Exterior Projects

Ten months ago, I put together a list of exterior projects that still seems like a good way to organize designs, budgets, and todo lists.

EXT.1 - Rotten fascia, gutters, downspouts--In Progress. New fascia lumber is $2/LF. New gutters with leaf covers are in the $4,000 range. I hope to be done by the end of March 2024.

(This also included a new roof, which I've moved to EXT.18)

Need Design

EXT.19 - Decide exterior colors and repaint house. Bids in the $9,000 range--maybe I could do it myself?

EXT.17 - Enclosure for tankless water heater.

EXT.3 - Cover entry steps with deck for zero-step threshold. TBD.

EXT.4 - Replace entry walk. Match height with EXT.3 for zero-step. TBD.

EXT.5 - Path and steps from driveway to doors. TBD

EXT.7 - Carport structure. Needs design.

EXT.8 - New path to east side gate, maybe gravel? New landscape? Needs design.

EXT.10 - Fence/landscaping to hide breezeway door. Needs design.

EXT.11 - Gas meter enclosure. Needs design.

EXT.13 - Basement door. Needs design. $2000-$3000.

EXT.14 - Backyard paths and railings. Cruz has done a lot. Need design for railings (see also EXT.15).

EXT.15 - Consider fencing backyard. 125' should be $2,000 or so. GET BIDS.

To Do

EXT.2 - Chimney. Point up the mortar, cap flues with a stone (unless we still need the heater flue). Maybe $1,000? Install a balloon-style flue blocker from below.

EXT.6 - Repair door and window trim at porch. I should be able to do this and get it done before painting.

EXT.9 - Remove dead tree at driveway. Get bid from Cruz.

EXT.12 - Repair siding and mid-rail: SW corner of BR3; SE corner of BA3; corner at W/D; west of BR1 glass door; west Kitchen. I can do this work.

EXT.16 - Replace deck outside BR1 deck. I can do this, maybe with existing Fiberon.

Eventually

EXT.18 - New roof - looking like $30,000 or more.

Maybe Two-Tone Is Right?

 I've been assuming that two-tone isn't right, but maybe it is. (I'm that lost when it comes to a decision.) I realize that I want a "sophisticated," or at least "adult" color scheme. So here are some possibilities ahead of meeting with Liz Sparrow from Sherwin-Williams on 13 Feb.

Here is Escape Gray over Stargazer. The upper seems more gray.

Escape Gray over Dried Thyme

Escape Gray over Elephant Ear (SW recommended related color)

These colors are so adult, they seem asleep. Maybe wake things up.

Escape Gray over Peppercorn with Sunflower and Decisive Yellow accents.

The advantage with this is that I could repaint the accents myself. Maybe just paint them with the wall color if they wear out their welcome.

Escape Gray over Stargazer with Broccoflower accents

Notes

1. Some use the lower color on the brick at the garage, while some use the upper to help the brick merge with the rest of the garage.

2. Stargazer and Broccoflower are interior only, but I'm sure we can find a similar exterior color.

Getting Shed of the Shed

I was showing a painter around the house last week when I realized that the metal shed on the east side was in the way. Amazing that I hadn't thought of that before. The only thing inside it were 8 chairs, some surplus shingles, wood, and garden stakes.

I didn't know whether it had a foundation (it didn't), a floor (it didn't), or was somehow attached to the house or anything else (it wasn't). So it was pretty easy to move it away from the house. I wonder if I want to fix it up or just replace it. If the latter, I should add it to the pile of gutters.

Moved away a little.

Original location--they didn't paint behind it.

Interior

 

Moved away for painting

The wall is in good shape behind the shed; it's just the wrong colors.

Latest Paint Color

I've lived with Escape Gray swatches for several days now, rain and (nearly) shine. I think I like color drenching the wall, including the mid-rail and the garage and breezeway doors, but white trim at the windows and white stain on the brick.

Here's what I sent to SWColorConsult.com:

One-level 1947 ranch surrounded by trees. Siding is horizontal clapboard up to a drip cap, with vertical 9" tongue and groove above the drip cap. Front is north-facing. I plan to paint fascia and soffits Pure White--that part is DIY--and I have swatches of Escape Gray up that I like (it looks like Sea Salt). I plan for a light, coastal style feel inside. I'd like a more urbane, sophisticated feel from the street, so I put up a swatch of Acier, but it seems too dark. Maybe something like Polished Concrete or Westchester Gray would seem more "adult."

Painting Bids

Tuesday 6 Feb: Chris LeBeau of Hate to Paint came by at 10a. He lives in Broadview and his crew is Mongolian. I walked around the house with him and realized that I'll have to get the metal shed out of the way on the east side. Do I move it and put it back? Do I haul it away with the gutters? $8,125.43 including tax, but no brick. 3-year warranty. They will help move the metal shed. SW SuperPaint.

