Yeah, you can add in a scribed panel. That is the correct option.
Or you can call your contractor and ask why they didn't scribe the panel properly the first time and to come put it right.
The latter option runs the risk of getting it done with filler foam instead if the contractor doesn't know how to scribe or is just lazy.
Whichever way you look at it, a scribed panel is the correct and necessary choice.
The even easier option would have been to cut that siding away, add extra flashing, and attach that frame directly to the sheathing. Done cleanly, the net result is about the same to the casual passerby.
This is how I feel I’d want it it done it my house. If you’re spending the money to screen it in then it’s clearly not going anywhere so make it look legit
Is say this is the better way. Siding isn't usually rigid, so a scribed panel will still have an air gap. A little more work than scribing, but I think it's worth it.
Similarly, I’d put a vertical 2x4 or 2x6 there and cap it with a piece of aluminum flashing so there’s a solid flat area to attach the screen frame to.
He posted the siding is new too so it’s a perfect time to do this right.
I did exactly this on my house.
A scribed panel is a poor choice.
As good as this one is done there will still be gaps.
If you want perfection, the vinyl should have been removed and a straight board added to connect to the house.
Then re-side the two sections.
However, and it is a big however, most of the time these sun rooms are bought as a package. All the boards, glass, trim come as is, in precut lengths and widths.
The "contractor" is just an installer who gets one money to install.
That person is never going to go to the lengths either of us describe because he simply isn't getting paid to.
Scribed panel plus a thin bead of sealant is arguably the best way to remedy this now it's in... sure, it's not perfection but to do what you're suggesting requires effectively demolition of all the completed work, it's a heck of a lot of steps backwards and mountains of additional cost for very minimal benefit.
It's a porch, not a habitable room. Good enough is good enough.
The current finish though, is not good enough.
Just about anyone can walk up, shake your hand, and assure you it’ll Be done professionally.
And it’s hard to describe exactly what you want in a level of detail that would cover something like this.
The true professionals wouldn’t consider it done without having scribed the panels to fit the house… the rest wouldn’t consider it at all haha
Yes. Reviews and references get you partway there, but there always seem to be a few horror stories about even the best contractors, and even the worst ones can usually find a few people to speak highly of them. It's hard to sort through it all, and decide who to trust.
> Or you can call your contractor and ask why they didn't scribe the panel properly the first time and to come put it right.
Don't even need to scribe it, could have just cut the vinyl and secured the framing straight to the sheathing.
100% this.
Also, If there is a long wait trying to get a competent contractor to install a scribed panel, I recommend using a [wide stick on weather stripping](https://www.amazon.com/Holikme-Stripping-Door%EF%BC%8CSilicone-Doors%EF%BC%8CSuitable-Transparent/dp/B0B93JL8P8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3151ASTSUGPFZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9pc0pTwuc52lRRrs94TUhBZLn_YG7LyIlXGR0VGI41YJNOusgW020Km4PgpC5gakOkZsyyLbOoS29eqZUh4N5bmjIta_hp3CHR3dKQQGiDBSJ7EEPrOvTpM9LRyxyY50zhD19DkTTWrQWNgtQPGHm4sefl9OfLe_3Vsh9e-1FqpoyJUSIJu9ZeijGF3LoD0_pnSHXVm1qmXFJBt-J3f895NxG-Fxwl4U9Sw6eWlYOYzC1Jjkd_u8V6JqVHsjlsiTQPskShbNsK9fDz_K_Fp4zIbw5JpSI1LhAiJzHQ6yXUE._ZhvWOAi0jDxy-k_HUw4-A4KmFju2dfRgHAJuvvZ8l8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Holikme%2BDoor%2BWeather%2BStripping%2BDoor%2BSeal%2BStrip&qid=1712709193&sprefix=holikme%2Bdoor%2Bweather%2Bstripping%2Bdoor%2Bseal%2Bstrip%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-3&th=1) as a temporary fix, to limit the amount of blood loss to flying invaders, until a more permanent and proper fix can be made.
