Vinyl Siding by American Custom

[popowich]

The bathroom remodeling (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=2587) project is going to have to wait. At least the expensive parts of it. I decided that getting new siding on the house is more important this year. As always with just about everything prices are going up soon, and I got a financing deal I didn't want to turn down. I had several estimates done last month and most the financing options ranged from non-existent to 6 months interest free. If you follow the stock market (http://www.discussny.com/forumdisplay.php?f=39) at all you know that the first quarter this year wasn't a good one. In fact it was the worst quarter I believe in the last 5 or 6 years. Most of my short term savings is tied up there too, which is fine long term, but not good when you have short term projects that need funding. Yes, I just contradicted myself, that's the problem. ;) I am doing a better job of putting some money away into a regular savings account this year. Do you want $25 for free? (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=1688) Anyway, the last contractor to come by was the most prepared and interested in the job. They made a project binder for me with all of the "before" pictures, examples of bad work that gets done, why theirs is better, and what sold me what that they had their insurance certificates for their employees with them, they had the lowest bid, and offered 12 months interest free financing that starts when the job ends. That means I have until July 2009 to budget for this project. My house was painted shortly before I moved in back in 2002 and it looks like butt now. The colors are not super duper either. I couldn't care less and am not good at picking out what the colors should be so I let Theresa (http://www.discussny.com/member.php?u=9) pick them out for me. The house is going to be "yellow" vinyl with "burgundy" trim. Not exactly those colors, but she can tell you more about it. I'm not sure what's going to happen with the brick though. I don't want that burgundy, it would look weird. It would make the front of the house almost 50/50 burgundy/yellow. What do you do with bricks that don't match the new plan? I should get back to my yard work (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=2883). I hope I've made plenty of links to keep you busy for the afternoon. :)

-Raymond

[THERESA]

Very, very pale yellow and burgundy trim. There is a house that I drive by everyday back and forth to work that gave me the idea. The funny thing is I really HATE the color yellow. There is something about that combination that looks really nice on a house. As soon as he said he was either painting or doing siding, I asked if the girls and I could pick the colors. Since he didn't go for purple, yellow it is. :D

[Jessii]

I could not believe how much siding cost. Ouch. We were considering getting estimates ourselves until we heard what yours came in at. Looks like we will paint again this year as we will prolly have to replace Don's car sometime in the very near future and the siding will have to wait. Oh the pain.

[popowich]

The new vinyl siding project for my house starts today. I'm long overdue for a new paint job and considering repainting the house (and ignoring the rotting cedar panels) is still more than half the cost of the vinyl siding I'm making the change. It's by far the better investment. The existing color is a diarrhea brown. I replaced my doors and windows last year and left them white since they'll be a a better match for the new colors. I'm going to be a pale cream ind of yellow with a burgundy like trim and white gutters and corner pieces. I took some before pictures yesterday. In the end I'll have better better long term siding, more insulation on the sides, better/more soffit vents going to my attic, new gutters, and a brighter house. :D

-Raymond

[popowich]

They're here! Put the pile near Ron's house! :rofl:

[Kaos]

Thats cool that you're getting that done! I hope you're close to your neighbors with them piling the stuff near his property LOL!

My big project I've tried to convince my husband on is we have those really old, metal awnings over our windows...I say it looks like a 90 year old lives in this house (ironically the previous owner was an old lady, who died in this house) IO really want to them torn off. They may help keep the sun from beating inside the house and save on that part...but they are so freaking ugly! I'll have to take a picture. I keep praying every winter when the ice falls off our house that they take the awnings out, without breaking the windows of course LOL. So far no luck, just alot of dents on the awnings.

[Cittykat07]

Thats cool that you're getting that done! I hope you're close to your neighbors with them piling the stuff near his property LOL!

