Any of you ever fix up a house?

[G The Resurrected]

I've been living in this 2800sqf home for two years now and my grandparents want me to fix it up now. I dont know what to do. Its like having a blank check to redo the house. So I wondered if any of you have had experience with painting and a few other things.

List of things to get done:

New windows
New carpet/pad
Removal of faux wood floor and installation of either large tile or unfinished pergo like stuff.
Removal of tile in kitchen and regrouting of the two bathrooms.
Fresh paint in all rooms
New stove top, exhaust vent, oven, dishwaster
New french doors instead of sliding glass
New lighting fixtures.

Where do you start first?

I've got till august to get a majority of the things done.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Phoenix Dark]

What kind of windows do you guys have? Last week we started working hard on opening ours; the windows had been sealed shut before my parent's bought the house, and they needed to be opened for us to pass inspection. [In order to rent out a house it needs to pass inspection for safety, which comes down to fire alarms in every room, banisters, windows that fully open, etc]

Are you sure you need new carpet? If it's worn out then replace it, but if not you might be able to just have it cleaned. You can rent a carpet cleaning machine from Home Depot and use it to clean the entire carpet; it'll make the house smell better too. It works somewhat like a lawnmower in the sense that you move it around like one, and it does a nice job; you fill it with soapy water, and then pour it out when done and start again. The previous owners of this house were smokers and they had dogs, so when we used the cleaner the water came out pitch black. It was that dirty. But after a few days we cleaned it to great results and got the smoke smell out the house.

Painting it straight forward so you could do that yourself

[G The Resurrected]

The windows here are all original from the 70's they all have boxed  wood blinds covering them all. I want to get triple or dual payne windows with viynl blinds. The french doors will replace a already existing slidding door. I've got those priced already cause they are one of the first things going in that specific room. Somewhere between the new windows, painting and carpet. Problem is double doors dont work cause we have only one set of stairs not a full set. But i might get it redone if possible.

As for carpet i rented a heavy duty machine to clean the carpets when i got here, and it didnt work. The pad is ruined and molded out. So removal and replacement is the only answer sadly.

As for painting  dont know how your suppost to paint door frames and detailed stuff. I'm wondering if I should leave that to someone else. But I know the paint is going in before i replace the carpet but after we get the new windows installed. The kitchen is the biggest project cause not only does it have windows it has the hardwood floor, tile counters, freaking designer cabinets that are very hard to sand for painting., then all the appliances., and paint.

[G The Resurrected]

Also just thought about stucko on the exterior and the need for new gutters. As well as getting screens for the windows. This is a lot to do on my own.

[ToxicAdam]

I've redone every room in my house. Flooring, painting, fixtures etc. There are some things I wished I paid someone else to do (drop ceiling in the basement). It wasn't worth the cost savings.

Given the things you listed, I would definitely start with painting first. It's the cheapest for supplies and will make a big visual difference. If you get paint on the flooring (assuming you will replace it), it won't be such a big deal.

Before you do any of these jobs, you need to assess what tools you need. Sometimes the cost of tools and the possibility of screwing up could be the same amount for what you could pay someone else (especially for the small electrical jobs).

[G The Resurrected]

I'm cool with rewiring and installing new fixtures. But your right the tools needed might not be worth it. I forgot all about the ceiling. I gotta pay to have someone do that before i paint anything. I think I can do most everything but i gotta find out how much its all gonna cost. I dont think I should do things like tile and stuff but the painting and prep I could do.

I think i'll just do the prep and then pay for professionals to do the rest.

[Tauntaun]

+



= project done! 

[G The Resurrected]

taun taun i'd only do that if i wasnt planing on living there. This has to be good for 10-15 years

[demi]

lol, this ain't happening for a long while.

[Tauntaun]

taun taun i'd only do that if i wasnt planing on living there. This has to be good for 10-15 years

but two of them are giving thumbs up and one is giving the peace sign, how can you say no?!?!? 

spoiler (click to show/hide)

plus I think the one with no shirt will give you some extra services for some doritos! 

[close]

[Himu]

I've painted and moved furniture. Just about it.

[FlameOfCallandor]

 

[G The Resurrected]

lol, this ain't happening for a long while.

Already got window guys over this morning to another coming by this afternoon. Tile specialist on wednesday and door guy on thursday. So its happening.

[Madrun Badrun]

I'm rather good at fixer ups because my mom doesn't like to take care of the house 

If I was to do this, are you going to be living in the house while you do this?, if not I'd do all the ripping out at once so you can get it all hulled away at once.

I'd first off all go shopping for the new appliances because that my take a while, just don't order them till most of the other things are done.  Same goes for light fixtures, which you need to make sure you wiring is set up for the new stuff, other wise you need an electrision. 

