Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house?

[timtune]

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It’s a reasonable DIY project, no especially tools or skills required. Just follow best practices and don’t take shortcuts.

Tools: string line or laser level, 4’ level, hammer, skill or chop saw.

Remove existing siding.

• Repair any deteriorated sheeting and house wrap, if no house wrap exists, add it now.
• Blue skin around windows and door openings, tape seams.
• If you want extra insulation, add rigid foam over housewrap.
• Tape and seal seams.
• Vertically strap for better ventilation and moisture protection
• Nail up siding following manufacturer installation guide ( seams, fastener placement and tightness, corners)

Labor costs can exceed material cost, so there is a big savings in DIY.

Agreed. After building my garage the Squeeze and I sided it. Looks fine, even if you look pretty close. Thought "that was easy" and then wrapped our shed as well.

 

[Jampy00]

Well I have a year to learn YouTube to the rescue.. lol

 

[nobbie48]

4k for eaves, soffits and facia including repairs to previous work.
This is just for the back of the house 2 straight sections of maybe 70ft total and 3 downspouts.

Siding was 29k for aluminum and 1" foam insulation. We need it done but don't have 29k and don't want to replace junk with new junk..

I know nothing on how to this and I'm not willing to learn on my house, plus none of the proper tools for the metal work. I'll stick to working my property

Excuse me? In Toronto contractors hire unskilled labourers, give them a days training and turn them loose on other people's houses. Their interests in the project end with the cheque being cashed.

 

[Mad Mike]

Excuse me? In Toronto contractors hire unskilled labourers, give them a days training and turn them loose on other people's houses. Their interests in the project end with the cheque being cashed.

Siding, soffits, roofing and landscaping are all unskilled labor. That doesn’t mean the people doing the job lack the necessary skills or experience, it means they aren't certified in any trade.

Worker skills aren’t usually the problem, bad work is usually due to poor job supervision and oversight.

 

[JC99]

Siding, soffits, roofing and landscaping are all unskilled labor. That doesn’t mean the people doing the job lack the necessary skills or experience, it means they aren't certified in any trade.

Worker skills aren’t usually the problem, bad work is usually due to poor job supervision and oversight.

I have no doubt I could manage putting up siding but I also have no doubt that I would cack up flashing and trim at corners edges and windows.

 

[Jampy00]

I have no doubt I could manage putting up siding but I also have no doubt that I would cack up flashing and trim at corners edges and windows.

That's my concern as well

 

[mimico_polak]

Siding, soffits, roofing and landscaping are all unskilled labor. That doesn’t mean the people doing the job lack the necessary skills or experience, it means they aren't certified in any trade.

Worker skills aren’t usually the problem, bad work is usually due to poor job supervision and oversight.

Exactly. 'Unskilled labour' just means that it's not a certified trade but a basic knowledge of the work is required to not totally screw up a job (whether for oneself or a customer).

 

[backmarkerducati]

The quality of the labour is also commonly inversely proportional to demand. When the renovation/building industry has more work than capacity they tend to slap in warm bodies, specially at the lower end of the skill set tasks like siding, etc. If things are slow, most will keep their good guys and dump the hacks.

On many things DIY I always say, a pro hopefully can do it better but if I can do it good enough I will have at it. At the same time if I paid someone and got my good enough quality level I would be ******, more times than not that is what I would get--maybe worse....

 

[nobbie48]

Siding, soffits, roofing and landscaping are all unskilled labor. That doesn’t mean the people doing the job lack the necessary skills or experience, it means they aren't certified in any trade.

Worker skills aren’t usually the problem, bad work is usually due to poor job supervision and oversight.

It could also mean they don't have the skills or experience.

 

[timtune]

That's my concern as well

No worries. Sidiing is like a big lego set. There's starter strips for the bottom. Special inside and outside corner pieces. J moulding for around windows and doors. And like lego you snap the pieces in before nailing - the trick is not to sink the nails all the way home. Siding will expand and contract thru the seasons and if you constrict it by driving the nails tight it can buckle in the summer heat.

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