The Home Ownership Thread

[sugarbutch]



No images of huge glass daggars dancing in your head?

One other dumb question for anyone inclined to opine:  regular or epoxy grout?  white or gray?

I'm leaning towards epoxy and white.  Especially white for the subway tile walls.  But I like 1" hexagon floors with gray grout.  Or maybe it's just dirty old cement grout I've taken a shine to.

OK, another dumb question:  recessed toilet paper roll, like the old bathroom had, or regular one screwed into the wall?

The window in one of our bedrooms is about that high off the floor. We got new windows, and it's standard glass, so I guess no is the answer.

For the bog roll, it seems like a fair few brands of paper are too big for those recessed holders.

 

[SeaJen]

I don't see anything particular about those windows that is really worth restoration, to be honest. I would go with replacement.
Knots will bleed through wood paneling in a bathroom, regardless of the quantity and quality of the primer applied. But if you really want wood, make sure that all sides and edges are primed, even the back side against the wall, to try and keep the moisture at bay as long as possible....knots will still bleed through eventually ,though.

 

[jbarwick]

Our old recessed TP holders only work with small rolls. We bought a big pack at Sam's Club before we knew this so we had to use a partial roll before it would fit.

 

[emptym]

Good point about large rolls not fitting. Fwiw, we pretty much just use Costco tp.

Thanks for the point about knots bleeding, SeaJen. If I understood correctly, you mean that moisture would penetrate the wood paneling through knots? If so, that'd be another pro for tile. I looked around Google images and now think tile wainscoting looks pretty good, so we'll probably go with that.

Re. windows, I found a company that seems like it laminates new glass to old glass to make the new more sound proof, safe, and perhaps insulating:

http://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/#!wc7-noise-reduction-glass/c1oig

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

For wood in a bathroom use cedar or cypress. Clear grain no knots.

 

[sugarbutch]

Careful with the advice from SG. He will lead you down the path to wood fetishism.

 

[sinnedk]

sf dudes,

what did you do for home automation? anything that is a MUST in your opinion? i am a home owner for almost 2 years and haven't done much of that. what item made the difference of night and day for you?

 

[Ataturk]

Programmable thermostats. Occupancy sensor light switch for the kitchen, motion detectors for the outside lights. Timers on fans in the bathrooms, dimmer switches and remote fan speed controls. Do those count?

As far as, like, internet connected coffee makers? None for me so far.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

I'm similar to Turk, nothing beyond that.

 

[Numbernine]

I have a floor furnace

 

[sugarbutch]

If you like gadgets and enjoy them for their own sake, by all means, automate your home. Except for lights, unless you have some specific problem you're trying to solve, it's pretty useless IMO. I have connected t'stats, lights, cameras, door lock, etc. I didn't even pay for them, and I still think it's probably not worth the money.

 

[lordsuperb]



If you like gadgets and enjoy them for their own sake, by all means, automate your home. Except for lights, unless you have some specific problem you're trying to solve, it's pretty useless IMO. I have connected t'stats, lights, cameras, door lock, etc. I didn't even pay for them, and I still think it's probably not worth the money.

Too much work. Condos are better......

 

[brokencycle]

Too much work. Condos are better......

What?

 

[idfnl]



Too much work. Condos are better......

Pfff... with those condo fee mafias? No thanks.

 

[lordsuperb]



Pfff... with those condo fee mafias? No thanks.

I guess I got lucky. Condo fees $271 including all utilities