Uncertainty of expat life
 

One thing with living in a different country is having the confidence to deal with things which only crop up on rare occasions.

Last year we had new windows put in and at that time the contractor mentioned that the siding would only last another 3 or 4 years, and be $20K plus to replace. It is T1-11 siding and we knew when we got the house unless it had been well looked after the siding would need to be renewed. We had it painted but it has started to fail on two sides.

So just had a quote for $25K to replace all the siding, trim, fascia, soffits, and porch roof with a top quality vinyl siding and trim. So the problem is while I think it is a good deal, I have a nagging doubt I'm getting screwed because coming from England where brick built is the normal, I have no experience to base the validity of my decision on.

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

I think you could save about $20,000 if you did the job yourself

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Please disregard Night Crawler's posts...he's a previously banned troll.

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Don't worry it was obviously a moronic comment.

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Sorry I can't help you with your question. $20K won't get you much around here. Just been quoted $2K for an electrician to put a replacement oven in an oven housing. :blink:

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Can't help except say the wood is all coming away from our house and based on what a small amount of painting cost, it will be $20,000 at the very least to put right.

Oh for brick.

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Ditto. We have just had to have some of the wood frame of our 13 yr old house replaced due to wet rot. Fortunately it was covered by insurance.

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Back in the UK I knew what was a good product for the job and what was a reasonable labor cost. Here I don't have a clue, you can see how people fall for scams.

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

We're likely going to have a house constructed in the not too distant future out here semi-rural way, how long did it take for the wood to be 'all coming away'?

I'm pretty ignorant having lived in rented Tokyo flats all these years, didn't even know the word 'siding' :o

Did you think of attempting the painting yourselves, Sally?

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Yeah I have to say I'd have no idea what a good price for replacing the siding is.

When I do buy a house, it's gonna be brick.....

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Unfortunately it will still be wood framed.

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Will the contractor be responsible for disposing of the old wood siding ? . We get three quotes and ask to see a couple of jobs they have recently done

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Spent $10K on a new roof this spring, so your price for all of this work sounds in the ballpark to me.

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

Not necessarily. I have a relative in Loveland OH, who lives in a beautiful place made entirely from clay brick.

All of the houses in my neighborhood are stucco-covered concrete block construction - including the interior load bearing walls.

I would agree that timber is used widely, due to availability and economy - but it is by no means the only construction option available.

As for siding - the reality is that you can indeed save yourself a heap of money by doing it yourself - if you have the ability and the tools. As in the UK, there are truly gigantic margins in plastic/vinyl extrusions and moldings.

I was quoted around $1000 per window, to replace 6 standard size windows in my home. A friend and I ended-up doing the work ourselves, with a better quality product for around $400 per window - and I know the job was done properly, rather than by some jerk-off with a pry-bar and no respect for the property of others. (Yes, I pulled a permit, yes said friend is a licensed contractor).

Re: Uncertainty of expat life
 

[QUOTE=Awesome Welles;9541517]Not necessarily. I have a relative in Loveland OH, who lives in a beautiful place made entirely from clay brick.

All of the houses in my neighborhood are stucco-covered concrete block construction - including the interior load bearing walls.


I think building codes in FL are different because of hurricanes. Brick or concrete is not the norm in the rest of the country. There are always exceptions to the rule though.