Home Improvements
I've been getting roof quotes for my home and garage. It's a bit daunting. One company wouldn't even give an estimate because of the pitch of my roof; he recommended another place though. I had one estimate so far and it was for about what I would expect, $14,900 and I was guessing it would be about $15K. I've got two more contractors coming Monday for an estimate, but I doubt it will be much different in price.
I just need $20,000 so I can get the roof and our basement bathroom done... and with our tax return and stimulus, we'll have $12,600... not quite enough.
So, we have some decisions to make. Our roof isn't really all that bad. Even the guy that came out for an estimate today said that it wasn't bad and said that the likely reason it's holding up is because of the steep pitch... nothing sticks to it. We are missing a couple shingles though. So, we may have to just have someone replace those shingles [which we have] and redo our bathroom as originally planned. Then, try to save what we can to replace the roof next year.
I think my husband was mostly worried that our roof is worse than it looks, but now that one of the estimators even stated that it's not bad, he's not quite as worried. I do have to have my husband take a look in the attic though... to make sure that there's not big gaps between boards, because two guys asked me if there was cedar shake roof underneath the shingles, stating that there would be large gaps in the wood and can be seen in the attic if there is shake. I don't think that there is, because the roof was replaced before I bought the house, but with as cheaply everything else was done in this house before I bought it, I'm pretty sure that the previous owner when as cheaply as he could with the roof. However, the estimator today said it looks like there's just the single layer of shingles, which is a good thing.
Ugh... it just seems that we never have quite enough money to do what we need to do. Does it ever get better? With my parents it eventually got financially better, but not until they were in their 50s and all of us kids were out of the house. I want to make it financially better BEFORE I'm in my 50s. The only home improvement we planned on waiting on doing is the flooring; until all the kids are out of the house, we're not doing any flooring.
NO POLITICS, NO PRESIDENTS PAST OR PRESENT!
There goes my Tim Allen jokes...
lol
Tim was much better at home improvement than I ever was (many huge mistakes on my part).In real life I hear he is quite a carpenter and I am the TV show incompetent.
I did/do also build fast hotrods but Tim had/has much more money and pro mechanics to work with than I ever did.
Speed and handling has always been a function of how much you are willing to spend.
Have a few hot cars but nothing like Tim and Jay have.
Sure wish I'd have gotten rich and famous before I got burnt out.
it just seems that we never have quite enough money to do what we need to do. Does it ever get better?
LOL Aww the question we all ask ourselves. I found even though I had more money as I got older I had more expenses to go right along with it.
Like replacing roofs and redoing basements. lol
Good Idea about maybe waiting on the roof, A nice financial bummer is a good shelter to sleep under as well.
Best of luck with your home improvements. Buyer beware. Review who you hire, BEFORE you actually hire them ! It's worth it.
I've been doing a TON of research on the people I've been getting estimates from and checking reviews from all different kinds of sources.
That's a good idea. Have you looked at metal roofs? We had one put on last summer, but then we had to have the gutters redone because we had Leaf Guard. Now everything is good with roof and gutters.
My husband and I now 59. We struggled up until about 5-10 years ago. Now that we're doing much better, most of our money is going into home improvement. Of course, he had storm doors put on before the cats passed and they have to be replaced (it's amazing what claws can do to a screen door).
I would LOVE a metal roof, but now we're in the $20,000 + range.
Another thing I would love, a metal roof.
A light colour to reflect the sun.
Just tell yourself...some day. Ours has a 40 year warranty on it. We shall be dead before the warranty expires
Ours is a forest green to match our fake shutters
I would want red or grey.
Another thing I need to fix. A hurricane last year ripped one of my fake shutters off.
Wait for a big storm to go through.
Get the insurance company to bear the burden of the cost, then upgrade to metal.
Here in TX during the summer we must get 6 or 7 offers to write up the roof for storm damage
(they love to point out how many granuals wash out of the downspouts )
the roof is 7 years young and mostly covered in solar panels.
