stillmovingforward
Senior Member
Hanging on by a thread
Joined: Jan 1, 2014 21:52:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,066
Today's Mood: Don't Mess with Me!
Location: Not Sure Yet
|
Post by stillmovingforward on Feb 26, 2022 0:07:28 GMT -5
You guys are scarring me. I only have one bathroom. And it needs remodeled badly.
|
|
countrygirl2
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 7, 2016 15:45:05 GMT -5
Posts: 16,864
|
Post by countrygirl2 on Feb 26, 2022 2:30:58 GMT -5
I like satin paint, it's the best. It may have a bit of shine at first, but it will dull some, you don't want your wall paint shiny. But you need satin as you can wash it down easily, is a nice durable paint. Don't do flat except on ceilings and now they have regular ceiling paint. You cannot wash that stuff, so I stay away from it. I like gloss paint for outside wood trim and semi gloss for inside, a bit more muted. Oil based is an extremely durable paint, but either have to paint first with a prime coat or make sure the base is compatible. We have painted lots.
If there is grease or dirt on your walls, wash it down first so the paint will adhere.
Time for me to go to bed. Been watching about the Ukraine, looks like they survived another night. I hope they can make it. I think we should be helping with troops there. What good will sanctions do for those people? They will lose their country. And many their homes and lives. Terrible!
|
|
crazycat
Familiar Member
Joined: May 9, 2013 12:52:01 GMT -5
Posts: 860
|
Post by crazycat on Feb 26, 2022 14:27:06 GMT -5
You guys are scarring me. I only have one bathroom. And it needs remodeled badly. Same here . About 15+ years ago , we had ours gutted . This was while I was running a state licensed daycare out of my home . Quite the experience, but we made sure that they “put back” the toilet every day so we had that at least . Ours needs to be remodeled again , tile is popping up , etc , but we are struggling to find a reliable contractor or handyman even to do the job . It’s either they are way over scheduled or just don’t want or can’t do the job .
|
|
stillmovingforward
Senior Member
Hanging on by a thread
Joined: Jan 1, 2014 21:52:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,066
Today's Mood: Don't Mess with Me!
Location: Not Sure Yet
|
Post by stillmovingforward on Feb 26, 2022 16:13:02 GMT -5
You guys are scarring me. I only have one bathroom. And it needs remodeled badly. Same here . About 15+ years ago , we had ours gutted . This was while I was running a state licensed daycare out of my home . Quite the experience, but we made sure that they “put back” the toilet every day so we had that at least . Ours needs to be remodeled again , tile is popping up , etc , but we are struggling to find a reliable contractor or handyman even to do the job . It’s either they are way over scheduled or just don’t want or can’t do the job . We want to get a second bathroom added upstairs (we're waffling on this right now) and the kitchen remodeled first. DH and I can do the kitchen. We'll need to contract out the new bathroom. Finding a good contractor right now is hard and we know its going to be pricey. So we'll just keep saving as I don't want to touch the emergency fund for any cost overages.
|
|
TheOtherMe
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 14:40:52 GMT -5
Posts: 27,146
Mini-Profile Name Color: e619e6
|
Post by TheOtherMe on Feb 26, 2022 16:15:09 GMT -5
A friend in the Denver area can't find anyone who wants to do only a tub to shower conversion. They want bigger jobs and his daughter doesn't need anything else. She wants the shower so her dad can come live with them.
That is when I am lucky to live in a rural area. The contractor told me when he called he will always take jobs to help the elderly make their homes safer for them to be able to stay in their home.
I don't like to be called "elderly" even though I fit the definition, but this time it is working in my favor.