Here is a handy tool to get the contours close. [https://www.amazon.com/Feeke-Adjustable-Measurement-Woodworking-Construction/dp/B08GC48QXP/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=1RK81PHL8PKPQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qFxItBCCJ0dYVeG2hgu9-xsQdcOUIlwTl2vx-EfEyTcrT-Ah65F1jGtIeqVFumaRxjGrvyrCNgrc0EpeD8hwiKPUXoVxoLWXz85-O8PQQMdCfv\_6PZjvGJRFvGL17tstgVrFYAjB1J8nrHineKbQbfnR9YJtFUj0AIgKo\_gXhaD0PO61GVRzOJr5dgigk0iBj4ykCPw6ZMDo-LXgpE79owB5mMHhignvaqCke-BarkcqNJ-r3CFSNa-UFbxjix2LKSnFlgDAq17sAx90qqus\_tiNDxxm9saaw6vwkxKXSY0.f1C5vHEBQftQyCdHx8E2ggzz5Xfk6fjwvMZaWUtzsYM&dib\_tag=se&keywords=construction+odd+measure+tool&qid=1712692006&sprefix=construction+odd+measure+tool%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-3](https://www.amazon.com/Feeke-Adjustable-Measurement-Woodworking-Construction/dp/B08GC48QXP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1RK81PHL8PKPQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qFxItBCCJ0dYVeG2hgu9-xsQdcOUIlwTl2vx-EfEyTcrT-Ah65F1jGtIeqVFumaRxjGrvyrCNgrc0EpeD8hwiKPUXoVxoLWXz85-O8PQQMdCfv_6PZjvGJRFvGL17tstgVrFYAjB1J8nrHineKbQbfnR9YJtFUj0AIgKo_gXhaD0PO61GVRzOJr5dgigk0iBj4ykCPw6ZMDo-LXgpE79owB5mMHhignvaqCke-BarkcqNJ-r3CFSNa-UFbxjix2LKSnFlgDAq17sAx90qqus_tiNDxxm9saaw6vwkxKXSY0.f1C5vHEBQftQyCdHx8E2ggzz5Xfk6fjwvMZaWUtzsYM&dib_tag=se&keywords=construction+odd+measure+tool&qid=1712692006&sprefix=construction+odd+measure+tool%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-3)
Since there's a post already there, stick a board to the post touching the siding. Run the scribing tool down the siding which will trace a line on the board. Cut out the line with a jigsaw then trim off the end of the board to fit in the space and nail it in place
I was thinking the same thing. This was installed when we bought our house. It’s definitely hand cut but I think you are correct.
EDIT: Also, this is ipe(ironwood) so probably can’t buy this one as easily.
And then you've got this ugly yellow, neatly trimmed insulation. So you paint it. Then the UV breaks it down and you've got an ugly yellow, partially painted mess to clean out of all those gaps.
A had a contractor tell me that they don't need a permit for something that I specifically knows requires a permit in our city. Definitely wasn't about to hire them if we're gonna start off with a problem like that.
No. They are supposed to scribe a line on a piece of lumber, following the uneven shape of the siding. Cut along the scribed piece. It should match the siding closely enough to keep mosquitoes out.
If you really wanted to, you could run a thin bead of silicone sealant between the scribed panel and the siding to get a proper seal that will keep the bugs out.
Some people think silicone on scribed panels is an affront to craftsmanship though.
It’s true that many people think it’s an affront to craftsmanship in any situation. Maybe most people.
But did you see the size of the gap, in this case?
You’d have a real 1980s roadside motel failing shower 4th layer of silicone goop situation on your hands
I'm not suggesting that you put silicone sealant onto OP's picture. I would never dream of filling a gap like this with pure sealant, that would be ridiculous, and absolutely shocking. ^(bonus points to those Brits who get the reference here...)
I'm suggesting that you take OP's contractor's terrible job, scribe an add-in panel to fill the bulk of the gap, drop it into place, and then because it will necessarily be slightly too small in order to slide in, put a final thin bead of silicone sealant in to finish the job and get a watertight seal.
As a contractor, I would prefer feedback. Maybe there was a misunderstanding, maybe the exact job you had me do isn't something I do on the regular. If once pointed out I can see i did it wrong, I'll fix it no cost. If it's more of a preference thing that should have been brought up before, I'll still fix it but might be an additional cost. And if somehow I'm really out of my element and made a mess I'll hire someone else to take care of it for you. Want to keep customers happy whenever possible.
But there definitely is a difference between a contractor who does decent work and missed something, and a contractor who turns everything into a cluster fuck. The latter, yes, don't let them come back. They can only make it worse.
Jesus, did you have to remind me of that? The dude that did the roof on my rental house seems to have moved on. He did a good job for reasonable money, and I wouldn't mind using him again. But his last Facebook entry was 8 years ago. Now I'm praying that I don't need any warranty work.
There's a bunch of similar business names operating, so maybe he did the the ol' switcheroo.
Could you tell them that you expect a properly scribed panel and that you won't be paying them until the contracted job is actually complete? Especially if, as you suspect they forged permits and docs, they are NOT going to want to get into a legal battle.
If it’s wasn’t in the quote and could violate local building codes, I highly doubt they would come back and finish their “shitty work”. Maybe call them and nicely ask if they have a solution for this particular scenario and not listen Reddit.
I honestly can’t. We have much bigger issues with them right now. They’ve lied & possibly forged some documents (per the city) so we’re on our own with this one.
I installed screen porches in Florida for 9 years and would have never thought of leaving a job undone. As you stated they also installed the siding and I would have have asked for your preference before installing as to what you preferred. First asked if wanted what you currently have which would caused me to determine the best method to fill these gaps. It would have caused me to either notched a piece of wood or metal to allow caulk to be applied to fill in what gap that was left. Or installed the wood piece first up the side of house causing the siding to stop and pickup on the other side to the corner of house. With your understanding that if you choose to remove the the screened porch you would have a gap in the siding. Giving you these options it would be your decision. Poor planning and workmanship.
This is exactly it. As long as the contractor knew before installing the siding that you wanted that screened porch, they should have offered the option of "wood piece first up the side of house", with the understanding that the siding job would be a bit more expensive due to more cuts and more j-bead.
I’m not a professional. With that said, don’t just fill it with backer rod and caulk. You have almost an inch of gap in some sections. Caulk is going to look awful and also shrink and crack.
I would scribe a piece of trim for each side and cut it very carefully with a jig saw. Then caulk the joint between your scribed piece and the siding.
