sounds great Jeff. If it's like our house, I think you'll appreciate your cooler downstairs for the next few months!
Home projects in the mid atlantic forum- May 2015
Yeah if we don't have the a/c on, the downstairs is cooler. But we only have 2 window unit a/c units and both of them are upstairs so when it's on, it's cooler upstairs.
Jeff--I LOVE my new berry-red front door. Very pretty on the house.
Matches the brick in the front of the house.
My downstairs is usually much cooler that anywhere else. It feels like the temp.
of an AC is turned way down. It is pleasant down there in the summer.
Of course--this is because the Club Room level (#3) is 50% underground.
in the lowest level is the Shop. This level can be quite cold in the winter.
It has NO heat outlets and It is 80%underground. It has painted cinder block
walls and a concrete floor. The laundry and storage area there has heat.
Several of my plants spend the winter down in the Shop in a semi-dormant state.
My Clivias, the cut back Brugmansias, and, last year, also my Tropical Hibiscus.
I do a lot of my potting down there--as it can get messy....It is a "No Man's Land"
down there and I, usually do not show it to anyone. Junk City! Cluttered....
G.
Heeheeheee... I've seen it and it's not NEARLY as bad as she makes it out to be! < =P The temp though, at least when I was there, was HEAVENLY!
Jeff, really looking forward to seeing the paint job on the front door and the finished downstairs.
I wanted to mention that we were unable to pick up our couch last weekend as it wasn't in yet as planned. Supposedly it will be ready this Friday but we'll see. Just an update as to why there are no pics yet :-)
My latest home improvement job was removing the mowing deck from the tractor. Then tearing it down to clean, repair, sharpen, and replace belts and such. It was supposed to be my first job when we got home from Fla. but Josh, being of good heart, had already installed it, as was, to mow for us before we got home. :-}
What a great surprise!
Awesome!!
Well that sure is a nice surprise, huh? When they give out Gold Stars for parenting, you two will get 3 each! =)
I've just begun a new mission for Home Improvements Projects. No, we won't be doing these projects ourselves, these jobs are waaayyy over our heads, but I am now on the search for contractors for the following:
Finally getting a shed built out back... and hopefully one smaller one under our deck as well
Getting a vinyl "privacy" fence out back and around one side.
Probably some small trees removed for the above-mentioned jobs.
Probably also concrete pads poured for the sheds, not to mention a bit of excavation/leveling.
WOW, this should be fun trying to coordinate these jobs, wish me luck! =)
Have you checked in to building a shed yet? Usually the sheds are as much as 40% more money to have one built in place by the shed company. We're thinking about getting a shed this coming spring (yay, another garden to plan!!!) and that's the extra fee they charge for a built-in-place. For $450, they will dig and put a 6" deep pad of crushed stone. I wanted to go with concrete but that would be so much extra money and it may be money that is unnecessarily spent. The 4x4s and 2x4s for the floor are all pressure treated. I know a bunch of people who don't even have a stone pad and their sheds have been in place for a couple decades with no issues.
Sheds are pretty easy to build. There are some kits both (wood and metal) that come with everything you need and directions. Not to mention the books at Lowes and HD with complete plans, material lists and directions. You might want to spend a few minutes perusing the reading material next time you go in. A level stone base isn't difficult to do either other than the hard manual labor required.
Speedie---
Whatever shed you choose--DO NOT get the metal ones!
You will go insane assembling it--with thousands of screws to deal with.
The Vinyl ones are the most practical--unless you go with the wood ones.
They are the best.
You can Google Sheds USA to see all the models they offer. HD has these.
These are all wood and assembled on your property.
You have to have the base ready, though.
Have fun researching, speedie.
Yes, sheds are an undertaking for sure, but I think I hit pay dirt! I started running around talking to people yesterday and found a company that I feel really comfortable and confident with... not to mention, the previous "Bossman" at work knows the owner very well (has done for years) and completely vouches for him as 100% reliable. There's NO WAY we would build it ourselves, that was already determined in the first discussion, so we moved on to "then who?", and now I've found them. They will charge an additional 30% to build "on site", and since we have for-sure decided that we want a poured concrete slab, we've determined that that can act as the shed's floor, so there's "X" number of dollars taken off the cost of the shed for the floor... which makes the whole thing even out. I was really amazed at how low the cost is of these things, I was expecting a WHOLE LOT more. We've staked out a 10' x 12' spot out back where we want it. It's gonna match the house; white vinyl, black roof, A-Frame. We don't want windows (for safety reasons), but I learned today that there is such a thing as "faking" the windows (making it look like they're there on the outside, but just not all the way through), which makes me REALLY happy, 'cause I want window boxes that I can plant! =)
Tomorrow I have an appointment with the first fence guy for the first estimate. When all this is done, I FINALLY get to have my tree out back... woohoooo!!! < =D
Sounds like you have a good plan. I saw a really cute shed built with mirrors instead of glass windows it was really cute and reflected back the plants from the window boxes and yard.
