I’m in a weird place. We’re making a lot of progress on the house, and yet, I’m feeing incredibly stressed today.
Ben told us in this morning’s meeting that the move-in date is likely to be closer to mid-November than November 1. Oh, and not surprisingly, the cost of the renovations has risen again. Oh, and, the vinyl siding they’ve been removing to frame in the new windows is too brittle to put back on the house. So we can either buy new vinyl siding (completely unappealing on every level) and take the time and money to install it (no thanks) OR we can leave the areas around the windows un-sided until we can afford proper siding. They’d just cover up the areas where they removed the vinyl with that tar paper stuff. So then we’d be the hideous house in the neighborhood with the Tyvek paper siding flapping in the breeze. It’d be ugly for us and for our neighbors (Ben O and his wife, and Ben’s sister and her husband) to have to look at every day. But buying toxic, ugly vinyl siding that would only be there for a year or so is not a great option, either. It’s a devil’s bargain.
Honestly, I can’t take it anymore. Why are we even doing this?
Reeve, I know is tough as you go through it, hang in there, this will be all worth it in the end. Just try to take it day by day.
Thanks Kenda. Glad you understand!
Why can’t you and I’m not kidding here-literally GLUE the siding on around the windows.
Or screw it on with dry wall screws. If that sounds like a strange idea-it is not mean to be. Like putting a patch in the wall paper.
It wouldn’t be pretty but it is temporary solution that might or will-if done right-survive a Maine winter.
West System-(were you to use glue) makes an epoxy designed to work with vinyl.
From a distance probably not know the difference. If vinyl comes off in pieces because it’s brittle-buy a pack or get some scrap.
Interesting ideas. I guess we could come up with some sort of temporary solution.
Hang in there, Reeve. I know it seems like this is never going to end, but it will and you’ll be glad you took the plunge.
Thanks Lucinda! It’s good to have your support.
Sound like a window of opportunity! lol I noticed in one of the photos that you have that fake brick (shingle like siding) under the vinyl. have you had a look behind that? You’ll be surprised what you find under some of these old homes newish siding from over the years. If you have a look you may find the original wood siding, in most cases its still paintable and a lot cheaper than replacing it all. If its just around the windows you want done, than you could easily place trim around them…hope everything works out.
btw Love what you are doing here. keep up the great work it will all work out in the end!
Cheers,
Cody
Hi Cody! Thanks for stopping by. We were hoping we’d find some nice wooden clapboards under the asphalt siding, but no such luck. Nick’s dad called tonight to say he might fly out from Minnesota to help us put some siding on, so stay tuned!
Thanks for you encouragement!
Oh dear! So delighted to find your blog, and at the same time, so sorry to hear about where you are in the renovation process.
Try not to worry so much about how things will look for the neighbors – you can always write them a nice letter and buy them some flowers. It could be SO MUCH WORSE for them! They could live next to a cat lady! Or three!
Cry if you need to. This part sucks, and there’s no way around it.
Hi Holyoke! Thanks for stopping by. I’m feeling better about life this evening, thanks in part to fellow renovators like you who understand what this process is like. Thanks for your support and encouragement.
Hey, Reeve – Paint some funny murals on the temporary siding…smiley faces or cute animals, even clever sayings that will make the neighbors smile every time they walk by! They are sure to be grateful for what you and Nick are doing, improving the neighborhood and increasing their house values.