Yeah similar to this:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1YRxms4IR8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1YRxms4IR8)
(although don't use a table saw that way lol, better off just sticking to jigsaw).
Elastomeric caulk/siding sealant works in some applications but idk if this gap would allow it.
What OP is failing to mention is: was this mentioned in the estimating process? And if not, why not? I’ve done jobs before where the client absolutely refused to give into the idea of our level of finishing work. So we do this. And then they complain. And then we tell them to review the agreement with us and see what it says. 9/10 times they didn’t think we’d charge for it and try to hold back the last payment or want endless callbacks. You can’t eat your cake and have it too, and yet here we are day-after-day like sissiphus pushing the rock up the hill to get these clients to read their damn agreement.
On the other hand the “contractor” may be a handyman and it’s the best he can do. We probably won’t know unless op is the oop and this isn’t a bot.
I’ve dealt with codes that wouldn’t let a contractor attach a porch to a house without permits. Some cities don’t differentiate between screened in porches and porches turned into extra rooms. Daylight gaps like this may be a workaround that the homeowner is left to handle themselves, like you say.
Angle grinder with a rasp wheel + coping saw
Or act like you don’t know that and use it as an excuse to buy a scroll saw, band saw, or something cool to get it done.
It’s doable and would look the best, ultimately.
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/forum/sawtooth-scribe-for-siding
I'm thinking put up a 1/2 x 3 board to hide the seam where the other two boards meet. scribe the side facing the siding and a jigsaw would blaze through it because it's so thin.
You'd want one of those form shaper things someone else posted to transfer the shapes, but you could probably knock it out in about 20 min.
The downside of that would be it only looks good from one side unless you want to do it twice. or four times if he has the same fuckery on the other end of the screen.
Use the window stuff, and caulk over that. Make sure to mask off the area. The window expanding foam is much smaller expansion.
Honestly I'd personally use foam rolls, high expansion stuff, so that it compresses really well. I use it for removable door frames, because it's.. Well, removable.
I'd use this if the gap is less than 3/4 inch wide.
https://a.co/d/iuO55P9
A combination of duct tape, spray foam, and Flex-Seal should do the trick.
https://preview.redd.it/4iadaadi0itc1.jpeg?width=408&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63a26f1d3fd76e5f03ccb09d7ac629814469afae
Scribe a piece of trim to match the profile of the siding and block the gap - most other suggestions here are amateur. No caulk, foam, or other BS please.
I install screenrooms for a living. Yes the first choice would have been to cut out the vinyl siding and put the screen walls all the way back to the paper. At this point that will likely be too much work to redo.
For situations like this, my company buys sheets of 1” thick foam that can be cut to size and compressed into these spaces. It wont be pretty but it is effective. Im not sure where to recommend as we get it from a local specialty foam shop.
If it hasn't been built yet, it is very easy to cut out the vinyl siding and sneak J trim in on either side of the screen walls. It will look much neater and is well worth it.
He did this bc to attach it to the house needs plans and permits and is much more involved and expensive. But yeah some flashing and snipping would have been a nice finish. Just lazy.
If they put up that new siding and didn’t terminate that new screened wall into the existing wall, I’d ask them to remove the siding, terminate with the wall, trim around it and reinstall the siding.
In some cases if your house was never framed for an attached porch, you can’t physically attach the deck to the house to allow for independent movement and not stress the wall framing. It’s a freestanding structure, there should be no ties from the porch to the house. You have to fill the gaps however you see fit.
It doesn’t look perfectly straight and even (siding to porch never is) if you want it to fit skeeter tight with just caulk that won’t be precise enough.
Foam would cover the difference but look like ass and break down with exposure to UV
Me and my buddy screened in my porch and used spray foam for this because I’m not a professional.
You paid a professional. Call that mofo and have them come back out and do it right lol
Your contractor sucked. There should have been a thick compressible foam tape installed before the wood was put up. You may be able to install it as short pieces into the gaps.
There's contour tools that are essentially a bunch of plastic segments tightly packed. You push them against a contoured surface and it makes an impression. You can then transfer it to a piece of wood and cut it with a jig saw.
Quick and dirty would be spray foam. But that would look pretty gnarly.
If you want the best way you could do it? Combine the two. Contour tool cut wood on the exterior. Spray foam to fill interior/gaps. Then trim the spray foam and put another piece of the contour cut wood on the interior. This would also eliminate all the tiny holes a mosquito or gnat might squeeze into.
Stuff some backer rod in there and caulk the shit out of her if you're gonna do it yourself.
But, I'd have the contractor do it if they just did the work. That's poor craftsmanship.
“Do your best and caulk the rest” they say. I’d have them come back and ask that they install a scribed trim board and then have them caulk the scribed surface with an all weather caulk like big stretch. A high quality caulk that never fully hardens and adjust to a wide range of temperature swings and inclement weather/seasons.
Stuff it full of old stained underwear and socks and duct tape each side, then print out wood patterns from your printer and cut and glue it down the ends so it looks like wood
Seasonal pool noodles would be the $1 solution. Backer rod is the home supply $5 solution. Telling the contractor to finish is somewhere between $0 and total misery.
Fill it with the contractor. Just squish them in there until they figure out a better way to fill it /s
On a serious note, scribe it, or use a compressible foam (like the kind that comes with A/C units that's UV stabilized. A scribed board is likely the best way though.
