DIY home improvements ITT

[gixxer0.6g]

Laminate for now, mainly wanted to get rid of all the carpet. Thinking bamboo for the future.
Damn thats going to look gorgeous. Do you have any ideas for the color?

I'm going laminate too. I really like that color/grain. All the rave is in LVT but I think it looks like plastic and costs twice as much. I do like the tile wood look planks but don't like the cold hard feel.

Cabinets will be this color.


And countertops/island is this


It will be tile in the kitchen but the laminate I'm leaning towards is this

[lowkey122]

Better picture. Definitely want to replace with stainless.

I own two properties, both with all stainless kitchens and they are a royal pain in the a$$. On one hand you have the bragging rights and envy of your guests but that comes with endless scrubbing of every smudge, streak, fingerprint etc. "Stainless look" doesn't have the same mass appeal as true stainless steel but is much easier to keep clean and much less $$$.

[homebrew01]

Anyone install "Ductless Mini Split" heating - A/C units ?

We put some in our house this spring. Hoping it was worth the investment. Just starting to get cold here in Connecticut, so the real test begins.

[Adarus]

Going through our old pics of when we remodeled the house found this one that looked like a pretty good before and after.



Still wasn't completely done in this picture but I was loving this room after that new shower got finished.
Edit: The tub was pulled out while I was working on the plumbing in this picture. It sits back in between the shower and wall now.

[gixxer0.6g]

Anyone install "Ductless Mini Split" heating - A/C units ?

We put some in our house this spring. Hoping it was worth the investment. Just starting to get cold here in Connecticut, so the real test begins.

I'm an mech engineer so we have used mini splits pretty often. They are more for cooling than heating but most are a heat pump so they can heat. You're probably fine unless you get below zero. Once you get that cold there just isn't enough heat and some will just shut off when it gets below a certain temp. Not a good source of heat for here but in Connecticut you might be okay.

Going through our old pics of when we remodeled the house found this one that looked like a pretty good before and after.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/TIIR5rq.jpg[IMG]

Still wasn't completely done in this picture but I was loving this room after that new shower got finished.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/dYJqdMB.jpg[IMG]

Huge improvement. Those claw foot tubs are expensive!!
Interesting angle on the tub. was that because it wouldn't fit where the old one was? Do you still have room to get to the throne?

[Adarus]

I'm an mech engineer so we have used mini splits pretty often. They are more for cooling than heating but most are a heat pump so they can heat. You're probably fine unless you get below zero. Once you get that cold there just isn't enough heat and some will just shut off when it gets below a certain temp. Not a good source of heat for here but in Connecticut you might be okay.



Huge improvement. Those claw foot tubs are expensive!!
Interesting angle on the tub. was that because it wouldn't fit where the old one was? Do you still have room to get to the throne?

I got the tub for my wife for Christmas that year, it's a shorter one so I don't fit in it worth a damn but she loves it. I should've noted the tub wasn't installed at that point. I had it pulled out while I worked on getting the lines ready. It sets back in that nook perfectly with all of 1/4" clearance on each end. I was real nervous waiting on that thing to come in and find out if I'd allowed enough room for it.

It's also hard to see the bracket in the picture, but I mounted a small tv up in the top corner above the tub. Love taking a shower in the morning and being able to watch the news at the same time.

[k5dvw]

Quick picture of my kitchen thus far (Future plans include all stainless steel appliances). Any ideas what to do with that window space above the sink?

Nice... kitchen. Do you want to actually see into the other room? If not, have you considered glass blocks?

[gixxer0.6g]

I got the tub for my wife for Christmas that year, it's a shorter one so I don't fit in it worth a damn but she loves it. I should've noted the tub wasn't installed at that point. I had it pulled out while I worked on getting the lines ready. It sets back in that nook perfectly with all of 1/4" clearance on each end. I was real nervous waiting on that thing to come in and find out if I'd allowed enough room for it.

It's also hard to see the bracket in the picture, but I mounted a small tv up in the top corner above the tub. Love taking a shower in the morning and being able to watch the news at the same time.

That makes more sense. Well done.

[Damien1990]

Nice... kitchen. Do you want to actually see into the other room? If not, have you considered glass blocks?

Oooo I like that idea.

