The House Resto Thread (1976 model)

[coronet340]

Well since I am dumping all my (my being the wife and I's) capital into a house instead of a car, I figured I would share. As much as I'd love to be putting my time, effort, and money into The 'Net, I'd much rather be getting the house ready to go back on the market in April. If all goes well.

More or less this is an effort to rid ourselves of having a mortgage for the next 20-30 years and actually doing things we enjoy like to fixing up a Mopar or nine.

Anyways - this is our first family home so it an awesome family project. We closed a little over a week ago. It has been quite enjoyable so far. And the trips to home improvement store daily with my son have been some great father/son time.

We are trying to repurpose most of the house - the lady we got it from lived there for 26 years. She didn't some mods here and there but the last few years seem like they had more duct tape or bondo than upgrades. Overall the house has good bones and is rust free. Needs pretty much all the updating a house this age needs. New flooring, popcorn scraping, ditching most of the wood paneling, kitchen/bathroom remodels, etc.

The day we got the keys - not our moving truck


After a little power washing


Almost ready for the sod


(I'm not lazy - the moving truck was in my way most of the week)


What's with the fence??? I'm starting to feel like Aaron Hernandez




Hammer time!


Much better - but not done


Best part of the house - too bad it wasn't fully stocked!!


Major body work to be done here....




I am in the market for an '89 or older Ram. Preferably with a V8, manual transmission, and 2-wheel drive. On the cheap as is will be a work truck.


The helper/waterboy



So now everyone knows my excuse on letting that poor car sit. I am still tracking parts/getting things here and there. The house just takes precedence. The good news is the garage is a way bigger than I am used to and even has an area for tool storage.

(Admins, if this thread is an issue, just take it down. No worries)

 

[Dennis H]

I like the place.

 

[kiwigtx]

Congrats on your purchase....looks like you're off to a flying start with the renovation. :headbang:
My wife has given me the hurry up to get on with some reno's at our place, so I feel your pain (or joy) :grin:

Maybe these guys can be an inspiration;

 

[moparcrazy]

Very cool coronet340 keep us updated...

 

[coronet340]

Congrats on your purchase....looks like you're off to a flying start with the renovation. :headbang:
My wife has given me the hurry up to get on with some reno's at our place, so I feel your pain (or joy) :grin:

Maybe these guys can be an inspiration;

View attachment 260256

Mostly joy. Who doesn't love buying tools everyday!? haha

Those guys creep me out - that have some weird twin vibe thing going on.

She does some pretty good work and she repurposes quite a bit. Which we are trying to do.

 

[Richard Cranium]

My house was also built in 1976 & we went through every room in the house. It's a lot of time, work and money, but also very satisfying. Keep us up to date with before & after pictures.

 

[kiwigtx]

Sounds like your wife is definitely a "keeper" Coronet. :headbang:

 

[coronet340]

My house was also built in 1976 & we went through every room in the house. It's a lot of time, work and money, but also very satisfying. Keep us up to date with before & after pictures.

Will do. We are hoping to do 95% of the work to keep the cost down. But it brings the satisfaction levels up.

The best part of a 1976 house is all the asbestos possibilities.

- - - Updated - - -

Sounds like your wife is definitely a "keeper" Coronet. :headbang:

No joke. She has been doing work with my nail bar on some cheesy paneling that was "installed"

 

[coronet340]

Sod!

My pops and I got the yard put down Tuesday. That was exhausting, but man it looks like a different house. :hello2::hello2::hello2:

The neighbors are really enjoying all the free equity. haha.

I posted the first pic in original post - but the side by side comparison makes the back pain go away!

It still needs some paint, we have a few plants to put down and some retaining walls/edging to do, but for the most part I can focus on the interior now.

Before


After






Moved the pathway over


Guard dog on break.

 

[Richard Cranium]

The best part of a 1976 house is all the asbestos possibilities.

The worst you should have is in Formica countertops & Linoleum style flooring. The fear mongers would have you believe that if you inhale 1 microscopic asbestos fiber, you'll be dead of lung cancer next year, but............