Tile guy said the same thing after watching his dad doing the same conversion after back surgery. He had his son to call in favors to help him.
|
|
laterbloomer
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2018 0:50:42 GMT -5
Posts: 4,347
|
Post by laterbloomer on Feb 26, 2022 18:38:07 GMT -5
|
|
jerseygirl
Senior Member
Joined: May 13, 2018 7:43:08 GMT -5
Posts: 4,762
|
Post by jerseygirl on Feb 26, 2022 18:46:43 GMT -5
I like that bath ‘tray’ I stopped taking baths cause too difficult to get out I have a nice teak bench in my shower, think it looks nicer than the built in tile benches in showers Jerseyguy has been using a shower chair in his shower since he came home from hospital after pneumonia. He still gets tired and glad he’s safer with this. We dont have grab bars in bathrooms
|
|
TheOtherMe
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 14:40:52 GMT -5
Posts: 27,146
Mini-Profile Name Color: e619e6
|
Post by TheOtherMe on Feb 26, 2022 18:48:03 GMT -5
I was advised by many people that for a lot of people in this area, a tub is only important when they have small children. Once those years are over, a shower only will be fine. Some said it would turn them off from buying a house but most said it wouldn't.
I was also advised by many people that this is for me and I hope to be using it for many years. That's the reason I also am not putting in the double sinks. The counter in the bathroom has more than enough room for two sinks but I don't need two sinks. The designer told me she wouldn't put in two sinks when I have no use for a second sink.
The neighbors on both sides of me have this same floorplan. My house was a model house as it was being built. It was never a furnished type model. Both of the first buyers chose to have the bathroom space that I have broken in to two bathrooms, one very small with a shower only and another with a tub. There's enough room for that, but, again, I have no need to do that.
|
|
laterbloomer
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2018 0:50:42 GMT -5
Posts: 4,347
|
Post by laterbloomer on Feb 26, 2022 18:49:49 GMT -5
I like that bath ‘tray’ I stopped taking baths cause too difficult to get out I have a nice teak bench in my shower, think it looks nicer than the built in tile benches in showers Jerseyguy has been using a shower chair in his shower since he came home from hospital after pneumonia. He still gets tired and glad he’s safer with this. We dont have grab bars in bathrooms I went with a grey porcelain tile installed in the diamond way. The 2 grab bars are dull silver and disappear against the tile.
|
|
stillmovingforward
Senior Member
Hanging on by a thread
Joined: Jan 1, 2014 21:52:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,066
Today's Mood: Don't Mess with Me!
Location: Not Sure Yet
|
Post by stillmovingforward on Feb 26, 2022 18:50:25 GMT -5
I was advised by many people that for a lot of people in this area, a tub is only important when they have small children. Once those years are over, a shower only will be fine. Some said it would turn them off from buying a house but most said it wouldn't. I was also advised by many people that this is for me and I hope to be using it for many years. That's the reason I also am not putting in the double sinks. The counter in the bathroom has more than enough room for two sinks but I don't need two sinks. The designer told me she wouldn't put in two sinks when I have no use for a second sink. The neighbors on both sides of me have this same floorplan. My house was a model house as it was being built. It was never a furnished type model. Both of the first buyers chose to have the bathroom space that I have broken in to two bathrooms, one very small with a shower only and another with a tub. There's enough room for that, but, again, I have no need to do that. You should have the house you want to live in. Not worry about resale. I never intended to age in this house but I am. I'm glad we always remodeled it to fit our lifestyle at the time.
|
|
TheOtherMe
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 14:40:52 GMT -5
Posts: 27,146
Mini-Profile Name Color: e619e6
|
Post by TheOtherMe on Feb 26, 2022 18:57:17 GMT -5
That is what both the designer and contractor have told me. I am the one living here.
I didn't think I would live here after my parents' died. But rent and house prices in Colorado are too high for me to move there.
I did tell my realtor when I moved here that I would only buy a house with everything including laundry on one level. I was smart enough to do that.
Contractor says the side of the tub is higher than normal. I don't have much to compare it to because I had only used a shower for so many years.
I also know the shower in the guest suite in Toronto had a much higher side than my tub.
|
|
buystoys
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 30, 2012 4:58:12 GMT -5
Posts: 5,650
|
Post by buystoys on Feb 27, 2022 7:41:17 GMT -5
DH has struggled with some of the projects I've wanted to do/ have done on the house. His inclination is to think about the resale value of the project. My inclination is to think of how I want to live. I keep telling DH that he's said he's never moving again, so we should have a home that's the way we want it. He's come around to that. Especially since we redid the kitchen, his view on resale value has diminished. He admits that he really likes our new layout and didn't think it was going to be a significant change when we started the project. Now? He never wants to go back to anything like we had.
