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Homeownership, Part I
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So we bought a house.
I've posted the story of the purchase elsewhere; it was a short sale, and those make full novels on their own. But in the end, we got it.
Now we discover what "fixer" means.
Background: while I am not physically incompetent, I have very little experience with tools. I know a hammer from a set of pliers, but (until very recently) I couldn't have identified a router unless it passed network packets. However, my father-in-law (with whom I get along very well) is an electrician, and knows a fair bit of many other construction-related trades, and expressed willingness to help. So when we saw the house we now own advertised as a "fixer", we thought we'd check it out.
The inspection revealed some issues of concern; needs a new electrical panel, some wiring work, a leaky drain line, and such, but nothing major. The bones of the house--foundation, framing, and roof--are all excellent. A quick look-through by father-in-law revealed no areas beyond our capacity, so we took the gamble.
After closing, we left ourselves two weeks and several thousand dollars to do needed rehab work. Painting came first, and I learned to do a decent amateur job of that. Then the fun begins.
The toiler over that leaky drain doesn't actually seem to be bolted to the floor; it slides sideways at least three inches. Take it out, get new toilet, put on a double-thick wax ring (the cast-iron drain flange is a bit below floor level) and bolt down the new toilet. No more leaky drain line. Yay.
I have now learned to remove and install toilets.
On to the other bathroom. Look at that bathroom wall...kind of crumbly and blistered there near the bottom...hmm. And the sink drain--wait, what is THAT? They've just taped the sink outflow to the drainpipe? They don't actually connect. And that supply valve is leaky.
Take the sink out. Take the toilet out. Definitely water damage in the drywall.
Rip out a big piece of drywall (damp) and take a look.
Good news: The supply pipes (copper) are intact--actually, in great shape, except for that supply valve. Shut off the water, cut them and cap them. We'll install new supply valves later.
I have now learned how to cut and solder copper plumbing.
Bad news: drainpipe in wall is cast-iron. We can just cut out the section where the sink connects and replace it with ABS, right? Sure.
Oh wait. Is that a crack?
Yep. The cast-iron drainpipe is cracked, down to the floor. Go into the crawlspace. It's cracked down to an elbow fitting. Cut out the drainpupe and replace with ABS.
I have now learned to cut cast-iron with a sawzall. Heck, I have learned what a sawzall IS. And I have cemented ABS drain lines, and connected them to cast iron.
Cut new drywall. Put new drywall over the big hole. Tape and mud it in place.
I have now learned a bit of drywall repair.
Hey, that tile in the floor is loose. Lift it up.
There's water underneath. CRAP.
Pull up tiles. They're cemented onto what looks like linoleum, and it's definitely water-damaged around where the sink was. Pull up linoleum--it's sitting on 1/2 inch plywood, which is smelly and mildewey for about a foot and a half around where the sink was. Cut into that and pull it up too, praying that the actual floor is not rotten.
I have now learned how to adjust the depth of cut on a circular saw and use a prybar to rip up flooring.
The floorboards--the actual 1x4s sitting on the long joists which are attached to the foundation--are discolored and slightly damp, but still feel very solid, and I can't punch into them with a screwdriver. We decide to treat them with borax (kill the mildew) and dry them out, then put down new flooring.
And that's where we are now. I've learned a lot, and the fact that my father-in-law (and a friend) are donating the expertise and labor has saved us several thousand dollars, I figure.
I'm well aware that I have learned the BASICS of all of these things, not enough to do good work on my own. But still, I'm learning a bit about how houses are put together, and that doing these kinds of things is something I can learn how to do, with some time and a friendly teacher. It's even kind of fun.
Whee!
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