My big project I've tried to convince my husband on is we have those really old, metal awnings over our windows...I say it looks like a 90 year old lives in this house (ironically the previous owner was an old lady, who died in this house) IO really want to them torn off. They may help keep the sun from beating inside the house and save on that part...but they are so freaking ugly! I'll have to take a picture. I keep praying every winter when the ice falls off our house that they take the awnings out, without breaking the windows of course LOL. So far no luck, just alot of dents on the awnings.


actually his naeighbors don't come outside. i have never met any of his neighbors. it is so weird because at my dads house everyone is always outside. maybe thats because their are lots of kids on the street and on rays street there is only like 3 kids that are younger than us. noone to play with!!!! :gah:

[esnagel]

Wow - I've never seen the back of your house before. Are they wrapping the window frames, too?

[popowich]

Yes. That's why I had the last 3 windows replaced in May.

I wanted all of the windows in before the siding work starts so I don't mess it up later.

-Raymond

[popowich]

I need to get out later and do some yard work though. The downhill side of my house I need to get cleared out so they are not bothered by the weeds, which are an eyesore for the neighbors I'm sure, but also to get it cleaned out around the AC which I have not really used before. It sort of works, and can get the house down to about 76 but can't do much work past that. There is a gigantic set of bushes near that pile that block a good piece of the house that are overgrown and need to come out too. I'll be happy getting them down to the stumps.

-Raymond

[Rebecky]

you're sueing your AC?
:D

[popowich]

:oops: Fixed.

[popowich]

Work started at 7:00am this morning.

They are working on the side of the house.

The old siding is down, and the new insulation is going up.

The work is being done by American Custom (http://www.americancustominc.com/).

-Raymond

[popowich]

Sounds like I got a little lucky. There is an out of control bush on the front corner of my house. They asked if they could trim it back a bit. I let them know I planned on taking it out anyway, so go nuts and cut off as much as they like. I'll remove the rest when they are done working in that area.

-Raymond

[popowich]

I have a few more shots of the insulation going up, the wood under it being in good condition (good for historical records when I go to sell the house someday), and a delivery truck that quickly stopped by to drop off one item from what I could see.

-Raymond

[esnagel]

It's weird seeing the inside of the walls like that - especially the fact that they're made of plywood. My house is a bit older - no plywood in the walls. Heck, there was no insulation 'til I moved in, either.

[popowich]

The dumpster arrived late yesterday afternoon. Work resumes in a few minutes. I was told I am allowed to put the giant bush in there, but after starting I realized that it would fill the dumpster all by itself. I'm going to wait and double check. If they can get it exchanged while working for another one free, but if there is some $250 charge, forget that and I'll be dragging the bush down to the end of the driveway.

-Raymond

[Kaos]

OMG That is awesome! "White trash" I want to rent that dumpster just for the name on it!!

[Raven]

I want to rent it and set it in my ex's lawn. :rofl:

OMG That is awesome! "White trash" I want to rent that dumpster just for the name on it!!

[THERESA]

OMG That is awesome! "White trash" I want to rent that dumpster just for the name on it!!

I want to rent it and set it in my ex's lawn. :rofl:

LOL I kept telling Ray that we had to get a pic of the side of that dumpster and post it on the site because it was cracking me up every time I saw it.

[THERESA]

Update on the dumpster: I think the bush was WAY bigger than the guy realized. Ray will be dragging it down to the road now. (maybe we weren't white trash enough to use it :rofl: )

[popowich]

I got a good start on the bush yesterday. I'm considering trimming what's left down and little bit and trying to square it off so I can still have a wall of sorts between me and the neighbors. There are only 3 stumps to be ground out if I do that. I will also leave me with some privacy while doing my grilling or sitting in a chair at the top of the driveway or just inside the garage. It also keeps the neighbors bedroom windows from being able to see into my new family room window.

-Raymond

[popowich]

The bushes are the good news looking for ideas whatever fun stuff, now on to the problems. I've been pretty easy going with this project and American Custom even commented on it while we were doing the contracts. As long as everything is done right and looks nice I'm a happy person. It was a little slow getting the colors figured out but there was plenty of time so I wasn't terribly concerned. While working on the bushes yesterday I noticed they delivered white siding instead of the yellow. There is some yellow corner trim pieces it looks like in there too. I'm not quite sure if they delivered the original white that was supposed to be yellowish that we did not like, or if they reversed the order and delivered the white siding and yellow corner pieces. I don't see any burgundy in there. It was blue sky and 90 plus degrees yesterday and they quit working around noon. That's fine, I did not want to be outside either. When I went out to sit in the garage to have my morning coffee I noticed they did not put their tarp over the pile of supplies. Everything is soaked. I'm told that it doesn't matter for the insulation so it shouldn't be an issue.

