just stating the facts. To me it lacks the look of great craftsmanship.
I've put thousands of sqs of vinyl on but have just about given up on it. I hate looking at something when I'm done with little or no satisfaction. In recent yrs, I've needed the siding work less and less and am thankful.
*I have to agree.Put it up all the time, but not on my own house.Looks great from the street, no up keep, just don't get to close.Vince
*
it's ugly
*RE: vinyl sidingOur society made cans, bottles and cars throwaway, now they want throwaway houses. If vinyl siding is installed properly and maintained properly, it's okay, I guess, in an unimaginative sort of way.Remember, now, you can not change your house color. If the siding leaks, you've got hell to pay. I have a 100 year old house that was sided with vinyl 20+ years ago. I am removing all of the siding (All free to a good home.) to repair the damaged wood underneath. I guess the previous owner thought he was putting his house into a zip-lock baggy. We paint the wood not only for looks; we paint the wood to preserve it. I take pride in maintaining my house, refreshing the paint every few years, and making changes as it suits me. Painting is therapy. Everyone in my neighborhood has almond siding with green shutters. Want to join the crowd?
*
Whats wrong?
Its flimsy. It tears off after wind or thunderstorms. The seams look terrible. If the framing isn't perfectly straight, the siding mirrors the humps in the 2x4's and the side of the home looks awfull.
*It personifies crapmanship at it's lowest level.It's meant to satisfy the mass production market and to cover existing home defects. Houses continue to rot underneath a cover of make believe esthetics.Never install the stuff and never will.Gabe
*I don't know if I can agree with John on the therapeutic values of painting, but I bought my 1930's house with vinyl already on it, and it's going to be replaced, maybe with Hardiboard, after some more pressing renovations are done. I particularly don't like the common methods of flashing the siding and covering everything up. I could see a blend of vinyl and traditional window and door trim working better together. I also can't agree that it necessarily represents poor craftsmanship, no more so than trussed roofs. I look at it more as a means to affordable housing.
*
I couldnt agree more. Its a poor fix for existing problems. I just finished installing 21 squares of the stuff on a 150 year old inner city victorian. The bland grey looks better than the 20 year old paint job, but its the first job Ive done in a long time that affored me very little satisfaction at the end. Oh well, it pays the bills.
Rob
*
Everybody with vinyl says they don't ever have to paint their house like us wood sided guys do. But after last summers' wind storm all those vinyl guys had to deal with trying to replace ripped off vinyl finding out that the manufacturers CHANGE COLORS! So what do they do? Redo the entire house or live with a couple of square yards of totally different colored vinyl? I love to paint my house.
*Chris: What you have done, in effect, is ask a European sports car club how they feel about an American economy car. Admittedly, vinyl siding may not have a place in Fine Home Building, and many of the folks in these pages are fortunate enough to practice their craft on the exquisite homes belonging to people with incomes well into the 6 digit. Some can even afford such homes themselves. Then again, in some cases, it may be that the shoemaker's children have no shoes.For the rest of us, maybe we should be frequenting a forum called Real Home Building, but the bottom line is someone's gotta pay for this stuff - the houses sided with enduring wood species with the wonderfully detailed cornice work that cost $1,000 a year to keep in paint…What I'm trying to say is that it is not only a question of knowing what's the best available product, but being able to pay for it. Admittedly, that is not necessarily how a true craftsman looks at it. As far as painting being therapeutic… I don't know, I guess my brain just doesn't work like that!By the way, in these parts, homes with any type of siding on them are considered affordable housing - the rest are brick.
*
Its got the edge on aluminium siding!
*
Gabe, while I'm not much of a me too person... me too, couldn't agree more.
Chris, want affordable siding? Try a seasoned pine clapboard, the clearer the better, dipped in primer and stain. At the minimum, it's appearance will last as long as the vinyl's, with the ability to restain at a later date. Vinyl fades, warps, degrades from UV and sand abraision in exposed areas, and will permit snow and rain to penetrate to the underlying surfaces... other than that, it's fine.
