Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Siding quandry

Many of you are aware of our current pond project committment.
Here is the current dilemna.
The project will require about 20 square of siding. We are probably 6 weeks away from being ready to install siding. In the midwest, it's getting pretty darned cold.
The structure is house-wrapped in Gorilla Wrap. Although G Wrap gets excellent marks for performance, it is specifically limited to 6 months exposure. I called their tech dept. They said it is related directly to UV exposure. They would not bend or admit that it might be purposely under-rated.
I installed the first parts of the wrap in July. Ironically, it was the south and western exposure, so it has been getting (and will continue to get) UV exposure on a daily basis. By Mfgrs instruction, I should have it covered by January.
I don't mind working in the cold. The problems arise with proper installation and protective covering (paint or stain) in the cold.
Vinyl siding would be a non-issue. I really, really don't want vinyl siding.
I originally wanted to use a fiber-cement product like Hardie board or the Certainteed product. I have done a good amount of research, and I am now VERY interested in using the Louisiana Pacific (LP) Smartside composite siding. It is LP's answer to fiber-cement, with improved impact resistance and easier installation (cuts and works with normal tools, as opposed to the cement product that can be brittle and cuts with special blades). It also carries a 50 year product warranty, similar to the fiber cement products.
OK, let's just assume that I really want the LP Smartside product.
A) I can do the job with vinyl for about $2000, but I really don't want vinyl
B) I can do the job with LP Smartside that is factory primed and I apply Sherwin Williams best exterior paint (Duration) for about $3000. It will require 2 coats of paint, it will be a solid color. The paint is good down to 35 degrees.
C) I can do the job with the LP Smartside, prefinished in a solid paint color. The finish warranty is 30 years. The cost is about $4000.
D) I can do the job with the LP Smartside, prefinished in a stain to simulate Cedar, Maple, or similar. The finish warranty is 30 years. The cost is about $5000.

Summary:
"A" sucks
"B" is a reasonable idea, but it's gonna be too cold to really count on a proper cure of the paint. Also, the color would be a solid paint color
"C" is compatible with my weather issues (except the required caulk, which I have not yet researched....but let's assume that it won't change overcoming my weather issues). The color would be a solid paint color. This kinda bothers me. I go through all this trouble to get something that looks like real wood, including the expense, and I wind up with a painted finish.
"D" is the most compatible, but also the most expensive. It also delivers the "real wood" look.

This is the Mfgr that applies the finish to the LP product.
Whadda ya'll think?


(I just tried the link...it worked last night but not now. It's a page within wausausupply.com)


OK...works now

Brettski if your funds allow it go with D, you've put a lot of money, time and effort into your dream place, you'll be glad you put on what looks best.

Brettski:

I know, I know, you don't want vinyl. But, have you looked at the multi-colored vinyl siding that Menards has up on their walls? They don't stock it anymore, but they can order it. That's what I'm using on the house. It looks like weathered wood from a pretty close look, even better the further away you are. If you want, I believe I could get a piece of it to you on Monday. I believe it's called weathered cypress.

Well nuts.How to decide.Do I spend the money to get what I want and enjoy it for a lifetime,or do I go the cheaper route to save some money and regret it for the rest of my life.Gee,decisions decisions.Hint hint

I believe I would go with D. And, hire some help to get it done darn fast. Like you said, it getting cold and this is just Autumn.

Brettski:

If the weathered wood vinyl isn't to your liking, I'd go with DD1's advice. You have a very full plate, and by the time you get the roof on, and soffit/facia on, I don't think you will have enough days left on the calender to get the siding installed before the big chill sets in. A two person show can only get so much done in a week, especially not being abloe to work on the place every day.

I don't mind you working in the cold either, Bski, but I wonder how brittle and hard to work with vinyl would be when it's frigid.

Don't know nuthin' about the other stuff.

P.S. Worst case (schedule-wise), how much would it cost to throw another layer of gorilla wrap on to hold off until next year for whatever you decide to do?

Bski, Don't use vinyl siding. The farm house we bought has it as does one of the barns. A small hail storm knocked holes in it like crazy. Where you weed eat and mow around the house will also damage it. Get what you really want and be done with it (if you can afford it of course)

I like D. But if it's not an option for any reason , time ,cost , availability etc then I like Theo's suggestion. What about other temporary cover ups like cheap paint or tar paper to cover that side (or all) if it�s cheaper than more wrap. Direct UV from a winter sun is very low in north country but I don't know about sun reflection off of snow.

I've never heard of the Louisiana Pacific (LP) Smartside until you mentioned it (of course the topic of siding does come up very often in bean counting conversations). You peaked my interest so I researched it as well. Seems like good stuff. DIED installed had the Certainteed fiber-cement siding put on his house. The end result does look beautiful, but like you mentioned it is supposed to be a bear to handle and install.