-Raymond

[popowich]

My bad, things seem to be all good. The antique ivory is the "yellow". Strange name for it. The shutters are going to be wineberry "burgundy", and where I said trim that's white, basically the window frame itself. I just have to go to Home Depot and pick up some paint that sticks to aluminum so I can get the awning over the front window matched to the wineberry.

-Raymond

[Kaos]

Well, where's the fun in naming colors in a way that we would be able to guess what color shade it really is? LOL

[popowich]

Oops. I need to paint a window white that was not replaced in the garage.

Here are some pictures taken at noon on Monday July 14th.

This is the first time I have seen the new siding on the house.

I think everything looks great so far! :yay:

-Raymond

[THERESA]

Looks really good!

[THERESA]

new update please

[popowich]

Here are a few more updates from 4:00pm. Work is done for today.

-Raymond

[THERESA]

actually his naeighbors don't come outside. i have never met any of his neighbors. it is so weird because at my dads house everyone is always outside. maybe thats because their are lots of kids on the street and on rays street there is only like 3 kids that are younger than us. noone to play with!!!! :gah:

I have offered to introduce ourselves the next time we see a girl riding her bike down the street. I will come with you to say hello. :)

[harryn55]

Doesn't look yellow to me. Looks more like, oh I don't know, maybe antique ivory.

[Rebecky]

Wow, that looks so nice already!!
LOL @ the your reflection in the window...good thing you weren't outside in your drawers! :eek:

[popowich]

I'm going to have to ask in the morning or give someone a call. I didn't have a proper appreciation for how much stuff still needs work after the job. All of the old brown windows need painting (tons of them for the back porch), the garage door, and front door, the awning, and all sorts of stupid little things attached to the house. I got all psyched at how good the new stuff looks, but there is a lot of old that isn't part of the job.

-Raymond

[Kaos]

DNY painting party!!!! BYOB (bring your own brush)

[popowich]

$475 to have the windows painted, supplies and labor. I picked up the paint for the awning and the front rail yesterday. I think everything is all set to be taken care of one way or another now, no loose ends! Here are the update pictures for Tuesday at noon. Everything is looking great! :D

-Raymond

[popowich]

Yes, Rebecky, same clothes as yesterday. :frog:

[popowich]

Plenty more done today. The back and has all new windows already and looks great!

[esnagel]

It's starting to look like someone else's house! I'm going to drive right by! Keep the parking lot in the front - that's the only way I'll know its yours

[Westchesterguy]

I just had a carpenter friend who has back problems and was out of work for a while put vinal on my outside garage. It was really so simple. You pay for someone else's knowledge. hope they do a good job

[popowich]

Here are a few more pictures that Theresa took this afternoon.

The white windows look much better than the brown ones!

-Raymond

[esnagel]

Woah! Pay that painter with FOOD!

[Kaos]

^Too funny!

Looking great Ray!

[popowich]

Work screeched to a halt due to thunder storms.

[THERESA]

Work screeched to a halt due to thunder storms.

Chickens :D

[popowich]

Quick rain delay, and everything back on track.

I have to say, they make a lot of progress every day and the project never seems to be dragging or anything.

The shutters are nice. I might need to get some more for the windows that have room for them on the side of the garage and the back of the house.

-Raymond

[popowich]

The shutters are almost done. The front ones make a big difference.

-Raymond

[popowich]

End of day update for Thursday. Almost done. Gutters coming soon!

[esnagel]

I think you need a new front door now - or paint yours. Maybe the color of the shutters.

[popowich]

The plan is to leave the white outer door white, but make the brown inner door wineberry.

-Raymond

[THERESA]

I think you need a new front door now - or paint yours. Maybe the color of the shutters.

That was exactly the plan. :)

[esnagel]

That was exactly the plan. :)

Great minds think alike!


