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Old 05-23-2018, 07:26 AM   #8001
Salvation27
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Well, sandless really isn't sanding down the wood. They use a scrubbing pad, and possibly some chemicals to remove dirt, poly, and residual build ups. From what I read, it doesn't sound nearly equivalent to sanding if you have discoloration, water damage, or dents. Afterwards, they supposedly mix stain and new poly, lay it, then one last coat of poly. They usually use darker stain to hide what they couldn't fix
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Old 05-24-2018, 11:02 PM   #8002
ashtnn
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Our upstairs is pretty hot compared to downstairs and this is the first summer in this house. So on my wife's request we picked up a window A/C unit so her and the baby can sleep more comfortably. Finally got it installed today and....**** doing that again for our 3 year olds room. It's a nice GE system (8000BTU, the AHD08LX I think) and does it's job well, but that install is a bitch. Add in a storm window and it's even more problematic. Luckily, I'm leaving for work for 2 months next week so my FIL may do the next install while I'm gone.

Last edited by ashtnn; 05-24-2018 at 11:24 PM.
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Old 05-25-2018, 02:20 PM   #8003
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ashtnn View Post
Our upstairs is pretty hot compared to downstairs and this is the first summer in this house. So on my wife's request we picked up a window A/C unit so her and the baby can sleep more comfortably. Finally got it installed today and....**** doing that again for our 3 year olds room. It's a nice GE system (8000BTU, the AHD08LX I think) and does it's job well, but that install is a bitch. Add in a storm window and it's even more problematic. Luckily, I'm leaving for work for 2 months next week so my FIL may do the next install while I'm gone.
What am I missing here? Open window, place AC unit, close window.

I put 3 window units in my upstairs every spring and it takes about 10 minutes. Unless we're talking about one gigantic unit to cool an entire second floor.
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Old 05-25-2018, 02:30 PM   #8004
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So our deck has "settled" 3" on one side (picture a few pages back) from when the builder built the house (2015). One of my customers is a highly recommended contractor, so he's gonna come out before the end of June and fix it for $500.

I'm gonna send a copy of the invoice to the builder and see if they'll reimburse us, otherwise, cut my loss and move on.
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Old 05-25-2018, 03:04 PM   #8005
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erm016 View Post
So our deck has "settled" 3" on one side (picture a few pages back) from when the builder built the house (2015). One of my customers is a highly recommended contractor, so he's gonna come out before the end of June and fix it for $500.

I'm gonna send a copy of the invoice to the builder and see if they'll reimburse us, otherwise, cut my loss and move on.
If you want any hope of the builder paying you have to give them the opportunity to fix it first. Document refusal. Then go to small claims with bill from neighbor.
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Old 05-25-2018, 03:12 PM   #8006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by orndog View Post
If you want any hope of the builder paying you have to give them the opportunity to fix it first. Document refusal. Then go to small claims with bill from neighbor.
True. Just not worth the hassle. Knowing my luck he'd come fix it though, and I'd rather have the other guy
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Old 05-25-2018, 03:15 PM   #8007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erm016 View Post
So our deck has "settled" 3" on one side (picture a few pages back) from when the builder built the house (2015). One of my customers is a highly recommended contractor, so he's gonna come out before the end of June and fix it for $500.

I'm gonna send a copy of the invoice to the builder and see if they'll reimburse us, otherwise, cut my loss and move on.
What a coincidence that I opened this thread to post about a similar issue. Our deck is a year and half old and the footing for the bottom of the steps on one side has sunk significantly just in the past month.

Thankfully we used a reputable local company to build it and not a friend or local handyman. They have a 5 year structural and workmanship warranty and it covers everything below the decking.


I am guessing they'll have to remove the stairs entirely and redo the footings.




There's an inch or more of fall from one side of the stairs to the other.

Last edited by Rice & Gravy; 05-25-2018 at 03:23 PM.
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Old 05-26-2018, 08:37 AM   #8008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nepawrx View Post
What am I missing here? Open window, place AC unit, close window.

