Let's Talk Remodeling

[Ranatra]

So Ranatra, do you have any before and after shots?

What I have is house gutted shots, progress shots, and finished shots.
I don't have any before shots. Dumb I know.
I do have before and after shots of the outside of the house though.
I also just realized we started this in 2004, so it'll soon be 3 years!
With DH doing a lot of the work himself, it gets dragged out longer, plus he had to undergo back surgery last February for a herniated disk from a fall on ice. That put him out of comission for about 4 months! That put us behind on our back patio and wall work.

We met with an architect over the winter months of 2003 and worked out exactly what we wanted. We added 4 ft. to the back of the house, raised the roof,knocked down all the walls separating the kitchen from the LR and DR, then switched the LR and DR around.(Actually, there was only 1 wall left standing when the gutting was completed, everything else was changed)
This was the house I grew up in and we loved the location, at the end of a cul de sac, with nothing but woods behind us. Lots of privacy. ( plus we got a great deal on the house, which was built in 1965.)

 

[tinah159]

The smell was coming from inside the walls. At first we thought we could just replace the cabinets. But,,,the more we demolished, it became clear the mold was everywhere and the drywall had to be replaced. There were several small leakes we were unaware of. The only area that didnt need replaced was the bathtub but, I hated it and added a new whirpool tub. I am a little crazed about mold these day. I am always looking or sniffing for it. lol

 

[shovan]

The smell was coming from inside the walls. At first we thought we could just replace the cabinets. But,,,the more we demolished, it became clear the mold was everywhere and the drywall had to be replaced. There were several small leakes we were unaware of. The only area that didnt need replaced was the bathtub but, I hated it and added a new whirpool tub. I am a little crazed about mold these day. I am always looking or sniffing for it. lol

Here in New Orleans, mold is something we have become all too familiar with! I guess it's just something we have to be on the lookout for, here in the Deep South! Glad you were able to get it all cleaned out & get a new whirpool tub to boot!!!

 

[mickeysgal]

Ok - I'm here to perk up your Monday morning in a way thats never been done before. Ready for this?

Question for all of you...

Its that every exciting and cutting edge topic of ... doorknobs. Yes, I know, hold your excitement down to a dull roar please. Don't want the moderators closing this thread because of all of our uncontrolled enthusiam.

We've got to buy so many doorknobs for the basement remodel, that I've been on the hunt for a discount place of some kind that sells name brands. We''re leaning toward brushed satin nickle in the egg shape. Does anyone know of any online place or any other place for that matter that sells name brands (such as Schlage or Baldwin) at bulk quantity prices?

Where do contractors get there knobs when they're building a house? Certainly they don't push a cart through Home Depot and fill it up...or do they?

Ok --- I'm turning you all loose on my doorknob project. I'm expecting all of your enthusiasic answers.

 

[tiggger1]

i have no idea what they usually go for but i found this

http://www.gtdoorsandlocks.com/home.php?cat=348

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Ok - I'm here to perk up your Monday morning in a way thats never been done before. Ready for this?

Question for all of you...

Its that every exciting and cutting edge topic of ... doorknobs. Yes, I know, hold your excitement down to a dull roar please. Don't want the moderators closing this thread because of all of our uncontrolled enthusiam.

We've got to buy so many doorknobs for the basement remodel, that I've been on the hunt for a discount place of some kind that sells name brands. We''re leaning toward brushed satin nickle in the egg shape. Does anyone know of any online place or any other place for that matter that sells name brands (such as Schlage or Baldwin) at bulk quantity prices?

Where do contractors get there knobs when they're building a house? Certainly they don't push a cart through Home Depot and fill it up...or do they?

Ok --- I'm turning you all loose on my doorknob project. I'm expecting all of your enthusiasic answers.

I know for the plumbing company I used to own, we could barely beat Home Depot's prices, so ya never know!

We've been gradually phasing out that lovely polished brass look, to brushed nickel and have been purchasing Schlage as they go on sale. We have the exterior deadbolts to do and we're done. (Those hurt!)

I did find lots on eBay. Have you checked there?

 

[mickeysgal]

We've been gradually phasing out that lovely polished brass look, to brushed nickel and have been purchasing Schlage as they go on sale. We have the exterior deadbolts to do and we're done. (Those hurt!)

I did find lots on eBay. Have you checked there?