*
Anthing not made of wood on the exterior of a house makes me cringe ( except copper ). I put vinyl siding right up there with Masonite siding and particle board T-111. People who put that crap on thier house deserve what they get. But there are two sides to every coin. I too have installed my share of it. Not everyone can afford clear all heart redwood siding. I know carpenters can't. And hey, when my wife and I bought our little house, one of the reasons I bought it was because it had aluminum (sp?) siding on the gables. I hate to paint more that I hate MDF.
I guess if I were a cobbler my kids would have no shoes. Vinyl siding is not the evil that we make it out to be. Everything has it's place.
*
Got it on my home because I could afford it on my home, could do it quickly, and get this guys - if I hadn't put on vinyl it would have been much harder to sell the place.
Just reality in the burb I live in.
But I mowed the yard last week and threw a small stone. Now there is a quarter sized hole.
People in glass homes are not the only ones who need to be careful!
*Lew,Just goes to show that rocks and mowers don't mix.
*
Vinyl is better than that aluminum stuff we hung on houses inthe 70s . Still think vinyl is lacking somthing . Kind of looks like you are trying to hide somthing when the job is done. I never liked thecut of the two ' boards ' on the double 4 lineing up . When I built a summer kithen fo my wife icut the bottom one back 3 to 4 inches , think it looks better. Plan on Hardiplank for the house, and the garage in a few years when the vinyl goes to hell . I think the life of good vinyl is only 20 years , wood claps 150 or more ,my bet is hardiplank will last neer that.
*
Sorry but there is nothing wrong with vinyl...It all depends on what vinyl,...is applied by whom...and as part of what total design.
Near the stream enjoying the babble !
J
*
Love the stuff, sell it to most of my customers, easy , quick, looks pretty good, comes in many colors. If it's hung right, it can keep the weather out. As opposed to the many I love it, as I do with many maintenace free things. I like spending time with my family an friends(not painting and staining and upkeep on some trophy of my Fine Homebuilding craftsmanship....haaa) My home is the place I have to store my toys and junk, I really don't care if it lasts till the next generation. I plan on being dead by then.I plan on leaving a lot of fun memories for my kids and grandkids. I really don't have the ego problems to want everyone to think I was the greatest homebuilder, and go see the trophies of my life on this street and that street, and over here and there....VINYL it all(correctly) and go fishing with the kids, or play catch...enjoy.
Brian K.
*The next best thing to vinyl siding are vinyl replacement windows. The are truly great. Double hungs, tilting sashes with grills between the glass. I love Simontons, 1 week delivery on custom units to Norandex, great quality....and the best thing is the CUSTOMERS(remember them?)love them day in and day out.I have never had a complaint, and all tell me how great they are on follow up calls. I also have nothing but praise for Pergo, and the rest of the laminate floor systems. They are another marvel of the construction industry. I wish we would have had this stuff about 30 years ago!!!! Brian K.
*
>>My home is the place I have to store my toys and junk, I really don't care if it lasts till the next generation. I plan on being dead by then<<
Brian,
Why not just put up a pole barn or a single-wide trailer then? It'll serve the same purpose. I for one take a great deal of pleasure in having beauty around me. I don't find vinyl beautiful. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Steve
*Brian - vinal windows have been the norm here in THE GREAT NORTHWEST for several years now. And while I see them as a huge improvement over the aluminum units we used through the 70s/early 80s, time will tell if indeed they stand the test of time. Pergo is fine, as long as you realize it is a ten year floor, a throw away product, and not compare it to hardwood strip flooring which can be resanded for generations to come.As Steve said, "to each his own", but I have had many hours with my kids and still tried to teach them that they have a responsibility to the next generation. I think it's important to leave things a little better than you find them - your estate, the planet, relationships - I am worried that too many folks these days are only thinking for their lifetime and not considering the legacy they will leave. Plastics scare me a little, they are hard to dispose of without further pollution. - yb
*Strange attitude, Brian. Do you tell your customers that you feel this way when you're pitching a big vinyl sale?Look, I think vinyl products have their place, and it sounds like it's over at your trailer.Sleep in tupperware, you'll last longer, BB
*
Actually, I do explain that it will not last forever, nothing does, but when they get sick of the color or whatever, they can tear it off and reside.They can then recycle the old plastic( Do they recycle the wood yet?)And put on a fresh skin. Last longer than a coat of paint, resists rot better. I bet I could reside a house faster and cheaper than a GOOD 2 coat paint and prep job.