I look at it this way: if we're never moving then resale value is immaterial. The flip side of that is that housing prices have risen so much in the last eight years that the value of our house is already double what we paid for it. Demand in this area isn't going down in the near future, so I have no doubt we'll continue to see the value increase for a while. And it's not like we have kids to give the house to. The charity we've chosen will benefit no matter how much the house is worth when we die.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Apr 23, 2024 14:49:16 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2022 14:58:36 GMT -5
I am a fan of doing what works for you in your house, if you don’t plan on moving anytime soon. If Mister and I do stay here forever, at some point, Imma need a bathtub in our bathroom. Right now, it’s just a shower. The easiest thing to do, so we don’t have to fool with exterior walls, would be to take some room from the bathroom in the hallway.
The hall bathroom is a nice size and the layout is great for a family with children. The vanity is the length of one wall, about 8 feet long, with double sinks. The bathtub/shower and the toilet, are behind another door inside the bathroom. So even with 3 kids, one could be in the shower and have privacy, and 2 could be brushing their teeth and washing their faces using the double sinks and not be right on top of each other.
But we don’t have multiple young children. We can tear down part of the wall the long vanity is on, and make a wall and build a perpendicular wall extending from the wall where the tub and toilet room is, across the bathroom and make that closed off space part of our bathroom so we can have a bathtub. The tub and toilet room would not change. There would just be less space in the main part of the bathroom and probably just one sink instead of 2.
That wouldn’t happen for a least a few years, but that’s the kind of thing I mean about doing what works for you when you plan to live in your house for many years.
|
|
laterbloomer
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2018 0:50:42 GMT -5
Posts: 4,347
|
Post by laterbloomer on Mar 1, 2022 15:43:11 GMT -5
I think I hit a balance of what I want and resale value. If I need assisted living or a retirement home I need the house to sell well. My neighbourhood is attractive to young families so bathtubs are good here. And I like my baths 🙂
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Apr 23, 2024 14:49:16 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2022 17:09:19 GMT -5
I think I hit a balance of what I want and resale value. If I need assisted living or a retirement home I need the house to sell well. My neighbourhood is attractive to young families so bathtubs are good here. And I like my baths 🙂 I prefer showers over baths for day to day, but I do like being able to relax in a bath occasionally. The hall bathroom is the one the kids use, and I rarely ever even go in there. I’ve never used the toilet, let alone the bathtub. Even if we take part of the space in the hall bathroom to put a tub in ours, that bathroom will still be bigger than the one my children used when they were growing up. I think having a bathtub in the primary suite will be appealing to potential buyers too. They’ll never know that the hall bathroom was once much larger.
|
|
Sharon
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:48:11 GMT -5
Posts: 11,143
|
Post by Sharon on Mar 1, 2022 20:14:38 GMT -5
I need some thoughts and ideas. The pictures below are from my living room. The fire place is to one side because on the back side is a closet which holds the furnace. The lower pictures shows just how wide that wall is and the hallway that runs behind the wall. Ignore the Grandkids toys and the box of lights that are awaiting the electrician. Another item of note is the living room is sunken. The house was built in 1974. The door is the front door. You can see that is a fairly narrow entry way and if you aren't careful you will fall into the living room if people are congregating at the front door. I would at some point down the road like to raise the living room to the same height as the rest of the house. My idea would be to move the furnace to the garage and then demolish that wall. The fireplace has been converted from wood burning to a gas insert. I believe that we would be able to move the fire place over a little and still vent it out the chimney. By moving the fireplace over a little bit that would gain more room right around the front door. The furnace guy said that would probably be doable and with the newer slimmer gas fire places the wall would only need to be 20" wide which would gain me about 18" in the hallway. If that wall was cut down in size to just slightly wider than the fireplace it would open things up more into the dinning room. The dinning room is currently my office and has desk and computers etc. Also if that wall is reduced in size to not much larger than the fireplace people in the living room would probably have a view straight down the hallway.
