Dateline: 24 February 2017
This photo shows me working on my house.
The recent warm weather has allowed me to start siding the back of my house. As mentioned in my “Building Our Upland Dream Home” series, my house is currently only half-sided. I am determined to finish siding the entire house this year, much to Marlene’s delight.
I can’t remember why I left a small section near the roof unfinished. I might have had more important tasks then, and using a ladder to work high off the ground wasn’t ideal.
However, the pipe scaffolding I bought for re-roofing a few years ago makes this job much simpler. While setting it up alone takes time, it’s worth the convenience it offers.
In a previous post about my dream home, I talked about the Red Label #2 Western Red Cedar shingles I purchased in 1984. They’re still in excellent condition after 33 years, as you can see in this picture:
Although these shingles are usable, I opted for higher-quality R&R sidewall shingles for other parts of the house.
These six boxes of Western Red Cedar sidewall shingles cost me a significant $1,272. Unlike the #2 Red Label shingles, these have parallel sides and square bottoms, simplifying and speeding up the installation process. This efficiency is crucial because my mail-order business demands more of my time in the coming months.
Looking back, I’m curious about the cost of these shingles in 1984. It makes me wonder if buying a large quantity back then would have been a wise investment, potentially outpacing inflation.
According to my local lumberyard, lumber prices are currently surging due to an expired lumber agreement between the US and Canada. The lack of a new agreement has restricted Canadian lumber imports, impacting supply and driving up prices for those planning to build this year.
Here’s a view of my backyard from atop the scaffolding:
Lingering snow is visible on the north-facing side of the gully behind our house.
Finally, here’s the finished siding on the peak of my house:
Before disassembling the scaffolding, I’ll wire-brush and stain the siding. I also plan to add shutters to the windows. It feels great to make progress on this project. However, rain is expected, and winter might return this weekend.