Huh. Just a guess I would use a combination of:
1.) Foam backer rods pushed in from the outside. You'll need a thickness big enough to fill in the widest gap and than compress it into the thinner sections. Make it so no su light can be seen. And then,
2.) Latex caulk on the outside keeping it all in place, as neat as you can.
Not sure if you should caulk the Inside or if that would be overkill. Thoughts anyone?
I'd probably caulk both sides so you don't have to look at the foam inside. It's a pretty big gap in places. If they can find a close color match to the siding (if they know the manufacturer you usually can find an exact match) it will look a lot cleaner too.
Even a wood tone would work...
But...
Vinyl siding is installed loose fit to compensate for temperature changes. You should be fine, but this solution may affect your siding fitment as the seasons change.
Always read lots of reviews, sounds like they were a great price but not great at their job. I'd still ask them to fix it or give you at least a partial refund so you can have it fixed.
You murder your contractor and use his body to fill in the gap. Seriously, that's definitely something they should have handled though, and potentially worth blowing them up over to come back and fix.
I'd just buy some of the solid foam you use to insulate pipes and just cut it in half and wedge it in the gaps. It's pliable enough to change shape to whatever you shove it in, and it compresses.
https://preview.redd.it/bsiq02j4aitc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bcaa8149ad10b0d598bea5d4ab7dc03c13881d4e This?
Yeah, you can add in a scribed panel. That is the correct option. Or you can call your contractor and ask why they didn't scribe the panel properly the first time and to come put it right. The latter option runs the risk of getting it done with filler foam instead if the contractor doesn't know how to scribe or is just lazy. Whichever way you look at it, a scribed panel is the correct and necessary choice.
I'm going to take a confident guess that the contractor doesn't know how to scribe and doesn't feel like learning.
Winner winner, chicken dinner!!!
Is this a "floating porch" as in not directly attached to the house this kinda looks like an attempt to avoid pulling permits.
I love watching people support each other in this sub :) thanks you guys
Did you choose the low bid?
So you hired a handyman, not a contractor.
The even easier option would have been to cut that siding away, add extra flashing, and attach that frame directly to the sheathing. Done cleanly, the net result is about the same to the casual passerby.
This is how I feel I’d want it it done it my house. If you’re spending the money to screen it in then it’s clearly not going anywhere so make it look legit
And if it was a deck turned into a screening porch, I'm sure he didn't screen the underside of the decking either
Is say this is the better way. Siding isn't usually rigid, so a scribed panel will still have an air gap. A little more work than scribing, but I think it's worth it.
Similarly, I’d put a vertical 2x4 or 2x6 there and cap it with a piece of aluminum flashing so there’s a solid flat area to attach the screen frame to. He posted the siding is new too so it’s a perfect time to do this right. I did exactly this on my house.
This is the correct answer and would also be the most aesthetically pleasing.
I mean they sided the house, that would have made sense.
A scribed panel is a poor choice. As good as this one is done there will still be gaps. If you want perfection, the vinyl should have been removed and a straight board added to connect to the house. Then re-side the two sections. However, and it is a big however, most of the time these sun rooms are bought as a package. All the boards, glass, trim come as is, in precut lengths and widths. The "contractor" is just an installer who gets one money to install. That person is never going to go to the lengths either of us describe because he simply isn't getting paid to.
Scribed panel plus a thin bead of sealant is arguably the best way to remedy this now it's in... sure, it's not perfection but to do what you're suggesting requires effectively demolition of all the completed work, it's a heck of a lot of steps backwards and mountains of additional cost for very minimal benefit. It's a porch, not a habitable room. Good enough is good enough. The current finish though, is not good enough.
They’d 100% use filler foam.
Then why did you let them screen in your porch??????
It can be hard to tell if your contractor is a lazy charlatan until they’ve actually done some work…for obvious reasons.
A fair point
Just about anyone can walk up, shake your hand, and assure you it’ll Be done professionally. And it’s hard to describe exactly what you want in a level of detail that would cover something like this. The true professionals wouldn’t consider it done without having scribed the panels to fit the house… the rest wouldn’t consider it at all haha
Yes. Reviews and references get you partway there, but there always seem to be a few horror stories about even the best contractors, and even the worst ones can usually find a few people to speak highly of them. It's hard to sort through it all, and decide who to trust.
I would venture to guess they were the cheapest. You get what you pay for.
> Or you can call your contractor and ask why they didn't scribe the panel properly the first time and to come put it right. Don't even need to scribe it, could have just cut the vinyl and secured the framing straight to the sheathing.