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/a...-politicians-grossly-exaggerated-dangers.html

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infsisters/infasbestos.html

 

[JoeyD1968runner]

In regard to the "a" word the best thing to do is keep things damp "if" possible. Its the dust that gets ya. If you going to make dust get a good mask and wear it!! www.joejengabe.blogspot.com this is my fire rehab, now time for the car.!!
Good luck, Pm me if you have some questions, I've done it all electrical,Plumbing,Heating,Cooling.
Keep up the good work! One suggestion which I see you are already doing. Have a simple rewarding job mixed with a laborious messy job.(the grass was a great "looking & finished!!") thing to keep spirits up.
Good luck,Joey D

 

[coronet340]

The worst you should have is in Formica countertops & Linoleum style flooring. The fear mongers would have you believe that if you inhale 1 microscopic asbestos fiber, you'll be dead of lung cancer next year, but............

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/a...-politicians-grossly-exaggerated-dangers.html

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infsisters/infasbestos.html

Trust me, I know. It's a particulate - a decent filter and wetting it should mitigate all that crap when scraping the ceilings. We hare having a sample tested though for my wive's piece of mind since we have a toddler running around. $40 for the test. It'll pretty much just change how much I prep before I start letting it fall.

All the wicked crap I've done to my body, I doubt a little asbestos would be the deciding factor.

- - - Updated - - -

In regard to the "a" word the best thing to do is keep things damp "if" possible. Its the dust that gets ya. If you going to make dust get a good mask and wear it!! www.joejengabe.blogspot.com this is my fire rehab, now time for the car.!!
Good luck, Pm me if you have some questions, I've done it all electrical,Plumbing,Heating,Cooling.
Keep up the good work! One suggestion which I see you are already doing. Have a simple rewarding job mixed with a laborious messy job.(the grass was a great "looking & finished!!") thing to keep spirits up.
Good luck,Joey D

Thanks Joey. You are correct - after two weeks of working on the yard the grass was a big win! Every time I got frustrated I just chopped down a tree or overgrown bush.

The "a" I have soaked. It's mud by the time it hits the plastic on the floor. Even after a 12x12 room there is no dust flying around. And I have a half face 3M with particulate cartridges.

 

[Budnicks]

Bicentennial build refurbished...LOL

Front yard looks far better, much more curb appeal...
I'll bet your neighbors are loving that fact...

good luck, tell the wife "you go girl !!", seems like she's a good one

Looks good so far

Just remember in real-estate it's location, location, location
so don't go crazy with upgrades above the level your market can bare, best comps in the area...
{you can still make it nice, clean & livable, just don't go too crazy if your planning on sell fast}
Unless of course your planning on living there for a while {5 years}, reap the benefits or
to maybe avoid the capitol gains taxes/hit or having to reinvest the profits immediately or
pay ubber taxes on them too...

Money is well spent in curb appeal {great start},
then the bathrooms & kitchen, also closet space, most women love them areas...

HVAC & appliances like the fridge, dishwasher & stove, make sure to get nice ones,
that's not a place to skimp IMO...

Then any areas of energy savings stuff, roof, insulation {never hurts to do allot},
dual pane windows, properly working sliding doors, nice flooring,
new lighting fixtures & ceiling fans everywhere, clean fireplace, door & mantel,
nice tasteful curtains/window covering {plantation blinds are nice clean touch},
base & door moldings, even a little crown molding here & there for a touch of class etc.

I'd worry about the garage, fences & back yard last, but they are important especially for families with small children & dogs/animals too...

You will generally get all that expenditures back, as long as you don't go crazy...
Especially if you got/bought it right...
Think simple, open, clean & tasteful, especially for resale...

my $0.02 cents

keep up the good work

 

[Cranky]

My money pit was also built in 76. Actually watched it go up when we built my sister's house just down the road a bit. It was a rent house since 77 and was built on an undeveloped lot with no garage which was fine with me but it took 45 loads of dirt to bring up the 1/2 acre lot enough to not be used as a drainage pool for the neighbor. Bought it in 86, planted trees, built a 1500 sq ft shop and have been here since but wish I had built a house from scratch as I think it would have been easier lol. Renoed it in 2003 and it needs some other work now but I'm ready to move away from the city if only I could convince the wife. Would like to find 20 acres with a nice size metallic building and just build living quarters inside. Wife says that's cool but closer in. Only want to go about 90 miles out.....geez lol. Your place is really looking good but next time, maybe you should power wash everything after the sod work etc.

