Comments on: Home Remodeling Projects

By: Lois

Lois — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:23:23 +0000

Instant frustration!! We are at the beginning of a few “remodeling projects”, actually things that must be done and fixed now. I can already see that many of the things are going to require unexpected “side jobs” to complete. So our projects will take longer than hoped, because of time and money constraints, but I am excited about the finished projects!

By: Shelley

Shelley — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:39:30 +0000

We have an older home which had very low (only 7 foot high) ceilings in the livingroom and kitchen area. We decided to rip out everything to the studs, take out the wall between the kitchen and livingroom making an open concept and raise the ceiling into a cathedral type ceiling. When we got everything ripped out, we realized that there was no support for the roof up there except some 3 inch half logs. We had to put in a large beam and other support rafters in first, and the beam we left exposed for a northwoods look. Besides the help with this part and hiring a man to do the mudding part of the drywall, we did the rest ourselves. We also moved our woodstove from one end of the room to the opposite so that it could now be seen from the kitchen, and put up a fieldstone surround around it. We decided on laminate wood flooring with ceramic tile insets at the doorways. It was a big and dirty job and I am so glad it is done, but it looks beautiful if I do say so myself.

By: Donna Jackson

Donna Jackson — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:04:00 +0000

We started out this summer wanting to replace the living room carpet. It was old and badly stained and needed to come up. We have wanted wood floors and decided to do wood in that room which led to the front hall and the dining room. The front hall and dining room were not carpet but uneven brick flooring. I have wanted to brick gone for 4 years because it hurts my feet and legs to stand on it. The kids had a lot of fun chiseling up the brick and this demolition traveled on into the kitchen, hall, laundry room and bathroom. The wood floors are completely finished and are beautiful. We bought large flat 12″ tiles for the kitchen, laundry, and bathroom. The kitchen and laundry room are done except for some grout work and putting the moulding back. We have the bathroom to still finish. It looks great but the project really grew from the dirty carpet in the living room!

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:02:15 +0000

I feel your pain, Marilyn. Most projects become much larger than anticipated, especially if you are inexperienced at it, and especially if you have an older home with lots of invisible defects. I have developed my expertise through the experience of dozens of projects on several homes over the past 17 years. I share tips & advice on all sorts of home remodeling & makeover projects on my blog & web site. http://TransformYourHouse.com/blog