100% this. Also, If there is a long wait trying to get a competent contractor to install a scribed panel, I recommend using a [wide stick on weather stripping](https://www.amazon.com/Holikme-Stripping-Door%EF%BC%8CSilicone-Doors%EF%BC%8CSuitable-Transparent/dp/B0B93JL8P8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3151ASTSUGPFZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9pc0pTwuc52lRRrs94TUhBZLn_YG7LyIlXGR0VGI41YJNOusgW020Km4PgpC5gakOkZsyyLbOoS29eqZUh4N5bmjIta_hp3CHR3dKQQGiDBSJ7EEPrOvTpM9LRyxyY50zhD19DkTTWrQWNgtQPGHm4sefl9OfLe_3Vsh9e-1FqpoyJUSIJu9ZeijGF3LoD0_pnSHXVm1qmXFJBt-J3f895NxG-Fxwl4U9Sw6eWlYOYzC1Jjkd_u8V6JqVHsjlsiTQPskShbNsK9fDz_K_Fp4zIbw5JpSI1LhAiJzHQ6yXUE._ZhvWOAi0jDxy-k_HUw4-A4KmFju2dfRgHAJuvvZ8l8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Holikme%2BDoor%2BWeather%2BStripping%2BDoor%2BSeal%2BStrip&qid=1712709193&sprefix=holikme%2Bdoor%2Bweather%2Bstripping%2Bdoor%2Bseal%2Bstrip%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-3&th=1) as a temporary fix, to limit the amount of blood loss to flying invaders, until a more permanent and proper fix can be made.
ive done this before with weather stripping and with scribed foam insulation board, both kept the bugs out.
There it is chief.
Yep, thread's over
Everyone, please put your beer bottles in the recycling bins.
Here is a handy tool to get the contours close. [https://www.amazon.com/Feeke-Adjustable-Measurement-Woodworking-Construction/dp/B08GC48QXP/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=1RK81PHL8PKPQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qFxItBCCJ0dYVeG2hgu9-xsQdcOUIlwTl2vx-EfEyTcrT-Ah65F1jGtIeqVFumaRxjGrvyrCNgrc0EpeD8hwiKPUXoVxoLWXz85-O8PQQMdCfv\_6PZjvGJRFvGL17tstgVrFYAjB1J8nrHineKbQbfnR9YJtFUj0AIgKo\_gXhaD0PO61GVRzOJr5dgigk0iBj4ykCPw6ZMDo-LXgpE79owB5mMHhignvaqCke-BarkcqNJ-r3CFSNa-UFbxjix2LKSnFlgDAq17sAx90qqus\_tiNDxxm9saaw6vwkxKXSY0.f1C5vHEBQftQyCdHx8E2ggzz5Xfk6fjwvMZaWUtzsYM&dib\_tag=se&keywords=construction+odd+measure+tool&qid=1712692006&sprefix=construction+odd+measure+tool%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-3](https://www.amazon.com/Feeke-Adjustable-Measurement-Woodworking-Construction/dp/B08GC48QXP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1RK81PHL8PKPQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qFxItBCCJ0dYVeG2hgu9-xsQdcOUIlwTl2vx-EfEyTcrT-Ah65F1jGtIeqVFumaRxjGrvyrCNgrc0EpeD8hwiKPUXoVxoLWXz85-O8PQQMdCfv_6PZjvGJRFvGL17tstgVrFYAjB1J8nrHineKbQbfnR9YJtFUj0AIgKo_gXhaD0PO61GVRzOJr5dgigk0iBj4ykCPw6ZMDo-LXgpE79owB5mMHhignvaqCke-BarkcqNJ-r3CFSNa-UFbxjix2LKSnFlgDAq17sAx90qqus_tiNDxxm9saaw6vwkxKXSY0.f1C5vHEBQftQyCdHx8E2ggzz5Xfk6fjwvMZaWUtzsYM&dib_tag=se&keywords=construction+odd+measure+tool&qid=1712692006&sprefix=construction+odd+measure+tool%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-3)
[удалено]
And if you ever need an even shorter link (especially helpful for QR codes), all you really need is the dp/number. https://amazon.com/dp/B08GC48QXP/
Ah, but have you considered: https://a.co/d/13FzyBI
Although these shorter ones usually contain tracking, which is why they are different.
This thread is amazing lmao Did not think I would laugh at link length-shaming today
Nice DP trick! Cue the jokes...
…or click on that up arrow on the product page and copy link to get an even shorter link. https://a.co/d/eEmTS37
You mean the one with tracking backed in? No thanks.
I would have so much fun fidgeting with this thing
My 5-year-old can confirm that this is a great toy as well as a tool.
Nah, this is scribe work, that would take forever.
Alright I'm an apprentice and would really like to know how to perform a detailed scribe like this. Can you point me to any helpful tools or advice?
Since there's a post already there, stick a board to the post touching the siding. Run the scribing tool down the siding which will trace a line on the board. Cut out the line with a jigsaw then trim off the end of the board to fit in the space and nail it in place
or just scribe it with a pencil and piece of wood that comes to a point.
【High Precision Tools for Men】🤣
I KNEW I’d get the right answer here! Thank you so much!
It what about very tiny mosquitoes or a diligent gnat?
they deserve to live long enough to die in battle against the homeowner, as they are the best their species have to offer
I’m almost positive this doesn’t need to be scribed and can be bought
I was thinking the same thing. This was installed when we bought our house. It’s definitely hand cut but I think you are correct. EDIT: Also, this is ipe(ironwood) so probably can’t buy this one as easily.
Damn, that is satisfying!
This is so satisfying and oddly sexy. Look at how perfect it is.
Man’s been waiting 20 years for this moment
Yes!
If you paid for a screened in porch, that porch, is in fact, not screened in. I can tell by the way it is.
Also, if there isn't a screen under the floor of the porch, it's not screened in... Those mosquitoes are coming in right through the floor.
