I'm facing a bit of a dilemma with my home renovation plans. I want to replace the old and disintegrating vertical cedar board and batten siding, which has been painted multiple times and is in bad shape. I got a quote for $16,000 for new siding. However, I was advised that I should replace my old wood frame double pane windows first (which are still intact but very old from 1988) and that would cost around $28,000. Then, it turns out I should also upgrade my exterior studs from 2x4 to 2x6 to meet code requirements for insulation (R20) here in Canada, where it gets really cold. I haven't even gotten a quote for that additional work yet. I'm feeling overwhelmed and worried about going bankrupt from all these expenses, especially since it seems like I need to tackle these projects in a specific order. Any advice on how to handle this situation?
5 Answers
It's a tough situation, but it seems like many exterior upgrades kind of roll into one another. There's often not a way to avoid doing them in succession. One idea is instead of furring your walls, consider installing 2-inch polyiso insulation with a foil face and creating a rain screen. This can effectively seal your home and might save you some hassle. It's worth a thought!
I had a similar experience where a contractor tried to convince me I needed extra work for gutters and fascia while quoting siding. I decided against it because my gutters were only three years old and just needed cleaning. It’s important to get quotes and stick to what makes sense for your budget and the actual state of your home. You don’t have to accept every suggestion!
If the siding absolutely must be replaced, you could save on labor costs by doing some of the work yourself, like buying the materials and handling part of it. Just keep in mind that labor usually makes up a huge chunk of the bill, and this could help lighten that load!
Before you jump in, think about whether you really have a problem needing a solution or if you're just being pushed into these decisions. Are your windows truly bad, or are they just being suggested as a quick fix? If your home stays comfortable and your energy use isn’t excessive, you might not need to worry about framing or insulation just yet. It could be helpful to start with an energy audit to identify where the most significant heat losses are happening—often it’s through the roof, not the walls. You might find you can insulate up there without tackling the siding right away!
Even if you're told all of this work needs to be done now, take a moment to assess if it really does need immediate attention. I was once eager to start with windows, and I still haven’t tackled them. You can plan and budget for everything now, but don’t rush—get a quote for the furring out and add about 10% to each estimate to cover surprise expenses. It’s a big undertaking, so take your time!