# The Great Unveiling – Removing Vinyl Siding

- Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/removing-vinyl-siding/
- Published: 2016-04-07T01:22:43-04:00
- Author: Ken Roginski

Removing vinyl siding is one of the best things one can do to a house.

As much as a homeowner may **want** good curb appeal, their house will never have
the appeal of homes of [those who understand and appreciate good curb appeal ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/vinyl-siding).

Unfortunately there are many people who just don’t know any better and love their
shiny plastic.

But for those that do there is a wave of homeowners removing vinyl siding and aluminum
from their homes and allowing the beauty to return.

[⌊removing vinyl siding⌉⌊removing vinyl siding⌉[

The Great Unveiling – removing vinyl siding party.

**Here is the story written by a historic neighborhood organization making things
happen.**

## The Great Unveiling

### A Recipe for Removing Vinyl Siding

Several years ago there was an article in the Illinois Association of Historic Preservation
Commission’s newsletter regarding the program started in Rock Island, IL for the
removing vinyl siding by volunteers.  The Gifford Park Association, a neighborhood
organization in Elgin, IL was so impressed with the idea that we decided to try 
it.  We found their name, “The Great Unveiling” to be very catchy so we asked for
and received their permission to use it.  We decided to add to their idea by offering
a $1,000 (proceeds from our house-walk) for any homeowner willing to let volunteers
remove their siding.  We decided to make it a part of our Preservation Week festivities
by doing it on the last Saturday of Preservation Week.

We hand delivered a catchy flier to each home in the Historic District (over 600)
to advertise the program.  Our first year we had only one taker but it was a once
in a lifetime chance that had the potential to be spectacular.

### Surprises Under the Siding

Rumors had been circulating for years that a small, nondescript home in the district
was actually a cobblestone built by a prominent resident in the 1850s.  Most found
that hard to believe.  The owner asked us to do a small test patch to finally settle
the question.  We took off a small piece of wide exposure aluminum siding only to
find stucco underneath. We then broke into the stucco with a large hammer and **
found…COBBLESTONES with tooled tuck-pointing!!!!**

The owner was warned that the stucco removal would probably remove some of the fancy
tuck pointing which could be expensive to restore.  She was told that the $1,000
reward would probably only be a small portion or what would be needed.  She was 
undaunted and excited about proceeding.

### The Neighborhood Party

We sent out a flier to members and assembled quite a motley crew for an old-fashioned
barn-raising event including lots of refreshments.  The press showed up and gave
us some nice coverage.  One of the reporters actually took a pry bar and joined 
in the fun.  He found the destruction to be the exact therapy he needed for his 
job.  Well into the morning, our jaws literally dropped to the ground when **we 
discovered round porch columns made of cobblestones had been framed over with aluminum**.

With lots of volunteers, the entire job and cleanup was actually finished before
lunch.  Several feet of sub sandwiches completed a very, very fun and satisfying
day.

The owners worst nightmares were realized when she received bids between $7,000 
and $12,000 to remake one entire column and re-point the remainder of the tiny house.
She bit the bullet and went ahead with the project leaving us with **a wonderful
addition to our neighborhood.**  The following year she received a Mayor’s award
during our Preservation Week festivities.

### Thirteen Homes Followed

Since that first exciting unveiling in 1997, we have been responsible for thirteen
more. Elgin has three historic districts so we decided to try to do at least one
in each every year.  The Heritage Commission helped with the rewards and other prominent
neighborhood organizations took the responsibility for the actual unveiling in their
respective neighborhoods.  Our record year came in 2001 when FIVE homes were unveiled
all in one day – all but one was complete before lunch.  A picnic in the park with
a check issuing ceremony highlighted our day.

### The Process

Before signing up candidates, we do go to their home with a ladder to do a test 
patch.  Aluminum siding has to be taken off from the top down if you don’t want 
to ruin it.  If the homeowner backs out, we have to be able to put the test piece
back.  Before committing to the program, the homeowners need to know if there are
clapboards under the siding and the extent to which details have been removed.  
Often corner boards or window casings and hoods are removed to create a flat surface.
Homeowners need to be thoroughly cautioned about the expenses that they could face.

We do recycle any aluminum, which typically gives the homeowner another $300.  Any
Styrofoam backing can be recycled if a thorough search is made for a recycler.  
Any other type of siding, we require the homeowners to get a dumpster to remove.
We do not do asbestos siding because of the health hazards.

We have had a hard time keeping insurance despite our volunteers signing a waiver.
We also use volunteers to salvage architectural details on houses before they are
bulldozed.  Homeowners require us to have insurance and we have found it at a cost
of about $1000 above our basic liability insurance for the house-walk.  If your 
insurance company is currently covering your volunteer efforts, it might be wise
not to ask any questions.

I was inspired when I first read about Rock Island’s Great Unveiling.  Hopefully
your neighborhood will be moved to action by this article.

## Community Help – Update

The neighborhood organization now hosts an **old‑fashioned barn‑raising weekend**
called the _Great__ Unveiling_. Volunteers and a small grant (≈ $5,000) remove aluminum,
vinyl, or stucco cladding for qualifying owners; 30 houses have been liberated in
the past 30 years.

If your city lacks such a program, consider spearheading one: group buys on scaffolding,
tool lending libraries, and skilled neighbors transform a daunting solo job into
a community celebration.

They also give a $2000 painting grant, a $500 chain link fence removal grant, and
$2000 for opening a porch. The city has a 50/50 grant program up to $20,000, which
the porch opening people could tie into. The city also has a 75/25 paint grant for
low-income people.

Most of the funds for these projects come from their Housewalk.  They profit between
10,000 and $25,000 each year. Expenses are about $5000. They also get about $ 7000
worth of sponsorships. Architectural salvage is another of their projects. We are
a preservation group, so if a house is scheduled to be torn down, we oppose it. 
We lose, then we ask for architectural salvage. We hold a silent auction to see 
who gets what details. The winning bidder has to take out their own details. There
was a mansion a few years ago that the group made a profit of over $10,000. A typical
salvage is $1500.

### Photos from The Great Unveiling

[Check out these photos here. ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/31300792@N08/sets/72157623977011654)

## Vinyl Siding vs Wood Siding

If you would like to see more before and after photos or you still don’t understand
[how vinyl siding effects curb appeal click here. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/vinyl-siding/)

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see our Hall of Fame collection
of Before & After siding removal photos. Below is a sample.

## Removing Vinyl Siding Photos

[⌊with vinyl siding vinyl removed⌉⌊with vinyl siding vinyl removed⌉[

Before and After view.

[⌊vinyl siding removed⌉⌊vinyl siding removed⌉[

Wood is in good condition underneath.

**Please share your experiences in the comments below.**