home improvement tips.

[toddg]

im going to replace all the wood siding and trim on my house...which is best, vinyle, aluminum, or hardie siding and trim? im doing it myself and any advice would be appreciated.

[mad_fan]

I used the Hardie board (horizontal) as I could paint it the color I wanted. Vinyl looks like hell (unless it's white) where it is exposed to sun for a few years. It also doesn't stand up to hail well.

Hardie board experience-
1. Have help.
2. Have beer for your help.
3. Stagger joints where boards are not long enough to cover the entire run.
4. Pre-drill screw holes in the boards.
5. Get the first row LEVEL across an entire side of the house (and at least one board in place at corners where you'll also be siding an adjoining wall) before proceeding up with the second row. This'll make it easier to see if something is out of wack and easier to fix the appearance by adjusting boards up or down a bit as you go.

[Bobcat81]

im going to replace all the wood siding and trim on my house...which is best, vinyle, aluminum, or hardie siding and trim? im doing it myself and any advice would be appreciated.

I would agree with Mad_Fan.

Hardy Plank is the way to go. It's the most durable surface out on the maket today. A little (using that term loosely) more expensive, but it holds up very well in extreme weather and heat and doesn't break down as much as other trims.

Vynle siding is easy & quick to install and looks nice when finished, but after several years of exposure to the elements it becomes brittle and has a tendency to attract mildew in humid climates. It is also difficult to seal the corners and eaves from insects, wasps, etc.

Aluminum looks good also but the metal heats up a lot more than vynle or hardy plank and the colors tend to fade along with paint peel over time.

Spend the extra money on Hardy Plank if you can. You'll thank yourself later. It may take a little more work to complete but your good to go for 30+ years or more. Besides, if you ever decide to sell in the future, that will be an added selling point to your beautifully trimmed out home.

[PaulinPlano]

Good thread Toddg.

Anyone ever replace a gas hot water heater. I have never even helped anyone do this before. I did not even consider doing it myself until I started looking at the hotwater heater. It does not look complicated. My hot water heater is not broken. It still seems to work fine, but I have always been proactive when it comes to stuff like this. It is 12 years old and I feel like I am on borrowed time.

I will look online for instructions, but any tips would be appreciated.

[KattTx]

Good thread Toddg.

Anyone ever replace a gas hot water heater. I have never even helped anyone do this before. I did not even consider doing it myself until I started looking at the hotwater heater. It does not look complicated. My hot water heater is not broken. It still seems to work fine, but I have always been proactive when it comes to stuff like this. It is 12 years old and I feel like I am on borrowed time.

I will look online for instructions, but any tips would be appreciated.

Gas or electric heater?

We have friends who got away from the hot water heater and got the tankless water heaters and they are extremely happy with it. Not sure if they have been around long enough for me to go to one yet though.

[ktCarl]

Good thread Toddg.

Anyone ever replace a gas hot water heater. I have never even helped anyone do this before. I did not even consider doing it myself until I started looking at the hotwater heater. It does not look complicated. My hot water heater is not broken. It still seems to work fine, but I have always been proactive when it comes to stuff like this. It is 12 years old and I feel like I am on borrowed time.

I will look online for instructions, but any tips would be appreciated.

I recently had my electric hot water heater replaced. I watched the guys who did it. What surprised me was that they didn't drain the tank first which is what I thought they would have done. They had a heavy duty dolley and wheeled that sucker out full of water. They said it was easier, not as messy and less time consuming. They drained it on the driveway.

Hardee plank. My in-laws had that put on their beach house 5 or 6 years ago. So far we haven't had to do any kind of maintenance to it and you know how harsh the seacoast climate is with all the salt in the air.

[Favpack]

I agree with Mad - I love Hardie. I can't comment further as I've never purchased it or put it up - but it is on my house and it is nice. I hear you need a special sawblade to cut it - since the product is essentially concrete.

[SV61]

Good thread Toddg.

Anyone ever replace a gas hot water heater. I have never even helped anyone do this before. I did not even consider doing it myself until I started looking at the hotwater heater. It does not look complicated. My hot water heater is not broken. It still seems to work fine, but I have always been proactive when it comes to stuff like this. It is 12 years old and I feel like I am on borrowed time.

I will look online for instructions, but any tips would be appreciated.

Purdy easy.

1) Cut off the gas at the water heater, or at the street if you are super skeered.

2) Turn off the supply water to the water heater, or at the street as a last resort. You won't have ANY water to the house then. Keep in mind, that if you cut off the hot water only, you may still have some water run out the outlet (reverse flow) of the hot water heater, onto your floor.

3) Use an Adjustable wrench, to disconnect the water lines to the heater, and the gas line.

The next step, you can do in the house, or outside. If it is still in the house, run a garden hose from the draining valve outlet of the water heater, to a sink, drain, or outside. If you decide move the water heater while it is full to drain the thing outside, be sure and have a BIG rubber tired dolly. It WILL be heavy.

4) Open draining valve at the bottom of the heater. If it has been there a while, you may need to poke a coat hanger or something in there, to clear the hole. You may also open the pressure valve at top of heater, SLOWLY. Make sure you have a bucket handy for any "wet pressure"

Get it drained, and get it out of there.

Reverse the order, to install a new one. The new ones GENERALLY have an igniter, rather than using the foot long matches.

What usually goes out on a gas water heater? Thermo couplers first, igniters second.

[gtowndrumma]

the thermo couplers are normally the first thing to go out

[SV61]

the thermo couplers are normally the first thing to go out


Absofrigginlutely.

Especially, if you live in an Historic house, are restoring it, sanding floors NEAR the water heater, and would like to take a warm shower after putting the water heater back!!!!! :mad: :mad:

Not that I would know anything about ANY of that.

:D

[drgnbkr]

Good thread Toddg.

Anyone ever replace a gas hot water heater. I have never even helped anyone do this before. I did not even consider doing it myself until I started looking at the hotwater heater. It does not look complicated. My hot water heater is not broken. It still seems to work fine, but I have always been proactive when it comes to stuff like this. It is 12 years old and I feel like I am on borrowed time.

I will look online for instructions, but any tips would be appreciated.

I replaced my gas water heaters upstairs, both of them! The biggest challenge is just getting the old suckers out. If it is downstairs, and accessable, just take it out without draining it. Be sure after you get the new one in to hook up the pressure relief drain again and test your gas fittings.., not with a match:D but with soapy water..if it bubbles, it isn't safe, re-do the fitting with gas (pink) teflon tape. It's really not hard other than the muscle to wrestle that sucker in and out, especially if it's upstairs.

[mad_fan]

I replaced my gas water heaters upstairs, both of them! The biggest challenge is just getting the old suckers out. If it is downstairs, and accessable, just take it out without draining it. Be sure after you get the new one in to hook up the pressure relief drain again and test your gas fittings.., not with a match:D but with soapy water..if it bubbles, it isn't safe, re-do the fitting with gas (pink) teflon tape. It's really not hard other than the muscle to wrestle that sucker in and out, especially if it's upstairs.

:eek: ...at what??? six pounds per gallon??? I always just drained mine in place...and drank beers while it emptied its bladder...:)