Home Ownership

[FATC1TY]

Wait...you're saying 50% of the price for a new compressor or a new HVAC unit?

~50% of a cost of a new condensing unit and coils. You’d have your existing air handler in the house, but with new coils, and a new larger outside condenser and compressor.

The new compressors are bigger to handle higher pressures of the 410a, and as the years go by the seer rating go up on units.

For around 2000-2700 you could likely get it all replaced and upgraded, and be ready for the changes going forward away from R-22

 

[FATC1TY]

I grew up carrying my dad's toolbox around back of so many houses to work on HVAC systems (he was an HVAC tech for 35 years). The diagnostics that you proposed a page or two ago I have watched a hundred times and almost just like you described. Your telling of it took me back a long ways. Strange place to run into such nostalgia. Thanks.

My mom used to do it way back before I was born, but Iike you I’ve had other family or friends in the hvac business. Hard not to pick up on it, and I usually help out friends, coworkers and neighbors when I can because I can’t stand to see a truck in the driveway charging someone hundreds of bucks when it is usually something small.

Cheers to your old man- be he was a “cool” guy.

 

[stupac2]

On Sunday I decided that I was tired of a random patch of dirt between a concrete pad that used to have a wheelchair lift on it and my brick walkway, so I dug it out a bit, mixed up a couple of leftover bags of mortar, poured it, flattened it, and stuck some rocks in to make it blend in with the walkway a bit better. The whole area looks like crap, I mostly wanted to not have to weed there anymore. Anyway, then I asked my kid if he wanted to make some handprints in it. I expected him to want to do one set, but nope, he really went to town:

Also, here's a picture of the wall in much better lighting:

 

[FATC1TY]

For those keeping track at home... still haven’t found a contractor for our master bath reno.


I guess I get to finally open that wet tile saw in the garage I never wanted to use, and learn how to demo and build a new larger shower.

 

[Americanzero4128]

We need to get a few of our skylights replaced. Waiting on a quote from another roofing company, but the first one came back around $1,000 per skylight. Can anyone let me know (if they've done this in the past) what their cost has been? I know it's going to be region dependent, but I'm just looking for a ballpark here. Western Chicago suburbs, fwiw.

 

[Dave]

We need to get a few of our skylights replaced. Waiting on a quote from another roofing company, but the first one came back around $1,000 per skylight. Can anyone let me know (if they've done this in the past) what their cost has been? I know it's going to be region dependent, but I'm just looking for a ballpark here. Western Chicago suburbs, fwiw.

Got some brand new fixed skylights installed last year for around 1300 a piece if I recall correctly.

 

[Rock31]

Sanding walls before paint. Wife and I only got into one fight so far so we’re doing pretty good!

 

[Rock31]

Slowly chugging along. First coat of primer down.

 

[Rock31]

It was one of those days I wish I didn’t own a home. We finished one room on Saturday, hiring someone to do the other. It was a disaster, took us like 9 hours in total and not worth revisiting that experience for the larger room in need of repair.

 

[stupac2]

It was one of those days I wish I didn’t own a home. We finished one room on Saturday, hiring someone to do the other. It was a disaster, took us like 9 hours in total and not worth revisiting that experience for the larger room in need of repair.

Well it looks nice, at least!

 

[FATC1TY]

Bought a backpack power mister. Shit is gonna be great for blasting the house and woods for mosquitos and everything else in the yard I want dead.

Shoots 30 ft of pesticides or herbicides/fungicides.

Neighbors even chipped in for the pesticide so I can spray their yards. Works for me!

 

[stupac2]

A neighbor's house just sold for $1.2M, so that's had us poking around seeing what our house is worth, with Redfin putting it at just under 1.2. If that's correct (who knows what we'd actually get and we're not interested in selling so it's all hypothetical) that's been nearly a 20% annual increase in value since we bought. Which is... bonkers. Real estate around here is nutty, it definitely seems like we're due for some kind of correction, but without the jobs/housing balance getting restored I'm not sure what would do it.