 

[coronet340]

Front yard looks far better, much more curb appeal...
I'll bet your neighbors are loving that fact...

good luck, tell the wife "you go girl !!", seems like she's a good one

Looks good so far

Just remember in real-estate it's location, location, location
so don't go crazy with upgrades above the level your market can bare, best comps in the area...
{you can still make it nice, clean & livable, just don't go too crazy if your planning on sell fast}
Unless of course your planning on living there for a while {5 years}, reap the benefits or
to maybe avoid the capitol gains taxes/hit or having to reinvest the profits immediately or
pay ubber taxes on them too...

Money is well spent in curb appeal {great start},
then the bathrooms & kitchen, also closet space, most women love them areas...

HVAC & appliances like the fridge, dishwasher & stove, make sure to get nice ones,
that's not a place to skimp IMO...

Then any areas of energy savings stuff, roof, insulation {never hurts to do allot},
dual pane windows, properly working sliding doors, nice flooring,
new lighting fixtures & ceiling fans everywhere, clean fireplace, door & mantel,
nice tasteful curtains/window covering {plantation blinds are nice clean touch},
base & door moldings, even a little crown molding here & there for a touch of class etc.

I'd worry about the garage, fences & back yard last, but they are important especially for families with small children & dogs/animals too...

You will generally get all that expenditures back, as long as you don't go crazy...
Especially if you got/bought it right...
Think simple, open, clean & tasteful, especially for resale...

my $0.02 cents

keep up the good work

Hey Bud, we are on the same page with all that. We are defiantly making it a point to not overbuild of the 'hood. The location couldn't be better. All great schools, USAA headquarters is right down the road, medical center, UTSA, etc. All we are really doing is getting it caught up with everyone else. Our yard looks like all the others now. We bought the worst house in the neighborhood as far as upkeep. But the square footage is right in the middle - the bigger houses being about 2250 compared to our 1950. Also, we are keeping everything every neutral - earth tones n such. Some granite here and there.

The front yard pretty much reflects the entire house. 3 layers of wall paper, formica, popcorn, and overall lack of upkeep. If she didn't have to replace it, she didn't. But the dishwasher, a/c, and roof are newer which is a major $$$ saver for us. All the trees outback looked like bushes and all the bushes looked like trees.

- - - Updated - - -

Your place is really looking good but next time, maybe you should power wash everything after the sod work etc.

haha! Trust me, I wanted to. But after the forth or fifth time of almost busting my *** on the slick algae buildup I decided the time was right. It was like a skating rink anytime if even got a little wet. Even the city part was slick, figured I didn't need a lawsuit either.

 

[kiwigtx]

You guys are doing a fabulous job on the property so far...keep it up. :headbang:

 

[sundevil64]

looks like the spicewood or great hills area?

 

[coronet340]

looks like the spicewood or great hills area?

Further south. San Antonio.

 

[coronet340]

The Garage

It took an entire day a the better half of a 12 pack but I got the garage situated. It was a dumping ground when we were moving stuff over and it needed a good scrubbing. It still needs a few coats of paint but overall I'm happy with it.

The nook in the back is awesome!! It frees up a spot in the garage since I fit my roll away, air comp, and chest freezer back there. And a few odds and ends.

After the long day


More rain in Texas - It started when the car was halfway up the ramp.


Delivered to her new home, next to my son's ride.


Found this way up in a back shelf. It's from 1945. Pretty awesome.




Got the bar sink working and installed a really good under-sink filter.

 

[coronet340]

Been getting a few things done around the house.

The kitchen when we moved in. Note: We'll be installing a new sink and granite later so the wood bar n such is temporary.




Sizing up the wall - the wife took a pic just incase the doctors needed a before photo (o' ye of little faith)


10 Chuck Norris karate chops and 2 roundhouse kicks later.





The cooktop swap- the old one had one burner that worked and it was either off or on 9.



Apparently I installed it wrong because it made my kitchen upside down.


The boy helping me remove the junk blinds.


A little spray happy with the paint gun.


The new 0.0000242 horsepower mower.