We have a 100 yr old house that had wood siding and someone has put
stucco (the concrete type, heavy stuff) over the wood siding. This
made sense because we live in an area of high winds and the stucco is
great for keeping the wind out of the house.

But we don't like the look of the stucco and want to put on some of the
new vinyl siding that looks like wood (I think the new vinyl looks
great, I always hated the look of the older vinyl siding). I have been
doing my research and it appears furring over the stucco then
installing the vinyl is best. I like the idea of this because it will
help keep the wind down, and we may be able to install some extra
styrofoam insulation under the vinyl siding to increase the R value.

I'd like to get feedback of the pro's and con's of what we plan to do.
Also any advice or websites that give the details (with photos
preferably) of the installation process. We are having a contrator do
the work but I like to be educated about anything we have done with the
house.

Katherine

At first blush this seems like a sound plan. I would pay attention to
the "solidness" of the stucco, is it really bonded well and secure in
its current state ? Also look for cracks and separation, etc, where
bugs and bees might get into the stucco, a hole one cm by 0.5 cm is
enough to have a wall full of bees (personal experience !).

Personally I prefer stucco to vinyl in appearance; stucco also holds
paint well, last house I had was cement/stucco and was only painted
twice in 90 years.

writes:

At first blush this seems like a sound plan. I would pay attention to
the "solidness" of the stucco, is it really bonded well and secure in
its current state ? Also look for cracks and separation, etc, where
bugs and bees might get into the stucco, a hole one cm by 0.5 cm is
enough to have a wall full of bees (personal experience !).

I have Nailite vinyl, which looks like wood shingles.
There are millions of places for bees, and therefore, lots
of bees. They love the stuff. Small price to pay for no painting.

Personally I prefer stucco to vinyl in appearance; stucco also holds
paint well, last house I had was cement/stucco and was only painted
twice in 90 years.

Twice in 90 years is pretty good.

Once you put up vinyl you'll never fool with paint again.
That's the main reason I had vinyl installed. 23 years and it still
looks new.

wrote in message
ups.com...
We have a 100 yr old house that had wood siding and someone has put
stucco (the concrete type, heavy stuff) over the wood siding. This
made sense because we live in an area of high winds and the stucco is
great for keeping the wind out of the house.

But we don't like the look of the stucco and want to put on some of the
new vinyl siding that looks like wood (I think the new vinyl looks
great, I always hated the look of the older vinyl siding). I have been
doing my research and it appears furring over the stucco then
installing the vinyl is best. I like the idea of this because it will
help keep the wind down, and we may be able to install some extra
styrofoam insulation under the vinyl siding to increase the R value.

I'd like to get feedback of the pro's and con's of what we plan to do.
Also any advice or websites that give the details (with photos
preferably) of the installation process. We are having a contrator do
the work but I like to be educated about anything we have done with the
house.

Katherine

I would be calling the local building department. This sounds like a bad
idea to me. I know that when doing roofing at a point it is time to strip it
down and start fresh. Stripping your home down to the structure would allow
for new windows,insulation and other systems to be installed. The trim
details around doors and windows would look natural. Not built out

"SQLit" wrote in message

I would be calling the local building department. This sounds like a bad
idea to me. I know that when doing roofing at a point it is time to strip
it
down and start fresh. Stripping your home down to the structure would
allow
for new windows,insulation and other systems to be installed. The trim
details around doors and windows would look natural. Not built out

I have to agree. Considering the age of the house, you don' t know what is
hiding under all that stuff. It would be safer to remove it and see the
condition of the structure and not just seal in rot that can cause serious
problems in a few years.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"SQLit" wrote in message

I would be calling the local building department. This sounds like a bad
idea to me. I know that when doing roofing at a point it is time to strip
it
down and start fresh. Stripping your home down to the structure would
allow
for new windows,insulation and other systems to be installed. The trim
details around doors and windows would look natural. Not built out

I have to agree. Considering the age of the house, you don' t know what is
hiding under all that stuff. It would be safer to remove it and see the
condition of the structure and not just seal in rot that can cause serious
problems in a few years.

Listen to the man. I just replied to a post on stucco lath in
alt.building.construction a few minutes ago. This week we pulled the
stucco veneer from a 75 year old house. Original stucco, replacement
windows put in by some brain-damaged boob about 20 years ago, stucco
painted.

The place is a nightmare. The stucco was sound in most areas of the
house, but we new there were some problems underneath and wanted to tie
in a lot of work while the siding was off the building. The amount of
rot and termite damage is astounding. The stucco is holding up parts
of the building.