Here is the dilemma. The furnace needs to be replaced it has some issues and was installed in 1998 so I don't want to put any money into repairs. The AC unit is also of the same vintage so they would need to both be replaced. AC is non-negotiable. I work from home and live in a desert type area it gets hot in the summer. I just got a quote to replace the furnace and AC unit. To replace both and put the furnace back in the closet is ~$11,900. To replace both with moving the furnace to the garage is ~$16,800 plus the cost of a concrete person to come in and do concrete work to accommodate the new furnace. No estimate on that cost. Other considerations. I'm having a very hard time finding a contractor who would be able to do the living room work. There is a building boom and everyone is booked out for months. I may have some serious expenses around some other property issues regarding water rights and access to my pastures etc. In other words it may be a while before I could even do the work I want since I don't want to take on a lot of debt for home remodeling. Do my ideas make sense, would I be gaining that much for the amount of money I would be spending to move the furnace? Like I said give me some things to think about.
Finally- I had to go to photobucket to get the pictures to stick.
|
|
laterbloomer
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2018 0:50:42 GMT -5
Posts: 4,347
|
Post by laterbloomer on Mar 1, 2022 21:14:01 GMT -5
|
|
Sharon
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:48:11 GMT -5
Posts: 11,143
|
Post by Sharon on Mar 1, 2022 21:19:46 GMT -5
Dang they were there, back to the drawing board.
|
|
raeoflyte
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 15:43:53 GMT -5
Posts: 14,713
Member is Online
|
Post by raeoflyte on Mar 1, 2022 21:52:57 GMT -5
Handyman has started work on the bathroom. He's pulled out the lights and the sink but a lamp and soap/toothpaste on the edge of the tub work for now.
He came super late yesterday, didn't make it today but I think this is just how it goes and what I expected so I'mnot stressed. He's very reasonably priced, shops the ReStore (habitat for humanity) and has gotten us really beautiful and quality fixtures for a fraction of what we'd spend for lower quality stuff at home depot.
It'll get done eventually. I'm hoping we aren't without the tub/shower upstairs for any length of time. Basement showers are always a bit creepy imo and I think I'd have to sit in the bathroom Or just outside the door if the kids had to use that one.
|
|
CCL
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 4, 2011 19:34:47 GMT -5
Posts: 7,591
|
Post by CCL on Mar 1, 2022 22:53:19 GMT -5
Dang they were there, back to the drawing board. I can see the 2 pics but I'm not really understanding all that you are trying to do. From what you've said, though, I'd start with moving the furnace to the garage. I'd prefer more living space over garage space any day.
|
|
stillmovingforward
Senior Member
Hanging on by a thread
Joined: Jan 1, 2014 21:52:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,066
Today's Mood: Don't Mess with Me!
Location: Not Sure Yet
|
Post by stillmovingforward on Mar 1, 2022 23:47:17 GMT -5
Sharon - from someone who remodels her house in stages, I'd recommend going ahead with the expense of moving the furnace to the garage and then just wait out the building rush for the rest of the work. I think you'd regret not being proactive about the furnace later down the road. Hopefully, water and access rights don't become an issue.
