Replies

1. Expert Member
   Akos | Dec 29, 2020 09:59pm | #1

   Hard to tell if any of the existing siding is worth while saving. The simplest is to strip it down and re-side carrying the new siding down to the concrete. Make sure to put the proper flashing detail at the bottom there for drainage, the bottom row should not have rotten, I have feeling the siding was inset and you had some standing water there.

   If you want to condition the space, re-siding is a good time to air seal the place. Since you have board sheathing the simplest is cover the whole place in a vapor open peel and stick (ie VP100) which would be your air and water barrier.

2. 
   PLIERS | Dec 29, 2020 10:11pm | #2

   VP100 I never used I guess that would be in place of housewrap. So leave the concrete and add siding on just to that point? I kind of wanted to keep it all one level and do away with concrete. Not sure if I can just knock it off without causing a problem. Water was splashing back and causing sitting water. I installed a gutter which seemed to help situation. I am also going to dig a shovel width trench next to bottom and put landscape fabric and decorative gravel instead of grass and dirt to help any potential future problem

3. 
   andy_ | Dec 30, 2020 01:18am | #3

   Where is the "layer of stucco"? I see a concrete stem wall that looks like a retrofit. The siding looks like it was cut back to make room for the concrete. The intersection of siding to the stem wall looks like it wasn't detailed well.
   It's a garage and not the main house, so keeping that in mind you could just remove the row of rotted siding and insert a trim board of a rot resistant material like Boral and put the siding up to that paying attention to proper flashing and layering.

4. 
   PLIERS | Dec 30, 2020 05:46am | #4

   Yes it was basically cut and then wire mesh and concrete was added. It would be a very wide trim board. Could I use pvc, I couldn’t find boral trim board. It is the garage but I have never seen a trim board that high. I was thinking stone veneer but I would have to sand it down and it’s probably expensive. What about going up another inch and clean cutting the whole thing then adding osb sheathing, do my flashing and all that, put up my new siding from bottom or at least making a less thick trim board, like trying to cut away at least half the width of the concrete then putting idk a 1x4 trim board all around. PVC is pretty expensive though so don’t know what else I could use, maybe some kind of primed exterior board?

5. Expert Member
   Akos | Dec 30, 2020 05:10pm | #5

   What I meant is strip back the stucco down to the stem wall and re-side. There is no point in keeping that extra bit of stucco, it can just create issues. The stucco on the concrete is fine and should stay. You can make a cut with a diamond wheel along to the top of the concrete and chip off the rest.

   Once the stucco is off the wall, tape the sheathing to the concrete, cover with a metal Z flashing then install your WRB. Make sure your WRB laps the Z flashing and the Z flashing is sloped to drain. Your first course of siding should start about 3/8" up from the Z flashing. This will prevent water from pooling at the bottom and rotting away your first course. No need for any extra trim.

6. 
   PLIERS | Dec 30, 2020 08:36pm | #6

   Yes that makes sense, I will also have to continue the same level of siding around the corners to each side. Thank you for the advice. I have a diamond blade and saw but might try to use an old school mason chisel and hammer, if it’s is soft it will cut right off