Putting layer upon layer of siding is asking for trouble - unless all
layers are/were perfect, you will be covering up damage and eliminating
any chance of repairing what's needed without going in through your
shiny new vinyl siding.

If you're more interested in dollars than in doing what's right for the
house, then knock yourself out.

R

I appreciate the advice. Some things we have already considered,
others we had not. The bees will be an issue in our area, most likely
in our house also . Its wasp season right now and the little
critters are everywhere!. So good to know.

We are actually doing a very large renovation. We have stripped all
interior walls down to the studs. We wanted to reinsulate and
soundbarrier all the walls, so gutting the house was a must. We have
replaced the windows (just had the upper level done today actually),
and the exterior layers of the house are all fine. No rot, no
termites, nothing like that. We ripped out the carpets (even though
they were fairly new) and are going to put down hardwood flooring. My
husband is an electrician so all the electrical is being rewired, and
to code, done right. We are having a foundation specialist in to
double check any hairline cracks in the foundation, and repair any as
necessary. The mudroom at the back is being torn down and rebuilt as
we want a larger room, and it needs new almost everything, so easier
just to rebuild it than try and fix everything. We just finished
totally gutting and re-doing the main bath (I love clawfoot tubs!). I
don't like seeing people doing half hearted renovations because they go
cheap on everything - they end up paying in the end. This is an old
house and I love the architecture and charm it has.

For the area we live in, it has been highly recommended to keep the
stucco on. We live on the prairies where the winds are high, cold and
extremely bitter in the winter. The stucco is one of the best
materials to keep the wind out of the house.

If the stucco was the original stucco on that 75 yr old house you
worked on Ricod, then its not the same stucco that on the house we
have. The stucco we have is not the original exterior, it is over top
the original wood siding. I know about the stucco you had to deal
with, and have heard a lot of problems with the old stuff. Thank
goodness it's not what we have, or I would insist it be torn down.

Thanks everyone and hope the tips keep coming.

Katherine

Seems like you have your mind made up. I would agree with SQLit, Edwin and
Ricod - Take off both old siding systems.

you probably could have saved $$$ on your replacement window project if you
had done this. Additionally, you could have used new construction windows
versus replacements or inserts. These could have then been properly flashed
from the outside. You will not need to worry about wind, even after
stripping old stucco and wood siding, if you sheath, insulate and use tyvec.

Given the extent of your renovation though, it may also have been cheaper to
tear down and start over! Seems it much too late for that though.

Anyway - two biggest reasons, for me, to strip, in your situation, would
be - one, aesthetic, your windows will look weird having been built out
multiple times. two, better window flashing and insulation integrity.


wrote in message
ups.com...
I appreciate the advice. Some things we have already considered,
others we had not. The bees will be an issue in our area, most likely
in our house also . Its wasp season right now and the little
critters are everywhere!. So good to know.

We are actually doing a very large renovation. We have stripped all
interior walls down to the studs. We wanted to reinsulate and
soundbarrier all the walls, so gutting the house was a must. We have
replaced the windows (just had the upper level done today actually),
and the exterior layers of the house are all fine. No rot, no
termites, nothing like that. We ripped out the carpets (even though
they were fairly new) and are going to put down hardwood flooring. My
husband is an electrician so all the electrical is being rewired, and
to code, done right. We are having a foundation specialist in to
double check any hairline cracks in the foundation, and repair any as
necessary. The mudroom at the back is being torn down and rebuilt as
we want a larger room, and it needs new almost everything, so easier
just to rebuild it than try and fix everything. We just finished
totally gutting and re-doing the main bath (I love clawfoot tubs!). I
don't like seeing people doing half hearted renovations because they go
cheap on everything - they end up paying in the end. This is an old
house and I love the architecture and charm it has.

For the area we live in, it has been highly recommended to keep the
stucco on. We live on the prairies where the winds are high, cold and
extremely bitter in the winter. The stucco is one of the best
materials to keep the wind out of the house.

If the stucco was the original stucco on that 75 yr old house you
worked on Ricod, then its not the same stucco that on the house we
have. The stucco we have is not the original exterior, it is over top
the original wood siding. I know about the stucco you had to deal
with, and have heard a lot of problems with the old stuff. Thank
goodness it's not what we have, or I would insist it be torn down.

Thanks everyone and hope the tips keep coming.

Katherine