Woodtrim..

Started by Srini • 9 replies • 1498 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

Srini (New Jersey)
Posts: 5

Posted:

Our HOA is planning to spend $600k on woodtrims.. Is there a way
to reduce the cost. How to approach this without increasing our
monthly association fee. Any help would be appreciated.

LisaS (Illinois)
Posts: 341

Posted:

Yikes! That's a big dollar amount for trim.

Has your association ivestigated options? I am not sure of the application or the number of units- but there is aluminum fascia that can be used in many. There is also a cementious (sp) type product that looks and paints like wood and is supposed to work well. 'Fancy' trim is nicely replicated in fiberglass.

If you were referring to siding and not actually trim- there is a ton of great materials available. Everything from vinyl shakes to scallops, wide lap, small lap. Very stylish, and a huge selection of colors as well. Aluminum siding even seems to be making a come back.

CarolG (Alabama)
Posts: 11

Posted:

i would like to comment and offer some suggestions. But I need more info. what are the bldgs now? Is this replacement trim or adding to existing bldgs.

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

We just wrapped all our trim recently and we'll never paint, caulk or replace rotten trim again. Some of it is vinyl, some is vinyl coated aluminum and some of it is PVC. Never again, I say. Maintenance free for me.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

MikeS1 - There's no such thing as maintenance free in the lifespan of any association element. Even concrete needs maintenance. The vinyl coated aluminum and PVC will eventually need to be cleaned, and replaced. As I'm sure you know, associations are responsible to fund for the replacement of all elements. They do this by establishing a cost for replacement, estimated life-span of the element, and a funding method to cover the cost once the element needs to be replaced. Even though you may not be living in the association when the element is replaced, technically a portion of your maintenance should go into the reserve fund to replace the element in the future. Pay it forward.

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

Gerald, If it was snowing, I think that you would argue that was not. For years, our COA kept a carpenter and painter busy replacing rotten trim, then caulking and painting until they decided to clad everything. It looks great and it's certainly not going to last forever, but it was well worth the money. Gerald, you have an obvious talent for overstanting the obvious. Thanks for your comments.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MikeS1 on 01/17/2008 9:01 AM
Gerald, If it was snowing, I think that you would argue that was not. For years, our COA kept a carpenter and painter busy replacing rotten trim, then caulking and painting until they decided to clad everything. It looks great and it's certainly not going to last forever, but it was well worth the money. Gerald, you have an obvious talent for overstanting the obvious. Thanks for your comments.

MikeS1-It never ceases to amaze me how insulting people can be. Your comment above to me is completely unwarranted. I did not mean my post as anything negative towards you? Where was I being argumentative? Didn't I state, "As I'm sure you know..." Sheesh!

The benefit of the truth of maintenance for all items and reserve funding is I'm sure grasped by you entirely, but IMHO worthy of posting for Srini and others.

Srini posted, "Our HOA is planning to spend $600k on woodtrims.. Is there a way to reduce the cost. How to approach this without increasing our
monthly association fee. Any help would be appreciated."

My post should get Srini and others thinking about reserves, in other words why is it the 600k may not be in the reserve account to cover the wood-trim replacement? If the association was funding for the elements over time there should be a large portion of the replacement amount already stashed away. Or Srini may ask, Did the association have a capital reserve replacement analysis performed, and if so how many years was the projected life-span of the initial woodtrim that was installed.

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

Harold, I'm not insulting you. You just took it that way. Take care.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

MikeS1 - First, it's Gerald, not Harold. Second you were insulting me, not something I was reading into.

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

Whatever...

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here