Look, siding is not something you ever want to mess with a second time. I'd go with the type of siding you want and use a factory finish. It has a great guarantee.

Siding is something that you will see every time you visit the property. Go with the good stuff.

Oh and I like Theo's idea, if you're getting pinched for time can you just apply another of the wrap?

I don't know what the price of the Gorilla wrap is compared to Tyvek, (if you were to put a 2nd layer on) but here's the info on Tyvek:
DuPont� Tyvek� HomeWrap� and DuPont� Tyvek� StuccoWrap�, DuPont� Tyvek� DrainWrap�, DuPont� Tyvek� ThermaWrap� and DuPont� Tyvek� AtticWrap� should be covered within 120 days (4 months). DuPont� Tyvek� CommercialWrap� should be covered within 270 days (9 months).

Heck, Bski, how many days of sunshine do you get per year at LNP? We get 90 days of sunshine here, every year, whether we need it or not. At that rate, 6 month gorilla wrap could last 2 years.

If you are going to use more of it eventually (for the big house for Sunil to stay in, when he visits), maybe you could get enough for the garage-apartment ahead of time and only put it on IF the original layer starts to deteriorate.

The G wrap is methodically and hermetically sealed beneath all the window flanges and other areas. The exterior is like a boat hull....for now.
I considered covering it up with something else. It would require a PIMA and a bunch of additional holes thru the existing work. The thought makes a sucking sound.
I considered that the UV attack is at it's lowest right now and that these ratings are typically under-rated. I expect that I will likely keep plugging along with that thought in mind. I would go ahead with the prefinished Smartside, work on the sides that would take the worst exposure beating when I can, and assume that the rest would wait until the warmer days of spring. The side with the garage doors is the weak link, so there is very little real estate to be concerned with.

VASTLY talented - I'm honored at the allusion to the Shrooms.

Thanks TJ. This is my second foray into pond song writing.

My first was I want a new fish.

Wow... I just this morning decided to re-side my tractor shed in something bullet proof, and came up with Hardy Board. Pond Boss is weird that way.

Brettski, go with D. I, like you am building a house. I'm skimping on some of the finishes that can be easily upgraded later, but the bones have got to be right. You are only talking about another $2000-$3000 upfront and you will have NO maintenance costs in the years to come. It could not make more sense.

Now here comes an extremely uneducated suggestion. What if you covered the housewrap with heavy weight black plastic to prevent UV exposure until you are ready to roll in the spring? Could that preserve it's integrity? It might be ugly but could buy you some more time...

Thanks for the input, Anna. Your suggestion, as uneducated as you may believe it to be, is already on the radar at this School of Unorthodox Methods of Gorilla Wrap Protection. Since I still have some time in my hourglass, and since getting on the roof is currently first and foremost, I am going to keep this one in neutral for a week or three and continue to let it play out.

Sounds like a school I need to attend. I chose red metal barn siding for our house. It has a 35 year warranty and is also maintenance free. But our new house is actually a Monitor Style Barn, so it should look good.

I wish you lots of luck.

Pictures, we need pictures!

These are our sketches from the architect. We changed the roof line from the gambrel style back to a regular pitch and went with normal windows instead of the rounded style. The windows would have cost twice the price if we had stuck with the rounded tops. We also eliminated a lot of windows on the back wall and installed 6x6 picture windows instead. When you walk in the front you have a 6 foot full glass door straight ahead of you flanked by two 6 foot windows. All you see is the pond and the terraces. It's a nice view. Our great-room includes the kitchen and measures 20 x 44.

The second floor is actually the master bedroom and rides front to back over the center of the building with the bathroom being over the front door and the balcony overlooking the back of the house and pond. The second floor is 20 x 40. The bedroom is 20 x 20 with the balance being the bath and closets. We also included a stackable w/d in the closet.

I had to convert the files from PDF, so they are not great quality. So far we are still in the framing stage. The first floor framing is complete and the second floor has floors and walls.

Nice! It'll be a relief when it's done and you are all moved in.

Finally...a monitor plan with style. I like it.

When you are talking about a structure that you intend to keep and use for the rest of your life, I'd say over that lifetime that there is really little difference in cost. Let's just say you will get the 30 years worth out of the product (as warranty states). That's $100 more per year to get what you REALLY want versus your cheapest option (vinyl), and vinyl WILL NOT last 30 years. I'd pay the hundred bucks if it were me, and frankly you'd probably be on your third round of vinyl siding by the 30 year point anyway.... making option D the better deal in fact.