Aluminum Siding Removal
My partner and I are considering purchasing a building which appears to be a brownstone (on a row of brownstones, has same exact roofing and roof detail as others, it appears that the siding was just slapped on top.) I am guessing the Brownstone facade needed some work, and it was cheaper to throw up…
My partner and I are considering purchasing a building which appears to be a brownstone (on a row of brownstones, has same exact roofing and roof detail as others, it appears that the siding was just slapped on top.) I am guessing the Brownstone facade needed some work, and it was cheaper to throw up some siding. How difficult and costly is it to remove aluminum siding? Before we move forward on this place, we’d like to know what people think. Of course, before we put an offer on the place we will consult with a contractor to determine actual cost/hourly rate, etc.
Replacing siding for aesthetic reasons may not be a good idea you can do some innovations which can cost a little bucks. Look for ways to spiff it up rather than replace it. You have some options. Check it here http://www.sidingestimate.net/siding-options/
Annual maintenance costs will be determined by the condition of the house when you buy it and how much work you plan to do immediately you gain possession. In our initial reno, we chose to focus on structural work and systems: roof, windows, plastering, beam/joist repairs, plumbing and electric. We’ve done the aesthetic work (kitchens, bathrooms, decorating, refinishing woodwork etc) over the course of almost 10 years. Yes, we’ve had a few unanticipated expenses but not as many as if we’d ignored the “bones” of the house at the get-go and gone straight for the glamor projects. Prudently, you should always have at least $25,000 liquid for a major emmergency repair but IMHO Sam is too pessimistic. Coop maintenance fees can easily run $1-2,000 a month. Most years, we spend about $5,000 on necessary repairs and upgrades (ie. not including optional projects like installing a laundry room or creating a workshop in the cellar etc). Hope this helps.
If you do buy the place and decide to take down the aluminum siding I’d love to salvage it. I use it for radiant floor heating. Much better than sending it off the the scrap yard IMO. Gennaro 347 244 3016.
Between 1939 and 1941, and again in the mid-1980s, the city photographed every house and building in the five boroughs. You need the block and lot number of the house to look up the photo (at the Municipal Archives) or you can order a print (prices start at $30). See http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/taxphotos/home.shtml for more ino.
Just for the hell of it check with the Museum of the City of NY or possibly the Library. There might be an old picture of the building that would give you all the answers. We were luck enough to find a bunch of pictures of a building in Union Square that gave us a complete renovation plan circa 1910.
Sam, that’s why I plan to learn to plaster. Sounds like you have a very nice place. Agree with Tinarina on the costs and tradeoffs. Hey, at least the taxes are cheaper! And you can still get a decrepit townhouse for $380,000 in Bushwick or Bed Stuy.
Dont forget that NY taxes strongly favor 1-4 family buildings.
From the OP’s description it would be highly unlikely to have a wood frame in a row of brownstones, so it’s probably brick or brownstone underneath.
As for annual maintenance costs, utilities/taxes excluded, it’s very hard to predict. You definitely must have a cash reserve, or access to cash, when something unplanned happens, like having to replace the boiler($8k)or the sewer line (12k+), etc.
Yes, a house is more work and can have more surprises than a coop or condo. But the privacy, flexibility and architectural details can be totally worth it IMO.
Fake siding over brownstone is not as common as over wood, but not unheard of. If the form of the building is the same as the others on either side, it probably matches in materials. You can probably find out for sure by pulling the tax photo at Municipal Archives (you might not even need to buy it, depending on the quality of the microfilm.
As others have said, removing the siding is not a problem (unless there is asbestos, which was common in asphalt siding but not found in aluminum or vinyl). The expense will be repairing the masonry underneath. Depending on how much detail is left and how much you want to restore, it could be a lot of $$. But even doing the basics of facade repointing, etc. will be necessary – the siding was probably put up as a way of cheaping out on that kind of maintenance, and the presence of the siding has probably only made the problem worse (its not waterproof – it usually traps water on the facade, hastening deterioration – a much bigger problem with wood buildings).