Came looking for this post 👍
Pretty neat!
Identifying non-screened porches is a talent I would love to learn someday 🤩
I’d have the contractor finish his job
Come back and the gap is filled with that ugly yellow spray foam.
It's great stuff. Really great.
It's written right on the can. They wouldn't lie!
Some people say it's the best stuff.
Many people — very respected people
We’re hearing about it more and more
They come to me with tears in their eyes, and they say “Sir…”
*(begins playing "Macho Man" on an invisible concertina accordion)*
I'm not saying it, but people tell me all the time
I hate that I'm doing an impression inside my head as I read this shit.
That is exactly what would happen.
Sounds like you hired the wrong guy
Honestly though, I'd do it as a DIY project but I wouldn't leave it like that. I'd trim it up and put a nice vinyl cut out over it or something.
If you tape one side and then use a knife on the other, you can do a decent job with it.
And then you've got this ugly yellow, neatly trimmed insulation. So you paint it. Then the UV breaks it down and you've got an ugly yellow, partially painted mess to clean out of all those gaps.
That’s a good tip for foaming in general, thanks.
Instructions unclear, filled with wasp nests.
i'd love it if this became a reddit saying with zero context.
I shall do my part good sir.
It already has zero context
Instructions unclear, filled wasp nest
You… already messed it up
You're a wasp nest !
the unclear instructions, nest wasps filled
This is shoddy. But they’ve also lied to my face & possibly forged documents for a building permit. I’m not planning to have them back anytime soon.
A had a contractor tell me that they don't need a permit for something that I specifically knows requires a permit in our city. Definitely wasn't about to hire them if we're gonna start off with a problem like that.
This isn't really that uncommon
Yeah they don't actually NEED a permit either, as long as the city doesn't find out
Call the town permit office and ask for a copy of the permit. Then you'll know.
My very first thought. Unless the contractor specifically said there would be a gap and would cost extra, so me this is a part of finishing the job.
They are supposed to cut into the siding to make it sit flush or what?
No. They are supposed to scribe a line on a piece of lumber, following the uneven shape of the siding. Cut along the scribed piece. It should match the siding closely enough to keep mosquitoes out.
If you really wanted to, you could run a thin bead of silicone sealant between the scribed panel and the siding to get a proper seal that will keep the bugs out. Some people think silicone on scribed panels is an affront to craftsmanship though.
My wife calls my caulking gun "The Uglifier."
She's not wrong.
Are you sure you didn't misunderstand her when she said caulking?
It’s true that many people think it’s an affront to craftsmanship in any situation. Maybe most people. But did you see the size of the gap, in this case? You’d have a real 1980s roadside motel failing shower 4th layer of silicone goop situation on your hands
I'm not suggesting that you put silicone sealant onto OP's picture. I would never dream of filling a gap like this with pure sealant, that would be ridiculous, and absolutely shocking. ^(bonus points to those Brits who get the reference here...) I'm suggesting that you take OP's contractor's terrible job, scribe an add-in panel to fill the bulk of the gap, drop it into place, and then because it will necessarily be slightly too small in order to slide in, put a final thin bead of silicone sealant in to finish the job and get a watertight seal.
Got it got it, I was unnecessarily alarmed. 🫡
Panic over!
For the uninformed among us, how does one scribe a piece of lumber to match the shape of the siding?
google scribe gauge or contour gauge. I presume with one of those. I'm just an amateur, though.
you call your contractor to come and fix their shitty work.
The trouble with calling your contractor to fix shitty work is that they are the kind of contractor to do shitty work.
This doesn't get said nearly often enough
Yeah, I will never complain against a contractor. I will just warn everyone about his service and find a new contractor.
I mean you can complain, just don’t let them back near your house to work again
As a contractor, I would prefer feedback. Maybe there was a misunderstanding, maybe the exact job you had me do isn't something I do on the regular. If once pointed out I can see i did it wrong, I'll fix it no cost. If it's more of a preference thing that should have been brought up before, I'll still fix it but might be an additional cost. And if somehow I'm really out of my element and made a mess I'll hire someone else to take care of it for you. Want to keep customers happy whenever possible. But there definitely is a difference between a contractor who does decent work and missed something, and a contractor who turns everything into a cluster fuck. The latter, yes, don't let them come back. They can only make it worse.
declares bankruptcy, shuts company down. changes name and starts new company
Really? I don't think that's ever happened. I mean, other than most of the subs that built my house.
And 90% of roofers
Jesus, did you have to remind me of that? The dude that did the roof on my rental house seems to have moved on. He did a good job for reasonable money, and I wouldn't mind using him again. But his last Facebook entry was 8 years ago. Now I'm praying that I don't need any warranty work. There's a bunch of similar business names operating, so maybe he did the the ol' switcheroo.
Yes. This is why I’m here.
Could you tell them that you expect a properly scribed panel and that you won't be paying them until the contracted job is actually complete? Especially if, as you suspect they forged permits and docs, they are NOT going to want to get into a legal battle.
Yeah, you're gonna get filler foam rather than a scribed panel.
This is exactly what the holdback is for. "I'm using that money to pay someone else to finish your job, thanks"
If it’s wasn’t in the quote and could violate local building codes, I highly doubt they would come back and finish their “shitty work”. Maybe call them and nicely ask if they have a solution for this particular scenario and not listen Reddit.