What have y'all got against manufactured homes and pole buildings anyway? Vinyl carpentry yeahhh
Brian
*
Hi Brian
Just one little correction. Carpentry and vinyl have nothing in common. So there is no such thing as vinyl carpentry.
Vinyl siding can be and is installed by anyone and his Uncle.
The fact that it is cheap to buy and doesn't require skilled tradesmen to install makes it a win win situation for construction brokers. However, it is a lose lose situation for real tradesmen who still have pride of workmanship.
Just a thought,
Gabe
*
Gabe,
I will beg to differ the fact that no skill is required. Getting a job to look straight over warped lumber(why does it do that?)and a watertight job does require skill. Braking trim requires skill. Don't get me wrong, I am a trained carpenter...from forms to trim, but I just don't get all huffy about it. We will all admit that trusses and new tools have made our jobs slightly less skilled..at least I'll admit it.
I do care about what I leave behind as far as natural resources...and I scream from my soapbox that a landfill is mearly a strip mine for the future. In it you will find metals, plastics,all just waiting for the technology and financial readiness to do the work.
As for wood floors, I have oak strip in 2 rooms and fomica laminate in 2. I spend less time taking care of the formica... I like it better.So does the little lady.....and thats who we all answer to anyway now right? Brian
*
nope
*Aw c'monAs much as I totally disagree with Brian's Vinyl rationale, ya gotta admit he supports his argument quite well. . . don'tcha hate it when the guy with all the i badideas is the better debater-pm
*What do you mean,"anybody can install vinyl siding"? Anybody can do most of what I do, But they cant do it as well, or make money at it, thats where the skill is.
*
Amen Charlie. Apparently anyone can be a carpenter. I have trouble finding carpenter
work that is worthy of my aluminum trim and
siding. The fact is in any trade there are those
who take pride in their work and those who couldn't care less.
*
>>What have y'all got against manufactured homes and pole buildings anyway?<<
Brian,
They have their place. My shop and garage will be pole buildings, but I wouldn't want to live in one.
As to "manufactured homes" I've got nothing against manufactured per se. I know fairly nice ones are available, but I've yet to see one that I would want to live in if I could afford not to. It's lowest-common-denominator construction. Plus it's usually butt-ugly.
I paid ten grand for my very handsome, though gutted 170-year-old 3500 sf timberframe building. It'll probably be here another 170 years after I go.
Happy vinyling,
Steve
*>>Getting a job to look straight over warped lumber(why does it do that?)and a watertight job does require skill. Braking trim requires skill.<<Brian,Sure it does. The problem is, even with the most skilled application, you've still got something that looks cheesy when you are done, so why bother? I would rather re-paint every ten years and live with the paint looking shoddy at the end of the lifespan than look at the best vinyl installation for twenty years. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I can bear it, but why would I want to if I had the ability to walk away from it?Steve
*Saw an as for SEAMLESS Vinyl siding the other day. I wonder how it looks.
*
Ron,
I've never used the seamless panel, because it's
not practical for the average job in my area.
A 40' length of vinyl might expand & contract as much as 2"?. In my opinion the benifits aren't
worth the extra expense of labor & shipping,
but if a customer demanded it why not.
*
Steve:
I recently tried the "single wide" thing on my wife. I told her that we could retire now if we could be happy in, well, I said a double-wide. Her response - "It'd never work - we'd need 3. One for us, one for your tools, & one for my cloths!"
