Two-story bay window in townhouse, wood seems to be rotten - Clad or Replace?
#1
10-03-13, 08:11 PM
Two-story bay window in townhouse, wood seems to be rotten - Clad or Replace?
Hi, I have a three story townhouse, with a bay window that spans the top two stories (a total of 6 windows). It is showing the signs of rotten wood from outside: cracks and swelling. I have got two estimates. One suggested to use Aluminum cladding to cover the wood for the whole area. The other suggested to replace all wood with vinyl. Both claims that it will become maintenance free (re-caulking of course is needed). Both quoted $3K.
A side note, both guys pointed out that my bargeboards need to be fixed as well. Same suggestion: One to clad it and the other to replace with PVC. Which way is better?
I have no idea about the difference and the advantages of either. Can someone please tell me which one I should use? Thank you very much!
A very puzzled home owner.
A side note, both guys pointed out that my bargeboards need to be fixed as well. Same suggestion: One to clad it and the other to replace with PVC. Which way is better?
I have no idea about the difference and the advantages of either. Can someone please tell me which one I should use? Thank you very much!
A very puzzled home owner.
#2
10-03-13, 08:32 PM
Group Moderator
Cover the rotten wood with aluminum cladding? I'd throw that idea out for the sheer fact that he's wanting to cover up rotten wood. Plus I rarely see people clad things in a way that will keep the water from getting trapped under the cladding, so it will just continue to rot... you just won't be able to see it. Not to mention, his bid is astronomical for the materials he would use (< $200... if he used 2 rolls of trim coil - just guessing...) and the time it would probably take. I for one would love to make $2800 for a couple days' work.
Replacing with PVC would be good... *if* they know what they are doing, and you never intend to paint it a dark color. Light colors are best. Composite screws will give the best results, and I always use Duo-fast trimbonder epoxy to seal PVC to PVC. Our Azek dealer highly recommends it. PVC does expand in hot weather and shrink in cold weather, so it does move a lot more than wood does which can create maintenance problems if it isn't installed using "best practices". PVC is expensive, and it could be that it will take maybe $500-700 or more in materials, depending on how much trim is needed to retrim the windows.
You can also replace the trim with a number of other products that may not be completely maintenance free, but will require paint less often, as compared to wood. Miratec, LP Smarttrim, Fiber Cement trim boards, etc. Those are the three I use most often. The fiber cement is a paint to rip and nail, but it will hold paint the best. I'm partial to Smarttrim, and haven't had any callbacks with it yet.
A picture of your window might help us see something that you left out that might give us more ideas.... or at least an idea of how much labor this is going to take.
Replacing with PVC would be good... *if* they know what they are doing, and you never intend to paint it a dark color. Light colors are best. Composite screws will give the best results, and I always use Duo-fast trimbonder epoxy to seal PVC to PVC. Our Azek dealer highly recommends it. PVC does expand in hot weather and shrink in cold weather, so it does move a lot more than wood does which can create maintenance problems if it isn't installed using "best practices". PVC is expensive, and it could be that it will take maybe $500-700 or more in materials, depending on how much trim is needed to retrim the windows.
You can also replace the trim with a number of other products that may not be completely maintenance free, but will require paint less often, as compared to wood. Miratec, LP Smarttrim, Fiber Cement trim boards, etc. Those are the three I use most often. The fiber cement is a paint to rip and nail, but it will hold paint the best. I'm partial to Smarttrim, and haven't had any callbacks with it yet.
A picture of your window might help us see something that you left out that might give us more ideas.... or at least an idea of how much labor this is going to take.
#4
10-04-13, 06:49 AM
Pictures
Hi, Thank you for your help. Here are some pictures:
Bay window:
Surface not flat between the left two decorative frames.
Cracking between the window and the frame
The bargeboards (not sure if it's the right term)
Bay window:
Surface not flat between the left two decorative frames.
Cracking between the window and the frame
The bargeboards (not sure if it's the right term)
#5
10-04-13, 06:58 AM
Add a PVC layer on top of the craking?
The person who suggested replacing with PVC took another look today and said that because of the way my windows are installed, (see the third picture with cracking between the windows and the frame), it's better to add a layer of PVC on top of it to cover those cracks. He will do the same with the bottom part with the decorative frames. My concern is the bottom part is already showing signs of rotten wood (see the second picture), will it be okay to cover it with PVC? Also, it seems that this will cost less labor. Should the price be reduced?
Please help. Thank you very much!
Please help. Thank you very much!
#6
10-07-13, 12:27 PM
Can someone please give me some insight? - pictures added
Thank you for your help. I added the pictures of the bay window and the bargeboards. Can someone give me an estimate? Thank you.