I put 3 window units in my upstairs every spring and it takes about 10 minutes. Unless we're talking about one gigantic unit to cool an entire second floor.
Chances are we ****ed it up, but I have a storm window so we had to get a piece of wood from Lowes and trim it to fit to allow something for the clips to seat into. Otherwise it wouldn't sit flush since the lip is 2" high. Having done it, I could do it again relatively easy. But that being the first one I've installed, I ran into things I wasn't expecting. That's all.
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Old 05-26-2018, 03:18 PM   #8009
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any tricks to removing caulk from brick? im going to be replacing the main entry door and the current caulk job looks like ass.
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Old 05-26-2018, 05:39 PM   #8010
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Chisels/scrappers to get the big chunks off and a wire brush... or many to clean up the the rest. Start with soft metal and if it's not doing much go to steel.


*I'm not a professional anything. I had a similar issue and this worked to get gunk and sloppy mortar off of the bricks w/o making them look easily noticeably different than the untouched bricks.

also tedious
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Old 05-29-2018, 09:22 AM   #8011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nepawrx View Post
What am I missing here? Open window, place AC unit, close window.

I put 3 window units in my upstairs every spring and it takes about 10 minutes. Unless we're talking about one gigantic unit to cool an entire second floor.
Wat?

Why would you expect a closed window to hold the unit in place? You're supposed to affix them solidly to the wall/frame/surround/etc.

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Old 05-30-2018, 08:56 AM   #8012
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God damned chipmunks. Burrowing an even bigger chasm than last year, I set out the Murder Bucket as was so effective last year. Apparently I screwed it up somehow, though.

This morning I look out the window to find two of them hanging out by the bucket happily munching on sunflower seeds. One of them even hopped up onto the lip of the bucket, held on with its hind legs and stretched down to fish more seeds out of the water.

Figuring the water level must be too high, I dumped some of the water and added some grass, leaves, and dirt to better camouflage the water.

We'll see how it looks after work, I guess.
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Old 05-30-2018, 09:03 AM   #8013
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Poor Chips.
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Old 05-30-2018, 10:44 AM   #8014
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I mentioned way back in this thread that we have an opportunity to purchase my grandmother's house, which needs major renovations. My grandmother is still living in a nursing home. My mother and uncle want to sell the house soon. It was recently appraised for $170K. We would like to get it for $150K, which is more than reasonable for a home in this area in this condition. With hopefully a 20% gift of equity from my parents, $120K would be a great purchase price for us.

I talked to a friend who does mortgages for Wells Fargo. He suggested we get an estimate from a contractor for the renovations we want. That way, we could see if it's feasible, what it will cost, and to make sure the total costs will not be over the value of the home.

So over the weekend a contractor took a look and is working on an estimate. He loved the house and said it was very well built. He thinks it's definitely worth renovating since it is structurally in fantastic shape (the home is cinder block to the lower roof line). It's a large corner lot in a great neighborhood and the taxes are low. He hasn't worked out the numbers yet, but said we are easily looking at $100K in renovations. His opinion is if we get the house for $150K or less, it will be worth the total investment in the end. This contractor is also a good friend of mine who owns a home building business, so I trust his opinion.

The house is a large ranch (approx. 3,000 sq.ft.) with a finished basement and attic. The outside needs siding (stucco is in rough shape) and windows. Here's a couple pics of the outside:

https://i.imgur.com/gl7tzoE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/62PWGb1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1V1qHeJ.jpg

So, what do you think, oh great OT hive mind? Worth it?
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Old 05-30-2018, 10:52 AM   #8015
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I mean, here that'd be a no brainer, because even as a teardown the lot would be worth more than that. I don't think it's a question of the value of the house/etc - but more your specific finances, which makes it hard for us to comment.