So do idiots, though... hrm.... :confused:

[popowich]

The siding crew and the painting are done. Here are some if the final shots. The crew doing the gutters will be doing their thing on Monday or Tuesday next week. I have some work to do painting the brown cement white and adding some wineberry to various things attached to the house. I also need to get the shed painted, and figure out what the heck to do with that bush and the side of the house. I'd like to create something that retains the privacy, but looks nice.

-Raymond

[yukon]

the house looks great.

[Rebecky]

wow, the siding and colors really brings out the brick. You could hardly notice it before with the brown.

Very, very nice!

[harryn55]

Looks great.
Better have the Google people come by and take another picture.

[esnagel]

Looks good - I see you've found child labor to be nice & cheap :)

[Raven]

I will tell Google in the next meeting. :rofl:

Looks great.
Better have the Google people come by and take another picture.

[THERESA]

We now have gutters. It is officially finished. It is storming like crazy right now. New pics minus the dumpster when it's nicer outside.

[harryn55]

We now have gutters. It is storming like crazy right now.

Just in time.

[popowich]

I forgot to call them about the gutters. My old gutters had a shield in back that stuck up to catch the water and get it into the gutters. There is a spot where three sections of my roof come together and without the shield there is a waterfall shooting off my roof when it rains. I'll mention it to them while talking to them about the power outage (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=4389).

-Raymond

[Raven]

Looks like the pretty work turned into a bad situation. I hope they back up their work. Good luck. Keep us informed.

I forgot to call them about the gutters. My old gutters had a shield in back that stuck up to catch the water and get it into the gutters. There is a spot where three sections of my roof come together and without the shield there is a waterfall shooting off my roof when it rains. I'll mention it to them while talking to them about the power outage (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=4389).

-Raymond

[THERESA]

Well the power box was on the inside of the garage. I supposed they should have checked for those things first. I don't think Ray is super upset about it happening as long as they fix the situation and act like they give a damn.

[THERESA]

The work they did on the house was really nice and they were all nice guys. We made sure they had cold water everyday because it was really hot that week. Ray is very happy with the job they did. He is just hoping that they rectify what was obviously an "oops" on their part. Ray spent a lot of money on the siding and painting and shouldn't have to pay an electrician for their nail going through the powerbox and wire. They should be ready to quickly pay the electrician without argument at all. We have pictures of the proof and the electrician said he would be more than happy to write a statement or go to court and testify if it came to that. There it is nail through the box and through the wire. There is no mistaking how it happened or when.

[THERESA]

There is insurance for those kinds of things.

[popowich]

It's cheap and easy good customer service too in a nice thread that's quickly approaching the top 15 for views and replies on the site. ;)

-Raymond

[popowich]

Happy ending. They will cover the electricians bill.

Basically it boils down to since the box/wires were in plain sight they should have seen what they were nailing into and it will be covered.

Thank you! :yay:

-Raymond

[THERESA]

AWESOME ENDING!! That was the right thing for them to do and now they get tons of good PR on the site. :yay: :rockernana:

[ATN]

Late to this thread but isn't vinyl siding a hazard?

http://home.howstuffworks.com/vinyl-siding-lethal.htm

There was an HBO doc years ago about if it burns it contaminates the neighborhoods with cancer causing ash...Do they still make it out of PVC types of materials or is this new eco-friendly stuff?

There were communities where they make this stuff that were bought out by the government and posted as polluted, in the gulf area.

[THERESA]

Don't they say everything in the free world cause cancer these days?

[popowich]

My house is my largest investment and vinyl siding makes the most sense for future resale value in my area.

-Raymond

[wawawebis]

The shutters are almost done. The front ones make a big difference.

-Raymond

Looks great...and the yellow and burgandy look really nice together, with the bricks and all.
Next year, you can start matching your flowers! :)

[THERESA]

I picked the colors. The funny thing is I don't even like yellow but it looks good on the house. I don't care to match the flowers. I like to be different. I just pick the colors and flowers I like.:)

[harryn55]

If your vinyl siding is burning I think you have more pressing problems.

[THERESA]

Good point Harry. :laughing6: