Home remodeling projects

[AGDee]

I did that in my family room! I had sliding glass doors that were installed wrong by the previous owner so there was a leak which rotted out part of the floor and subfloor. I had to hire a carpenter to fix the floor and had him put in french doors. I built a ceramic tile foyer area there so that 1) the dog coming in and out wouldn't ruin the carpet there and 2) if there was another leak, it wouldn't rot out the floor right away. I also replaced all the foamy type fake wood moldings in that room with real wood. The carpenter even said I did a good job with the moldings and my mitred corners Plus, that way, I could stain the moldings and baseboards the same color as the French doors, because I really hate when woods don't match.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I did that in my family room! I had sliding glass doors that were installed wrong by the previous owner so there was a leak which rotted out part of the floor and subfloor. I had to hire a carpenter to fix the floor and had him put in french doors. I built a ceramic tile foyer area there so that 1) the dog coming in and out wouldn't ruin the carpet there and 2) if there was another leak, it wouldn't rot out the floor right away. I also replaced all the foamy type fake wood moldings in that room with real wood. The carpenter even said I did a good job with the moldings and my mitred corners Plus, that way, I could stain the moldings and baseboards the same color as the French doors, because I really hate when woods don't match.

I love French Doors!

[AGDee]

They added a ton to the room, in my opinion, and weren't much more expensive, especially since the door frame and everything had to be re-constructed anyway. I liked these in particular because they are vinyl on the outside but were unfinished wood on the inside so I could finish them the way I wanted to.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

"Curb Appeal" always helps, but as I said before, don't overdo it for the neighborhood. Since you don't get dollar for dollar on any improvement (unless you can do the work yourself), never go overboard unless you plan to "live it out"

My house was the second to the last house on a deadend street until about 15 years ago, when the deadend was opened up and about 40-50 McMansions were built. People who don't know see the street name & think, "WOW!" I've always heard that the best thing is to buy the least expensive house in the neighborhood, then flip it. It's not ready to flip yet!

Originally Posted by AGDee

They added a ton to the room, in my opinion, and weren't much more expensive, especially since the door frame and everything had to be re-constructed anyway. I liked these in particular because they are vinyl on the outside but were unfinished wood on the inside so I could finish them the way I wanted to.

I love French Doors, too! They can make the dullest room look so much more classic. Who makes the vinyl on the outside, wood on the inside ones? Do they have any sort of "safety bar" that sliding doors have? Or do you have them alarmed in a different way? My mother was looking at ones that have pegs (for the lack of a better word) that go into the floor & ceiling, but she can't remember which brand they were.

And don't get me started on mismatched woods. I've been known to wander around hardware stores with swatches!

[AGDee]

They were ReliaBilt and I got them from Lowe's. The door without the handle has sliding bolts on the inside that keeps it shut unless you undo them. I have a regular locking door handle and dead bolt on it. You bring up a good safety point and that was part of the reason I preferred the French doors. The biggest problem with French doors is privacy.. window coverings aren't easily found. While I'm not finding the wood inside/vinyl outside ones on the Lowe's website now, I am seeing that they have some now with blinds built in between the glass. I ended up with short curtain rods above and below the windows of each door and made window coverings (with matching valances for the other windows in the room) that are long.. two panels each, basically, that I can slide open or closed by hand. The dog scratching on the door to go out is tearing them up on one side though The other issue is that it's harder to do screens with the French doors although they do make them. My dog tears up screens in no time so I didn't bother.

I have a lot of projects on my plate.. probably the living room next. I desperately need new carpet and new front entry door. I want one of those fiberglass looks like wood doors. Of course I'll paint in there and probably add some wood trim here and there, especially around the coat closet. I also want to replace the fireplace mantel because it's a super dark walnut and I prefer more of a light oak or maple. It's also got an oddly shaped edge that the Christmas stockings fall off of because the holders can't sit straight.

Then there's the bathroom. A very ugly vanity, awful countertop and white with gold splothes ceramic tile. And, the tub was reglazed at some point by one of the previous owners but it was done poorly and is chipping... ick. Unfortunately, while I think I have the skills to do the bathroom myself, I don't think I have the time or energy to deal with a project that big so I have to figure out what to do myself and what to hire out.

[carnation]

I would so love a screened porch. I wonder what kind of effort and money it'd involve for us to try it or whether we'd be better off calling our local Guatemalans to put one in.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by honeychile

My house was the second to the last house on a deadend street until about 15 years ago, when the deadend was opened up and about 40-50 McMansions were built. People who don't know see the street name & think, "WOW!" I've always heard that the best thing is to buy the least expensive house in the neighborhood, then flip it. It's not ready to flip yet!

You are so lucky to be in this situation. When I first began to purchase houses, I was always told to buy the least expensive house on the street if your goal was to turn a profit. I have known several people like this...modest neighborhood becomes expanded with Exec homes. And, if the school district is good, families would kill to have your house.

I have only known this to backfire once. Where I have lived over the past 6 years is west of a major city, boarding Lake Erie. 100 years ago, this area were the "cottages" of the cityfolk.

My friend had one of these cottages, a modest Dutch Colonial, which they fixed up. It was in one of the best school systems in Ohio, so they figured some family would buy it for the schools. When they put it up For Sale, someone purchased it sight unseen. They were thrilled. That is until they learned the new owner was planning to tear it down and build one of those McMansions. All they could do was cry.

[ThetaPrincess24]

After the holidays we will be workign room to room to put in hard wood floor with a special coating on it so that drinks and dog pee will not ruin the wood.

Husband and I are doing it ourselves(should be interesting since i can barely get a room painted decently). The hardest part he said will be moving the furniture around.