Working on the House....

[kmead]

He does have some sharp edges, that man.

He also has a point.

 

[lookforjoe]

You might consider leaving them wild until you resolve the vertical trim and the side trim intersection approach.

I would look at other houses in your area that are of a similar vintage for clues to the way it once was.

I would make it a vertical cut with a back miter that then matched the trim running down the side of the house under the soffit (the frieze). This would join and lead your eye around rather than stopping it. Alternatively it could be a vertical cut that meets the corner trim (or pilaster as it can also be known as), again leading your eye to the next element in the building.

My four square had cedar shakes above the porch roof that ran around the entire upper story with trim above and below it but no corner trim. The shakes were countered/woven at the corner. Clapboard either met a vertical trim or often used a steel joiner that was lapped over and nailed onto the clapboard on each side of the corner (this was an innovation in the 20’s with the advent of kit houses and lower skilled laborers)

The vertical trim you are showing is based on the sad dimensions of vinyl parts or modern dimensional lumber choices at the big box stores.

I will find some pics of some of the kit houses of the era, Sears, Montgomery Wards and Aladdin all offered them and the images are good reference to how trim was dealt with during that era. There are also plan books from the time which would be appropriate reference (I own some of the catalogs from the era). I need to go to work early today so I can’t do so until this afternoon.

If you are interested in spending some time have a look at the teens to twenties versions of the Aladdin catalogues (a Michigan company): https://www.cmich.edu/library/clark...y_City_Aladdin_Co/Catalogs/Pages/default.aspx

Great progress.

Many thanks, Karl. I figured I should leave the base of the rakeboard until I sorted out what to do with the vertical trim. Creating an unified line from the base of the rakeboard down into the vertical trim make sense. I have a lumber yard about 1/4 mile from my house, so that is where I got the wood & PVC for the rakeboard - they deliver for free, which is good since I had no way to transport 24' lengths of board

The house is from the 1890's - under the absestos siding is the original wood outer walls. I just need to make the trim make sense with the overall flow of the house as it is with the asbestos siding. I will likely paint it house color - I'm not planning on removing the lower cedar panels at this point, so having it not stand out as a separate element makes the most sense to me at the moment.

 

[lookforjoe]

Got a first coat of green done on the upper portion of the siding after work today

It will look better after another coat or two, I like it so far

Morning shot:

Looks a little glossy - should be satin finish - not sure what's up with that.

 

[kmead]

The paint will flatten a bit over time and get some environmental deglossing (dirt) over time.

Semi gloss is better at shedding dirt so it is a good choice from a variety of perspectives.

 

[DanielForest]

I was kind of expecting the walls to be painted red with a yellow roof! Otherwise, I could live without the hot wheels sticker...

 

[lookforjoe]

Got the rest of the upper section coated, from the windows down will need a second coat. Got one coat of trim paint on the windows. The crappy vinyl siding is visible on the side in this pic - that will be removed.

Karl - this is what you meant about making the vertical trim mate with the rakeboard? I won't be using a piece this wide, as it will be too close to the bathroom window (left side, facing the house)

 

[kmead]

Yes, if you do it that way there could also be a piece of trim along the side currently covered by the vinyl.

 

[lookforjoe]

Yes, if you do it that way there could also be a piece of trim along the side currently covered by the vinyl.

Yes - I was assuming I would join two pieces to make a right-angle trim for front & sides. I'm going to do the back of the house next, so that trim won't happen for some time. Can't wait for it to be gone - the front looks so much better than the sides now.

 

[lookforjoe]

Last two weekends the wife & I worked on removing the vinyl from the back of the house, and replacing the nasty replacement windows with wood construction units. Many more broken tiles back here to deal with.

Vinyl crap coming out - these must have been done around the same time as the vinyl siding, poorly installed, loose in casement, not leveled, caulked or insulated. Nothing wrong with the actual window design, I just don't like the loss of window opening/glass area compared to 'new install' windows of the same overall dimension.

 

[bbrown]

Looks like you've got your hands full ...
I don't envy you on that project. Keep up the good work!

 

[tigeravg]

You guys in the east aquire skills by neccessity. We get "dry-rot" here, but most of the wood structures seem to stay in good shape for decades, despite shitty construction. Analogous to rust repair. I walk away from lots of projects with any rust. I just don't like to deal with it. You guys have no problems fixing it right up. A skill I have no desire to practice. And frankly, kinda scares me.
The house looks great, and good job on the repairs. My wife thinks finding a home like yours would be "fun". I believe she believes what she sees on the DYI network. All I see is work I'm bad at...
Again, good job brave soul.

 

[lookforjoe]

Still plugging away, after being off my feet for the past three weeks following the right heel surgery.

