just got an est for vinyl siding.

[61falcon]

Kevin, I watched some you tube videos on the install process. It looks pretty easy, I have a sliding chop saw with adjustable base to get the angle cuts I need. I'm going to start buying materials and get this project going as soon as this 2nd round of winter ends. I'll try and get some before' during and after photos. Thanks to all for the advice.

 

[6768rogues]

I spent over 20 years in the siding business and vinyl siding is easy to install. However, I can tell from the street whether the siding was installed by a skilled professional or a do it yourselfer. How fussy are you?

 

[NUTTSGT]

This has nothing to do with your estimate, but if I did not see something like this I would of never believed it. We were working in an area that the homes were fairly close and the low e windows melted the siding off one of the units just like this. They had the window rep and siding rep scratching their heads trying to figure out who was responsible. I went with hardie board after that.

http://www.houselogic.com/blog/windows-doors/energy-efficient-windows-causing-siding-to-melt/

Had the exact same thing happen on one of my old jobs. Nobody could figure out who to blame....

If you look at alot of the newer windows or replacement windows,how the glass is set into the frame. Sometimes you will see a windows this is almost concave/convex. I believe this might be where the issue starts when the Sun hits it and starts acting like a magnifying glass.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Not to mention the quality will likely be better at the supply house too. I used Certainteed on the house and some Home Cheepo stuff on the shed when I ran out and you could feel and see the difference in quality and thickness. the cheap stuff would crack when cutting at times, especially in the cold. Easy job to do yourself though if you have the time. Once it is started it goes up fairly quick.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I should qualify that I had help and advice from a friend who installs so that helped.

 

[mikegt4]

I DIY'd my house and garage about 20 years ago and it still looks great. The big box store siding is not the best. A builder supply house has much better siding.

I used Wolverine (CertainTeed) Restoration and Classic 45 siding. They had an instruction booklet that was invaluable for a first timer installer. It didn't take long to learn the correct techniques.
http://vinylsidingconnect.com/manufacturers/wolverine/

 

[gasgas17]

They went out of business or broke, realizing they weren't making any money. Or the homeowners realized they were getting **** work and **** results.

For $40/hr, I'd rather sit at home. That's just me, definitely not including an employee.

Put it this way, before I even leave my house in the morning, I have about $112/day or 14/hr in insurance, bonds, licenses, truck payments, fuel, overhead, office expenses, payroll expenses, etc.

Oh, and we're booked out with deposits on jobs 11 weeks right now. So there are people out there who appreciated a professional quality job, not joe blow and his third cousin

Plus one to that! Our operating costs run about $800.00 a week before wages and materials. Then I have to pay the 2 guys working for me and then I have to make a living too. I find our customers just want the work done right the first time and find value in that. I'll take those clients any day of the week over the tire kickers wanting it for cheap.

 

[1500hd]

I have a question regarding siding and soffit. Can I do the soffit later on do I have to do it before the siding?

What does about the garage door trim?

The soffit can be done after the siding as long a you installed the F-schannel at the correct height to end the top row of siding

 

[Notgrownup]

The soffit can be done after the siding as long a you installed the F-schannel at the correct height to end the top row of siding

You really have to think it out before you do that, if you do that...like 1500hd said, if your F channels are at the wrong height it will show up...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I've ran the vinyl siding up wild and screwed the aluminum soffit jay to the siding.Just the siding, not the sheathing behind the soffit. Sometimes it's impossible to avoid screwing into the sheathing tho, and I never had a call back. Used #6x1/2" panhead. It saves on a siding jay too.

 

[61falcon]

ok, after hearing from people that have done their own siding I decided to go ahead and install the siding myself with help from some very hard working family. We covered the entire garage in 1/2 inch plywood and wrapped it with a moisture barrier. then started the siding install. this is after two full days.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I hope that is NOT black plastic! The WRB (weather resistant barrier) needs to be able to breathe out the moisture from inside the building, not trap it inside and rot the wood. Especially if its heated.
I usually start my siding farthest away from the house so the overlaps aren't so noticeable.

Sent from my XT1032

 

[Notgrownup]

Looking good and straight there...

 

[crab]

My siding will be finished today, they have done a nice job. I have a 1700 sq ft ranch with 2 car garage. We used the thicker vinyl, 4.5, and with a few other things the bill is close enough to 10 grand to call it 10. You could save a lot of money doing it yourself but I'm 65 and don't like ladders so I let the pros do it. I really didn't shop around for a contractor, the one I used has done work for some neighbors and everybody was happy and recommended them. It's like getting a new house. The contractor didn't want any money until the job was done and we were happy with the work, that impressed me.