One man's "tearer-downer" is another man's castle. I'd kill to live in something like that.
What did you do today?
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Mitchell-DIY-Guy
Well-Known Member
No you wouldn’t.
As is the case with many real estate listings the photographs can deceive. There was evidence of significant water damage. The plumbing was leaky all over. The electrical was downright dangerous. It had this ancient siding called “insul-brick” which looks kind of cool and vintage but a lot of insurance companies will not insure a home with it any longer. While the house looked good and straight from the outside, meaning the bones were probably good, the floors were wavy inside. As it was built as a summer cottage I sincerely doubt there’s a lick of insulation anywhere. Basically unlivable without an extensive rehab.
its been on the market for three years…hundreds of showings. Nobody biting in the best real estate market in years…
As is the case with many real estate listings the photographs can deceive. There was evidence of significant water damage. The plumbing was leaky all over. The electrical was downright dangerous. It had this ancient siding called “insul-brick” which looks kind of cool and vintage but a lot of insurance companies will not insure a home with it any longer. While the house looked good and straight from the outside, meaning the bones were probably good, the floors were wavy inside. As it was built as a summer cottage I sincerely doubt there’s a lick of insulation anywhere. Basically unlivable without an extensive rehab.
its been on the market for three years…hundreds of showings. Nobody biting in the best real estate market in years…
I stand corrected.
Mitchell-DIY-Guy
Well-Known Member
Good bones though if you could do a total rehab. Some nice vintage original woodwork, worth carefully saving…
The floors probably buckled from turning the air down too low with high humidity under the house. It’s common……
Below 75 degrees and you’ll start to have problems when the floor isn’t sealed or the crawlspace isn’t sealed and conditioned.
LSU university did a great study on this…..
Link added.
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/nr/rdon...79805/pub3187insulatingraisedfloorslowres.pdf
Below 75 degrees and you’ll start to have problems when the floor isn’t sealed or the crawlspace isn’t sealed and conditioned.
LSU university did a great study on this…..
Link added.
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/nr/rdon...79805/pub3187insulatingraisedfloorslowres.pdf
Last edited:
Mitchell-DIY-Guy
Well-Known Member
Sounds plausible. Could be some sagging and rising joists, too. No subfloor—finish flooring nailed directly to joists. So a/c or not, it’s damper in the basement than on the first floor.
…But it’s a summer cottage with no a/c units. While there’s some humidity in the summer it’s laughable compared to the south.
Built on a full masonry basement which, while a bit dirty and a bit humid—was actually in excellent condition. Could easily be made cleaner and dry with a lot less effort than the myriad other projects a buyer would be faced with.
…But it’s a summer cottage with no a/c units. While there’s some humidity in the summer it’s laughable compared to the south.
Built on a full masonry basement which, while a bit dirty and a bit humid—was actually in excellent condition. Could easily be made cleaner and dry with a lot less effort than the myriad other projects a buyer would be faced with.
Nice pics of the friend's house. The view is lovely. I love that there is so much open space and no visible houses nearby. Electrical looks like it needs some work though.
The shed from zillow (I call it a shed because that is very small to me) looked like it was going to get water damage sitting on a swamp like that. I like the wall color around the windows from this room:
Today I put air in two tires that were low (finally stopped the TPMS from nagging me) and got the inspection sticker. I had to leave and come back after the inspection because I couldn't find my registration. I went to my friend's house so he could help me look for it. Then he says "What's that in your hand". Me: *looks at the registration in my hand* "I think it's the expired registration". He takes it and says that I was looking at the renewal date and points to the expiration date that I couldn't read without glasses. I feel like an idiot. I had it in my hand and was looking for it. LOL.
Next I have to put the registration sticker on the CR-V, put a new battery in it, get an inspection sticker on it, and get an oil change in it. Which, I really should make my brother do since he plans to drive it. His truck needs some work done before he can safely drive it. My friend thinks they are about to hire my brother to work at the casino on Friday. Not sure if he means tomorrow or next Friday.
The shed from zillow (I call it a shed because that is very small to me) looked like it was going to get water damage sitting on a swamp like that. I like the wall color around the windows from this room:
Today I put air in two tires that were low (finally stopped the TPMS from nagging me) and got the inspection sticker. I had to leave and come back after the inspection because I couldn't find my registration. I went to my friend's house so he could help me look for it. Then he says "What's that in your hand". Me: *looks at the registration in my hand* "I think it's the expired registration". He takes it and says that I was looking at the renewal date and points to the expiration date that I couldn't read without glasses. I feel like an idiot. I had it in my hand and was looking for it. LOL.