|
|
finnime
Junior Associate
Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 7:14:35 GMT -5
Posts: 7,408
|
Post by finnime on Mar 2, 2022 4:49:43 GMT -5
Sharon - from someone who remodels her house in stages, I'd recommend going ahead with the expense of moving the furnace to the garage and then just wait out the building rush for the rest of the work. I think you'd regret not being proactive about the furnace later down the road. Hopefully, water and access rights don't become an issue.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Apr 23, 2024 14:49:16 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2022 18:11:40 GMT -5
Sharon, if it was my house and I planned to be there for years AND I could afford to, I would do whatever it took to center that fireplace. But I know it’s my own personal issue that it being off center like that would bug me. I think I understand what you’d like to do, but one question, when you come in your front door, if you just keep walking straight, is that your dining room? And your living room is open to it? Also, it looks like there’s a vent at the bottom of the fireplace on the left, is that a return vent or a vent that heats/cools the room? If it heats/cools the room, is there another one in the area that will be sufficient if you take away some of the width of the fireplace wall? I think I can picture what you want, a wider entry hall, and a smaller wall for the fireplace, but I’m kind of confused about how that would open things up to the dining room. And for full disclosure, I’m not always a fan of open concepts, so my thoughts and opinions probably don’t count for much. But my entry hall is over 5’ wide. It has walls on both sides, with a large doorway into the living room (that we don’t use) on one side, and if you just walk straight ahead, you end up in our den. So, the opposite of your setup, your fireplace wall would be the doorway to the living room at my house (not THAT wide though) and the open spaces on the sides of your fireplace wall are walls at my house. We’ve only had family come over since we moved here (because COVID) and only our Mom’s use the front door, everybody else comes in through the garage. So I don’t have experience with several people being at the front door and I don’t know if my entry hall is wide enough or not. Anyway, (I feel like I’m starting to ramble lol) if I had the money, I would absolutely pay $5k to move the furnace so I could center the fireplace. But I’m guessing the $5k is JUST to move the furnace, and more money is required to move the fireplace over some, and reduce the width of the wall. Then more money to make the wall thinner, right? I’m guessing at least another $5k, and that’s just a number I pulled out the air. So at least $10k, maybe. That amount gives me pause. For $10k, I need a whole lot of bang for my buck lol. But that’s just me and my finances.
|
|
raeoflyte
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 15:43:53 GMT -5
Posts: 14,713
Member is Online
|
Post by raeoflyte on Mar 2, 2022 18:22:34 GMT -5
Handyman is doing the demo to put in a new mirror and lights. My cats are terrified and I'm pretty sure this will traumatize the kitten we're watching for dsis.
But progress!!!!!
|
|
Sharon
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:48:11 GMT -5
Posts: 11,143
|
Post by Sharon on Mar 2, 2022 19:13:04 GMT -5
Sharon , if it was my house and I planned to be there for years AND I could afford to, I would do whatever it took to center that fireplace. But I know it’s my own personal issue that it being off center like that would bug me. I think I understand what you’d like to do, but one question, when you come in your front door, if you just keep walking straight, is that your dining room? And your living room is open to it? Also, it looks like there’s a vent at the bottom of the fireplace on the left, is that a return vent or a vent that heats/cools the room? If it heats/cools the room, is there another one in the area that will be sufficient if you take away some of the width of the fireplace wall? I think I can picture what you want, a wider entry hall, and a smaller wall for the fireplace, but I’m kind of confused about how that would open things up to the dining room. And for full disclosure, I’m not always a fan of open concepts, so my thoughts and opinions probably don’t count for much. But my entry hall is over 5’ wide. It has walls on both sides, with a large doorway into the living room (that we don’t use) on one side, and if you just walk straight ahead, you end up in our den. So, the opposite of your setup, your fireplace wall would be the doorway to the living room at my house (not THAT wide though) and the open spaces on the sides of your fireplace wall are walls at my house. We’ve only had family come over since we moved here (because COVID) and only our Mom’s use the front door, everybody else comes in through the garage. So I don’t have experience with several people being at the front door and I don’t know if my entry hall is wide enough or not. Anyway, (I feel like I’m starting to ramble lol) if I had the money, I would absolutely pay $5k to move the furnace so I could center the fireplace. But I’m guessing the $5k is JUST to move the furnace, and more money is required to move the fireplace over some, and reduce the width of the wall. Then more money to make the wall thinner, right? I’m guessing at least another $5k, and that’s just a number I pulled out the air. So at least $10k, maybe. That amount gives me pause. For $10k, I need a whole lot of bang for my buck lol. But that’s just me and my finances. Yes when you come in the front door and walk straight you will end up in the formal dining room, which is now my office. From the edge of the fireplace to a living room wall is another 6 ft opening from the dining room into the living room. Otherwise the only access to the living room would be right by the front door. So what I would like to do is move the fire place over 6 to 8 inches and then demolish the rest of the wall so it isn't as wide. Then if the furnace doesn't exist in the closet the wall doesn't need to be so thick. That would give me another 18 inches of width for the hallway. Those two changes would give me some much needed room in the entry way. I'm not a fan of open concept, which is why I bought this house. The living room is separate from the kitchen which is separate from the family room. I do absolutely love having my office space in the formal dining room. There is a big window which looks out onto the back yard. If I swivel in my chair I can look out the living room windows and see the front yard. Having that type access to sunlight and being able to see the outside has done wonders for my mental health. In my old house I was stuck in bedroom where the curtains had to be closed most of the time to stop the glare on the computer monitors.
