PlayHaven Green Building Project

Install Cementatious Fiber Siding (April 2011).

The economy affects everyone and we are no exception. I had hoped to re-side the entire house, but when I found out how much it would cost (CHA-CHING!$$$!)... had to settle for just the north side (excluding the porch area). At least, that meant removing the damaged siding in and around the bump out, insulating the bump out and putting up cementatious fiber siding.

For years I have been wanting to work with Bordner Installation Group, so when Tom Barker came out to give me a quote, I was already half sold. He was very professional... didn't try to hard sell us on more than we wanted (and could afford)... and was interested in being part of the project. I asked about overstock product (love to use those leftovers so they don't go in a landfill!) and, yes, they did have some Hardie staggered shingles from another job that he was happy to offer at a discounted price. We corresponded via email to determine exactly what texture/look we wanted and could afford. (We got to add another sponsor!! Yippee!!) The result is Certainteed lap siding on the walls and the Hardie staggered shingles in the gables. Both products came primed and I picked the paint colors for them to use. They were also going to replace the rotted fascia boards along the roofline... but after talking with Jerry at KC Roofing, we all agreed it would be best not to chance voiding the warranty off the roof. So Jerry sent a crew out after the siding was done (but before the painting was finished) to replace the fascia with Azek boards. As a continuing sponsor, he only charged us materials cost and labor. Be forewarned, Azek is expensive! It is not to be considered lightly. And as I told the crew afterward (when they asked how I liked it)... I don't like PVC products, but if there is any place it is worth while, it is as fasica boards along the roof. They won't rot, they hold paint, we can put gutters along them.
So while this was an expense we were not planning on, it is definitely worth it!

I don't want to leave out Jeff Wedgewood. Jeff was the Supervisor of this job. A super guy, conscientious and great to work with.

This is (from left to right) Jeff, Monica and Carlos discussing details.

Certainteed Lap Siding

Miratec Trim Board

Green Guard Wrap Insulation

At left is Carlos deciding on the shingles for fitting the tiny gable over the porch.

Carlos and David were wonderful.
They did a high quality job and were so precise!

I was SO happy to see that the guys put flashing under this trim board! This had been a horribly rotted board due to it's location at a valley of the roof.

After waiting for the materials to arrive on Thursday, it was a late start, so not much done that day. Then it rained on Friday and since it was Easter weekend, we didn't think we'd see them until Monday. But nope, they came out on Saturday and worked a very LONG day.

Things moved along so quickly, I missed seeing the rotten siding being removed. Darn. I wanted so much to help with that! Ah well.

Here you can see part of the new OSB that hasn't already been covered by the Green Guard Wrap Insulation.

While the Green Guard was used over the conditioned living space, it wasn't needed in the attics, so they put Tyvek wrap there to minimize moisture.

Oh, forgot to mention that we also had Bordner continue the lap siding around the west side of the second story.

The process interests me. I did not even think about what goes up first... the lap or the trim. Here you can see that they put the trim in place first and then butted the lap up against it.

Talk about needing to measure twice and cut once!

I know I've praised the crew for their precision, but believe you me, they deserve all that praise and more!

The closer the fit, the less caulk and the less chance of leaking.

This picture is to show how very precise Carlos and David work was. Look closely at the peak of the bump out roof and notice that there is a tiny notch in the trim board of the window.

Plus everything that should be flashed, IS flashed!

The caulking will be done by the paint crew.

Moving right along! (No, the blue light doesn't mean anything special. The electric outlet on the porch is simply controlled by the same switch as the light.)

Carlos using the level. Perfect!

Luckily for us, Monica's crews do both commercial and residential buidings. So, they were familiar with the roof material. They understood especially how slippery it can be.