*
Joseph FuscoView Image
*I watched my father work on our home for many years while I was growing up. We would go to the lumber yard and pick only the best select woods for the trim, etc. Dad painted with only the best paints PPG or Pratt and Lambert and painted with care. Dad is gone now and my mom age 90 still lives in our home parts of which are over 100 years old. All that wood? Well, without constant maintenance, it needs work. Some of the fencing has rotted and much of the trim, windows and fascia needs a good scrape job and paint. I have advised mom to get estimates - I am afraid all of them will be high. For my porject, I have gone from fibrous cement siding to a cedar look-alike from Certainteed in vinyl. Soffits? probably aluminuim. Windows - they are already Siminton and I agree with a previous post - they are great. Moms are wood, they need work - and it will cost more than a new Siminton to do each window right. If I were assured of wealth in my old age, I would choose the natural products, but then I would choose stone. You know, like they built the old castles that still stand except for the wood parts that rotted. Times change, and I think homes are getting better, not worse. For what it is worth,Dennis
*Chris, I think it is the time involved. That and the dreaded FICA. 15% off the top of what you can pay for labor is a healthy chunk of quality. I only build for myself, so I always rationalize the time it takes me with the fact that I am making after tax money. Still, cabinets with the little extras, the back priming of trim, the closed miter joints made after you tune the saw all take time. And geeze, ladder work is the worst of all worlds. Dennis
*Whats wrong with wood siding?The cedar that you get today is so thin, I can actually cut it with a utility knife. And don't let water penetrate the manufactured sidings.If you really can't figure out that the world is full of people that want different things, go to Alt.different.strokes.for.different.folks!And get off your high horses!Trusses, and vinyl require skill. It's a differnet skill than laying lap siding, but how hard is lap siding, anyways? To hear y'all talk, you would think that lap siding is the test of old world craftsmanship. Whats so hard about nailing a flat board on a wall with 5" exposure.?If you don't think that vinyl has any place in this building world, think again. Many, many people want it, despite it's shortcomings. Just do the best job possible, and make it look presentable. And use a quality product, instead of the cheapest available.blue
*
This site is dedicated to "Fine-Home-Building" that does not say there is ways to cut costs, but "Vinyl-Siding" is not an option in Fine Homes!!!
Good Luck with you mass production work.
Gerard
*
No, i meant the liddle lady commment... :)
My interest is turning towards fiber-cement siding these days... Vinyl ... well, it looks like vinyl, and like a clip-on tie or polyester suit, it's a lot easier to keep looking right in a superficial way, but it's nothing to admire. I'm hoping fiber-cement & synthetic trim will provide some of the best of both worlds.
*you guys must all be from up north. wood siding down here in louisiana has a life expectancy of 10 yrs max. A good paint job will get 5 yrs. max. Replacing facia boards is routine maintenance down here. We wrap all our facia with aluminum coil and bend it up under the shingles on the roof pitch when using vinyl cornice. Most of our houses have brick walls though with vinyl cornice work. Oh well just thought i would chime in from the humid sticky south....
*So what do the cajuns think of fiber-cement?
*Its hard to believe all the bad mouthing about Vinyl siding here. Im in NY and 98% of the new houses built now get Vinyl. Ive framed 6 in the last few months and all got Vinyl. Theres a reason for that.....thats what homeowners want. I agree Cedar does look better but you have to take all the other advantages of Vinyl into consideration. Id did a job last year where we sided a house with vinyl but used primed pine both sides for facia, frieze, crown, corners, window wrapping..etc. Came out great! Around the windows and corners we first packed it out with plywood...put j channel up against that to accept the siding the pine trim over the plywood and hid the j with it. Doesnt look like a vinyl side house I tell you, and you got the best of both worlds....the low maintaince siding and wood trim. Cedar trim would have obviously been the better trim but the customer didnt want to pay the difference.
