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The Home Ownership Thread - Page 27

post #391 of 899
1/23/13 at 6:18pm
The basement is your chance to do something funky!

My parents had some waterproofing/sump work done that involved carving a trench all around the perimeter of the basement. it was no big deal to fill it back in with concrete in the half with concrete floors, but the more finished side required new tiles since there was no close match (and they were possibly asbestos too..)
They went with a checkerboard in some funky-assed colors and it looks pretty cool. Can't get away with that anywhere else...but in a basement, you have more leeway depending on how it gets used.
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post #392 of 899
1/23/13 at 6:39pm
Stark and modrrn is my departure, it will be my tchotchke and 'fun' free zone. I hope to have one half dedicated to a leather top desk, settee, humidor, ect. No electronics, just s place to chill out. The other half is already a 'theatre' area, it just needs to be better. So I plan to trash the current furniture, build a few case goods, then put in some worthwhile furniture.
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post #393 of 899
1/23/13 at 6:39pm
Double post.
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post #394 of 899
1/23/13 at 8:01pm
Thread Starter 
I'm sure you know this but one thing tile is not great for is hifi or theater acoustics. You'll need to do some attenuation.
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post #395 of 899
1/24/13 at 5:14am
Long ways away, but thank you. I'm unfamiliar with acoustics.
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post #396 of 899
1/24/13 at 5:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gnatty8 View Post

Gas is not at all time lows. It is low, but I'd call it more a 10 year low if anything. Further, gas was even lower last year when the winter was mild since there was so much supply, inventories were at record highs, and gas producers had nowhere to put the gas. Couple that with a large chunk of supply being produced as a byproduct of liquids, and gas prices had a 1 handle per MM Btu at one point last year. That said, many LDCs may have hedged their supply through futures/forwards/swaps, and depending on their programs, what you pay now is likely a weighted average price of ther various hedges, some of which may have been put on two years or more ago. Depending on where you live, gas heat has GOT to be cheaper than electric since you are paying your local electric company to run gas through their plants at about 35% to 40% thermal efficiency only to lose another 6% to losses when they deliver it to you from their assets. If you live in an area where your local power company has a diversified portfolio, you will likely be getting power at a weighted average cost of whatever their fuel mix is. Of course, power companies may hedge their input costs as well, so same situation as the gas company. At the end of the day, over the next 5 years, I would expect your average heating costs to be lower from gas than electricity no question.

I'm in Virginia. We're not having an especially cold winter and I was shocked at my last electric bill. I run the heat pump above 30 deg, furnace below. I changed it to 38 deg and will see if it helps.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas View Post

I'm sure you know this but one thing tile is not great for is hifi or theater acoustics. You'll need to do some attenuation.

That's an understatement. Its not just music and theater, even talking to people echos like hell. Its that sound you get walking thru an empty house.
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post #397 of 899
1/24/13 at 5:54am
Heat pumps become less efficient the greater the delta between actual outdoor temperature and desired indoor temperature. This will vary a bit depending on whether the pump is air or ground source but the principle is the same.
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post #398 of 899
1/24/13 at 6:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas View Post

I'm sure you know this but one thing tile is not great for is hifi or theater acoustics. You'll need to do some attenuation.

Found a place that does pre-made fabric covered acoustic panels that hang on z-clips. Thanks for the suggestion.
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post #399 of 899
1/24/13 at 6:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba View Post

Found a place that does pre-made fabric covered acoustic panels that hang on z-clips. Thanks for the suggestion.

That may help, but a tile floor is probably second only to glass for the worst acoustics. You should consider carpets as well to buffer it.
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post #400 of 899
1/24/13 at 6:29am
I plan to do a rug.
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post #401 of 899
1/24/13 at 10:00am
SG keep doing what your doing, I appreciate seeing your progress.

Douglas, do you have pictures of your place?
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post #402 of 899
1/24/13 at 10:54am
CD0DEBAB-3238-4AC9-86FE-E71939CD3260-7273-0000087378F83DE0.jpg

10 to go.
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post #403 of 899
1/24/13 at 11:24am
Thread Starter 
BrianVarick, there are some photos of my place in this thread but interior shots are in the cribs thread.
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post #404 of 899
1/24/13 at 1:50pm
998A440C-AD8F-4234-B676-672395ABE6BA-7273-00000877140E4BB8.jpg

I don't plan to show every bit of progress, but thought you guys might like to see some repetition, definitely gives a better feel for the direction.

Not sure why my iPhone makes everything so yellow, these are nice and brown in person. The last part on the bottom is still unfinished and not permanently installed.
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post #405 of 899
1/25/13 at 8:57am
wait, aren't you rounding off the leading edges of the steps?

(or, in DT parlance - ew, sharp corners)
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