This Old House

[julie*mango]

My house is just over 50 years old. There have been a few renovations over the years but nothing major. So now it is time to do a full update...on ALL the rooms. I love this house and have no desire to sell it. (Maybe get a second home in FL but that is about it). So I think it would be safe to spend some $ on it since I plan to live out my days here.


The first project I wanted to do is the kitchen but we discovered a huge leak in Mr Skell's bathroom so we are going to have to do a full gut and remodel in there. The flooring has been compromised as well so that will have to be replaced.

A functional kitchen is important during the holidays (Tgiving + Xmas) So I think maybe we are going to start that project in January.

Also we are planning to do an extension to the rear of our house but that would have to be during the warmer months.


So here is a master list of all the things we have to get done.


MAIN FLOOR

- kitchen remodel.
- cosmetic changes in dining room and foyer.
- update 2 bathrooms
- Extend main bedroom and convert to a master suite.
- extend guest room and convert into 2 bedrooms.
- Cosmetic changes in living room.
- Cosmetic changes in sunroom.

BASEMENT

- cosmetic changes in family room, playroom, laundry room and bedroom.
- convert walk in closet to bathroom.

EXTERIOR

- convert single car garage into 2 car garage.
- new siding.


So from experience, what is a realistic timeline I can set to get all this work on the house done? And which project do you think I should begin tackling first?

[kia027]

Re: This Old House

That is a lot of work that has to be done there skells but I know how it goes as my house is an older home too

I would say you start with the rooms that are the most used. That would be the bathrooms and kitchens. Unfortunately they are also the most expensive to do given the plumbing, electric and building work and permits that are involved.

Looking at your list I would do the bathrooms (the basement one as well if the location is just under another bathroom it would be straightforward to do).

Timeline will really depend on the contractor, plumber and electrician. I know in Massachussetts contractors there are licensed to do all 3 so it is one guy for the job. Is it the same in CT? That will save you on scheduling 3 different people. I would say each bathroom would be about a 40hrs worth of labour, provided all material is on site. (I know it sounds like a project manager so figure about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks calendar time per bathroom (there is time to allow sheetrock to dry before the sanding, and painting).

Kitchens are the biggest and most expensive. Do not start a kitchen project until all material is on site. We were gutted in two days and were left in a state where we would be able to cook (albeit without countertops which was a pain). we had a functioning kitchen in 5 wks (due to a delay with the counter people).
soon come with more

[Nanook]

Re: This Old House

I'd love to watch the progress in a photo report! It's a huge undertaking which will likely take you much longer for each stage than you imagined. Prolly more cash too. How fun to make everything just how you like it though!

[Nanook]

Re: This Old House

I would move the laundry location from the basement. A friend just put hers on her top floor where the bedrooms and closets are and she's ecstatic!

She also put a smaller kitchen off the family room for snacks and things. Her house rocks!

[kia027]

Re: This Old House

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would move the laundry location from the basement. A friend just put hers on her top floor where the bedrooms and closets are and she's ecstatic!

She also put a smaller kitchen off the family room for snacks and things. Her house rocks! </div></div>

That is definitely a great idea and can be set up when the upstairs bathrooms are done. You may have to give up a closet for it and add extra foundation for the weight of the machines and their foundation.

[Nylah]

Re: This Old House

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would move the laundry location from the basement. A friend just put hers on her top floor where the bedrooms and closets are and she's ecstatic!

She also put a smaller kitchen off the family room for snacks and things. Her house rocks! </div></div>

new houses arounf here are built with both of those features

Skelly do u have a Contractor that can come in and work out a schedule and discuss options with you?

[kia027]

Re: This Old House

continuing, (and thinking with a clearer head)
another option is to do it all at once sinceyou are extending rooms and garages and such.

there will be a ton of dust around and with the girls you will not want to be there.

What that may require is renting a place for a few months (3 months) and have all the work done during that time.

[QK13]

Re: This Old House

Pickchas! Pickchas! Pickchas!!

While you're thinking about the remodels, this would be a good time to start recording what the rooms look like now, so that when things get underway, you won't disappoint your audience!!

When my brother did their house it was empty and they had never lived there yet. They filled about 12 dumpsters with demolition &amp; trash. The first 5 were trash. But they also tore out old plaster, took off 2 old porches, the roof, all the toilets, sinks, windows, furnace, etc., on a 3 family house.