I'm convinced that the paint isn't any good today . I've been painting my cedar since 1991 every 7 yrs and its getting old . In 1991 I completely stripped the alligatored paint from the 30's and repainted with oil primer and coated with P&L . I was prepping it this year and some of that was starting to fail . I took the cedar off .Kept all the orig trim and shaker style shutters . The house is a Garrison style colonial . Brick gables .Brick on the front and rear . Just the second floor overhang is sided . I found a colonial white 8" single panel from certianteed . I was going to use Hardie but the siding is warrantied for 30 yrs but it needs to be re caulked every 5ish and the factory paint is only 15yrs . Im getting a 3 1/2" x 5/4 pvc corner with a pocket and wrapping the orig window sills . If i dont like the corner Ill use a 5/4' wood with a j . Anderson 400 replacement true divided lights . Im preserving all the front door trim . Original wood dutch door . The field siding is the only thing Im changing. I think I can pull it off and its going to look good . It has to look ok I love this house and dont want to have to paint the siding anymore
Actually my daughter came and I showed her a piece of the 8" vinyl that I was going to use main street single 8 . She looked and said ,dad your going to hate that vinyl . I thought and said your right I probably will . So I nixed the vinyl and ordered James Hardie cedar planks finished white 8.25" 7" exposure . I think that's a better trade off.
*
So now I've read all the posts since mine, and it seems that vinyl does have a place and it IS in Fine Homebuilding afterall. I've got an 'ol world 'crafstman bricklayer next door who lays up basements and veneer jobs(brick siding)for me.He thinks I'm a hack when I use wood siding(says that won't last more than 100 years max. He also says I'm cheap when I use 8" block for basements. If I was serious I would use 12" he says.I guess the world looks a little different from everybodys view eeh boys?....... I wonder if there is a Fine Stonebuilding dicussion......Brian K.
*
And yet the pyramids ain't looking so nifty lately either!
Near the stream and the web of life~
J
*That's cause they went and put a city next to it! Giza is no hick town. They barely scuttled plans for a highway that would have been so close as to vibrate the pyramids.
*Alright fellas, I've had enough vinyl bashing here. I once made a handsome living installing vinyl siding. For those of you who don't like the looks of a vinyl job, I have one thing to say. "You haven't seen one of my siding jobs".Admittedly, I would never think of putting vinyl siding on a historic home or something of a high caliber new home but vinyl definitely has it's place. In an area such as where I live, there is a good need for it. 80 to 100 yr old homes in my neighborhood, nothing architecturally significant about the exteriors and property values hardly warrant the additional expense of cement fiberboard or high maintenance exteriors. Vinyl is actually a plus in property value terms.Up the road a bit the suburbs lie with their 40 -50 yr old homes. mostly small bungalows with even less significance about their exteriors. Plenty of siding sales there and with good reason.Vinyl is final,Pete Draganic
*Pete> Vinyl is final,Is that the kind of i finalthat comes with a i tail light warrantee???It occurs to me as I search unsuccessfully for my own lyrics to "Ham On The Hoof" that it was written when you were about 3 years old. (historical context)-pm
*When I was 3 years old, thats about the time I started framing. Afterall, how smart do ya gotta be to frame a house?There is good and bad everything as well as in vinyl products. If folks want to pick on something lket it be the folks who don't want to spend the money for anything more than vinyl. It's bad enough that vinyl is as cheap as it is but then they try to save even more by buying the cheap garbage vinyl. Sheesh.Can't tell you how many times I got calls from people with vinyl or aluminum siding and wood trim because they wanted the wood wrapped with coil to save from painting it all the time.Vinyl is long lasting. (is that better?)Pete
*
Pete, I'm down the street a ways in Canton. I usually don't hang the cheap stuff either. Norandex is selling there new top of the line Sagebrush .050" panel for abot 68.00/sq. Nice stuff. And I agree that there are quite a few 100 year old homes I've done that are just...old houses.
IF I had my choice, I would rather do top of the line brick veneers, and wood siding ......but the kids have become accustomed to eating pretty regular so I do what I've got to do.
A few years ago I did a whole house gut job ( roof, windows siding , drywall, all mechanicals) on a 1830 farmhouse in Mapleton. Tore off slate, put on fiberglass. Tore off redwood, put on vinyl. Tore out wavy glass, put in caradcos. Tore out plaster, put in drywall. I was sick about it for a few years, but it was what the owners wanted. I got it back to the original colors and look, but all in maintenance free junk. Not proud of it, but it happens. Brian K.
