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The Home Renovation Thread

Just remembered one thing, and it was only done yesterday!

We had a whole house water softener put in. They said it would take a while to get through since we already had a hot water tank fulkl of water. So I ran the hot water in the bathtub shower and the shower in the other bathroom until it ran cold! LOL! Then waited an hour and took a shower. Soft water is the shiznit. My wife is very happy but asked me why I made her wait 5 years for it!

We have some very hard water here, tough to work up a good lather so we went through a lot of soap! This should help a LOT!
 
I've considered the same thing, Smallie, but our problem isn't quite that bad. We do get some deposits on our showerhead that look like rust.
 
The whole thing cost about $700 Hawk. $500 from Sears and $200 to install it. We got the one for a family of four because of the hardness of the water here (how hard the machine would have to work if we got the next size down). Three bags of salt to load it up and they said probably no more than a bag a month to add to it, possibly less since there is just two of us. And we get the 40 pound bags at Sam's Club for like $2.50 each.

Our water sucks here. It tastes OK but leaves so many deposits.

The showers feel just like they do in California now! So even though we put moving there on hold for a little while, we still enjoy the water!
 
Smallville said:
The whole thing cost about $700 Hawk. $500 from Sears and $200 to install it. We got the one for a family of four because of the hardness of the water here (how hard the machine would have to work if we got the next size down). Three bags of salt to load it up and they said probably no more than a bag a month to add to it, possibly less since there is just two of us. And we get the 40 pound bags at Sam's Club for like $2.50 each.

Our water sucks here. It tastes OK but leaves so many deposits.

The showers feel just like they do in California now! So even though we put moving there on hold for a little while, we still enjoy the water!
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salt softens water? hmmm i learned something new today
 
hawk308 said:
I've considered the same thing, Smallie, but our problem isn't quite that bad. We do get some deposits on our showerhead that look like rust.
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It's a good investment hawk. It'll be good for hawk Jr because it's easier on the skin and his clothes will need less soap to get washed therefore less chance of irritation. I have one at the house and it saves money on soaps and future repairs due to crudded up pipes and hoses. Also it helps with the stinky water. One of the best investments I ever made.
 
Nice work all, im just starting some projects of my own taking a Very beat up rental property of my grandmothers and making it ready for resale..and living in it (the mother in-law aprt.) while I work...Rent Free! The house was "remodeled" in 1946 so says a message I found from a previous owner in the wall. What I also found in the walls was Cotton covered wiring, a water water pipe that had a 4 foot crack in it so wide you could stick your fingers in it (not that I did, ick) the pipe itself was behind 3 layers of drywall and behind that was old plaster and lath board...everytime the wall got molding or mushy they just another layer over...crazyness.

But anywho yea Big project:

Roof
Kitchen, total rip out to studs
Bathrooms, total rip out
New breaker box (not doing this job, but the house has an old knob and tube system, yikes)
All new wiring, outlets, and lighting

Super short version of the list since each one of those topics has a list of their own haha.
 
Not me but in the 12 years we have lived in our home my parents have done:

Exterior:

-Replace Windows
-Replace Front Door
-Close Down Pool
-Replace Roof Shingles
-Remove Solar Panels
-Landscape Backyard

Interior:

-Complete Kitchen Remodel (Everything whiped and re-done)
-Comeplete Upstairs Bath Remodel (Everything Whiped and re-done)
-Replace all upstairs floor to laminate
-Replace Downstairs carpet
-completely paint the house
-Tear down landing railing and build half wall

2011 Projects:

-Replace Carpet again downstairs
-Repaint Downstairs Walls
-Tear Down Sunroom off the back off the house
-Build Deck
-Re-do landscaping in the backyard
 
johnblah said:
New breaker box (not doing this job, but the house has an old knob and tube system, yikes)
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I did that for my parents' house a few years back. That stuff is ancient but really works well. The old screw fuses and knob & tube wiring couldn't handle the stresses of modern power loads though.
 
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We also put on a new roof (took up two layers of shingles, replaced plywood in three areas) a month or so ago, but insurance covered most of that (hail damage).
 
Man, you guys are just awesome. I may have to get some ideas from you.
 
Oh the roof on my project is going to be a treat. On the one story section there are 7 layers of ancient shingles, the bottom layer is wood shingling which is rotted out in sections and on all of the edges causing alot of dips and sunken areas. Im just hoping the rafters are okay...Now on the two story section its a much newer roof (by new I mean 15 years) But half a tree fell on it a few years back and it was never looked into(Thanks Grandma, you are a Great landlord...rant over). Sooo I go up to the bathroom which is right under the damaged area and was going to start ripping out the drywall and figure out how in the world it is not leaking and to see if any rafters were broken by the tree. What I find is the bathroom has no drywall...its alllllll 1 inch think ply wood. So after I take my face out of my hands I cut a hole in the ceiling I do find 3 broken rafters and that they are around 36 inches apart. The only reason there was no leaking because it was just running down the walls and not threw the ply...

So a few day job domino-ed again like every other project here. :banghead: YaaaaaaaaaaaaaY!

But what do I expect from a property that dates back to around 1830 at least so says the title...thats where the original foundation and the problems it's causing comes into play...
 
SEVEN layers of shingles? Around here you have to remove and start over after two! That's a lot of weight on your roof!
 
Oh yea for sure, its awful. This house was build so long ago and been changed so many times its almost laughable when you look in the walls. Nothings to code Especally not the roof...the bottom layer could be 70-90 years old.......le sigh, back to working on it in the morning!
 
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This is the house I have been talking about. Think of this picture as the before. Im currently uploading a few more before pics and a few WhoW in the middle of demo pics. and then the pics that show the domino effect this project has become lol.
 
Almost done with baseboard. This bathroom used to have light blue ceramic tile walls. I have the baseboards up with liquid nails right now. I need a nail gun. The walls are plaster and a pia to hammer. Next weekend w working on the chair rail after some advice from TC. Now for couch and beer time.

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Tapatalk: Not just for the bathroom.
 
The main living space of the house has been the focus recently. There are some before (after the baseboard and wall hangings were removed) and after pics. Ripped off the old baseboard, painted, and hung new baseboard. Pretty happy with how it turned out. Obviously, need to get the decorations and curtains up to complete it. Glad it's done.

Before:
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After:
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Before:
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After:
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Before:
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After:
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Looking good Hawk. You are on your way to reaching TC status in the renovation world.

I started a bathroom renovation a couple of week ago. Have just about completed the demo. That was fun part. Ripped up tile floor and tile off walls, took drywally off and pulled out the tub and toilet. Spent last Saturday looking at toilets and sinks. How many can there be? The better half wants a "special sanctuary" so I guess she's gonna get it. Putting in hardwoods, antique tub and some type of "fabric" on walls (I made the mistake and called it wallpaper, haha).

The good thing is that this project gives me brownie points to attend the 2011 Outing. The tihings we do.
 
Every time I plan a golf getaway, it seems I'm tearing up a new room. Funny how that works.

How did it go for you with the wall tiles? Mine were just cemented on the walks and really difficult to remove.

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Also, LOL at wall "fabric"!

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Looks nice Hawk, good job.
 
Looks good Razr. What color did you go with on the walls? Is that Hawk II I see? haha
 
Its a tan color with a fancy name. it looks different in person than it does in picture

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Hawk said:
Its a tan color with a fancy name. it looks different in person than it does in picture

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Stupid fancy paint names. I figured it wasnt mustard yellow but more of a fancy tan.
 
I'd call it khaki and be done with it lol
Hawk said:
Its a tan color with a fancy name. it looks different in person than it does in picture

Posted via Tapatalk.
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