Cost- Vinyl vs Sheet Metal vs T-111

[OKGirl80]

We need to reside our DW due to rotting areas. Ideally, we would use sheet metal. Long lasting with no maintenance. We live in a rural area with many poke barn houses so it would fit in. We will be on budget of about $5000 and have other things that need work as well. We need new windows, and will need a new roof soon as well. The roof will be metal. We can get the metal at a discount through a close friend. On a 24x58 DW, how much of a cost difference will there be in the three? It's possible we could replace on the areas that have damage if we go the T-111 route and then repaint. All of the overhangs and trim will need to be replaced as well.

[David Oxhandler]

Make a list of the quantities of all the materials you will need. Then go to the Lowe's or Home Depot web site and list the costs of all possible purchases.

There is nothing wrong with metal siding. We have a dozen older manufactured homes that were built with metal siding. We have had virtually no problems and very low maintenance costs with those homes. Homes with ANY type of wood siding will require continuing maintenance expenses. Here in Florida we need to paint wood sided homes every three years.

It sounds like your home has the "hardboard" type siding. This looks like T-111 but is a pressed board with a moisture proof finish. Unlike T-111 the hardboard siding disintegrates where ever moisture penetrates the finish. Typicality the deterioration starts where rain has worked in around nail holes or between the siding sheets.

If the home has hardboard siding you would do best to replace as much of that stuff as you can. Hardboard siding was very popular on all types of structures in the late 80s early 90s. The companies that produced that siding and sold it to site and manufactured builders suffered legal consequences of the failure of their products. There were huge money settlements and many home owners across the country were reimbursed for siding repairs and replacements.

There were a half dozen or so companies that each had their day in court and each lost and was orders to compensate home owners. In my opinion there is not a single brand of this siding that is worth patching. Unfortunately, the time the courts allowed to file claims has long ago past.

I had several homes that were awarded repair costs. Those homes we resided with metal or vinyl never had another problem. The homes where we just replace the problem areas continue to develop problems,now ten years later, and require continuing siding replacement expenses and regular re-painting.

Make sure to inspect the exterior wall framing behind the damaged siding. Chances are if water has penetrated the siding, then the framing has been compromised as well. Fix it ALL correctly now so you will never have to revisit this problem.

[OKGirl80]

Thanks for the info! I really just need to get someone out to give us some estimates. All major projects have to be done with our tax returns so we need to find a way we can take care of as much as possible to get is through a few more years. I will have my degree finished in a couple more years, and then will be ready to build a home. I'm not sure the house is sound enough to hold up to bein moved.