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TM3 Home Owners Association
Seeing a lot of threads and posts about members buying / getting their own place.
As tuners at heart - I'm sure there are others that can't keep their home the way they purchased it. Personally - I just HAD to make it "my own", and I'm sure there are others out there too. So i thought it would be cool to collect all the thoughts and ideas into one post.
So we got the keys and 15 minutes after opening the door - we started demo. Tearing up tile and concrete, pulling off laminate and hardwood, linoleum and carpet. We also dropped a few walls and did a main floor laundry conversion.
The main floor and upper level is completely redone to our liking. Right down to new electrical outlets and light switches. The basement (soon to be Man Cave) was finished - but out-dated. I will tackle this (and the garage) once I move in LOL.
We decided to stray from the typical warm and cozy soft khaki and cream colors - and went with grey neutrals and dark floors.
Renovations have hit the one month mark now. And I'm still living at the in-laws until everything is complete. Been going to the site everyday after work - working like a psycho - 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week. We did hire contractors for the specialty jobs, but for the most part it's been myself and a few buddies.
Here's a few "Before and After pics"
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/02/u6e9ysah.jpg
We pulled off the carpeting, changed the spindles and posts and installed oak stairs and risers.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/02/tu3ysa6a.jpg
Main floor powder room got overhauled - new vanity, sink, hardware, toilet and mirror. And yes - that's wall paper.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/02/vuqaby5a.jpg
Got rid of this useless study room and re-converted it to a main floor laundry room.
More pics to come once finishing touches are complete. Changing the floor and wall colors means changing registers and window treatments.
Looking forward to comments, suggestions, questions and ideas. Hope to see pics of your homes and renovation remodels
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
I hear that, when we got our house we ripped all the carpet out (what carpet there was, not very much, one room, the hallway upstairs and the stairs), replaced it, painted everythiong, did most the of baseboards and all the nasty curtains and shit went. It was gross.
Personally I like what you've done but I would never have wood stairs. I have them for my basement and like it but not the upstairs ones, kids are forever tripping themselves on them and feel a little carpet can do wonders to break a fall and prevent a chin gash. yeesh! Seen it and its unplesant lol
I want to do more stuff but waiting on the fundage, I'm happy with most things now.
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Ive reno'd two condos now in the past 7 years. As much as I love doing renos and enjoying the money made, I need to divert my funds to more fun things for a while.
Place looks great in the pictures. Well done!!
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Thanks for the kind words
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FoXy
I hear that, when we got our house we ripped all the carpet out (what carpet there was, not very much, one room, the hallway upstairs and the stairs), replaced it, painted everythiong, did most the of baseboards and all the nasty curtains and shit went. It was gross.
Personally I like what you've done but I would never have wood stairs. I have them for my basement and like it but not the upstairs ones, kids are forever tripping themselves on them and feel a little carpet can do wonders to break a fall and prevent a chin gash. yeesh! Seen it and its unplesant lol
I want to do more stuff but waiting on the fundage, I'm happy with most things now.
Completely agree. The thought of the almost-20 year old sweaty feet stains grosses me out. So we pulled the carpets.
Problem is - I hate vaccuuming the stairs. And once I pulled the carpet off - it was a no brainer.
The kids will just have to slide down the banister so they dont trip on the steps LOL
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jsquared
Ive reno'd two condos now in the past 7 years. As much as I love doing renos and enjoying the money made, I need to divert my funds to more fun things for a while.
Place looks great in the pictures. Well done!!
Funny you mentioned the money made...the equity I gained off of my first home was what prompted me to sell and and start this new adventure.
6-figure equity gain in just under 5 years :wow
Reason I stopped tuning my car and decided to tune the house;
House Tuning : Pay $6,000 and reno your kitchen yourself - and make $20K in equity.
Car Tuning : Pay $5,000 for rims - and sell it on kijiji for $2000 after 1 season
I do miss playing with my cars though :(
But youre right - enjoy life, man. After these renos - I'm not touching a thing. Money goes to family-fun stuff (like In-Car DVD players and shit LOL)
I'm trying to resist contacting my real estate agent to do an evaluation on the new house (before I clutter it all up) - as I dont think my body can take much more of this, let alone all over again. But if I hear another 6-figure gain.... (which apparently, is slightly possible because I got the house way under market value in pretty bad shape)
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FoXy
I hear that, when we got our house we ripped all the carpet out (what carpet there was, not very much, one room, the hallway upstairs and the stairs), replaced it, painted everythiong, did most the of baseboards and all the nasty curtains and shit went. It was gross.
Personally I like what you've done but I would never have wood stairs. I have them for my basement and like it but not the upstairs ones, kids are forever tripping themselves on them and feel a little carpet can do wonders to break a fall and prevent a chin gash. yeesh! Seen it and its unplesant lol
I want to do more stuff but waiting on the fundage, I'm happy with most things now.
I agree with you on on the steps, when we moved in our boards were in pretty rough shape and we carpeted the steps.
I kind of like, but that's probably because our house does not have any carpet other than the basement (rest is laminate and tiles). I wish the bedrooms have carpets, but the previous owners had a dog and two kids so I can see why they put laminate in :D
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Default User
Seeing a lot of threads and posts about members buying / getting their own place.
As tuners at heart - I'm sure there are others that can't keep their home the way they purchased it. Personally - I just HAD to make it "my own", and I'm sure there are others out there too. So i thought it would be cool to collect all the thoughts and ideas into one post.
i have nothing to add, but i must say the things you've done look great. everything's been done to taste, and nothing too "in your face" has been done.