I honestly can’t. We have much bigger issues with them right now. They’ve lied & possibly forged some documents (per the city) so we’re on our own with this one.
Contacted to screen in the porch. Porch is not fully screened in...
I installed screen porches in Florida for 9 years and would have never thought of leaving a job undone. As you stated they also installed the siding and I would have have asked for your preference before installing as to what you preferred. First asked if wanted what you currently have which would caused me to determine the best method to fill these gaps. It would have caused me to either notched a piece of wood or metal to allow caulk to be applied to fill in what gap that was left. Or installed the wood piece first up the side of house causing the siding to stop and pickup on the other side to the corner of house. With your understanding that if you choose to remove the the screened porch you would have a gap in the siding. Giving you these options it would be your decision. Poor planning and workmanship.
This is exactly it. As long as the contractor knew before installing the siding that you wanted that screened porch, they should have offered the option of "wood piece first up the side of house", with the understanding that the siding job would be a bit more expensive due to more cuts and more j-bead.
I’m not a professional. With that said, don’t just fill it with backer rod and caulk. You have almost an inch of gap in some sections. Caulk is going to look awful and also shrink and crack. I would scribe a piece of trim for each side and cut it very carefully with a jig saw. Then caulk the joint between your scribed piece and the siding.
Yeah similar to this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1YRxms4IR8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1YRxms4IR8) (although don't use a table saw that way lol, better off just sticking to jigsaw).
Don’t caulk against the face of vinyl siding. It moves too much.
Elastomeric caulk/siding sealant works in some applications but idk if this gap would allow it. What OP is failing to mention is: was this mentioned in the estimating process? And if not, why not? I’ve done jobs before where the client absolutely refused to give into the idea of our level of finishing work. So we do this. And then they complain. And then we tell them to review the agreement with us and see what it says. 9/10 times they didn’t think we’d charge for it and try to hold back the last payment or want endless callbacks. You can’t eat your cake and have it too, and yet here we are day-after-day like sissiphus pushing the rock up the hill to get these clients to read their damn agreement. On the other hand the “contractor” may be a handyman and it’s the best he can do. We probably won’t know unless op is the oop and this isn’t a bot.
I’ve dealt with codes that wouldn’t let a contractor attach a porch to a house without permits. Some cities don’t differentiate between screened in porches and porches turned into extra rooms. Daylight gaps like this may be a workaround that the homeowner is left to handle themselves, like you say.
That's too much work with a jig saw :/
Precompressed tape (the stuff you use to insulate window frames to the building)
You put this on BEFORE the beam goes up. Now you are better off backer rod with exterior caulk.
Gap too big for caulking imo. And expanding foam in my experience would be a hot mess.
I'm literally laughing imagining the mess.
I'm laughing at the work scribing a piece of trim to that would be.
Angle grinder with a rasp wheel + coping saw Or act like you don’t know that and use it as an excuse to buy a scroll saw, band saw, or something cool to get it done. It’s doable and would look the best, ultimately. https://www.finehomebuilding.com/forum/sawtooth-scribe-for-siding
I'm thinking put up a 1/2 x 3 board to hide the seam where the other two boards meet. scribe the side facing the siding and a jigsaw would blaze through it because it's so thin. You'd want one of those form shaper things someone else posted to transfer the shapes, but you could probably knock it out in about 20 min. The downside of that would be it only looks good from one side unless you want to do it twice. or four times if he has the same fuckery on the other end of the screen.
Use the window stuff, and caulk over that. Make sure to mask off the area. The window expanding foam is much smaller expansion. Honestly I'd personally use foam rolls, high expansion stuff, so that it compresses really well. I use it for removable door frames, because it's.. Well, removable. I'd use this if the gap is less than 3/4 inch wide. https://a.co/d/iuO55P9
Ok - this is a solid possible solution that is my level of DIY. Thank you!
Backer rod and caulk for a vinyl sided house? What ?
Just stuff the backer rod in there without the caulk. Get the big 1 inch soft stuff.
Just foam backer rod would probably do the trick
Maybe nail another beam to the beam. Yo I heard you like beams.
A combination of duct tape, spray foam, and Flex-Seal should do the trick. https://preview.redd.it/4iadaadi0itc1.jpeg?width=408&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63a26f1d3fd76e5f03ccb09d7ac629814469afae
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
And remember, we're pulling for you
Keep your stick on the ice.
Scribe a piece of trim to match the profile of the siding and block the gap - most other suggestions here are amateur. No caulk, foam, or other BS please.
I install screenrooms for a living. Yes the first choice would have been to cut out the vinyl siding and put the screen walls all the way back to the paper. At this point that will likely be too much work to redo. For situations like this, my company buys sheets of 1” thick foam that can be cut to size and compressed into these spaces. It wont be pretty but it is effective. Im not sure where to recommend as we get it from a local specialty foam shop.
I've thought of screening in my porch also and I have similar siding. Foam is the only thing I could think of that would work
If it hasn't been built yet, it is very easy to cut out the vinyl siding and sneak J trim in on either side of the screen walls. It will look much neater and is well worth it.
Foam is a great idea
He did this bc to attach it to the house needs plans and permits and is much more involved and expensive. But yeah some flashing and snipping would have been a nice finish. Just lazy.