We hardly ever get storms bad enough that they cause damage and no mature trees to damage either.
Wait until you have a bad hail or wind storm before doing the roof. If the roof isn't too old, your homeowners insurance should cover it.
It's at least 15 years old, because I've been in this house for 14.
And we hardly ever get hail or wind bad enough that it causes damage anyways.
I applied roll-on roof sealant to a leaky roof last year and it seems to be holding up well. At $65.00 per 5 gallon bucket and my 45'x15' nearly flat roof needed two, it was a bargain. Just be sure to seal the edges with silicon first. Plenty of videos online. Good luck.
No leaks. Just pricing things out.
One thing one can never expect being a homeowner is the cost of repairs.
My roof is now as old as hurricane Katrina.
I think I read they only really last like 20 years. With shingles anyway.
Yep shingles are guaranteed, minimum of 10 years, average of 20 years, as long as "lifetime" which come with miles of string attached.
The house I was in that was destroyed by Katrina had these old wide plank pine floors.
They were actually beautiful yet they were very soft. If I dropped something it would have left a big indention or gash on the floors.
The house now is mostly tile. So hard might as well just be on the concrete.
We have shitty flooring. Shitty carpet with shitty padding in the living room. Shitty roll-out laminate [the super cheap stuff] in the kitchen. The only place with nice flooring is our main floor bathroom, which we redid in 2011 and that's porcelain tile with a waterproof subfloor. We have shitty remnant carpets in the enclosed back porch and in the basement. Eventually, what I would like to do is get click-type floating bamboo flooring throughout the upstairs and main floors.
I like the bamboo. I have been wanting to do something similar.
I still really need to swap the windows. Still old aluminum ones with single pane.
Drafty as hell. One pane actually has a hole in it from what looks like a BB gun.
Plus I need a new front door.
I could go on and on.
Anyway back to you...Haha
I don't know. A hard choice. I hate to say it but I would probably be leaning more towards the roof. Not as satisfying but at least you know it's done.
But we still don't have enough money for the roofing. Can't finance because we both have terrible credit [past issues that keep haunting us].
Our windows are new, siding is new, gutters are new... we have a long list of things we've already done. We've put about $65,000 in and around our house so far.
I would do the bathroom and fix what shingles need to be fixed. You or your husband can probably handle that.
Then save for that new roof. It may take the next 5 years but you're young. I didn't even own a house until I was 43
Not on a 12/12 pitch we can't! That shit is too steep for me and I'm a daredevil!
Get stoned first! Then you won't realize what you're doing.
You have a cute house.
I'd really hurt myself if I did that! I haven't done that in 20+ years!
And thank you. I love my house. My husband says it's a money pit.
Too bad you don't have dormer windows on either side of the roof. Then you could just hang out the window and ssstttrrreeetttccchhh.....
I was informed that it would be more expensive to replace my roof if I had dormers.
Really. Well, I guess that makes sense.
Ok...I'm fresh out of ideas. I guess you will have to hire someone
My boss told me that he would talk to a buddy of his too... his buddy is a roofer, professionally.
Your house looks in great shape.
Nice.
Now I see why you said the red or grey.
There ya go! And maybe you're get the friend price.
Get a standing seam metal roof you'll never have to do anything ever again. You'll be happy when you're 80 and your roof still looks new.
I wish I could afford it!
you should not need a new roof yet with that pitch. I was a consultant for a major insurance company and know that of which i speak. A few roof jacks and planks, and roof could be easily repaired, as i've done hundreds.
That's kind of what the guy that came out yesterday said too. That's why we're probably going to have the two shingles missing on the West side of the house replaced with the new shingles we have put away [left by the previous owner] and keep saving.
I sure wish those missing shingles were on the porch overhang rather than towards the peak! I would have NO ISSUE with replacing myself if it were closer to the gutter or on the porch overhang.
$ 200 - 350 $ tops should get you tight till replacing
That's what I figure too and that cost is mainly for the danger to the one doing it. We paid a guy $150 to replace our chimney liner. My husband climbed up and said, "NOPE! We're paying someone else to do this!"
