Home Owner Thread

[concealer]

Getting some French drain action installed in our basement soon due to more frequent leakage and flooding. One company gave a $3.5k estimate and another gave a $9200 estimate with more extensive drain installation. Yeahhhhh gonna be leaning toward the first one.

[mouthofinfinity]

Jul 2, 2020 11:37:04 GMT -5 mouthofinfinity said:

Had an inspector from the town come out to do a pre inspection to install a new oil tank and on the way out he asks if there was a permit for the pellet stove that was there when I moved in. Turns out there isn’t one and I can’t get the permit for the oil tank until I take care of the stove.

Different inspector came out today to look at the stove. He barley stepped foot into the room and said it was good and issued me the permit. Hope that $210 application fee goes a long way for them.

[escapedfromthevalley]

Jul 23, 2020 12:26:10 GMT -5 concealer said:

Getting some French drain action installed in our basement soon due to more frequent leakage and flooding. One company gave a $3.5k estimate and another gave a $9200 estimate with more extensive drain installation. Yeahhhhh gonna be leaning toward the first one.

We had to do this a few years ago and it was very close to $10K. Not the sexiest home improvement, but was well worth it. It only takes one ankle deep flood to realize.

[pisswizard]

On the weekend i like to get drunk and smash up my house with a cricket bat

[foggy]

Didn't cut my yard for 3 weeks because of the heat; I will never fucking do that again.

[sarahohio]

Scored this 1950's solid pine Franklin Shockey 8 drawer dresser.

[jonsetsfire]

May 19, 2020 14:48:30 GMT -5 I Gave You Power said:

Anyone put up floating shelves? My girl wants to do that in our living room and it seems like a solid idea, but if anyone has done this and has recommendations on specific wood/brackets/installation styles to use or whatever, let me know.

Please note in your suggestions that I'd consider myself 'handy enough' and not, like, Bob Villa.

If you're looking to build your shelves from scratch, this link (www.thisoldhouse.com/house-one/21219396/diy-floating-shelves) will help. If not, just be sure to use the studs and get long enough anchoring screws. If you can't use the studs, I know they make pretty heavy duty drywall anchors these days so seek those out.

Also, level it prior to drilling/mounting (obvious, I know, but you NEVER know). I did this in an apartment and forgot to level and instead wen't with the line the fireplace created. Yeah, that shit was crooked. So, learn from my mistake.

While, I'm not a home owner yet, I have been watching hella This Old House and Ask This Old House in preparation for my home owning days.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Last year I posted about a catio I made on the back deck, and today I've got some photos of the second phase that I did back in May:

SPOILER: Click to show

This shows 'phase 1' on the left, the original catio I built last year, with the new catwalk extension coming out the top.


Now seen from the other side, the catwalk extends to a tower that descends into 'the box' (so creative with my naming).


Bow hanging out in the tower. I wanted the box to have some shade on the hot, sunny summer days so I made a little planter box for my wife to grow some herbs on top of it (last photo).


Front view of the phase 2 box under the planter - it has two levels, one for lounging and the other for eating grass. It's hard to see but I have the chicken wire extended across the bottom so they can munch on the grass growing up through it.


Side view of both boys checking it out; included a little doorway on that side in case I need to get in there for any reason.


Couple months later with the herbs grown. My wife also planted cat nip along the side closest to Bow, but the cats have completely demolished it by reaching their paws through the wire.

All in all, super fun project. Wasn't hard to do, just took a bit of drawing. Total work time around 6-7 hours over two days. If you have the space and don't mind appearing completely nuts I highly recommend it.

[youvandal]

I keep thinking about adding one for our cat. Is there an entrance from inside the home or no?

[unholywarcry]

Started refinishing our front porch. The last owner laid the paint down THICC. I can foresee myself pulling my hair out removing it all.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Aug 25, 2020 12:01:20 GMT -5 youvandal said:

I keep thinking about adding one for our cat. Is there an entrance from inside the home or no?

There is an entrance through the window adjacent to the door (we cut a slit in the screen), but it's a little fuckier than I would like due to the orientation of the window opening:

SPOILER: Click to show

There's a little cut-out they can use to snake around the sash.


Front-view showing they actually have a fair bit of room to manouevre.