I'd rip out the carpet, matting and hard floor then.  I think the pergo stuff your talking about is a floating floor.  For that you need the wood, the under mat, a mitre saw, and a special crowbar thing, which I forget the name of.  Don't install the new stuff unti you  Removal of tile in kitchen and regrouting of the two bathrooms, New windows and get the new french doors installed.  Then paint lastly. 



If you have a home depot anywere near you go to them and just ask.  Nothing your really going is complicated, and you really only need the basic of tools for this stuff. 

[Tauntaun]

I bet this guy could use some work after he blew is load in vegas:

[demi]

Better make sure they don't find your used condoms strewn around.

[TVC15]

Why don't you just fill the house with meat and eat it like a jumbo burrito?

[G The Resurrected]

Thanks mike. Yeah I want to live in the house while I work on it but I know I'll be spending some time living elsewhere while the master bedroom get dolled up.

So in order:

Removal of tile and replacement of grout
Then removal of hard floor and carpet? (got that crowbar thing already from removing tile floors at another house)
Then replace the windows and door
Then Paint?

I've got a lot of wood trim footers and headers in the room. That are decrative stuff that needs paint. Is it easier to just by new crown molding or sand down what we've got and then paint it?



We already have the appliances picked out. I went with a gunmetal finish on the appliances. But were waiting for a sale at sears to pick them up. The worse being the stovetop and built-in oven. I've also already ordered new hinges and handles for the drawers in the kitchen and bathrooms.

I'd ask the people at homedepot but they are so dumb they cant even find me a lightbulb that I've brought with me to try and get a replacement for. They are that dumb.

[Tauntaun]

Hope the repairs go well.    I'm looking forward to getting a house in a couple years!

[Madrun Badrun]

O see at my home depot as long as you ask the person in their specific area there really smart. 

The trims aren't worth sanding, unless you have really nice expensive ones.  You actually might not even need to sand them but it depends on what kind of paint your putting on and what kind is on their already.

You can paint oil over oil, and oil over latex but not latex over oil. 

The crowbar thing I'm talking about isn't for removing stuff, its to get the floating floors into corners and against walls.  It's like the item furthest to the left here http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.grehal.com/images/newsletter/dec04/newsletter-Dec04_clip_image002_0007.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.edma.fr/newsletter-Dec04.htm&h=199&w=279&sz=6&hl=en&start=26&um=1&tbnid=2y-iHIgUO3LJVM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfloating%2Bfloor%2Btools%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

You will also need a jigsaw if you have weird things to go around like a closet. 

[G The Resurrected]

Yeah the trim was really expensive when it was put in. I dont know what type of paint is on it but its in every room of the house. So i might have to sand them. Cabinets are even more grooves and shit to sand. But if its oil based paint maybe i can paint over it or something. I just want it to look the best it can.

I've got acess to a tool rental place. And they have power painting devices i can rent for a few days. That should make painting the walls a breeze. But its all the cabinents and pre existing molding that is getting in the way. As well in my master bedroom the tile in there has to be regrouted but not removed and theres lots of molding there and not a lot of space. So i'll have to remove the toilets in order to paint in that area probably.

[Madrun Badrun]

I just removed a toleit a few months a go.  It hadn't been removed in 20 years so we couldn't get th bolts off, so I ended up having to cut them off.  Go that was work.  If it hasn't been removed in a long time you'll probably need to new seals when you reinstall it. 

[Mupepe]

yeah.  all of that is pretty easy stuff to do.  Most of that, you can ask someone at your local hardware store for simple instructions.  

I'd do the windows first.

[G The Resurrected]

Kick ass now i know what i'm gonna be spending my days off doing for the next several months.

[Madrun Badrun]

Kick ass now i know what i'm gonna be spending my days off doing for the next several months.

it shouldn't take that long, the hardest is the windows and new doors, and the paining takes a while but other that that you can get most of it done in a weekend or two. 

[Mupepe]

Kick ass now i know what i'm gonna be spending my days off doing for the next several months.

it shouldn't take that long, the hardest is the windows and new doors, and the paining takes a while but other that that you can get most of it done in a weekend or two. 

the doors shouldn't be that hard depending on their style.  I'd say the windows will take longer.  a lot longer

[Madrun Badrun]

Just the doors if they are a lot smaller than his existing hole you have to build in, which if a trim doesn't cover you have to redo the siding to the house. 

I've never done windows, whats that like?

[Mupepe]

Just the doors if they are a lot smaller than his existing hole you have to build in, which if a trim doesn't cover you have to redo the siding to the house. 

I've never done windows, whats that like?