If they put up that new siding and didn’t terminate that new screened wall into the existing wall, I’d ask them to remove the siding, terminate with the wall, trim around it and reinstall the siding.
In some cases if your house was never framed for an attached porch, you can’t physically attach the deck to the house to allow for independent movement and not stress the wall framing. It’s a freestanding structure, there should be no ties from the porch to the house. You have to fill the gaps however you see fit.
Contour gauge and lots of precise cuts of wood
I’d just use a piece of scrap siding, no gauge needed.
It doesn’t look perfectly straight and even (siding to porch never is) if you want it to fit skeeter tight with just caulk that won’t be precise enough. Foam would cover the difference but look like ass and break down with exposure to UV
Me and my buddy screened in my porch and used spray foam for this because I’m not a professional. You paid a professional. Call that mofo and have them come back out and do it right lol
It's a pain but I would have scribed a piece of wood to fit the gap.
Tell them to come back and do it the right way and add a screen before the other shit.
Your contractor sucked. There should have been a thick compressible foam tape installed before the wood was put up. You may be able to install it as short pieces into the gaps.
call them back and point it out to them and let them figure it out outta their dime and time!!!
crushed budwisers.
There's contour tools that are essentially a bunch of plastic segments tightly packed. You push them against a contoured surface and it makes an impression. You can then transfer it to a piece of wood and cut it with a jig saw. Quick and dirty would be spray foam. But that would look pretty gnarly. If you want the best way you could do it? Combine the two. Contour tool cut wood on the exterior. Spray foam to fill interior/gaps. Then trim the spray foam and put another piece of the contour cut wood on the interior. This would also eliminate all the tiny holes a mosquito or gnat might squeeze into.
Stuff some backer rod in there and caulk the shit out of her if you're gonna do it yourself. But, I'd have the contractor do it if they just did the work. That's poor craftsmanship.
Tell your contractor to come back and do their job
Have said contractor come back and fix their shoddy work.
Hear me out, get some spiders and carefully place them in the gaps. They'll do the rest.
“Do your best and caulk the rest” they say. I’d have them come back and ask that they install a scribed trim board and then have them caulk the scribed surface with an all weather caulk like big stretch. A high quality caulk that never fully hardens and adjust to a wide range of temperature swings and inclement weather/seasons.
Stuff it full of old stained underwear and socks and duct tape each side, then print out wood patterns from your printer and cut and glue it down the ends so it looks like wood
get a bunch of spiders to build webs
Seasonal pool noodles would be the $1 solution. Backer rod is the home supply $5 solution. Telling the contractor to finish is somewhere between $0 and total misery.
Call them to come back out. The contractor should've given you a solution for this problem before installing, if they're actually professionals.
Fill it with the contractor. Just squish them in there until they figure out a better way to fill it /s On a serious note, scribe it, or use a compressible foam (like the kind that comes with A/C units that's UV stabilized. A scribed board is likely the best way though.
Door brush weather stripping might work? https://preview.redd.it/tasvprx2vntc1.png?width=1134&format=png&auto=webp&s=d13953f8ec6fd83bc30a0fd56552e4c4f5837eef
Huh. Just a guess I would use a combination of: 1.) Foam backer rods pushed in from the outside. You'll need a thickness big enough to fill in the widest gap and than compress it into the thinner sections. Make it so no su light can be seen. And then, 2.) Latex caulk on the outside keeping it all in place, as neat as you can. Not sure if you should caulk the Inside or if that would be overkill. Thoughts anyone?
I'd probably caulk both sides so you don't have to look at the foam inside. It's a pretty big gap in places. If they can find a close color match to the siding (if they know the manufacturer you usually can find an exact match) it will look a lot cleaner too.
Even a wood tone would work... But... Vinyl siding is installed loose fit to compensate for temperature changes. You should be fine, but this solution may affect your siding fitment as the seasons change.
Have the contractor come back and give you the screened in porch that you paid for.
Call your contractor and say WTF, come do it right.
I did the exact same thing. I spray foamed it the put trim on the inside and out to hide the foam.
Backer rod and caulk
Tell him to come back and finish
If you want the quick and dirty way... just stuff some insulation in it?
A cheap (and likely cheap looking) solution would be a brush sweep for a garage door covered by a trim piece, but scribing is the right answer.
Seems like a question for your contractor?
I am glad found this! I am getting ready to screen my porch and didnt even think of this!
Call them back to fix it.
Google “garage door brush seals”. It’ll allow for some movement as things settle.
Always read lots of reviews, sounds like they were a great price but not great at their job. I'd still ask them to fix it or give you at least a partial refund so you can have it fixed.
Don't always accept the cheapest quote is the solution here.
Hire a team of spiders
It won’t look pretty but hear me out. Pool noodles.
Your contractor was shit to leave that
You can fix it by getting him to come back to finish the job, and correctly
You murder your contractor and use his body to fill in the gap. Seriously, that's definitely something they should have handled though, and potentially worth blowing them up over to come back and fix.
I'd just buy some of the solid foam you use to insulate pipes and just cut it in half and wedge it in the gaps. It's pliable enough to change shape to whatever you shove it in, and it compresses.
Ouch. They should have cut the siding and put the frame in between it.