A paint job on our old white 2 story bungalow is long overdue

Question

Irma was rough on us. 100 year old oaks fell hard, cutting furrows into our ground killing the beautiful azalea hedge, bringing down our lesser under story of trees and fully exposing the peeling House, & it’s « efficient« corroding aluminum’Windows that the previous owner replaced the original ones with. Now thin single panel aluminum awning 70 year old always ugly windows let in full bore heat, and where they no longer close tight, lizards and their prey. Thé cheap white paint job a couple of decades ago immediately began to powder and pull down the years of excellent (lead) paint.

our

Our beloved cypress home is probably going to have pine replacements, sills, and wherever rot is occurring.

After our Presbyterian Church in Virginia was burned down by professional painters burning off old paint. We are understandably concerned.

$$$$ is an issue, we are 66 & 67 with the strong one out with badly broken back, m.s. & RA among other things; and we also have to replace our 94 year old mansard style lifetime asbestos shingled roof.

We raised our children here and have 32+ lovely memories here in this historic district of Mount Dora, Fl.

What can we safely do and how do we safely repair and save our dear home?

Any suggestions about this that these 2 aging homeowners can do ourselves. What procedures? What products? Timing? Layers? Precedents? Experiences? Scrape, burn, what?

🙏 thank you

Karen Tokarse · Answer

Contact your insurance company about filing a claim. I'm in great shape, but I would not be climbing on roofs for DIY projects. One slip and any gain you have from doing it yourself would be wiped out.

Johnavallance82 · Answer

Ask around you community to see if there is any help out there for folk like yourself If you don't have insurance. Could your family help out? Don't touch the Asbestos Roof, get professionals in to do that. I feel for you both, and have every sympathy, in UK we have Arctic temp. 9 degrees below zero and 35 mph. winds for 4 days and nights solid. Oh I forgot to say Lots of Snow and frozen rain. We had Front and back and part of sife Roof come down too..... (we have Insurance - but they don't want to pay us out) We are nearer 80 than 70, so you see I really do know what you are suffering. My garden was also decimated, Fences and Statues down and the Rose Arbour. Ah well, we can't go back, so we have to go forward, even if it is only as and when funds and energy allows, of and of course the weather alters to allow.........

Lynne Webb · Answer

Your home is charming. I love the mansard roof with the dormers. You'd be surprised how those old roofs have 'lifetime guarantees'. Same happened to my step Grandma and the slate tiles were replaced with a sort of grumble. Almost 90 at the time, they said they didn't think she'd live that long. Is there anyone you trust? The last thing you need is a lawsuit because some do-good'er gets hurt.

You guys don't even need to be painting higher than a step ladder will take you. Even then, don't go near the top rung and be reaching.

Here's hoping you have insurance to cover the expense. Don't just collect and save the money hoping to get the best deal. Spend it for the purpose it was intended with qualified, insured and bonded laborers.

Mogie · Answer

This is a good example of why home insurance is needed. Call your insurance company and let them do the work for you. Are you low income? Senior especially that are below the poverty level qualify for help. Look in your yellow pages and get the number of senior services. They should be able to give you numbers of organizations that can help. Call your church and talk to the secretary they generally have updated contact info for various groups also (I used to be a church secretary). You raised kids so now is the time for them to help you out. Give them all a call and tell them what you need. But if you are above the poverty level and don't have insurance you are going to have to pay to have this done yourself. Just do a little at a time starting with what is the most important. But don't do anything that could put you in a scary situation (like climbing on the roof).

Kelly Crutchfield · Answer

Ok first I live in about her state but, perhaps there is a program like this in Florida. Older people powder homes and lower income people qualify for help with ' basic needs like this. Sometimes they will replace old Windows to current regulations. They do failing roofs and insulate. You might piece out the painting. Hire out the second story painting and do the lower part your self. I have scraped sanded and painted 12ft up standing on the ground. Extendable poles and duct tape jery rigging. You get bigger arm muscles as a bonus. Or try the local boy scouts they might be willing to do the bottom half. Hang in there.

Judy · Answer

Ask your church for help. You need it, but unfortunately I believe you will have to hire the roofing removed by an asbestos contractor. I will pray for you to have help.

Sharon · Answer

If you need assistance with projects, I would check with Habitat for Humanity as they do home repairs for low-income seniors here and some qualify for HUD rural grants and loans also..... https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/agencies/rural-housing-service

You may also qualify for FEMA assistance to pay for some of the repairs also.

I would definitely trim back some of that tree overhang by your roof.

If there are many of you in the same boat, you might try and get a neighborhood group together to do big repair jobs at each others homes.... as a group can get done in a day what would take you months to do.... kind of like the old barn raising.... you will also be able to draw on each others expertise in various home repairs. We did this all the time in our wilderness community, and our town and churches do this work also for seniors and the disabled.

Diana Deiley · Answer

Hopefully you contacted your insurance company first, then contacted FEMA. There will be a wait as the list of those in need is long.......BUT, you have each other AND the home is still standing unlike many who lost everything. Here is Florida.....well, need I say anymore? Irma took everything from just about everyone and some still don't have power. My suggestions would be to Pray and take a deep breath, next contact Red Cross, Habitat, Catholic Charities, Goodwill, etc., for programs and assistance. With a lot of patience and prayers all will get fixed, one step at a time. Blessings to you and your husband. Keep the faith my friend. Smile, you're a beautiful couple.

Archie · Answer

If you can somebody to pressure clean the house, and it has to be very carefully and not using high pressure so to not get water inside, to knock the loose paint off you can then paint the house from the ground using a long extension on your paint roller. It would have to be a deep pile roller but it can be done. Naturally it will have to be primed first.

I am older the you are and painted my house standing on the ground using one of those long extensions.

I took my time. Painted one side and quit for the day, because I'm lazy. Next day do another side. No hurry.

Itsmemic · Answer

not lazy...smart. WHy push our luck? NO hurry.

Lily Schlender · Answer

does your city building department offer a home rehabilitation program. in michigan we had water issues and fema only offered us low interest loans. i love all the advice and ideas that everyone is offering. absolutely don't diy this one. best wishes.

Bryan Biery · Answer

Thank you so much. Believe me, I’m reading And very much appreciating every kind person who has taken the time to help this way. Bless you

Roberta k · Answer

I would love to do your house. I would first replace all rotted clap boards and sills. Then I would scrape and oil prime at the same time. Some companies scrape the whole house and then when they go to prime, they have to scrape again. Oil primer looks the paint to the wood. Then go over the primer with latex. Vermont has sever weather. If you follow these steps, your house will be in good shape for years to come.

Linda · Answer

Here are some color suggestions. https://lifeonsummerhill.com/popular-sherwin-williams-exterior-paint/

A paint job on our old white 2 story bungalow is long overdue

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