Next I have to put the registration sticker on the CR-V, put a new battery in it, get an inspection sticker on it, and get an oil change in it. Which, I really should make my brother do since he plans to drive it. His truck needs some work done before he can safely drive it. My friend thinks they are about to hire my brother to work at the casino on Friday. Not sure if he means tomorrow or next Friday.
Mitchell-DIY-Guy
Well-Known Member
I guess it’s not too clear. The electric and plumbing issues are NOT in the big, modern white home fronting Lake Michigan. Everything is modern and up to date on that one. It’s only 10 years old.
The no trees or other homes by deed and design..
There’s a 1940 summer cottage that my friends are looking at…very rough…that’s where.the trouble is.
The no trees or other homes by deed and design..
There’s a 1940 summer cottage that my friends are looking at…very rough…that’s where.the trouble is.
Ahh. Ok. I thought all of the pictures in that one post were from the same home. My mistake. Glad the modern home is in good shape.
I wish some of the trees in my yard were farther away from the house.
I went back into town with my brother to get a new battery for the CR-V. I helped him remove the old one. He couldn't find the right 10mm wrench (someone keeps stealing them). But I found an adjustable wrench and slowly removed the nuts (threads were messed up on the hook thingies that hold a strap over the battery) while my brother just about tore apart my truck looking for tools. Before he was done I called out that I had gotten all of the nuts loose on everything. While in the store I saw the hook thingies with wingnuts so I bought a set as well as a 10mm wrench (because the adjustable one was too large to fit properly). Good thing I did because the old ones were all rusty and didn't want to let any nuts turn on them. I managed to get both hooks in place (my brother tried but couldn't get the backside one hooked in). He was looking like a cooked lobster by the time we were done. But, the vehicle runs, needs some major cleaning and some car deoderizers. Tires still look ok. But his truck (which isn't running) has a flat.
I wish some of the trees in my yard were farther away from the house.
I went back into town with my brother to get a new battery for the CR-V. I helped him remove the old one. He couldn't find the right 10mm wrench (someone keeps stealing them). But I found an adjustable wrench and slowly removed the nuts (threads were messed up on the hook thingies that hold a strap over the battery) while my brother just about tore apart my truck looking for tools. Before he was done I called out that I had gotten all of the nuts loose on everything. While in the store I saw the hook thingies with wingnuts so I bought a set as well as a 10mm wrench (because the adjustable one was too large to fit properly). Good thing I did because the old ones were all rusty and didn't want to let any nuts turn on them. I managed to get both hooks in place (my brother tried but couldn't get the backside one hooked in). He was looking like a cooked lobster by the time we were done. But, the vehicle runs, needs some major cleaning and some car deoderizers. Tires still look ok. But his truck (which isn't running) has a flat.
FishScreener
Well-Known Member
Took a five hour round trip, to turn on a breaker.
Got a call Tuesday from a Ranger Station at the far end of the Forest, that they had a backed up sewer line. Told them to call their maintenance crew, and if they can’t fix it, to call a plumber. I’ve been told that since we now have two maintenance crews, I’m supposed to quit doing field work, and focus on design and new construction.
The maintenance crew went and tried to get the drains working. They couldn’t get it with their small snake so they called out a plumber the next day (Wednesday).
They ran their snake out until it hit something solid and decided the line was collapsed.
They called me again yesterday, because the cost to dig up and replace the line, was going to be high enough to require a contract.
So, I drove two and a half hours to the site, and figured out that the blockage they had hit was the far side of a manhole, and that the manhole was so full, the sewage was coming out of the vent holes in the lid. So, I walked over to the controls for the sewage lift station.
No power. Walked over to the breaker panel, and the 200-amp main was off. The residents had decided they didn’t like the street lights, which are fed through that panel, and had thrown breakers until they went off except for the one labled “Leave On”, which feeds the street lights. So, they turned the 200-amp main of. Which killed the sewer lift station. And after just over a week everything backed up..
Turned the breaker on, checked that the lift station was running, and headed back home.
Got a call Tuesday from a Ranger Station at the far end of the Forest, that they had a backed up sewer line. Told them to call their maintenance crew, and if they can’t fix it, to call a plumber. I’ve been told that since we now have two maintenance crews, I’m supposed to quit doing field work, and focus on design and new construction.