They started in August and moved in the following April with just some minor finish work to be done.

Looking forward to following the progress!!

[julie*mango]

Re: This Old House

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is a lot of work that has to be done there skells but I know how it goes as my house is an older home too

I would say you start with the rooms that are the most used. That would be the bathrooms and kitchens. Unfortunately they are also the most expensive to do given the plumbing, electric and building work and permits that are involved.

Looking at your list I would do the bathrooms (the basement one as well if the location is just under another bathroom it would be straightforward to do).

Timeline will really depend on the contractor, plumber and electrician. I know in Massachussetts contractors there are licensed to do all 3 so it is one guy for the job. Is it the same in CT? That will save you on scheduling 3 different people. I would say each bathroom would be about a 40hrs worth of labour, provided all material is on site. (I know it sounds like a project manager so figure about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks calendar time per bathroom (there is time to allow sheetrock to dry before the sanding, and painting).

Kitchens are the biggest and most expensive. Do not start a kitchen project until all material is on site. We were gutted in two days and were left in a state where we would be able to cook (albeit without countertops which was a pain). we had a functioning kitchen in 5 wks (due to a delay with the counter people).
soon come with more </div></div>

Kia in CT one has to get different men to do the work. I already have a contractor and a plumber lined up. The electrician I don't have to worry about too much as they all know someone who can get it done.

Now I was planning to start with the bathrooms, then after Xmas and the New Year begin the kitchen. Although I was not planning to tackle that yet, it makes sense as you say to do the basement bathroom as it is in the vicinity of the upstairs bathroom plumbing, and the laundry room as well.

Excellent advice on ordering the materials before the work begins. Don't want to spend weeks waiting for a shipment to come in.

[julie*mango]

Re: This Old House

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would move the laundry location from the basement. A friend just put hers on her top floor where the bedrooms and closets are and she's ecstatic!

She also put a smaller kitchen off the family room for snacks and things. Her house rocks! </div></div>


We thought about that Nanook but space is an issue. Plus I am adding a sink in the laundry room and because I am converting the walk in closet down there into a bathroom I am moving the closets into the laundry room. We keep all our hung clothes down there anyway. The bedroom closets only have our formal clothes.

[julie*mango]

Re: This Old House

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would move the laundry location from the basement. A friend just put hers on her top floor where the bedrooms and closets are and she's ecstatic!

She also put a smaller kitchen off the family room for snacks and things. Her house rocks! </div></div>

new houses arounf here are built with both of those features

Skelly do u have a Contractor that can come in and work out a schedule and discuss options with you? </div></div>


yup. I spoke with him and one day before the month is up he is gonna take a walk through with me and go over what it is I would like to get done.

[julie*mango]

Re: This Old House

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q.K</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pickchas! Pickchas! Pickchas!!

While you're thinking about the remodels, this would be a good time to start recording what the rooms look like now, so that when things get underway, you won't disappoint your audience!!

When my brother did their house it was empty and they had never lived there yet. They filled about 12 dumpsters with demolition &amp; trash. The first 5 were trash. But they also tore out old plaster, took off 2 old porches, the roof, all the toilets, sinks, windows, furnace, etc., on a 3 family house.

They started in August and moved in the following April with just some minor finish work to be done.

Looking forward to following the progress!! </div></div>

Looking forward to the progress as well.

[julie*mango]

Re: This Old House

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">continuing, (and thinking with a clearer head)
another option is to do it all at once sinceyou are extending rooms and garages and such.

there will be a ton of dust around and with the girls you will not want to be there.

What that may require is renting a place for a few months (3 months) and have all the work done during that time. </div></div>

I thought about all that Kia. I was thinking fi mek di kids go bond with them grands in JA

[Seveen]

Re: This Old House

you are very brave!

the remodel of my condo after the fire took 8 months

when they started tearing out stuff they found asbestos and that set them off into an entirely different direction for awhile

and don't even mention what happened when they found just a little black mold

and when i did my kitchen over - it was months before i ate in there again - i learned to make spaghetti and meatballs on the barbeque grill

but the day i came home and found the toilet sitting on the front patio - they were putting down a new floor

i almost died . . .

[julie*mango]

Re: This Old House

asbestos






I guess we will have to go phase by phase where the kitchen is concerned. I have 2 electric burners I can cook on when I am stoveless. Maybe I should consider putting that sink in the laundry room before we begin the kitchen.