|
|
Sharon
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:48:11 GMT -5
Posts: 11,143
|
Post by Sharon on Mar 2, 2022 19:22:32 GMT -5
If the furnace doesn't exist in the closet then the thickness of this wall would be reduced to about an inch past that electrical outlet. That is a lot of space to add to the hallway/entry way. This was taken sitting in my desk chair in the dining area and swiveled around to look towards the front of the house. BTW: I did tell the furnace people today that I want the furnace moved to the garage. It will probably be some time before I will be able to make the other modifications but at least the furnace part would be done. They want the cement contractors to come out and look at the garage before everything is finalized but the ground work has been laid to move the furnace.
|
|
jerseygirl
Senior Member
Joined: May 13, 2018 7:43:08 GMT -5
Posts: 4,762
|
Post by jerseygirl on Mar 2, 2022 19:54:29 GMT -5
Pink and Sharon I don’t like open concept either the way it’s done in most houses. Just one big space downstairs. A neighbor renovated house . It’s big and honestly it looks like someone put furniture in a barn plus it has beams which adds to bar like feel. I prefer to have separate living room where I can read or watch different tv on YouTube than Jerseyguy is watching in family room. Kitchen and family room are open completely. Dining room is off kitchen but separated by doorway snd wall. I have a separate loft office on second floor.
Sharon have you talked to an architect? We renovated downstairs - 2 bathrooms and put in a laundry ‘closet’ . Architect had good ideas about how to move space and fixtures in the baths . Not too expensive and turned out better than our original idea
|
|
Sharon
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:48:11 GMT -5
Posts: 11,143
|
Post by Sharon on Mar 2, 2022 20:11:48 GMT -5
I haven't talked with an architect. I've actually only lived in this house 3 months but when the furnace issues arose I needed to start making decisions. The family room in this house was added later. The actual kitchen is U shaped and then beyond that is another good sized area where I have my kitchen table. In the box of house stuff that was left behind were some pictures and based on that it appeared that they used that area as a family room. They probably then used what I call the formal dining room as their dining area.
|
|
TheOtherMe
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 14:40:52 GMT -5
Posts: 27,146
Mini-Profile Name Color: e619e6
|
Post by TheOtherMe on Mar 2, 2022 21:38:31 GMT -5
Handyman is doing the demo to put in a new mirror and lights. My cats are terrified and I'm pretty sure this will traumatize the kitten we're watching for dsis. But progress!!!!! My cats were traumatized by the installation of the water softener. I can't wait for when the fiberglass bathtub is demolished.
|
|
TheOtherMe
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 14:40:52 GMT -5
Posts: 27,146
Mini-Profile Name Color: e619e6
|
Post by TheOtherMe on Mar 3, 2022 18:26:34 GMT -5
Designer called today. The tile I selected for the floor of the shower is no longer being produced so another tile had to be selected. That was easy.
The gorgeous tiles I selected for the wall of the shower has increased in price. The tile by itself would cost more than half of my budget and that is before anything else. Designer had found a similar tile made out of a different material. Of course, I picked the most expensive one.
I approved the changes so hopefully we get an estimate very soon.
|
|