Tight fit for the door. One unintended benefit is that this actually prevents jailbreaks.

If the window opened to the other side it would have worked perfectly.

[sarahohio]

Aug 25, 2020 11:56:18 GMT -5 Guybrush Threepwood said:

Last year I posted about a catio I made on the back deck, and today I've got some photos of the second phase that I did back in May:

SPOILER: Click to show

This shows 'phase 1' on the left, the original catio I built last year, with the new catwalk extension coming out the top.


Now seen from the other side, the catwalk extends to a tower that descends into 'the box' (so creative with my naming).


Bow hanging out in the tower. I wanted the box to have some shade on the hot, sunny summer days so I made a little planter box for my wife to grow some herbs on top of it (last photo).


Front view of the phase 2 box under the planter - it has two levels, one for lounging and the other for eating grass. It's hard to see but I have the chicken wire extended across the bottom so they can munch on the grass growing up through it.


Side view of both boys checking it out; included a little doorway on that side in case I need to get in there for any reason.


Couple months later with the herbs grown. My wife also planted cat nip along the side closest to Bow, but the cats have completely demolished it by reaching their paws through the wire.

All in all, super fun project. Wasn't hard to do, just took a bit of drawing. Total work time around 6-7 hours over two days. If you have the space and don't mind appearing completely nuts I highly recommend it.

that is so awesome!

[bandrus1]

Probably the least sexy 12k I have ever spent but I having my attic space re-insulated and the basement rafters sealed. NYS offered financing program to help contractors get jumpstared in the pandemic and I got the whole project financed interest free for 15 years

[foggy]

I want a screened in porch terribly.

[pisswizard]

The peacocks keep shitting in the hot tub I installed in my greenhouse/conservatory.

[mindlis]

Sept 3, 2020 6:33:51 GMT -5 bandrus1 said:

Probably the least sexy 12k I have ever spent but I having my attic space re-insulated and the basement rafters sealed. NYS offered financing program to help contractors get jumpstared in the pandemic and I got the whole project financed interest free for 15 years

I need to do this. Might see if there's anything like that out here, but I doubt it

[bandrus1]

Sept 3, 2020 10:25:48 GMT -5 mindlis said:

Sept 3, 2020 6:33:51 GMT -5 bandrus1 said:

Probably the least sexy 12k I have ever spent but I having my attic space re-insulated and the basement rafters sealed. NYS offered financing program to help contractors get jumpstared in the pandemic and I got the whole project financed interest free for 15 years

I need to do this. Might see if there's anything like that out here, but I doubt it

In ny we have a fee on our electric and heating bills to support these programs. If you household income is under 40k you can even get 8k worth of home affiance work done paid for by the state. I didnt qualify for any program initially but they offered this 15 year financing program regardless of income. I think the funding dried up in 2 days  

[sarahohio]

Sept 3, 2020 10:02:46 GMT -5 pisswizard said:

The peacocks keep shitting in the hot tub I installed in my greenhouse/conservatory.

is this a joke?

[sean]

Sept 3, 2020 6:33:51 GMT -5 bandrus1 said:

Probably the least sexy 12k I have ever spent but I having my attic space re-insulated and the basement rafters sealed. NYS offered financing program to help contractors get jumpstared in the pandemic and I got the whole project financed interest free for 15 years

Did you get blow-in insulation in your attic? My attic needs more insulation, but we just bought a new roof so I'm not in a rush to spend a bunch of money.

[bandrus1]

Sept 4, 2020 6:29:53 GMT -5 sean said:

Sept 3, 2020 6:33:51 GMT -5 bandrus1 said:

Probably the least sexy 12k I have ever spent but I having my attic space re-insulated and the basement rafters sealed. NYS offered financing program to help contractors get jumpstared in the pandemic and I got the whole project financed interest free for 15 years

Did you get blow-in insulation in your attic? My attic needs more insulation, but we just bought a new roof so I'm not in a rush to spend a bunch of money.

Took out the old. They then air seal the entire attic to keep out air flow upward from the walls and house and then blow in 18 inches.

If you want more information on the process this is the company I used


www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB6CbJsb1FM

[youvandal]

Just had to drop 4k for a new furnace and AC because our old units were installed in 1977. My monthly electric payment should drop a ton but I hate spending that much on something like that.