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Being in the house rental business I can appreciate what you've done to your house. Lots things you can do to increase the value of it or in our case the rent you can charge as well. Its expensive, hard work and stressful but should make some good return on it should you move! :)
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
WOW!! I need to get my bathroom condo redone....anyone interested and need a job? =p
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Those are some solid updates. I need to put down some patio stones in the back and put up a backsplash. Any pro's work for beer? :chuckle
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ogata
WOW!! I need to get my bathroom condo redone....anyone interested and need a job? =p
condo's are a PITA. I helped my buddy do a condo last year. Property management had all these regulations about the service elavator and using power tools / table saws, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SilentJay
Those are some solid updates. I need to put down some patio stones in the back and put up a backsplash. Any pro's work for beer? :chuckle
Thanks - backsplash is pretty easy. My first backsplash job - i used youTube as a reference LOL
But patio stones are even easier - a good tip though is to prep the area properly - about 2-3 weeks in advance, and get a good weed barrier.
Sloping the grade is the hardest part.
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Default User
condo's are a PITA. I helped my buddy do a condo last year. Property management had all these regulations about the service elavator and using power tools / table saws, etc.
Thanks - backsplash is pretty easy. My first backsplash job - i used youTube as a reference LOL
But patio stones are even easier - a good tip though is to prep the area properly - about 2-3 weeks in advance, and get a good weed barrier.
Sloping the grade is the hardest part.
WHAT?! Patio stones easy? Maybe my problem is that the stones I used weigh about 80lbs a piece.
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
m_bisson
WHAT?! Patio stones easy? Maybe my problem is that the stones I used weigh about 80lbs a piece.
Landscaper checking in calling you weak sauce.
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
I just don't relish the thought of having to dig up the yard, with all that heavy arse clay...
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
How would you feel about saving over $X,xxx of dollars though?
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hyperion
Landscaper checking in calling you weak sauce.
:chuckle
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SilentJay
I just don't relish the thought of having to dig up the yard, with all that heavy arse clay...
How would you feel about saving over $X,xxx of dollars though?
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Nice! Really like how you did the stairs and bathroom. Can't wait to see what you do to the kitchen and man cave...It's alot of work but worth it in many ways, including monetarily if you do most yourself. I'm in the process of renovating my condo. The unit is 23 years old and never had a friggen thing upgraded or done by previous owners, even the walls still had constructors primer lol. New paint, hardwood floors, tiles, mouldings, kitchen cabinets, appliances, bathroom, ceiling lights, switches/receptacles, closet doors, doors, etc. etc. Four months in and almost done. :-)
Your lucky though that you have a place to stay while your doing the renovations, I've had to live in my place while doing so and yes condo management can be a PITA.
I do all my power sawing out on the balcony :chuckle
_3
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Default User
How would you feel about saving over $X,xxx of dollars though?
I would love it but the gf is skeptical. We aren't even doing anything intricate... I don't mind laying the stones down myself but need help digging :/ any pros want some quick cash and some tm3 karma?
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Rent a Tiller at Home Depot.
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
house mods > car mods anyday.
if DIY just make sure you do a neat, professional looking quality job.
i've seen too many recently reno'd houses where the homeowner tried to it themselves and it looked like shit, and get butthurt when buyers aren't willing to pay the return they expected.
simple things like perfectly mitered/coped mouldings and casings, smooth wall patchwork and even paint with clean lines can make or break things.
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
I must say the job you did on the stairs looks amazing DU! I'm planning on doing the stairs as well - the previous owner pout in dark hardwood, but the stairs are a much lighter wood - almost beige. Did you sand/restain? I always thought it was a simple process of painting...but its looking more like a few days work of diy
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
We should totally get a group of TM3ers together who are willing to put in some labour at each others' houses
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Skip
I must say the job you did on the stairs looks amazing DU! I'm planning on doing the stairs as well - the previous owner pout in dark hardwood, but the stairs are a much lighter wood - almost beige. Did you sand/restain? I always thought it was a simple process of painting...but its looking more like a few days work of diy
It was a complete gut. The original build called for carpet on the stairs and after pulling it off - it was clear that 3-4 of them HAD to be replaced anyways.
I did stain the banister to match the steps though.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/06/8e3u9y7a.jpg
Also - to do a flawless stain job - you would have to remove the spindles and posts. Stain is pretty difficult, as application thickness / layers will show differently with every pass. So it's VERY hard to get a smooth consistent finish.
Not saying it can't be done - as I refinished the stairs at parents home. But I wasn't completely satisfied with the outcome.
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SilentJay
We should totally get a group of TM3ers together who are willing to put in some labour at each others' houses
+1
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
So I decided to update the enSuite in a day AND on a tight budget
Vinyl peel&stick tiles ($30/case)
Grouted (leftover from foyer job)
Stain the vanity ($15)
New toilet ($110)
New sink and faucet ($80)
Mouldings (leftover from flooring job)
Paint ($25)
Misc decorative pieces ($30)
Now - I was never a fan of the idea of "Peel & Stick" tiles - but I like the idea of them not being as hard and cold as ceramic/stone tile. Which means nice cozy, room-temp tiles when getting out of the shower. And with these ones specifically being "groutable" - they have the look AND feel of real ceramic tile. For the price - I thought I might as well try it. Worst case scenario - ill rip it out and re-do it again.
A reno job for about $300 and completed in a day and a half - not too shabby LOL
Before
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/10/dyqygebu.jpg
After
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/10/aparaseq.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/10/agu6atap.jpg
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Re: TM3 Home Owners Association
wow, that looks great @Default User wish i could do some reno's :( i bought my house new