Friday 9 Feb: Rich Wall of All Covered Painting 9am. $8,929 with tax, no brick. Brick lime wash is +$1,770. Paint mid-rail +$2,050. Upgrade from SuperPaint to Duration +$342, to Emerald +$722. 7-year warranty. Sign after 16 Feb +$900. Estimate has lots of good Washington law info.

Monday 12 Feb: Richard Stewart of Amsberry's Painting. $8,544 with tax. 10-year warranty against peeling on body. SuperPaint, Emerald, Loxon on brick.

I need to evaluate Hate to Paint, All Covered, and Amsberry's bids. First, let me see what it would cost me.

Power wash - 2 days rental $85/day 2500# gas. $170 - 5 hours

Misc wood repairs - 5 hours

$750 worth of SW SuperPaint for 2 coats (see breakdown) walls + Loxon. Not including trim.

Trim paint - say $200

Airless sprayer - 2 days rental? Purchase? $100/day + $48/day for compressor. $300

Caulking

Taping off soffits, brick, windows - 10 sides, 1 hour/side = 10 hours, $100 materials

Protect decks - say 4 hours

Paint - 10 sides, 2 hours/side/coat - 40 hours

Trim - say 15 hours

80 hours of my time - $4000

Materials: $1520

I can spend 80 hours over several months and paint the house for $5520, roughly. Or, I can hire a painter for $3,000 more and have it done in a week.

====

Analysis

Hate to Paint - 7370, 3-year, 25% down

+ Local Broadview

+ Cheapest bid

+ They do carpentry at $75/hr

- Does not include painting brick

Amsberry - 7750, 10-year, 0 down

+ Includes painting brick

+ Includes painting aluminum windows

All Covered - 8999, 7-year, 40% down

- We excluded the brick and the breezeway door

- Had a 10% quick sign bonus, but the date has passed--would be 8099

Eave Work Checklist

Twilight--Fascia corner 2-3 done, in theory

I trimmed a bump, then sanded, then painted the 2-3 fascia. I applied filler the night before. I realized that I have to be more systematic.

We have these 14 sections to work on:

• 6 demo mini-gable, decide new design, demo rotted fascia
• 3 (don't drip on deck) deal with 3-4 miter rot
• 4 (S-at the 3 end) - replace the fascia that fell off
• 4 (N-at the 5 end) - high. 4-5 miter--rot on 4 and 5
• 5 - N facing garage front - rot at both ends
• 7 rotted at 8 end
• 8 rotted at both ends
• 9 largely okay - no miter, no rot at 9-10 (E) corner
• 10 largely okay
• 11 rotted at ends?
• 12 ordinary (have to work on steps)
• 1 (don't drip on deck) - metal under first row of shingles--fix leak
• 2 fix mini-gable (non-vertical joints

For each section, here's the checklist:

Remove any screws or nail heads
Scrape peeling paint, prep other patch sites (gouges, knots, etc.)
Review fascia for rot; cut it out, ending centered on a rafter
Cut new fascia
Install new fascia--two screws per rafter

Then, working around the house: 

Wash the old fascia (ideally with TSP and rinse).
      Get crap off the edge of the roof (dangling needles, etc.) and clean edge of eave.
Patch butt joints, fill holes
Sand the patches and other areas
Caulk
Just before paint, wash again to remove new needles and sanding dust
Paint the fascia (not the eaves) 

The Grayest Green You've Ever Seen

After yesterday's Home Show, I have several painters coming over to give me bids. My hunt for the right body color has led me back to a medium--40 to 55 LRV--green. Not white, cream, yellow, pink, or blue; green. There are grays with purple undertones--I don't like them.  But I want it subtle.

Sherwin-Williams has a green that is so gray... How gray is it? They don't have green in the name. Oyster Bay (6206/44) and Austere Gray (6184/51) are in the ballpark, but it decided I really like Escape Gray (6185/41). I bought a quart for testing. It looks gray in the container, but instantly turns green on a wall.

Escape Gray with Pure White mid-rail

I primed the first two rows of blue under the chair rail, then just put Escape Gray on the dark blue to see what happened. I didn't prime any of the other swatches. I painted the chair rail with the expensive "Rain Refresh" paint and--guess what I learned--blue tape doesn't stick to it. I tried painting the chair rail the same as the wall to see whether I like that better.

I still like it on the wall, but it's awfully light on the south side and with Pure White trim it looks kind of country; kind of farmhouse.

Doesn't this seem a little farmhousey?

LRV 41 seems awfully light in direct sunlight on the south side

Escape Gray on Gray Screen (7071/59) with Acier (9170/32) at the right edge. The mid-rail is Pure White, but the other white trim is just primer (and the original house white).