Your husband sounds like a smart man. lol
There are somethings better left to a professional. For sure !
The trick is to find a real profesional that cares and doesn't overcharge. I usually try to find a medium sized company with a decent reputation if at all possible,
People who use the cheapest deal many times soon regret it. And finding people who don't care and will overcharge if given a chance are easy to find.
I've had my best luck finding a good deal from a good company in the medium sized companies that have been around for years. Even if it does cost me a little more than the cheapest deal I can get.
Considering I have to live with the end results, to me a few extra bucks is worth have it done right.. the first time.
LOL People say, "ya get what ya pay for", I add, "If yur lucky"
Best of luck, I'll bet you do fine, You're paying attention to what you are doing.
Agreed. All of the companies that I have coming to my house are small to medium sized local businesses.
All houses are money pits.
The "trick" of real estate ownership is in the Buying of it.
I've owned two houses, I bought both at the right time both in good neighborhoods and both in need of lots of love. cosmetically
I tripled my money when I sold the first one, reinvested part of the profit in another house, Actually paid cash , no interest .. gave that one the love it needed and I still living in it today. This one so far is worth 4 times what I paid for it 10 years ago.
Personally I wish I had more "money pits" like these !
To me homeownership has been more like a gold mine.
Timing, condition, Location and price get em all right and real estate is one of the best investment I can think of.
Consider, however, the plight of a homeowner like Ms. Aubrey.
Right now the market is good so she probably could get a very good price for her current home. However, she must live somewhere thus she must buy a new home for her family. But because the market is good that new home will by pricey.
Unless she could buy a fixer-upper and live in it while fixing it up, she has no net advantage. And with a family (and kids), it is very difficult to be in a fixer-upper.
I understand that home ownership can also be a money pit. But they also can be a great wealth builder.
Like I said the real difference is made in the purchase.
Chances are Ms. Aubrey has benefited from homeownership herself already considering that as you say she has to have somewhere to live,
IF she was paying rent, she would actually be buying someone else a house. There isn't much long term value in that.
The better a house is bought (the right really important things like location, condition, timing for price) the better the long term investment is just like everything else.
Most people really don't think of the place they live as being an investment instead we look at it as an expense.
PS: When I bought my first house I worked it so I had both houses my rental I lived in and the one I just bought for about 6 weeks. That gave me time to do the cosmetic work I wanted to before I moved in.
I always HATED paying rent. Buying someone else a house instead of me just pissed me off... LOL
I agree with you, but my point still stands. Ms. Aubrey does not have the option to cash in on her current home since she must turn around and pay a premium for a new one.
The best situation is to own rental homes right now that you will now consider selling.
O I agree Ms. Aubrey or anyone for that matter when selling a home most people are still in need of housing. And when stuff cost more you're gonna pay more too.
But in my experience home ownership if done wisely is a good investment not a money pit. ... Unless you buy a money pit. ...lol
The best situation is to own rental homes right now that you will now consider selling.
Yes its time to sell if you are of the mind to. Holding GOOD rental property is also a great idea. Especially if its rented and there is low overhead to maintain, then it's a producing gold mine that's increasing in value as well.
Ching Ching !
lol
Pretty much.
See... my situation was complicated when I bought the home I'm in now. Let's start at the beginning... sort of.
When I was 23, my now ex husband and I bought a decent home in a decent neighborhood... at the top of the "seller's market" in 2002. In 2007, just before the housing crash, I filed for divorce and at the time, our mortgage was roughly $150,000. I left him the house, but my name was on that mortgage. My mom and stepdad mortgaged the home I'm in now ($120,000) so I didn't have to pay rent [paying for someone else's home]. I didn't make enough money to have two mortgages in my name. When the divorce paperwork had been processed, the home that my ex was living in was estimated at $78,000, roughly half of what we owed. Therefore, I had to file for bankruptcy (in 2008) so I was no longer financially responsible for a house that I no longer lived in. Divorce was finalized in July 2008 and my bankruptcy was complete (no more contesting from anyone) in March 2009.