This weekend, we removed the downstairs front windows, repaired the rough openings, installed the new windows & then made the exterior case moldings. Also stripped & started restaining the cedar panels

Rot that was covered with the aluminum siding. Instead of fixing it, the PO installed replacement windows, & siliconed aluminum flashing over it The house did not originally have a covered porch, so presumably this came about from water leaks with the original sash windows. It's all dry in there, no termites etc.,

Stud & plate repaired

Gabriel helping out

It's so hot, I'm working in my beachwear Rough opening wrapped with butyl. I'm getting ready to install the new window

Gabriel monitoring the work progress

Two of the other three taking it easy away from the noise

Gable runnng trim FINALLY came - so Ann started painting that - it will be the same color as the front door

 

[lookforjoe]

Finally got the running trim painted - had to go over it as the paint mix was off on the first batch I had made. Got it installed today

Need to do the vertical trim to tie into the gable trim.

Still some minor work on the door trim & porch, then the front is done. Moving the scaffolding to the back tomorrow. Once the back is done, I'll move to the side street side of the house. I'm happy with the progress so far.

 

[lookforjoe]

Front done a few weeks back

Been working on & off on the back.

Finished the roofing repair at the base of the siding, repaired some tiles, and primed the area I could reach. Downstairs, I added the cedar panels to match the front (that area was just plywood under the vinyl), and stained to match. Weather is too hot to work on the upper siding at the moment.

replaced some broken tiles, repaired a couple others, primed siding. Removed soffet, facia board & gutter to repair & paint the rafters

Bilco doors will likely be brown like the roofing & gutters

Ann worked on painting the green top coats while I worked on new mortar for the back steps and then epoxy paint.

 

[DanielForest]

Good. I guess the front door is in metal. Otherwise I would have suggest to paint it white to match the windows. My wife is an interior designer, I could not forget that influence... Great job BTW. So, from now you, when the back will be done, you will have more time for the Fiat or the Volvo.

 

[lookforjoe]

Good. I guess the front door is in metal. Otherwise I would have suggest to paint it white to match the windows. My wife is an interior designer, I could not forget that influence... Great job BTW. So, from now you, when the back will be done, you will have more time for the Fiat or the Volvo.

Thanks Daniel. I get your point, it would be more in keeping with the overall look. The problem with a light color door is that that side of the porch gets hammered with rain and dust. The old door when we moved in (20 years ago) was a light color & it looked bad most of the time. Since I am not the best at routine exterior maintenance - we decided a dark color was more suitable

Yeah, I need to get moving on the Fiat & get the drivetrain out. Unless our governor decides otherwise, I will be going back to teaching in person in Sept, so not much large blocks of time left.

 

[lookforjoe]

We got more coats on the back lower siding, and on the steps. Have to work on the pavers in front of the steps, about 9' x 5' area, and dig up, level & put pavers in the area to the left, where we keep the recycling bins

 

[RZSR X]

Dam the speed at which you accomplish whatever it is you are doing just blows my mind!

But I'm guessing you're not into sports? Because between Windsurfing, Road & Mt. Biking, Hiking and Backpacking half my time or more is taken up and then I'm not so inclined to accomplish more.

By the way being that you are living in an east coast home, how old is it?

Really liking the lower front of the house! Nice color combo.

 

[lookforjoe]

Dam the speed at which you accomplish whatever it is you are doing just blows my mind!
But I'm guessing you're not into sports? Because between Windsurfing, Road & Mt. Biking, Hiking and Backpacking half my time or more is taken up and then I'm not so inclined to accomplish more.
By the way being that you are living in an east coast home, how old is it?
Really liking the lower front of the house! Nice color combo.

Thank you.

Yeah, sports have never been my thing. If it involves kicking or batting a ball around, I have zero interest. Thankfully, my wife feels much the same way. Used to go to Yankees games on a regular basis when my father -in-law was alive, however the rules had to be explained each time

I tried windsurfing a few times - did OK with that mainly 'cos I have a irrational fear of dunking in any water in which I can't see the bottom, especially in climates where sharks are common. I still have my Cannondale Super-V from the 90's, however after I snapped my left tibia in two back in 2009, I've kept to street or sedate trail riding. Only occasional use the past couple years.

The house was built in the 1890's. We've been in it since 2000, so slow going on the renovations, really

 

[lookforjoe]

Monday & today I worked on the pavers. Yesterday we had a Tropical Storm come through. My neighborhood lucked out thhis time - very little damage. I put down paver base, paver sand & then the pavers. The perimeter rows of pavers are set in concrete. I will mortar the rough edge once it's fully set. Have to put more sand inbetween the pavers and at the base of the steps. I'm thinking I should coat them with a low-gloss sealer once I'm done, otherwise they only look good when it rains