Wood siding to replace vinyl siding? How much? Who? and How?

After visiting Boston this past weekend for a friends wedding I fell in love with the look of actual, real wood siding on all the homes in the historical neighborhoods we visited. The house I recently purchased was built in 1899 but most homes in this area have vinyl siding, not wood. (In Gowanus/South Park Slope.) How much would it cost to replace the vinyl siding with wood siding? What are the drawbacks of doing so? I am told that vinyl is low-maintenance and “easier” to care for. Is this necessarily true? What about stucco? I am noticing more stucco homes around Greenwood Heights, South Slope & Gowanus. Is stucco a sturdy, safe and durable material to use? How does it stand the test of the Nor’East weather?  At the very least I want to change the color of the siding eventually and while I am at it would like to replace it with an affordable, durable and attractive alternative.  Has anyone done this? Who can you recommend? What does it cost? My house is 20 feet wide and approximately 30 feet high.   Thanks b’stoner!

gowanawana

in Brownstoner 13 years and 6 months ago

5

Please log in, in order to post replies!

5 replies

Newest Oldest

mustbe2344 | 11 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4892 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4881 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "181479"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "mustbe2344"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BQaYDsNAvBAtNZFS7/TQi1Hq0bVbAd/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(10) "mustbe2344"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(33) "alexis.sidingcomhouston@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(36) "http://www.sidingcompanyhouston.com/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:45:11"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "mustbe2344"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(181479)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Vinyl siding is really low on maintenance. Wood siding is very stylish yet you must have regular maintenance. For me, you can try hardiplank. its like wood and vinyl altogether. its very durable yet like wood, its also very stylish.[](http://www.sidingcompanyhouston.com/ “Woodland Siding Company”)

anonymous | 13 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4891 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4890 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3470"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "anonymous"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "anonymous"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(16) "deviatar@alm.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2007-09-27 13:11:05"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "loser spammer"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3470)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I might as well throw in another opinion.  Please don’t stucco your wood frame house.  It breaks my heart when I see that.  For one, you are completely altering the original character of your home.  Also, stucco performs better on masonry.  Wood moves more so you are more likely to have cracking.  Control joints alleviate this, but make things look cheap.  Don’t do it, you own a wood frame not a brownstone.  Be proud of it. I agree with you that there’s nothing like real wood.  Maibec makes some solid wood siding with a 45 year warranty, assuming it’s installed to their specifications. Hardiplank is a reasonable alternative to real wood, but it does look a little different than wood.  Much better than stucco in my opinion. Shingles are another option.  Maibec also makes those. We have gotten estimates to reside our house and it comes down to the details: how many windows, doors, cornices, fancy trim, etc.  Expect 20-40k.   T&A is the only company I’ve found that are specifically recommended for this kind of work.  I would love to find others.

bullfrog | 13 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4887 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4893 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "78388"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "bullfrog"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "bullfrog"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(14) "info@blfrg.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(23) "/forums/users/bullfrog/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2010-10-06 01:53:17"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "bullfrog"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(78388)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Hardi Board is the way to go. Has all the aesthetic qualities of wood without any of the drawbacks that wood has like rot etc. We’ve used Hardi on alot of old homes in Brooklyn that were originally built with cedar siding. Keep in kind though that Hardi Board is not cheap especially when you start to figure in Azek trim and possibly a new cornice.

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4892 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4894 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3864"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BtJYyObAQmff2MQp.qFP7/kmwU1bBZ1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "djl135e54@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(55) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/daveinbedstuy/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:23:53"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3864)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Best thing you can use is Hardie board, made out of cement, lasts a lifetime.  Use the smooth side out, not the textured.  I’ve used it on 2 houses (one in an historic district) and love it.

haiderbk | 13 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4891 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4895 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "179352"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "haiderbk"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BgD.AN1cTIbnd6e327CvHae.FYs3FL1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "haiderbk"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "sondivp456@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(23) "/forums/users/haiderbk/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:40:17"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "haiderbk"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(179352)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

It is true that with vinyl sidding is low maintaing. I think it will cost you 5 – 6 thousand dollars or more or less. It does make house look shinny and nice. If you want to do Stucco though, it will cost you more money but your house will be sturdy. Call this guy 718-669-8305 and ask for Millad. He has done work in the neighborhood and I am plaining to use him as well for my works.