The Book Of THoTH

well we were given a house to live in.
[sarcasm]
it needs a small amount of work.
[/sarcasm]

work needed:
1st floor bathroom
1. remove shower and toss in dumpster
2. remove sink and toss in dumpster
3. remove floor and toss in dumpster
4. remove south wall and toss in dumpster
5. remove toilet and toss in dumpster
6. repair plumbing
7. repair drain pipes
8. relocate toilet
9. put in new floor,sink,walls,paint etc.

kitchen
1.toss stove in dumpster
2. put up new sheetrock walls
3. rebuild floor and new linoleum
4. paint everything
5. new appliances

dining room
1.replace carpet
2.sheetrock walls
3.install more electrical outlets (there is only 1)

living room
1. redo hardwood floors

misc:
1.run more power to the upstairs
2.remove the drywall in the shower
3. replace drywall with cement board and tile
4. replumb the house ,ie hot/cold and some drains.
5. have the electrical breaker box replaced with a higher service box
6 rewire the garage,including a new sub-panel for electricity.

im sure theres more, but we need to get into this place so most of the above needs done before that happens. we need to get into the walls to run power/water then fix the walls to get moved in.little fingers and electricity do not mix well.

Sounds like you have a real fixer-upper there Minifang. Tackle it with gusto and finish it w/pride!

We've always loved the upstate of N.Y. When you can make the time, get out and enjoy the Adirondak country. Your pretty weather is finally here. I also hope you have a nice spot for a garden.



cruiser

It'll be worth it in the end. Try not to slack half way, it will just make it seem like it goes on and on and on.

I always approach redecorating with gusto, half way i cry thinking "what the hell was I thinking of", once it's finished, I think "that wasn't so bad i'll tackle the other rooms now" and start the vicious cycle all over again!

Your list seems like a lot, hope it gets finished sooner than you think.

Batty

i hate this place(finger lakes region), with a passion. nice to visit, dont want to live here.i grew up here.i am now stuck here, with the only redeeming value being my wife and kids are here.this is why in a few of my recent posts there is an anger i dont normally have, amplified by certain people who i was asked to not mention again.
ive been to the Adirondacks, and the 1000 islands/st Lawrence seaway area. pretty country, good fishing, expensive to live there (or here)mainly due to taxation.

batty, we have the downstairs bathroom torn out as in the post. working on rewiring the places mentioned. once thats done the plumbing can go in. then the electrician will be called to install a bigger breaker box/electrical service.
then move on from there.
house was built in the 1690's , and i will try and remember to get some pictures to post. i have a few ill post em up in a bit.

Holy crap.

"Remove house and toss in dumpster" is all I have to add.

We keep our rental properties in pretty good shape, and we always have 'em fixed up BEFORE anyone moves in.

((hugs for minifang)))

oh i forgot.
MIL says the barn full of trash is a barn full of treasures.
like the rotted out woodstove and the mattress with no covering.or the bent up quilting loom she (literally) tossed in there at some time in the past.

there may be a treasure or 2 in there. most of it is waterlogged junk.

You might actually get lucky with that. There was this old man who lived up the road from us, and my dad would deliver coal to his house every fall.

The old guy had no family and when he died my dad took up the job of cleaning out his house and shed.

We found a gorgeous old singer sewing machine, land deeds that predate the revolutionary war, a rusted-ass gun and bayonet from the civil war...

And 3 dead possums.
Old sheds can be full of cool stuff AND horrifying stuff.

Hello Mini,

It's too bad you feel that way. I guess I see your point if you grew up in the area. Never thought I'd get tired of Key West, Florida either so I understand. Can't afford to live there. But it's a great place to visit!

I agree, taxes are high....... but then your house was cheap too I'm guessing? Beautiful country is right......... maybe if you moved to a real 'sh*t hole' and went back to it, you'd see things in a different light. sorry, I couln't resist. Been there and done that.

Mini, the long Winters and the bugs might get irritating in the upstate... but then Spring, Summer and Fall would put me in heaven there, so enjoy what you can, when you can. We enjoy tubing, fishing, hiking.... and sitting around teh camp fires.

cruiser

the price was right, get about 1/3 acre of land and plan on a garden.

Awesome!

Sounds like a great plan. Looking forward to seeing some pics... the before, the after..... the garden!

