Anyone ever remodel a house?

[utvolpj]

So I bought an old house (built in 30's) that is still in good shape. It just seems that I want to do so much to it now that I'm in. Anyone ever undertaken this type of project? I'm looking for tips and hints from people who did it successfully or from those who ended up in a Money Pit.

 

[Arclight]

Two questions:

1. How is the roof?

2. How is the foundation of the house?

 

[utvolpj]

Both are good, I had 2 different inspections done. 1 by the realtors recommended guy and 1 done by a guy I hired. Roof was done within the last few years.

Also kitchen was re-done last year before I bought it so that's all good. Mostly it's the old walls and ceilings, adding a half-bath off the kitchen, adding a tankless water heater and molding and lots of painting. Stuff I think I can tackle.

It has a great attic that is completely unfinished and is pretty big. That's what I'm mainly concerned with. I would like to make it 2 more rooms and a add a bath. That and I'd like to try and "clean-up" the outside (not the yard).

 

[OWB]

When I was in undergrad I lived in a fixer-upper that we sold when I graduated. We did a lot of work on it including the roof and foundation.

But since your place in good shape, I'd get started on the painting. It's amazing how much better things look with a fresh coat of paint. After you finish that, other things that need fixing start to pop out. The devil's in the details.

Just don't start 15 projects at once.

 

[volinbham]

adding a tankless water heater and molding and lots of painting. Stuff I think I can tackle.

Anyone have experience with tankless water heaters? I've heard good and bad but I'd like to go this route.

 

[smokedog#3]

upgrade the wiring and put up new drywall and do away with the plaster.

 

[utvolpj]

Anyone have experience with tankless water heaters? I've heard good and bad but I'd like to go this route.

We actually sell them and they are widely used. Many commercial projects are now putting them everywhere. All new McDonalds use them as well as most new custom houses. I'm really only familiar with the gas ones these use though.

The best thing about them is that you are not paying to keep the water hot in a tank. Your current heater runs all the time keeping the water hot just in case you need it. With the tankless, as long as you're pulling over .5 galons per minute, it is heated on demand. There is a limit to how much hot water you can get and I think it's about 6 GPM. So you can't run the dishwasher, washing machine and fill your whirlpool bath at the same time and expect it to keep up. Don't laugh, it's a real complaint.

Another cool thing is that you can set the temp of the water received at each fixture. So you can limit the shower temp and keep the dishwasher very hot. Separate controls are mounted at each.

They will cost more for the unit, venting and controls but it will pay off. $$ savings and they take up very little room.

 

[utvolpj]

upgrade the wiring and put up new drywall and do away with the plaster.

Good idea, the wiring does need to get done. There aren't enough grounded plugs around. I've done a little drywall but such a big project scares me a little. Maybe I'll practice on the garage.

 

[smokedog#3]

good idea. when i was in ohio i bought a house that was built in 1938. those were the first things i had done along with the pressure tank and water pump. once that plaster starts cracking it is a pain, it is easier to just drywall. the overhead just sucks though.