"benick" wrote

I agree the price quote is high..But what did you except JUST talking to
those with the big Yellow Page ads and those at Home Shows...Do a little
more work finding a small contractor...Usually by asking your neighbors or
at the lumber yard..Word of mouth is how they get work..

100% agreed. I've got a small contractor who dang near went under last 2
years. We've been good to him and he's good to us now. Hehehe he's now not
even bothering to state a bid really as he always understates with us. He
trusts us to do right by him. He wanted 600$ labor for a back fence job but
we gave 600$ for the first half and are patient for the second half with the
remaining 600$. He's fitting us in on the sides when he has no work.

He brought Jeremey with him last time (teaching him the trade, don't worry,
insured apprentice). He's a hungry 19 year old so we sent him home with a
loaf of breadmaker fresh bread and a quart of hamhock-bean soup. (Eric is
paying him). Mostly it's just us and Eric doing the work.

.As a side note T-111 looks worse than vinyl , IMHO..If I were to spend
that kinda money on siding I would use Cedar Shingles , Cedar Claps or
even Hardi Claps and do it myself...You could lift those and do it when
you had the time and still come out ahead money wise and have a MUCH
better end product...FWIW..HTH..

I *love* cedar shingles! Our house had them but a termite problem finally
had us have to remove them and replace with vinyl siding. Previous owners
didn't know to keep them treated, sorry to say. Properly treated, they last
almost forever. Takes only a regular spray hose with a preventive twice a
year to keep them forever.