Assuming you do it, and you renovate it, will you still be able to handle the taxes/insurance of the new value? Did you break down the 'must do right now' renovations (siding, roofing, plumbing, electrical, etc?) vs the like to do?
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Old 05-30-2018, 10:54 AM   #8016
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That's a nice-looking house. Is your plan to live in it?
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:08 AM   #8017
nepawrx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadowIMg View Post
I mean, here that'd be a no brainer, because even as a teardown the lot would be worth more than that. I don't think it's a question of the value of the house/etc - but more your specific finances, which makes it hard for us to comment.

Assuming you do it, and you renovate it, will you still be able to handle the taxes/insurance of the new value? Did you break down the 'must do right now' renovations (siding, roofing, plumbing, electrical, etc?) vs the like to do?
Yes, we can easily handle $250K total investment. It will not go up too much over our current mortgage plus taxes and insurance.

Plumbing and electrical are good. We need a new larger electrical panel, but that's about it. The roof is relatively new with at least 10-20 more years of life. Siding needs to be done, but not immediately. The must do right now renovations are windows, kitchen, and bedrooms. The house is all original 2 1/4" hardwood flooring. We're not sure if we are going to refinish or replace, but that would be a must do as well.

Quote:
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That's a nice-looking house. Is your plan to live in it?
Yes, we will live in it. My grandfather built the house with friends and family in the 1950s. There's a lot of sentimental value in this home, which is why I need to be sure we're doing the right thing. My kids really want to live there since it's an awesome neighborhood and there's a pool. It doesn't hurt that one of my son's best friends lived right next door.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:39 AM   #8018
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Then it's a no brainer, if you think you can swing it financially.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:44 AM   #8019
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That's such a good deal and amazing opportunity that I think I hate you a little right now.

Honestly, though, with the sentimental value your mentioning, total cost, and (presumably) having a contractor you trust to do the work, if your personal finances allows, it seems like a no brainer.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:48 AM   #8020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheViking85 View Post
That's such a good deal and amazing opportunity that I think I hate you a little right now.

Honestly, though, with the sentimental value your mentioning, total cost, and (presumably) having a contractor you trust to do the work, if your personal finances allows, it seems like a no brainer.
If the costs work out right, it is a no brainer. Maybe that's why it scares me. I don't know. I do love my current home, but it's too small. I think selling our home and the timing of everything is what scares me more than anything.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:53 AM   #8021
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As long as you can handle the financials, as you said you could, I'd def do it.
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Old 05-30-2018, 12:04 PM   #8022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nepawrx View Post
If the costs work out right, it is a no brainer. Maybe that's why it scares me. I don't know. I do love my current home, but it's too small. I think selling our home and the timing of everything is what scares me more than anything.
I obviously don't know what your financial/family situation is, nor your local market conditions, but that does seem to be very affordable for a house of that size, even after the renovations.

I think the thing that comes to my mind is that there's not that much that has to be done, based on what you're saying. the bones are good, if money does end up running tight, there's ways to get around that in a near term, and do the needed renovations when more funds are available.

Just my $0.02, but then I'm a bitter angry millennial and essentially everything that's wrong with America, and an immigrant to boot, so my advise is basically worthless.
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Old 05-30-2018, 12:15 PM   #8023
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A couple of things to think about would be:
- will you do renovation work prior to moving in aka wait to sell your current home so you do not have to live in the renovation project. It will mean potentially two mortgages and or living in an apartment short term.
- time to do the renovation work. Is it your buddy or someone else?
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Old 05-30-2018, 12:28 PM   #8024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nepawrx View Post
If the costs work out right, it is a no brainer. Maybe that's why it scares me. I don't know. I do love my current home, but it's too small. I think selling our home and the timing of everything is what scares me more than anything.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.
YOLO!
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Old 05-30-2018, 01:24 PM   #8025
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Wife and I have discussed our future thoughts on school districts. Right now, we're super happy where we're at. The problem comes when it's time for high school. The high school we're lined up with now isn't the greatest and doesn't really review well.

they're building a whole new campus to open in 2020, but who knows if it'll improve.

However, the best HS around isn't far and it's like a college campus.

So, casually looked at houses for sale, and damn it, I found the one I want. :crying:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...?fullpage=true
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