My current home was built in 1906 (good "bones") and the previous owner was a cheap-skate. He used scraps to repair most things in the home, but I love this house. We have replaced the furnace, hot water tank (twice), added A/C, replaced windows, replaced siding, new concrete patio, new vinyl fencing, new porch with vinyl railing, a new shed on a new concrete slab, new walk way, repainted most of the interior of the house, built a few walls in the basement, redid the main floor bathroom, a few new electrical outlets, and a lot of new drywall. However, my stepdad ended up paying off our mortgage recently, so now, we only owe him... no more interest. We owe less than $60,000 on a home that's worth roughly $145,000 [estimating based on similar homes sold recently w/similar upgrades]. We will have my stepdad paid back in about 5 years. We have a "land contract" with him, keeping things legal and documented.
When we have completely paid him back, my plan is to mortgage $60,000 on my home to pay off my student loan debt [and possibly pay off other debt, if necessary] to rebuild my credit and not have high interest from said student loans over my head anymore. Currently, the only debt we have is our siding, which went into default a LONG time ago when my husband and I were both laid off for a while [and they want the entire amount all at once now] and what we owe my stepdad. Sorry... I take that back, I have a little debt on my AMEX, but it's not significant and I pay on it regularly. However, we are not "swimming" in debt like many our own age and situation.
I'm really hoping that we're completely out of the debt hole within the next 10 years. My daughter's education is already paid for; her father has been putting money away [instead of me getting child support] for her education for 15 years. My son is only 12, so we have some time to figure that one out still.
I just had circumstances that forced my debt and poor credit. Divorce, housing market boom and then crash, lay offs, restarting, a need to go back to school, more debt, back injury [and subsequent billing/cost from that], things requiring replacement in the home, etc. However, I think it's pretty damn good to say that in 14 years, we were able to pay off most of our debt.
Yes, I agree that a home is a net win over the long haul. My comment about 'money pit' was regarding the constant need to maintain the home. Roof, HVAC, plumbing, garage doors, driveway, ... there is always something ranging from major to minor and sporadic to frequent that demands our time and money.
I think so as well. Congratulations !!!
I'm sorry to hear about the many problems you have endured. Life does throw us some unexpected creve balls sometimes at the most inopportune moments.
And many times It takes a strong person to come out on top. Again, congratulations !
Unfortunately as you probably understand by now buying a house when the value is at a premium isn't really a real great purchase.
However it sounds like at this time you have set yourself up on a much better path.
I had to chuckle about the previous owner being an idiot about doing repairs. This last house I bought had the same guy....LOL
OMG: The person here had done half assed repairs to the point it made this house unavailable for FHA loans even . My inspector pointed out stuff that was stupid and easily fixable that were not up to code.
One was a 5 dollar fix job, by just installing a simple electrical box in a outside wire junjion that the ass hole had just wire nutted together in the open. Duuu
Additionally the idiot had placed 16 penny nails (4 in long) 3 inches sticking out from the trim all the way around the whole damn house about 2 ft apart to put Xmas lights on, The damn place looked like a frickin porcupine.
He had done one thing after another like that all over the house. What a tool But, his fuck ups made me money in the end, So... I dealt with it and fixed his crap work.
Here in Phoenix I paid $64.500 cash (In a down market in 2010 for this second house. Which I could not have done if I had not sold my first house fro a nice profit.) Then I did what the house needed done ( a lot of small cosmetic crap and putting about 10 grand into new windows, paint and carpet) now 10 years later that house is worth right at $300,000.00
Phoenix is and has been a growing market for years.
BUT I also bought it at the right time, the right price, the right location and the right way. I also had been a realtor back in Florida years ago so I knew WTF I was doing right from the start.
Condition, location, price and timing, get it right and yes real estate is a great investment.
Again Ms Aubrey, Congratulations It really sounds like you put yourself on the right track now as well. Yeah !!!