Find a friend or two to help w/some of that labor. Our family got together to build the cabin during our summer get-togethers. (friends, and cheap labor is a big help)

Good luck w/everything.
Keep telling the kids how awesome it's going to be when it's finished.

cruiser

my dad (a contractor) is helping me, well he is doing most of the work , cause i aint got a clue when it comes to carpentry lol.
anyways pictures:
outside




barn/garage


this fire hazard is going away

inside the main living room


more to come later

Wow , Minifang ... that sure is some list of renovations to do... It looks good already on the photos, so I expect it will be awesome when you get your works done. You are going to be a busy chap though huh ??

I see the potential there Mini. Nice your dad is a contractor, there to help. Father and son project time, driving nails together. Amazing what a little effort and can of paint will do for a place, eh? Though wiring and knocking walls down gets a little more involved. Just make sure you have some good heat by Winter.

The property looks like a pretty location for some peace and quiet. Keep us updated on the progress. Mini's own 'this old house' episode.

Thanks for sharing!

cruiser

putting in a highly efficient coal stove for heat. coal is less than 1/2 the cost of other fuels.low emissions model ashes can be used to melt snow in the winter (as opposed to salt, which poisons the roadsides and is detrimental to wildlife) in the drive/walkways..

wife tells me im too anxious to toss stuff out. i said " your damn skippy" lol. we got enough junk without adding more junk to the pile.

Ahh Dude!!

Your house looks perfect, keep the old floors, just rent a sander and re-finish.. She'll look hot when your done..!

You got a great house, work or not.

Congrats!

Mini, I see with great clarity the potentail in that house. I see a soul there that needs rescuing. I wish it were my house.

Oh yeah don't throw that old pot belly heater away. Please keep it. Why I don't know, but it is sending out vibes to me. Sad, but good vibes. I feel it crying. Please. please keep it.

its full of rust holes, and the front glass is missing.the hinges are sagging, and its not worth saving, unless you want it for decoration. bubba, if you want it come n get it. otherwise its off to the scrapyard.

Minifang:

I dont want it. Simply trying to help. Forget it!!! Throw it away then.

I agree with everyone here, the house is super cool, it will be even better once you put your stamp on it and a lick of paint. Can't wait to see the finish result.

Batty

the floor is going to be sanded and refinished.
the other floor is rough planks, going to get new carpet. kitchen, entryway, woodstove room (will be a dining room) will get linoleum. upstairs carpet is good, stairs are finished oak, will get sanded and refinished. kitchen cabinets are pine and are gettung painted.ugly green wallpaper is going away.

hang in there minifang.

My ex husband and I inherited a 100 year old house back in the late 80s. It was indeed a challenge. The bad part was we did only 'make livable' renovations before we moved in. The rest of the renovating was slow going.... YEARS. So, I hope that you're able to finish all the major stuff before you move in. Your wife will thank you

Rebel is very right there. I bought this handyman special back in 2002 thinking it would be a 2 year project and then sell it for a profit. It is now 6 years and not one project has been completed. There are 4 rooms out of 6 that are under construction. The living room is close to being under construction. So here I sit in my dream retirement home. I admire you if you get it done in a timely fashion, minifang. I am sure your family will also, and you will all have something to be proud of then.

I do have to say the folks I hired to remove the trees that fell on the roof of the house worked fast. I was really glad for that.

we have to make it livable 1st. fortunately that means all the major stuff must be done 1st. plumbing, electrical, heat, etc. the rest will have to wait, as we cant stay too long were we are at.MIL will drive us insane.

Oh gosh ...

living with MIL ... I stayed with my MIL for a week - not pretty.

Good luck with that too

ive learned several things whilst here. the MIL is always right. ifthe wife and the MIL have differing opinions, the MIL is right.
the list:

1. the MIL is always right
2. if the MIL is wrong and the wife is right, step away from the 2 of them, cause the MIL will be right and the wife mad.
3. see rule #1.

Smart man!

more pics








the kitchen was this ugly pinkish purple/green combo



backyard looks like this



wall torn out for wiring

Nice willow tree! Looks like a good place for berry bushes, you may even have some already. Just let me play in the yard.

Can you tell it's Spring and I'm itching to grow my garden?

(sometimes I wonder if Thoth is testing our eyesight w/the codes)


cruiser

there are some berry vines growing. rasp/black/thimble i do not know which.they are all good lol.