Thats what we have to do too. We have brass everywhere. Faucets, doorknobs, toliet handles, hinges, that bottom-of-the-sink-thingy, etc.
We are starting with the new basement and will work our way upwards.

I'll check ebay again. I have been but haven't seen much in the way of what we're looking for.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Thats what we have to do too. We have brass everywhere. Faucets, doorknobs, toliet handles, hinges, that bottom-of-the-sink-thingy, etc.
We are starting with the new basement and will work our way upwards.

I'll check ebay again. I have been but haven't seen much in the way of what we're looking for.

Just stay away from the towel bars! Stick to searching for doorknobs only!

 

[binny]

I actually found all of my kitchen hardware from ebay.

It was 1/3 the price and I love it!



Ok the floors are in.

What do you think?
arrrggghhhh This is driving me crazy. for some reason i cant post pictures Ill try again.

 

[binny]

ok lets try this way

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Binny! Very, very pretty!

Two thumbs up!

 

[Galahad]

Binny! Very, very pretty!

Two thumbs up!

Looks GREAT!!!!!!

 

[shovan]

Binny, your floors look great!

 

[binny]

Thanks when my kitchen is cleaner I will post a picture of the whole thing

 

[mickeysgal]

Beautiful Binny!! They did a nice job.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Thanks when my kitchen is cleaner I will post a picture of the whole thing

No, Binny... we want to see it dirty. I can't speak for everyone else, but I know it would make me feel better!

 

[Hixski]

Well a couple of our projects just got put on hold. We went out today to get a new dishwasher because the one we have shot craps. We come back and the garage door opener wouldn't work. We came in the front door and went out into the garage. We still couldn't get it to work. Then I noticed that one of the big springs was broke. We just had that fixed a few years ago. It should be under warranty but I can't find the paperwork. Can anything else go wrong. I don't need this kind of stress. I am supposed to by laid off from work June 1. I feel like I have a dark cloud hanging over my head. I guess I won't be posting about any remodeling anytime soon.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Well a couple of our projects just got put on hold. We went out today to get a new dishwasher because the one we have shot craps. We come back and the garage door opener wouldn't work. We came in the front door and went out into the garage. We still couldn't get it to work. Then I noticed that one of the big springs was broke. We just had that fixed a few years ago. It should be under warranty but I can't find the paperwork. Can anything else go wrong. I don't need this kind of stress. I am supposed to by laid off from work June 1. I feel like I have a dark cloud hanging over my head. I guess I won't be posting about any remodeling anytime soon.

Well, my husband and I still haven't gotten down to business when it comes to finalizing our bathroom plans either, so you're not alone.

I have a garage door story that might make you feel a little better!

I had a spring break on mine a long time ago and it went zooming past my head at such a high rate of speed, it ended up embedded in the sheetrock behind me!

My knees were weak after that! If that thing would have been about 1" over, I'd probably be dead! When those things decide to go, they GO! You're lucky you weren't in there!

 

[Hixski]

Well, my husband and I still haven't gotten down to business when it comes to finalizing our bathroom plans either, so you're not alone.

I have a garage door story that might make you feel a little better!

I had a spring break on mine a long time ago and it went zooming past my head at such a high rate of speed, it ended up embedded in the sheetrock behind me!

My knees were weak after that! If that thing would have been about 1" over, I'd probably be dead! When those things decide to go, they GO! You're lucky you weren't in there!

Yikes!!!! You were lucky. I remember when they fixed our spring the first time they said there is a ton a pressure in those springs. That is why they are very strong and expensive. Some good news though. I found the paperwork. The parts have a lifetime warranty. Yea!!!! I will be calling ASAP since my car is being held hostage in the garage. At least we have DH's SUV out of the garage.

 

[dolcezena]

This seems the place to ask...

Anyone have any ideas about how to re-motivate a VERY discouraged DIY fiance? His last "project" that should have taken a couple of hours turned into a couple of days & now it looks like we'll have to gut the bathroom AGAIN (yup, mold - thanks to some shoddy contracting work.) DFi has been trying to fix what he can, but it seems beyond hope at this point.

He wanted to go for one of those moulded tub/shower custom-fit surrounds, but I insisted on tile. I always think those moulded things belong in cheap motels...but, looks like he was right.

So how can I encourage him to soldier on so we can sell this blasted house next spring?????