*
One day, back when I was first comin' up, Dud Race looks me in the eye and says "...blodgett, don't ever forget one thing, the customer is always right. If they say they want a screen door hung upside down, you don't know, maybe they have a small dog they want to see out." As long as we are in a business that provides a service, these are words to live by. (so are a lot of other things that old Yankee told me, sure miss that guy.) - jb
*"hey wanted the wood wrapped with coil to save from painting it all the time." -- how often is all the time? does anyone know how to paint anymore?
*Andrew, Most of us know how to paint, we just don't want to.Good Luck,Stephen
*Brian,I would've gone to work at the 7-11 before taking that job. Everyone has a differnt line they have to cross to sell their soul, I guess. I won't do replacement windows or replacement siding on any house that's got any kind of architectural heritage. That's pretty much pre-WWII in my book. Even some more pristine 50's ranches are off limits for butchering by me. And believe me, I could use the money. But I won't go for it that way.Steve
*Jim,If a customer tells me I've gotta kill his dog, run down the street naked and hang replacement windows on his 1819 federal house, I negotiate on #2, number 1 and 3 are out of the question. If I go broke, I look for another line of work.Steve
*
Steve,
I'll state it again "Just cause it's old doesn't mean it is significant" some thing are just OLD. The old place was put together by a farmer to keep the water off his head. It was repeadly patched and remodeled thru the years to fix what he chopped up to begin with. If it were up to me...for the money I would have started with a match and some gas. I mean in the end all that was original was the rickety old frame, that I had to restud anyway...................My pride(I wasn't proud of it) will never get in the way me making a living in THIS TRADE...leave the 7-11 jobs for the freaky kids with green hair and pierced tongues, they need the work to. Brian K.
*
Count me among them. I asked the client I have now NOT to pay me to paint, but they insisted and I'm certainly paid well for it. I just expect glossy latex to be, well, glossy and it's a hassle.
Paint should last for at least ... 5 years done badly? I think people are ordering vinyl to avoid doing ONE paint job, not painting "all the time." Or am i mistaken?
*Yes, but what is your price for running down the street naked? I guess one should offer an informed opinion and, if rejected, do what the &^%&* customer ordered. Imagine working for Hearst -- some of y'all must have visited the Hearst Castle, right?"
*Andrew and all the rest of you that lean away from a good product....I say...oh well...no biggy to me.Near the vinyl and wood and cement board stream,J
*Steve - I consider myself very lucky. I can't remember the last time I had to take a job I didn't want. There are many things I won't do, as I believe my standards have to be higher than the people who hire me. Nevertheless, I realize there are carpenters not as lucky as me, that are willing to take on virtually any work, to pay the bills, to feed their family. I think there is definately a place for vinal siding, and to answer the original question, there is nothing wrong with it. If it's what the customer wants, someome will install it. - jb
*I can not tell you how jealous I am of some of you guys that can turn down work that you are capable of doing. I'll turn down work if I know I do not have the skills or background or backbone or have a guess that the people will not pay or luckily too busy to do. But if someone came to me and asked if our crew could replace some old rotted siding or old rotted windows with vinyl because they could not afford cedar or nice anderson windows, me and the crew would do our best to give them a top quality job and we would all eat for one more week. I agree that vinyl would not be my first choice but if done right with quality stuff in a quality way it will make an old shack look great.