Oh my gosh, that sounds darling!! I wonder if Alan could do that for us... and for how much$?$?
This one the mirrors were mounted on the wall and framed with something like 1 x1's to make the window framing. It looked like a multi-paned window with a small window box underneath. It was really cute.
Speedie--
This may differ in different Counties and their laws. BUT---be careful
of the size of your shed, and also--if it may be considered a "Permanent Structure"--
and therefore taxed.
My shed is 8' x 12'--so---10sf--which was the limit --and my DH had to go through Hell
to prove to the inspectors that this shed could be disassembled and moved....
Therefore NOT a permanent structure. He submitted photos of the inside to prove it.
Just ask around and don't get suckered into this issue in YOUR County.
Check with your County--and the builder.
Gita
Best to acquire the information without alerting the county so the are not on the lookout for changes on your property. Have known folks who created problems for themselves by going directly to their county government.
You can try asking your Librarian how to find county regs online! If you can't find them yourself, online.
Oh wow, very good points that I hadn't thought of, thank you guys!! I will definitely start the searching, but I'm pretty sure that the shed is considered "portable" (for want of a better word), as normally they are built off-site and then delivered to the homeowner. The only reason we're not having it done that way is because there is no wide enough access for it, or the truck, to deliver it to the back yard. Heck, this company also offers a "transfer" service; they'll build you a shed, and then pick it up and haul it over to somewhere else for you if you want.
Meanwhile, I got one estimate on the fence already; it was the company that I expected to be the most expensive and WOW is the price reasonable!! About 2k less than I expected, Wheee!!!! Made a few more phone calls this morning (5... that's 'a few', right?), and am now awaiting return calls to get those estimate appointments set. Or, I may be able to get estimates right over the phone since I know just what I want, and have measurements.
...and the beat goes on.
Speedie, when I was looking to get estimates for our fence, I must have called at least 5-6 companies. But only two of them called me back. I don't understand how these companies stay in business.
This message was edited Jul 17, 2015 2:31 PM
Yeah, it's weird, huh? Out of the 5 I called, I've gotten 4 call-backs. Not too bad, I think. I had one of the appointments this morning, and the remaining 3 are between next Weds. and next Friday. Also got appointments with the concrete/excavating guy and a tree service. Rollin' rollin' rollin', rawhide!! =)
Ok, I FINALLY took pics of our refinished downstairs living area. Sorry for the delay, it's totally been all procrastination on taking the pics.
How beautiful, Jeff! I love everything, from the paint color to the white wood, recessed lighting, and your lovely kitty.
Oh that looks really nice, You did a great job.
Jeff----
Simple. Clean. Peaceful colors. My favorite tones....taupe and Earthy. .
Great job! I mean that!
Gita
Thanks!! It sure took a long time but it was worth it. Maybe I'll take a pic of our front door and garage door tomorrow. They are new too.
N I C E Jeff!!! Looks awesome!
Fantasic job! Bravo! So pretty, stylish and sharp!
A really beautiful job Jeff, it's so clean and tidy and yet very inviting looking; A+++!!! =D
Thanks! Darcy was the decider on the colors, I just put them on the wall =)
Smart!
Let your woman choose things like colors...makes for a happier life.
Those photos were worth waiting for. Wow! Sure turned out great, and agree with what others have said about colors and how relaxing. Beautiful job.
Had a customer make the comment at work the other day: "Happy Wife, Happy Life". Jeff is a very wise young man. =)
Haha, yes, a happier life indeed! It's tough though because we both have the complete opposite taste in colors. She likes very conservative colors and I tend to be more interested in brighter, bolder colors.
Jeff--
You can satisfy your taste for brighter colors by accessorizing
with bright, pretty colored nick-knacks and flowers. Mementos from trips...
Maybe a nice colorful Throw or cushions on the couch?
BUT...BUT....The walls are all bare!!! Can't have that!!!!
Time to start collecting interesting artworks, sculptures or paintings
to hang on the walls. That adds a lot of personality!
Thrift Shops are full of beautiful, framed artworks. Just go looking--
and you may find a couple that will hit your fancy!
OK! I am off my soap box.....G.
Must feel good to come to a finished state in your project Jeff. All the elements are there (couch, TV, freshly painted, outlets, trim, office...) and details can take their sweet time or no, like having the 'bones ' of a garden well in hand , then the beds can evolve as tastes and time allow. I see why Darcy lets you garden as you can indulge your penchant for bright bold colors out there without needing to do that inside, too.!
Compatible/incompatible always a challenge for living in same space....Wayne and I are night and day on many things and after 33 years 'together' it is still amazing that each of us 'ends up at the same place' having taken such different routes to get there!
Quick kitty comment: It is almost uncany how some cats can 'photoshop' themsevles in to every pic even though they are not visible in the shot prior to shutter click? Stealthy and publicity hogs!
What's your special power?
wait, I think I see a ding in the wall, and scratch on the doorframe....
GIta you must have better thrift shops than me, for art! What I see here is pretty bad.