Home ownership
Maybe I missed a thread similar to this, but that's ok. I have been in my home for 10 years now, and there are some things I wasn't prepared for or aware of as a homeowner. I am not scared to admit them if it helps someone else, and please share any stories you have about things you didn't know when owning a home for the first time, whether they be small or large, costly or not.
I will start with not knowing about changing the furnace filter until the a/c stopped working and I had to spend $300 on a new blower motor. Also, I knew nothing of cleaning my gutters, until one became clogged, held water, froze, and had the weight pull it down. Replacing the gutters was another $1000. I'm sure I'll think of other things but those are the 2 that stand out the most at the moment.
ITT we talk about home ownership, and things that aren't always obvious but need to be done to save on maintenance and repairs.
Kitchen cabinet question - our house was built in 1978, remodeled in early 2000’s, and now the kitchen cabinets are starting to peel off in these plastic sheet type things.
What is this stuff and how can I replace it/fix it? Some drawers seem to have regular paint on them and not the plastic sheeting stuff but the cabinets are plastic sheeting. Looking under it, the cabinet doors don’t appear to be solid wood but more of a pressed substance. Not particle board but not solid wood, either.
I’m guessing the people who did the remodel skimped a little to save money but now things are starting to not look quite right. Still looks nice enough but the writing is on the wall that we’ll need to do something to repair them in the next year or two.
Kitchen cabinet question - our house was built in 1978, remodeled in early 2000’s, and now the kitchen cabinets are starting to peel off in these plastic sheet type things.
What is this stuff and how can I replace it/fix it? Some drawers seem to have regular paint on them and not the plastic sheeting stuff but the cabinets are plastic sheeting. Looking under it, the cabinet doors don’t appear to be solid wood but more of a pressed substance. Not particle board but not solid wood, either.
I’m gues
sounds like low grade laminate cabinets after twenty years
probably time to replace
I had to google laminate cabinet doors and the first thing that came up were some white ones from Home Depot that look a lot like ours so I’m guessing you’re right.
I didn’t even know that was a thing so thank you for the info!
👍
You can re-glue the laminate if you're careful, but I wouldn't bother if you plan to stay there more than another year. You can also re-door, but if the doors are laminate, the boxes are probably press-board, so you might want to replace them too, before the medium-density fiberboard starts becoming low density.
To check for press-board check around the base of the sink cabinet. That's the most likely place to have had water and that stuff will puff out and bubble if it's gotten wet. Press-board soaks up water like a sponge.
Looking for some suggestions for a metal gate for my front Foyer.
What 'Style' of design would be good?
I am thinking maybe something like an 'Art's and Crafts' style or perhaps 'Gothic' style.
Gangnam style.
Saw garick posted and thought for sure he’d come with portcullis
Looking for some suggestions for a metal gate for my front Foyer.
What 'Style' of design would be good?
I am thinking maybe something like an 'Art's and Crafts' style or perhaps 'Gothic' style.
one attempt to describe design with words
were you to do me one kind favor
please read aloud the following in your own voice
tend to agree with Dr. Meh your house is more directly inspired by style from the Med
that light on the side has an artsy-craftish touch
but the easiest thing to replace shouldn't drive the bus
do you plan on keeping the metal screen in the opening above?
are there any other similar or unique elements that you love?
say the screen comes back clean
see how it's constructed from a frame of thin square rods with mesh between?
hypothetically engage your mental photoshopability
lasso and copy the bottom horizontal with end finials
rotate 90* and slightly increase scale to create a vertical element of your new gate
first guess for placement hinges upon wall side attachment
but could also be duplicated at the latch or wherever else you lock it
now imagine the part that swings is framed in similar square ways side and bottom
members a bit bigger than your current screen because they have to support lateral movement
with the next thought attention turns to the form of the top
one option acknowledges arched windows with a singular curve
another shrinks and repeats roof tile motifs
Not the specific design, but stylistically.
no matter how thick your goth high school phase
probably not appropriate decoration in a gated community unless regularly conducting funeral rites
That's what I am worried about.
is that already bought or a random shopping thought in the basket?
I am still in the design concept phase... just thinking outlook.
A quick cell phone composite... I would complete the bottom of the gate obviously.
you have demonstrated more than ample ability to manipulate pixels
why not give it a try on your own facade and let us react
I love the gate, but it doesn't go with the house at all.
Rebuild house, ldo.
There is probably too much American Gothic embedded in me, but I would almost have to have similar, if not the same, patterns in the gate and the screen even if it meant replacing the screen.
And allow me to reveal my ignorance further: What is the purpose of that screen?
I was thinking more:
We could even redo the garage door to match!
