home improvement
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- seed0
My house was built in 1979. There is a lot that needs to be updated and the previous owners did not take any care in the work that they did do.
Recently I have: removed a tree, painted the cabinets and kitchen walls, added all new light fixtures and started to remove some white painted paneling in the family room.
Parts of the paneling was glue to a perfectly plastered wall. Which puzzles me but I guess paneling was the thing back then. So I guess to fix the patches of damaged plaster I'm going to do a venetian plaster over the surface. That is this weekends project.
I still have a ton to do here: 4 new ee windows, new ee patio door, ee furnace and tankless water heater, remove another tree, plant new ones, wood floors, new tile shower and vanity in one bathroom, new tile in another, new interior doors and trim, etc, etc.
It is expensive and a lot of work but it is a great learning experience.
- seed0
Do any of you feel like your design skills carry over into the look of your house?
- mayo0
Do any of you feel like your design skills carry over into the look of your house?
seed
(Dec 29 06, 08:50)totally, seed, and i'd have to say it's my best piece yet :)
- nearestexit0
never realized there were so many DIY people here.
- seed0
I am trying to decide what type of wood floor to buy: floating, nail down, etc. Any opinions?
I'm also having a hard time deciding on trim. It will either be white or stained wood. I think it is a big decision as it goes throughout the house and generally has to match the interior doors.
- mrdobolina0
totally, seed, and i'd have to say it's my best piece yet :)
mayo
(Dec 29 06, 09:12)hmm. are you sure?
- Seff0
believe me, it's not DIY by choice. If I could afford to pay out the labor, i would.
but then again, after the mistakes are made and its all done correctly- - finally, it's pretty gratifying.
- blaw0
i love hardwood, but our dogs kick the hell out of it. after refinishing our main flooring multiple times we opted to install a laminate flooring over it. six years in and not a scratch on it.
also, check with mayo. she's a diy rock-starlett, and has been knocking out floors left and right this year.
- nearestexit0
I am trying to decide what type of wood floor to buy: floating, nail down, etc. Any opinions?
I'm also having a hard time deciding on trim. It will either be white or stained wood. I think it is a big decision as it goes throughout the house and generally has to match the interior doors.
seed
(Dec 29 06, 13:07)I went with nailed down oak hardwood. never tried a float floor. i'm guessing that would be easier to install but not really sure. If I ever find the house I'm going to settle down in, I'd probably upgrade the wood (the oak we got wasn't the best grade but once we sanded and stained it, it looked OK).
As for painting vs. staining, I personally can't stand painted wood if the grain is nice. The house we just sold was a 1920's bungalow in northern VA and everything was painted. I stripped all the baseboard and trim throughout the house, put down new flooring and bought some nice wooden 6-panel doors (replaced the crap hollow-core doors that the previous owner had).
I stained everything with a clear stain to bring out the grain. It was really nice. Then I hear the new owners painted over the stain. Glad I spent all that time.
- blaw0
Then I hear the new owners painted over the stain. Glad I spent all that time.
nearestexit
(Dec 29 06, 13:20)haha... that's one of my biggest fears--that after all the custom work i do on this little house, i die and the new owners rip it all out and go for a "new look."
i'll haunt the fuckers for it, don't think i won't.
- Seff0
cut and stained a shelf yesterday and finished hanging it about an hour ago
crappy phone photo
- blaw0
looks good, seff. nice design, too.
- mrdobolina0
nice one seff.
- Seff0
thanks fellas, now i need crap to put on it
- Seff0
a good theme would be only junk bought from sky mall magazine, huh
- nearestexit0
Seff,
Nice shelf. I like the design.
Here's a chair I made for my 2-year old daughter for Christmas. All the pieces slide together.
- blaw0
^ nice!
- Seff0
thats sweet man, love it
- nearestexit0
hey blaw, are you in johnstown, PA?