Well, he ideally should get the doors cut to size wherever he is buying from.  Most places will do that for free providing it's not a metal door.

The windows are fairly easy.  It depends on how old his house is.  a lot of window bays from the 80's have made it really easy but providing literally a snap in area for windows.  I did my dad's about a year ago.  his house is from 85.  all you have to do is literally unscrew it, snap it out.  get the right borders for your new glass, and snap it in.  and screw it back in place.

god forbid he doesn't have that style, it's a fucking mess 

let me know what you have G and I can help you.

[Madrun Badrun]

speaking of home repairs I think this summer I have to fix a cracked cement basement.     I've been putting it off for a year but now I'm going to have to do that, and thats one of the worst jobs ever. 

[G The Resurrected]

Well i just got done with my second apprasal. Same windows as the other guy and he'll redo the stoops (the area around the sliding door) for free if i buy a set of doors from him. It costs 500 bucks extra over the other guy but thats with those two door areas included, as well as the garage (i forgot about it with the first guy.) So i'm gonna go with him most likely and he says it takes 4-6 hours and the windows should be in. They are available after the second week in may to do them.

I'm lucky there i guess. But its the interior i have to focus on. Cause theres a lot to be done. I'll be taking pictures to show what things are looking like and where things should be fixed.

I have to fix the garages cements sometime but thats where everything thats in the house will be heading so that the house is clean so I can get to work.

I did mention that i'm doing this all on my own right? Just me myself and I. So its gonna take more than a few weeks most likely. But i'm determined to get it done.

[Mupepe]

speaking of home repairs I think this summer I have to fix a cracked cement basement.     I've been putting it off for a year but now I'm going to have to do that, and thats one of the worst jobs ever. 

What part is cracked?  the foundation??

[Mupepe]

New carpet/pad (if you have to cut, annoying and frustrating as balls)
Removal of faux wood floor and installation of either large tile or unfinished pergo like stuff. (depends on what's in it, but probably easy as balls.)
Removal of tile in kitchen and regrouting of the two bathrooms. (easy, but tedious and annoying as balls)
Fresh paint in all rooms (easy as balls.  get a 12 pack, a radio and you're set.  make sure to breathe the fumes in deep.  get high as balls)
New stove top, exhaust vent, oven, dishwaster (easy as balls.  just get someone to move them for you.
New french doors instead of sliding glass (hard as balls.  you're hiring for this right?)
New lighting fixtures. (easy as balls)

[Madrun Badrun]

speaking of home repairs I think this summer I have to fix a cracked cement basement.     I've been putting it off for a year but now I'm going to have to do that, and thats one of the worst jobs ever. 

What part is cracked?  the foundation??

I haven't cut into the dry wall yet to see exactly whats happening but my guess it is not foundation and its the part in between the house and the drive way, so I have to dig down in that little space, sigh.  My guess is a root from the huge ever green in front has cracked it. 

[Mupepe]

speaking of home repairs I think this summer I have to fix a cracked cement basement.     I've been putting it off for a year but now I'm going to have to do that, and thats one of the worst jobs ever. 

What part is cracked?  the foundation??

I haven't cut into the dry wall yet to see exactly whats happening but my guess is foundation and its the part in between the house and the drive way, so I have to dig down in that little space, sigh.  My guess is a root from the huge ever green in front has cracked it. 

I would pray that it's a root.  Foundation problems are costly and a pain in the ass 

[G The Resurrected]

the faux wood floor is glued to the floor. So its gonna be hard as hell. But the tile work is gonna be done by someone. I just have to do the prep so its cheaper to install. Countertop area is gonna be a pain cause i want seemless coated surfacing for the kitchen. But i have to match the colors right.

I went to a lighting place to see what my options are and i picked out this awesome water flowing glass for the bathrooms. It covers the light and looks like a huge wave.

Becky/CG wanna do some interior design choices?

[Madrun Badrun]

O I forgot, if you doing the new lights with the wood floor make sure their in before you do it, because direction you lay it in is dependent on your main light.

[G The Resurrected]

Nah the wood floor is going and gonna be replaced with these large tile slabs.

[xnikki118x]

I'm not personally a fixer-upper (but I can use select power tools!) but I come from a family of them.

My suggestion is to start with the fresh coats of paint. It's tedious, but you can do it yourself and a freshly painted room looks 100x better than it did before. That will give you the motivation to continue with the other projects.

[Madrun Badrun]

lol, thats such a womans way to look at it.

[G The Resurrected]

Mike your right they dont look at it the same way.  paint will happen after the heavy stuff goes in and before the new floor goes down. No offense nikki, but paint first when theres gonna be such a big mess of stuff going on isnt such a great idea.

[MrAngryFace]

MADE UP SCENARIO!