Painting house vs changing to vinyl siding

[Lanshark]

I have a 30 year old house. We received an estimate of $3700 to pressure clean, paint and reglaze the windows. It will cost approximately $1000 to do some carpentry that must be done before we can paint. My question is has anyone ever looked at this cost and decided to change to some type of vinyl or other no maintenance siding. Painting must be done every 5 years or so.

I don't know anything about no maintenance sidings. Our first two houses were cedar and this one is some type of composite board. I've been told in the past that it will actually reduce the value of the house but I'm not sure if that's true in the Atlanta area.

 

[olena]

I couldn't tell you about home value, Marcie. In 2002, it was time to paint and the siding was warping, so we decided to go vinyl. We had a few estimates and checked out a few products and settled on a siding that has insulation on the back and wider planks to avoid the clapboard look. It looks great to us and if it does lower the value of our home, we don't mind. We love not having to mess with painting.

Remember a few years ago when all the commercials were for 'spray-on siding'? Where did that go? We didn't even bother with that.

 

[DawnCt1]

I live in a neighborhood with convenents and restrictions that does not permit vinyl siding. The composite/concrete siding however has been approved because it can be painted and holds the color a long longer than cedar, which is what we have. Two of my neighbors have had the composite installed so that they don't have to paint every 3 or 4 years, in our case. We actually use a solid stain. I would guess, given the sizes of their respective houses, they have spent between $25K and $40K for the material and the installation. It cost me about $3200 every four years to have my house painted. We are having it done again this summer. If I were to pick the cheapest guess of $25K, and I am guessing it would be much more, I could have my house painted 7 times or really be all set for the next 28 years and not have to give up such a huge chunk of money all at once. In 15 years, those with the composite siding will have to paid again anyway, so that will add to the cost of thier siding. We have been in this house almost 20 years. Frankly, I surprised that we stayed this long. . Who knows how much longer we will be here. Certainly not 15 more years. I would like something "new". I don't know if that helps you or not but that is how I didn't fall prey to "just think you won't have to paint". Our painter is charging us the same this year as he did 4 years ago.

 

[olena]

Your house is near mine, right? An older house, too? Are you in a neighborhood? What have your neighbors done?

No matter what, home prices around here will continue to rise, so I wouldn't sweat the value issue that much. Think about what matters to you? Cost, future costs, maintenance, how long you plan to stay there, etc.

 

[MoniqueU]

It must be a regional thing. I don't think I have ever seen an house with Vinyl siding here in Southern Calironia. And I doubt one would sell if there was one.

 

[Lanshark]

We are pretty close Heather. I hate the idea of pouring that kind of money into the house every 5 years or so but with a daughter about to enter college that's probably what I'll do. We live in a large subdivision and several houses have gone to the concrete siding Dawn mentioned. I believe it is close to $20,000 or more in our area. I don't know how much vinyl is. There are a couple that changed to vinyl and they look nice. The values in this area have really gone up so I'm not too worried about it. I guess I'll wait to get a final estimate from the carpenter to decide what to do.

30 year old houses seem to have never ending maintenance.

 

[olena]

Well, we had estimates from Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears and Taylor Construction. We went with the Tek-wall from Taylor, which looked much better and they have excellent customer service. They cost a little more, but it was worth it to us. If you want to come see my house, let me know and I'll send you my address. (Don't look at the yard though....it's a mess....)

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....If you want to come see my house, let me know and I'll send you my address. (Don't look at the yard though....it's a mess....)

Put it on the DIS, Heather, we'll ALL come by.

We have quite a few homes in our area with vinyl, redoing either wood or aluminum, looks great.

 

[olena]

Oh yeah! I can see it now......like the end of Field of Dreams with all the cars ......

Put it on the DIS, Heather, we'll ALL come by.

We have quite a few homes in our area with vinyl, redoing either wood or aluminum, looks great.

 

[golfgal]

Most houses in our area have some type of siding. With the winters being so cold and the summers so hot, most people don't want to paint. Most people select aluminum or steel siding though. Vinyl doesn't have the same longevity and it doesn't look as nice. The most popular siding is the seamless steel siding, it looks the most like wood.