[sarahohio]

Sept 4, 2020 16:27:44 GMT -5 youvandal said:

Just had to drop 4k for a new furnace and AC because our old units were installed in 1977. My monthly electric payment should drop a ton but I hate spending that much on something like that.

ugh my AC is on it's last leg.  Luckily I think it will last to the end of this summer, but I will definitely have to replace it next year.

[youvandal]

Sept 5, 2020 6:10:40 GMT -5 sarahohio said:

Sept 4, 2020 16:27:44 GMT -5 youvandal said:

Just had to drop 4k for a new furnace and AC because our old units were installed in 1977. My monthly electric payment should drop a ton but I hate spending that much on something like that.

ugh my AC is on it's last leg.  Luckily I think it will last to the end of this summer, but I will definitely have to replace it next year.

We knew going into this house that it would eventually need to be fixed so it wasn't a huge surprise but still annoying. Every company said that they run specials over the winter so thats the best time to replace an AC

[mouthofinfinity]

I need to get central air or a ductless system put it in, my upstairs was almost at 90 a few days this summer.

[xpatx]

Had a plumbing issue and got a new roof in the beginning of the summer, together it came to nearly $13k. There are things I much would rather have spent $13,000 on but I guess that’s what you’re expected to do now. Put painting the exterior and redoing the bathroom on the back burner unfortunately.

Also, I had roof estimates ranging from $2,700 all the way up to $16,000. I wen't with one of the mid range estimates but man, what a pain in the ass it is deciding which one to go with.

[bandrus1]

Sept 5, 2020 16:27:56 GMT -5 xpatx said:

Had a plumbing issue and got a new roof in the beginning of the summer, together it came to nearly $13k. There are things I much would rather have spent $13,000 on but I guess that’s what you’re expected to do now. Put painting the exterior and redoing the bathroom on the back burner unfortunately.

Also, I had roof estimates ranging from $2,700 all the way up to $16,000. I wen't with one of the mid range estimates but man, what a pain in the ass it is deciding which one to go with.

Yea i wouldnt go with the $2700

[xpatx]

Sept 6, 2020 21:29:31 GMT -5 bandrus1 said:

Sept 5, 2020 16:27:56 GMT -5 xpatx said:

Had a plumbing issue and got a new roof in the beginning of the summer, together it came to nearly $13k. There are things I much would rather have spent $13,000 on but I guess that’s what you’re expected to do now. Put painting the exterior and redoing the bathroom on the back burner unfortunately.

Also, I had roof estimates ranging from $2,700 all the way up to $16,000. I wen't with one of the mid range estimates but man, what a pain in the ass it is deciding which one to go with.

Yea i wouldnt go with the $2700

Yeah that was a hard pass, he was going to use leftover shit from another job he had nearby.  No thanks.

[cavaliersunset]

My wife and I were just approved for our first home loan. I'm scared now

[Noodles]

About to try my hand at replacing all the windows in my house. The current ones are 35+ years old and absolutely shot. In most cases the seals are busted or the sashes won't even close all the way or latch. Constantly dealing with bugs in the house because of it.

Windows are an absolute racket. There's no way i'll get my money's worth with them nor will they add more value to the property than they cost. I couldn't believe some of the numbers I was quoted. These are going to cost me $15k and that's me buying them wholesale and doing the install myself. And that was the cheapest I could find for wood clad replacements. Might take me 2 years to complete but I'll probably save $7-8k doing so.

[youvandal]

Sept 7, 2020 7:22:48 GMT -5 Noodles said:

About to try my hand at replacing all the windows in my house. The current ones are 35+ years old and absolutely shot. In most cases the seals are busted or the sashes won't even close all the way or latch. Constantly dealing with bugs in the house because of it.

Windows are an absolute racket. There's no way i'll get my money's worth with them nor will they add more value to the property than they cost. I couldn't believe some of the numbers I was quoted. These are going to cost me $15k and that's me buying them wholesale and doing the install myself. And that was the cheapest I could find for wood clad replacements. Might take me 2 years to complete but I'll probably save $7-8k doing so.

I have had really good luck finding windows in the clearance sections at Home Depot and Lowes. Its really hit or miss with sizes but if you're doing it over time, you might find some cheaper options there.