Author Topic: Paint or replace wood siding?  (Read 4133 times)

Bearded Man

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Paint or replace wood siding?
« on: August 28, 2015, 11:21:06 AM »
I have an older rental that had new cedar siding installed some years ago. It still looks like it is in good condition to me, it still looks like nice cedar when the paint is peeled off, and after seeing some of it when having two exterior doors replaced recently. it looked fine to ME.

It was when I was considering painting the trim that I started to wonder what it would cost me to paint the whole exterior. Not bad $1,300 for a licensed/bonded painter including materials. Does not include tax of course. It would also only cost me $400 to paint the interior.

I think that will help with raising rents, and adding value to the house. I plan on replacing the gutters and the roof (which is needed soon) as well by next summer.

Question is, should I do the whole exterior paint job, replace the siding and paint the trim, or just paint trim? I will post pics soon, but curious as to opinions based on the info provided. House is in a rapidly gentrifying area. Tons of new houses are being built literally 2 houses in every direction from me, town homes, etc. There's a Starbucks on the corner...

Jack

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Re: Paint or replace wood siding?
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2015, 12:09:19 PM »
Why the Hell would you replace perfectly-good wood siding? As long as consistently maintain it (i.e., keep it painted and sealed), wood siding lasts for 100+ years!

NoNonsenseLandlord

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Re: Paint or replace wood siding?
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2015, 10:21:37 PM »
Paint it now, make the decision to replace when it needs paint again.  If you do replace, use a maintenance free product.

Argyle

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Re: Paint or replace wood siding?
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2015, 11:25:44 PM »
I'm also baffled as to why you'd replace perfectly good siding.  And new siding will cost a fortune (I know, I've done it, because my old siding was in terrible condition).  Not to mention the damage to your house the supposedly perfectionist workers will cause.  It's like saying "Should I repaint my dining room, or should I demolish all the walls and put new ones up?"

MrMoneyMaxwell

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Re: Paint or replace wood siding?
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2015, 08:02:38 AM »
1) Rent power painter from Home Depot for the weekend.
2) Buy a truck load of paint.
3) Spend 2 days painting house (a weekend), inside and outside.

LiveLean

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Re: Paint or replace wood siding?
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2015, 08:35:26 AM »
It depends on where the home is located when you consider the life of wood siding.

My family had a beach house from 1978-1997 and I bought in the same area last year. In the 1980s, people went with the wood siding look. Of course, being on the ocean, the siding took a beating, though the weathered siding look worked in the '70s and '80s. Later some people stained or painted theirs or just did the trim. My family did it all -- started with wood siding, then I painted the trim (red) as a teenager, then we eventually painted the entire house a burnt orange color. Subsequent owners have repainted various shades of orange or cream.

In the early 2000s, vinyl siding caught on and now 90 percent of the beach community is vinyl siding, mostly blue, pink, or yellow. It looks a lot cleaner and fresher. A few still repaint their wood, though I still get nostalgic when I look at the few remaining holdouts with their weathered unfinished look.

gohou85

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Re: Paint or replace wood siding?
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2015, 06:21:52 PM »
I would pain it now if I were you ... like some other posters suggested.

adamcollin

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Re: Paint or replace wood siding?
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2015, 10:20:20 PM »
Its a good option to paint and also make other upgrades from time to time. It keeps your property value high and attracts more tenants too.

 

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