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Old clapboards and electric meter

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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Making progress on "the old house". Replaced most siding, and clapboards w/o problem

The final nail 2.jpg


... but this area to the left of the chimney ...

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Electric meter, cable, and unused telephone box are mounted on the siding. I know I can have the power company temporarily disconnect the electric, but can the company just *move* the connection to a temporary pole? then move back in place when clapboard work is finished? Not looking forward to several days without power!

When you guys do siding work on your house, how did you deal with this problem.

Thanks.
Tom M.
 
You look a lot younger than I thought you were.
I don't think that I'd climb up that ladder, but what good's
insurance,if you don't use it every once in a while?
 
I work out a lot (yeah, right ...). The guy at the top of the ladder is one of the young guys I work with at Sturbridge.
T.
 
I held an unlimited electrical contractor license in Ct for many years. Make up a board larger than the meter socket and have it handy when you call an electrician. He can remove the meter socket live then you remove the old siding and put the board behind it. He reinstalls the socket. As you go up with the siding remove and reinstall each clip one at a time.
The electric company will not do what you asked about a temporary pole. They may however come out and make sure their connections are well insulated at the weather head. Or the electrician can also do that.
 
Thank you sir!

I'll ask the electrician to just move the whole setup about three feet to the left, on a part of the exterior I don't need to work on.
 
George - under the old sheathing (different types of wood), we found the original hewn oak and chestnut post/beam/windbrace frame still in place.

clapboards 3.jpg


The insulation was added in the 1960s.

We replaced a few rotted/soft boards with pine, then wrapped in Tyvek, then added beveled pine siding. Turns out few people know what clapboards are these days; it's called "beveled siding". After all is done, we'll stain as before (dark brown/red), with white trim.
 
I do wonder if you need a new meter? Around here they are transferring all the meters over time to those that 'broadcast' the reading electronically & automatically to the utility company.
 
Wow. Revealing the original construction is "architectural archaeology"!
 
Good point. Meter looks like it was installed back in the Paleozoic era, when I was but a child. Will have electrician decide if replacement is needed.
 
JPSmit said:
I do wonder if you need a new meter? Around here they are transferring all the meters over time to those that 'broadcast' the reading electronically & automatically to the utility company.
Click to expand...

Same here. Drive-by reading. Not too pleased about it, either.
 
DrEntropy said:
Same here. Drive-by reading. Not too pleased about it, either.
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Yeah this is one of those 'you can't fight city hall' - gonna have to pay one way or the other - might as well be accurate. :rolleyes:
 
Very nice. Glad to see it's not just vinyl. :smile: With the price of wood now... I just can't imagine...
We have cedar shakes and even 20 years ago when we did and addition it was crazy money.
 
I would have done 2 coats on the ground before you installed it
 

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I'm lucky I only need to paint my house this summer. I believe that they're is one old piece of wood on a corner that will need to be replace but nothing major. I couldn't imagine the cost if residing either now with the cost of wood what it is.
 
I'm about to re-roof th' hovel, dread finding out what replacement plywood will cost us. And a lot of the facia boards need replacing as well. Puts any car projects on hold, for certain.
 
Doc - here a 4*8*1/2" cdx plywood runs around $78. Hey - buy at least 70, and it's only $70 each!

What's the price for that in your neck o' the woods?
 
I did my roof last year. Went with metal and have been very happy with it. I lucked out and the old decking was in pretty good shape. It had had some replaced about twenty years ago when the roof had been done by the previous owner.
 
DrEntropy said:
I'm about to re-roof th' hovel, dread finding out what replacement plywood will cost us. And a lot of the facia boards need replacing as well. Puts any car projects on hold, for certain.
Click to expand...
you can't wait a bit more? I suspect the price will drop before too long as the supply chains get sorted
 
waltesefalcon said:
I'm lucky I only need to paint my house this summer. I believe that they're is one old piece of wood on a corner that will need to be replace but nothing major. I couldn't imagine the cost if residing either now with the cost of wood what it is.
Click to expand...

Are you going to paint over all those license plates?
 
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