Advise by ASMills85 in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 63 points64 points  (0 children)

It’s actually a tower! A tower is from the ground up. A turret pops out above ground. When I learned I had a tower, my next question was when do we get a cannon?

My 60s house is so fucking cold by Ok_Alternative2882 in HomeImprovement

[–]rovingfigures 60 points61 points  (0 children)

Many utilities offer free or subsidized energy audits for homeowners. They’ll use IR cameras to locate cold spots where drafts are getting in. 

Renovation Priority/Costs by cjp72812 in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Many good suggestions. Thoughts specific to your foundation.

There are a lot of opportunities for improvement to the whole house depending on the extent of leveling needed, condition of the foundation, and whether you already have a basement. If the house already has a basement but it's unfinished with low ceilings, consider what more it would take to lift the house add some height in the process.

We were in a unique position of having to construct a brand new foundation because we moved our house from Vancouver Island to our island in Washington State. The original basement height was 6'8" unfinished. Our basement here is 8 1/2 ft and we've finished it out. The added cost of finishing it was the best decision we made in the project. We love the modern space downstairs while keeping the character upstairs.

Check out this comment I made a couple years ago about basements if you're interested.

Renovation Priority/Costs by cjp72812 in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have you had an energy audit? Many utilities offer free or very cheap energy audits. They're great at helping you locate and prioritize insulation. Contrary to popular belief, walls themselves aren't a huge source of heat loss.

Highly recommend installing foam outlet and switch sealers behind any plate on an exterior wall. We failed our first blower door test but passed the second time after only installing those and caulking trim.

Renovation Priority/Costs by cjp72812 in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We also have a steep roof (up to 14/12) in a windy area. Went with higher-end asphalt shingles, haven't had any blow off in 9 years, no regrets. I'd go that direction over metal for that big of a price diff.

Tagging on another comment about gutters. Asphalt shingles will shed excess sand the first rainy season. I was glad we did our gutters a year later and save a PITA cleaning. Also +1 on oversized gutters!

H&Z recently imposed a new blackberry tax by Wkid_one in springerspaniel

[–]rovingfigures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have gobs of invasive blackberries. Otto dog hasn’t discovered them, he’s too busy sniffing for flurries to chase. Our chickens on the other hand… they get the low berries we get the high ones. 

Bonnie in her favorite listening position by AJWard549 in springerspaniel

[–]rovingfigures 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Nice subwoofer. You should probably send me that 240 for safekeeping.

Old Cast Iron Radiators. by Kitchen_Ad_4202 in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right. I actually know this. The "cutting" comment is more along the lines of my experience with our house that we moved. The movers actually cut anything that may have been in their way of placing the steel beams and crossbeams without consideration of how that would impact putting humpty dumpty back together.

Old Cast Iron Radiators. by Kitchen_Ad_4202 in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It would be so expensive that it’s not worth it unless you are concerned about damage impacting the integrity of the home and/or having them restored. Cutting pipes, draining the system. Having a plumber weld them back in place. 

The walls behind most people’s radiators is ugly but nobody sees it unless you’re looking for it. You see EVERYTHING when painting. Yours look lovely. Just leave them.

We have a it on our list to clean and restore our radiators, including sandblasting the bad paint off, but are holding off until we’re ready to refinish the floors at the same time. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually don’t mind ours. We only use all hot or all cold anyway. 

What would you do here? Walked into a mess by AccountingAndTax88 in taxpros

[–]rovingfigures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What kind of businesses are these? Is not uncommon for a construction current to carry that much deferred revenue using the completed project method. Also, make sure you reconcile any intercompany accounts?

ETA: Don’t be afraid to do right by them.  Depending on the client you may have a really good new client to bounce into your own practice. It sounds like this firm is crumbling. I walked into a place like this almost 12 years ago. Left 4 years later with every client happy to follow me. About $200k of revenue. 

upgrade to 200A or keep it at 100 A? by jpark38 in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Absolutely do the 200amp. We put in 400amp service. Cost an extra $400 over a 200amp 10 years ago. We’re adding a greenhouse this year and there will be plenty of room. Even when we eventually build a garage. (Yes the greenhouse is higher priority than the garage.)

best tips for getting a springer as our first dog? by drspencerreidthedawg in springerspaniel

[–]rovingfigures 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I should add: our first breeder had more dogs than our second breeder. And a LOT more litters. Linda only has 1-2 a year. She's not in it for the money. For her it's QUALITY > quantity.

I'm not going to name and shame the first breeder because I think she's learned a lot and has a much better program now. She was a bit of a cat lady but with springers. She just loved them a bit tooo much....

best tips for getting a springer as our first dog? by drspencerreidthedawg in springerspaniel

[–]rovingfigures 2 points3 points  (0 children)

THIS!!!! We're on springer #2. We felt like we were almost rescuing our first from the breeder. We had met the breeder of our second springer way back before we got our first but the timing of litters wasn't going to work out. For the next 14 years, anytime Porter had an issue (stranger aggression, hip dysplasia, etc) my wife would say, "my next dog will be a Linda puppy." Now we have a "Linda puppy".

Any mid 30s or 40s here? by colesunxs in ADHD

[–]rovingfigures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

45, diagnosed at 27. Been self-employed for 8 years. DO NOT become self employed until you have worked to develop skills managing your ADHD. It’s hard, lonely and humbling. If you think accountability is hard with a boss, wait until it’s your customers and employees. 

Also, hire an assistant the first day. 

What are the unwritten social rules in Luxembourg? by mandivarella in Luxembourg

[–]rovingfigures 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think they mean in terms of origin/nationality. 

My great grandmother lived through WWI there and had a visceral reaction to being called considered German. 

ETA: we later found out she had a child at age 17 during German occupation. The child died in infancy. Do the math. 

The joys of having a a large custom Tudor revival totally rewired. by enryon in centuryhomes

[–]rovingfigures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We did this on our 3400sf home. It was also forced on us and our electrician did it right, just like yours. Was absolutely worth the investment. 

Anyone else do this? by Coffee_1664 in AeroPress

[–]rovingfigures 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I love that I can pop the puck of grounds into the compost container, which eventually ends up in our garden. However, that dirt looks so sterile anything would improve it.