[Bushmaster]

Semi off-topic, but what do you guys think about the Real Estate market? Think home values will ever go back up?

I check the "Zestimate" of mine on Zillow from time to time, and it's gone up a little. Mostly though.... meh.

[chevy72blu]

Ripped out some more carpet and installed laminate in another room, and put in a chair rail, paint, new baseboards for my first kid's nursery. I'll try to find some pics

[skullcrusher45]

I bought a home about a year ago and have so far redone my kitchen, built a new driveway, installed a built-in shelving/entertainment center and am about to rebuild my front porch. All of this is done with considerable help from my in-laws. Here's a before/after on my entertainment center/built in shelving:

Before


After

[halfchad]

I bought a home about a year ago and have so far redone my kitchen, built a new driveway, installed a built-in shelving/entertainment center and am about to rebuild my front porch. All of this is done with considerable help from my in-laws. Here's a before/after on my entertainment center/built in shelving:

After

Sort that right speaker out mate, it's driving my OCD nuts. Get it symmetrical to the left.

Where is your amp at?

[SpeedCheeser]

Sort that right speaker out mate, it's driving my OCD nuts. Get it symmetrical to the left.

Where is your amp at?

lol, first thing I noticed in the pic as well.



Shelves look good though.

[skullcrusher45]

Sort that right speaker out mate, it's driving my OCD nuts. Get it symmetrical to the left.

Where is your amp at?

lol, first thing I noticed in the pic as well.



Shelves look good though.

I feel you on the right speaker. Just not sure what to do with it ATM. Amp/receiver is inside the new cabinets.

[homebrew01]

I'm an mech engineer so we have used mini splits pretty often. They are more for cooling than heating but most are a heat pump so they can heat. You're probably fine unless you get below zero. Once you get that cold there just isn't enough heat and some will just shut off when it gets below a certain temp. Not a good source of heat for here but in Connecticut you might be okay.

I hope to save a lot by not buying heating oil, though I realize I might need to turn the furnace on when the deep freeze hits.
And since each room has it's own thermostat, I can control overall heating temps better than my old single zone furnace.

[SpeedCheeser]

I feel you on the right speaker. Just not sure what to do with it ATM. Amp/receiver is inside the new cabinets.

Well, it looks like it was doing fine on the mantle in the before pic...I'd just go back there. Otherwise you'll have to build brackets or get a pair of towers.

[robertk232]

I hope to save a lot by not buying heating oil, though I realize I might need to turn the furnace on when the deep freeze hits.
And since each room has it's own thermostat, I can control overall heating temps better than my old single zone furnace.

I considered going ductless, but I didn't want the units on the wall. I ended up converting from oil to gas and moving my furnace to my attic instead of in my hall. My old furnace was LOUD AS PHUK. New one is quiet as can be. HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[homebrew01]

I hope to save a lot by not buying heating oil, though I realize I might need to turn the furnace on when the deep freeze hits.
And since each room has it's own thermostat, I can control overall heating temps better than my old single zone furnace.

Another advantage (for me) was that instead of 4 window air conditioners, I now have essentially central air, with individual room zones.
Each room has a programmable thermostat.
The 25% drop in oil prices makes my ROI not look so good though.

[halfchad]

Well, it looks like it was doing fine on the mantle in the before pic...I'd just go back there. Otherwise you'll have to build brackets or get a pair of towers.

x 2. Put it back to its original position.

[carlos71786]

wow, mirin all the workmanship in this thread as well as the homes and massive properties.

i went to my uncle's house on tuesday morning to help him with his backyard. he can't do it anymore because he had a really bad fall last year and can barely walk now. he has a garden area in the corner thats roughly about 20 yards x 10 yards that needed to be tilled and leveled. using his tiller was a pain in the ass because he lent it to someone who broke the handle, and then welded it back on at a lower angle. i had to bend over to use it. after clearing the area out and tilling it, i emptied a little more than a truckload of compost onto it to level it out. my back is still sore lol. didn't get any pictures of my work but i did get one of his turtle just outside of where he's about to hibernate for the winter.



also started to trim some of our fruit trees because they're getting too big. cut our avocado tree pretty much in half. filled up all 4 of our green waste cans. it was as tall as the big tree to the left. that one is next on saturday.



that wall is about 4 1/2 ft. tall from the dirt. 5 ft. tall from the ground.