*Hi Brian,I agree with you that old isn't always significant. But I even like really plain old. But there certainly is plenty of old garbage out there too. Admittedly I'm at the far end of the spectrum. I quit a line of work that was paying me 100 dollars an hour (on a freelance basis...same job on salary would pay about 60K) so that I could persue restoration work. Last year I netted about ten grand. I'm not living large, but I like my work. If I can't build the business into a better income eventually I'll move on to something else, but I will not butcher significant old houses. Once they are gone, they're gone for good.I have to laugh because I've been on this board long enough that this thread has come up three times now, and the old timers keep weighing in with their unchanged opinions. But it is fun, isn' it?I don't hold anything against people who put vinyl on at the customer's request, I just can't bring myself to do it.Best of luck to all of you.Steve
*>>I guess one should offer an informed opinion and, if rejected, do what the &^%&* customer ordered<<Andrew,Or politely decline and walk away. God bless self-employment.Steve
*For the record, our house had old and faded aluminum siding that is doing its job of protecting the house just fine. It would cost thousands to replace and I can think of many many things more important, including charitable donations to help people in the Balkans and elsewhere with much more serious problems.IF I were about to spend several thousands of residing, though, I'd try to be more creative than most -- for me that means using some interesting painted wood trim with a synthetic siding product. For me the poor detailing of the vinyl is its biggest drawback. The "wrap everything" bit confounds me. As someone pointed out a while ago, these are often the same people go berserk if a dandelion appears on the lawn and spend their weekends trying for that perfect lawn.
*When a dandelion pops its ugly yellow head up in my lawn, I do not go berserk, thank you. I very calmly reach into my right side belt holster, withdraw the Weed-B-Gon sprayer, and spritz the bugger right in the root crown. The left side belt holster, by the way, has Roundup for the really noxious stuff, like that %@$#*& nutgrass. Also, having already achieved the perfect lawn, it takes less than a day weekly to maintain it, not all weekend, as you suggest. I think you're exaggerating just to make a point, really.
*
Hello Andrew: Just read your comment in the "What's wrong with vinyl siding" discussion, and saw you mention fiber-cement siding. I am repairing/replacing some broken asbestos siding shingles. I can't cut the stuff without breaking it (details in my posting today "Cutting brittle siding...."). I have received one reply mentioning an old tool that looks like a big paper cutter that might be available at a rental store or old lumber yard. How do you cut smooth edges? Appreciating any info forthcoming. Tom Montgomery.
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(1) Be careful with the asbestos, for obvious reasons. Don't try to cut them.
(2) I've heard numerous tools recommended for the fiber-cement siding, which must be a lot more pliable than your asbestos. You can score-and-snap, which leaves a lousy edge. A circular saw with a sharp carbide is said to do an excellent job, DeWalt even makes one for fiber-cement. Lots of dust, wear a mask. (Some pros even use a diamond blade, saying it will last through several houses.) Check your blade depth (about a tooth or less below the material?) and feed slowly.
What you're talking about is like the "power shears" I've seen advertised, I guess a manual version. Like big scissors. Call around. But the circ. saw is probably the best pick for straight runs, esp. a saw you're not that fond of. Prime the cut edges for water repellancy.
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We've decided we don't want to live in a plastic house. We don't want a house the same color as everyone else's. We don't want a house with wavy walls. We don't want a house anyone can cut through the walls of with a pocketknife (many local builders use foam sheathing underneath). We don't want a house that pieces will be blown off of by passing thunderstorms. We don't want a house our 3 sons will dent/scratch/split/or peel in the process of growing up as boys. I'm sure there are other good reasons not to use vinyl, but that's been enough for us. Mack & Kay McKee (about to begin on a hardiplank house, golden creamy yellow with teal and blue trim southern colonial with 2 story porches facing the Chesapeake Bay and it's northeasters.) PS. I love this site - just found it tonight - Kay
*Sorry you had such a bad experience with vinyl.To bad you weren't fortunate enough to have had me install your vinyl. My installations have none of the above problems.
*You'll love the Hardiplank. I did my house three years ago after calling Hardie's reps all over the country to find a supplier/dealer. (Home Depot was supposed to be the dealer in my area but you know home improvement stores... Ask question, get dumb look. Ask another question, get a dumb answer.) Anyway, to make a long story short I got it, factory primed (both sides) and painted and it looks great. There are lots of accessory pieces available now that would have made the job go easier such as corners (inside & outside) trim and soffit vents. See the Tamlyn (sp?) ads in FHB. Good Luck & enjoy.
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I want to know what's wrong with vinyl
siding.