The Home Ownership Thread

[Connemara]

There are some dark stains on the hardwood floors in the dining room. I don't know why it took me so long to think about it, but they are probably from dog/cat piss. I think this also explains the musty smell when you walk in, although I chalked that up to the home being uninhabited for some time.

We will be sanding and refinishing the floors and I'll treat with hydrogen peroxide beforehand. Hopefully the stains come out and the smell is contained. This better work because I do not have brand new floors in the budget.

 

[Piobaire]



There are some dark stains on the hardwood floors in the dining room. I don't know why it took me so long to think about it, but they are probably from dog/cat piss. I think this also explains the musty smell when you walk in, although I chalked that up to the home being uninhabited for some time.

We will be sanding and refinishing the floors and I'll treat with hydrogen peroxide beforehand. Hopefully the stains come out and the smell is contained. This better work because I do not have brand new floors in the budget.

Stains left from the decomposing body they found in the house.

 

[Ataturk]

Urine stains are tricky. Usually it's just better to pee on the rest of the floor until it matches.

 

[jbarwick]

Has anyone change a light socket? If so, are there any surprises other than the usual wires? The pull cord outlet in our pantry is acting up (55 years old) so I figure it could be changed. I think the worst part will be working in the small space with my arms raised while I change it.

As for the piss, I've seen magic happen when sanding the floors and I have also seen someone aggressively go after a stain creating a noticeable divot area where the stain was. I guess it also depends on if the stain was created due to direct sitting of the pee vs. a wet rug that held the pee as it will not have gone as deep.

 

[Piobaire]

If it's that old I'd check and make sure it's not the old "knob and tube" style wiring and completely compatible.

 

[jbarwick]

If it's that old I'd check and make sure it's not the old "knob and tube" style wiring and completely compatible.

Good point. We know it is not knob and tube due to other wiring in the house. At some point we think it went from cloth coated wire to the more modern plastic like covering but I am not sure when. When the more updated wiring we run, they did not add grounds so it is still old.

 

[Numbernine]

Has anyone change a light socket? If so, are there any surprises other than the usual wires? The pull cord outlet in our pantry is acting up (55 years old) so I figure it could be changed. I think the worst part will be working in the small space with my arms raised while I change it.

Wire is wire unless your unlucky enough to have aluminum . Its the condition of the insulator thats of major concern. It sounds like you should have a reputable electrician have a look at the house and let you know whats what. The wiring systems in older homes were fine but they were designed for much less usage than they are subjected to today. As to the light socket its just two wires

 

[otc]



If it's that old I'd check and make sure it's not the old "knob and tube" style wiring and completely compatible.

How would a 55 year old house have knob and tube?

I know you are getting old and all...but that's like...1960. At that point, grounded circuits are required in most areas, so what little bit of knob and tube installation that was going on post-war became pretty much impossible.

 

[Numbernine]

Quote:
I don't know the dates .My house is 70 years old in an incorporated area of California and it is knob and tube. If patch in work has been done it would still be a good idea to have sparky look at it

 

[Piobaire]



How would a 55 year old house have knob and tube?

I know you are getting old and all...but that's like...1960. At that point, grounded circuits are required in most areas, so what little bit of knob and tube installation that was going on post-war became pretty much impossible.

Not up on building codes and their history just know lots of folks have ran into that stuff with older houses.

 

[otc]

I guess...when I think of "older", I think pre-war.

1960s houses (or even 50s) aren't all that different from today. Much of the development boom in the last generation has been about how to build mcmansions cheaply, not how to do things differently or better.

 

[jbarwick]

Ours is from 1959 and most people that have worked on the house comment on the build quality. I was just worried there could be something other than wires hanging up there.

 

[Numbernine]

Ours is from 1959 and most people that have worked on the house comment on the build quality. I was just worried there could be something other than wires hanging up there.

Nope if its old ceramic pull chain type the switch is self contained just two wires and two screws

 

[RedLantern]

Our HELOC funded so I"m getting pretty excited for our kitchen remodel! Going to switch from a range to a double wall oven/cooktop combo. Going to bring in a propane line for the cooktop as our house has no NG and it's like 7k just to get NG to the house. Really excited for things like the new dishwasher and hot water dispenser. We might have to go custom for the cabinets we want, but at least we are planning on getting laminate countertops (we're going for a vintage look), and I just got a screaming deal on the dishwasher and wall oven (we already have a fridge).

 

[mike1445]

Any of you guys have pot fillers? FIL suggested it last minute when we renovated our kitchen and I'll be damned if it isnt a nice little amenity. Wife and I both use it all the time.