The maintenance crew went and tried to get the drains working. They couldn’t get it with their small snake so they called out a plumber the next day (Wednesday).
They ran their snake out until it hit something solid and decided the line was collapsed.
They called me again yesterday, because the cost to dig up and replace the line, was going to be high enough to require a contract.
So, I drove two and a half hours to the site, and figured out that the blockage they had hit was the far side of a manhole, and that the manhole was so full, the sewage was coming out of the vent holes in the lid. So, I walked over to the controls for the sewage lift station.
No power. Walked over to the breaker panel, and the 200-amp main was off. The residents had decided they didn’t like the street lights, which are fed through that panel, and had thrown breakers until they went off except for the one labled “Leave On”, which feeds the street lights. So, they turned the 200-amp main of. Which killed the sewer lift station. And after just over a week everything backed up..
Turned the breaker on, checked that the lift station was running, and headed back home.
Mitchell-DIY-Guy
Well-Known Member
I think the residents need a bit of an education. Fools.
Sure would be nice to be able to knock some sense into some people some time.
Man I bet that place is cold in the winter with the wind off of the lake!?
Mitchell-DIY-Guy
Well-Known Member
Mitchell-DIY-Guy
Well-Known Member
I don’t do cold and snow either… that’s why moved from Michigan to North Carolina. I spent too many years of my life dealing with snow, ice, and bitter cold. Time I will never get back.
I would have been very irritated with the residents who flipped that breaker. I wonder if any punitive action can be taken against them since it cost $ to fix the problem they caused. As my late elderly friend said, someone should go over and "hurt their feelings".
I went to get oil & filters for the CR-V as well as a cleaning kit. My brother is going to clean it up when its not so hot. Picked up his rx and put motor cleaner in my truck's tank before refueling.
WTForecast says its 97° but heat index is 108°. It's comment was "Dear mother nature, can you not?"
I went to get oil & filters for the CR-V as well as a cleaning kit. My brother is going to clean it up when its not so hot. Picked up his rx and put motor cleaner in my truck's tank before refueling.
WTForecast says its 97° but heat index is 108°. It's comment was "Dear mother nature, can you not?"
Well that was the LONGEST 53.73 feet in the world!
Rough-in conduit passed Township inspection, told me to call them when it was finished!!
Rough-in conduit passed Township inspection, told me to call them when it was finished!!
Nice, Hamberg! Was the soil rocky? I see a bunch of rocks around but don't know if that was added later. Did the tree roots get in the way?
Technically yesterday but I took my friend to a dental consultation to get dentures when his teeth get pulled Thursday. Got Wendy's afterward and then came home for a nap. Went to Walmart in the evening to look for boneless skinless chicken thighs but store was completely out (fresh & frozen). Mom isn't feeling well so I made her eggs and toast. I don't know if its a virus or something she ate. Hope she gets feeling better soon. I don't like seeing her sick.
Today my brother has to get drug-tested for a new job and we need to get inspection sticker on the CR-V. Meant to do it sooner but have been busy. Wednesday I have to go pick up my friend's dentures so they can be ready to put in after his oral surgery Thursday.
Still need to find time to stain his door once he gets it moved where he wants it. He's going to take it off and have me stain it outside so his gf won't gripe about the smell of the stain. Even when there is no odor, she imagines it bc she's schizophrenic.
Technically yesterday but I took my friend to a dental consultation to get dentures when his teeth get pulled Thursday. Got Wendy's afterward and then came home for a nap. Went to Walmart in the evening to look for boneless skinless chicken thighs but store was completely out (fresh & frozen). Mom isn't feeling well so I made her eggs and toast. I don't know if its a virus or something she ate. Hope she gets feeling better soon. I don't like seeing her sick.
Today my brother has to get drug-tested for a new job and we need to get inspection sticker on the CR-V. Meant to do it sooner but have been busy. Wednesday I have to go pick up my friend's dentures so they can be ready to put in after his oral surgery Thursday.
Still need to find time to stain his door once he gets it moved where he wants it. He's going to take it off and have me stain it outside so his gf won't gripe about the smell of the stain. Even when there is no odor, she imagines it bc she's schizophrenic.
My dad had all his teeth pulled at age forty. Biggest mistake, other than having me, he ever made in his life. Those new implant dentures, a.k.a. Clear Choice, etc., are a much better option than traditional “glue on” dentures. By no means inexpensive however.