[cajone5]

Nice... kitchen. Do you want to actually see into the other room? If not, have you considered glass blocks?

I was going to recommend the same thing




In other news -- about to go for my "pre-final" walk-through on a new construction home in 2 hours. I'll post some photos. Unfortunately, most of my trip will be spent being a dick because I'm tired of them wasting my time. The house is supposed to be completed and cleaned prior to this and I drove by last night and...

-- Sod still isn't placed
-- Landscaping (tree + shrubs) isn't done
-- Fence isn't installed
-- Inside hasn't been cleaned or cleared of construction materials...
-- Floors still covered in corrugated paper
-- Everything is covered in dirt/dust/etc.
-- Final touch up painting and repairs haven't been done
-- Cleaning hasn't been done

So... in short, I'm going to tell them to stop wasting my time and that I'm not signing sh*t unless everything's perfect so there's most likely going to be TWO more walk throughs (another true pre-final and the final to confirm work is adequate). They're trying to close me before Thanksgiving but I doubt it's going to happen.

Wish me luck brahs.

[JDizleSwoleizle]

Wish me luck brahs.

Try to use this to get some freebies, srs. If they are under contract you got some leverage.

[Shiden11]

I was going to recommend the same thing




In other news -- about to go for my "pre-final" walk-through on a new construction home in 2 hours. I'll post some photos. Unfortunately, most of my trip will be spent being a dick because I'm tired of them wasting my time. The house is supposed to be completed and cleaned prior to this and I drove by last night and...

-- Sod still isn't placed
-- Landscaping (tree + shrubs) isn't done
-- Fence isn't installed
-- Inside hasn't been cleaned or cleared of construction materials...
-- Floors still covered in corrugated paper
-- Everything is covered in dirt/dust/etc.
-- Final touch up painting and repairs haven't been done
-- Cleaning hasn't been done

So... in short, I'm going to tell them to stop wasting my time and that I'm not signing sh*t unless everything's perfect so there's most likely going to be TWO more walk throughs (another true pre-final and the final to confirm work is adequate). They're trying to close me before Thanksgiving but I doubt it's going to happen.

Wish me luck brahs.

I've been in that situation where we actually closed with a few things still on the punch list (yes it was stupid). We spent the next several months chasing the builder down to get everything done. I will never again close if there is even one thing that needs done. It's good that you are standing your ground because that is the only way to make sure it all gets done. Good luck and enjoy the new home when it is finished.

[mongochuy]

Good luck to you brah!

We did our own inspection, found some termites and that the home is valued @ 10k less. Right now the Realtor is working to close on a lower price + getting the seller to do some spot treatment. Home buying is some stressful stuff!

[Damien1990]

Good luck to you brah!

We did our own inspection, found some termites and that the home is valued @ 10k less. Right now the Realtor is working to close on a lower price + getting the seller to do some spot treatment. Home buying is some stressful stuff!

This is a UNDERSTATEMENT. lol specially these days.

[Mangino]

Good thread, first time I have seen it. I wish I had pics of everything I have done to my house over the last few years.
Here are a few, probably concentrate on the yard now that I am running out of stuff to do inside the house.

Latest project - easy



Done a couple months ago - not as easy, can also see deck my dad and I built about 4 years ago



Kitchen remodel a few years ago - never again



Subscribed for good ideas

[Shiden11]

Good thread, first time I have seen it. I wish I had pics of everything I have done to my house over the last few years.
Here are a few, probably concentrate on the yard now that I am running out of stuff to do inside the house.

Latest project - easy

Looks great, except for the Gator banner

[Bushmaster]

What do you guys think of Tumbled Marble for counter tops? I kinda like the way it looks but I can't seem to find any pics... Found plenty pics of Back Splashes using it, but no counter tops.

[JDizleSwoleizle]

What do you guys think of Tumbled Marble for counter tops? I kinda like the way it looks but I can't seem to find any pics... Found plenty pics of Back Splashes using it, but no counter tops.

That sounds horrific to clean. Maybe for a small half bath with a rusticy look it would work? Kitchen oh heeeel no.