Time will take the resale price up and down but owning a home IMO: Is almost always better than buying someone else a house.
Best of luck to you in paying off the rest of your debt, in your current home repairs and in life. Sound like you got this licked ! Congrads ! Enjoy ! up $90,000.00 not bad !
Steve
Agreed, I've been fortunate. (and smart)
When I bought my house it came with a one year Home Protect Warranty to take care of that pesky repair crap.
Seeing the advantage I extended that home repair warranty, It cost me about 40 bucks a month and 65 dollars when something needs repaired or replaced.
So far I have come out ahead and I just redid my contract getting a great deal for the next 3 years.
Not long ago the central heat and air went kaput and they replaced my whole HVAC unit. Nice
They also have replaced the hot water heater, the garbage disposal, fixed a few faucet leaks, replaced a washing machine and that HVAC unit.
It's been a good deal for me. $$$
So, I recommend home repair warranties for others. Just shop around ! Buyer beware as with everything.
Too cold in MI for tile throughout.
I just thought it was funny in my weird way. I went from having floors almost to soft to floors being to hard.
One extreme to another.
Looking at a new roof too. Ours is turning 20 this year. We're staying with shingles unless the metal roof goddess somehow magically shines down on us.
Same here. I would love a metal roof, just can't afford it.
Is there any Amish up that way? A few years before we moved from PA we had our roof replaced by a group of Amish folks. They did a fantastic job and it only took them about a day and a half from start to finish very reasonable price too.
Not the best picture but it shows the finished project about 4 years after it was done.
Sadly, no.
This is one of my DYI projects. It wasn't difficult since this type of shelter is in our blood so to speak.
Show off...
It also has wi-fi, Natives invented the internet don't ya know. We just called it ''smoke signals''.
LOL
Beautifully done, Kavika. Love the decor.
How does all of that (plastic? nylon? plexi? .......?) handle a big blow or sub 0 temperatures?
Is there an observation dome?
I have a thousand questions. MORE PICTURES!
Knew a couple of ladies who lived in a large teepee outside of Cripple Creek year-round back in the day and it was impressive and very comfy. They would have been jealous of this. Their floor used to be part of an old high school gymnasium BB court that had been torn down.
Was once the caretaker of an abandoned geodesic dome community across the valley from Caribou Ranch. As these works of art all began to fall into the valley below, I moved out by the only road left down to Sugarloaf just in time.
Neither the dome city (hippy commune) or the road still exist. Big slide eventually took it all.
Beautiful!
They didn't look like that in "Dances With Wolves"
No metal roof for you!
back in the summer i turned 17 , my dad decided it was time to replace his roof , but he wasnt about to hire anyone to do it since he had the knowledge and skill to do it himself . that and he had free labor to haul shingles up the ladders and platforms( 17 year old me) .
we started by stripping off all the old , 2 layers of cedar shake that had been on the place since it was built in the 1800s , and 3 layers of asphalt , after all that we had to remove all the roofing boards and move them so there were no gaps , and "tighten everything back down .
We ended up replacing about 16 square of shingles , including hips of dormers , valleys , and caps , yes he taught me how to do all of that especially weaving shingles into valleys so they wouldnt leak , got rid of all the lead valleys that were in place .
we figured we took off about 60 square of old shingles , a square as i remember is 3x3 ft section.
after it was all done he tied the roofing brackets ( that were older than my grandfather and made of oak , in a bundle and handed them to me and said these are yours , i will never need to use them again , and i still have them.
that was the last thing he, his dad and me all did together .
I like that story Mark.
Waiting for the draftsman to get me plans for a garage and sunroom/greenhouse addition to my house and working on the house across the street I bought for a rental. Keeping me busy. Many trips to Lowes
I'm Jealous ! ...lol
Good luck to you, I always wanted a rental house in addition to my home. Having one that close may be both a blessing and a curse though.
I'd want to be close to my rental but not have my renter also be my neighbor.
Some people tend to think ya owe them if you are too close to them.
But, a rental house is a business.