Anyway, that sure makes the idea of getting a HELOC and doing some major space upgrades seem much more reasonable. I want to dig out the basement and add a bedroom/bathroom down there, but I'll probably try to time it better, maybe if there's a recession in the offing (as is starting to look possible) rates will come down and contractors will have less work, we'll see.

 

[LambAndTunaPhish]

Bought a backpack power mister. Shit is gonna be great for blasting the house and woods for mosquitos and everything else in the yard I want dead.

Shoots 30 ft of pesticides or herbicides/fungicides.

Neighbors even chipped in for the pesticide so I can spray their yards. Works for me!

I've been getting massacred by mosquitoes in my yard this year, but never considered going the DIY route for controlling them. What are you buying for pesticides?

 

[Dave]

What are you buying for pesticides?

inb4 DDT

 

[IndianaJones]

This thread encouraged me to drop my lackluster seller's agent a few weeks back - best advice ever. New agent came in, made some quick updates, and we were under contract within a week at $10k MORE than relisted asking price. Unreal.

 

[FATC1TY]

I've been getting massacred by mosquitoes in my yard this year, but never considered going the DIY route for controlling them. What are you buying for pesticides?

An all in one system would be the likes of Talstar P.

I like to swap around and used some Demand CS too.

Mix in pump sprayer, works well for all hard and soft surfaces. Safe once dried. Works excellent for month long control even with rain.

I recently found some stuff for Flies that is fucking insanely good and in a spray can. Man it’s legit good and can be used inside and out. Flies go crazy here in summer time, especially cooking outside.

 

[A Former Member]

An all in one system would be the likes of Talstar P.

I like to swap around and used some Demand CS too.

Mix in pump sprayer, works well for all hard and soft surfaces. Safe once dried. Works excellent for month long control even with rain.

I recently found some stuff for Flies that is fucking insanely good and in a spray can. Man it’s legit good and can be used inside and out. Flies go crazy here in summer time, especially cooking outside.

What’s the fly spray? I’ve been using quick kill fly bait granules but the spray sounds great.

 

[FATC1TY]

I like to swap around and used some

A neighbor's house just sold for $1.2M, so that's had us poking around seeing what our house is worth, with Redfin putting it at just under 1.2. If that's correct (who knows what we'd actually get and we're not interested in selling so it's all hypothetical) that's been nearly a 20% annual increase in value since we bought. Which is... bonkers. Real estate around here is nutty, it definitely seems like we're due for some kind of correction, but without the jobs/housing balance getting restored I'm not sure what would do it.

Anyway, that sure makes the idea of getting a HELOC and doing some major space upgrades seem much more reasonable. I want to dig out the basement and add a bedroom/bathroom down there, but I'll probably try to time it better, maybe if there's a recession in the offing (as is starting to look possible) rates will come down and contractors will have less work, we'll see.

Similar kind of thing here. My house is almost double what I paid for it. I literally if lucky can make my purchase price back, plus the cost and walk away free for the most part. Have put several thousands into the home; but it sure does make me itchy to look for more.
The correction and recession is coming though. Timing it will be key I think, to protect the investment and to capitalize on a new purchase, as rates will drop and free cash will be king for deals.

 

[FATC1TY]

What’s the fly spray? I’ve been using quick kill fly bait granules but the spray sounds great.

PT Alpine. Made by BASF.

Can get it under 30 a can. Don’t balk at price if needing it sooner. Spray it on hard surface, spray items and move away from you even. It’s disgusting how many flies you will find dead over night.

I have seen maybe 3 tonight. Found 40 dead near trash can blind, absolutely nasty yet satisfying.

 

[FATC1TY]

So.... update on the misting of Talstar P.


I’ve been outside all evening. Not a damn bite or bug to be found. So fucking awesome. I sprayed up the trees into the canopy, the siding, the beds... sprayed under my patio and the walls and posts. Did the yard... pretty much only avoid any areas I have pollinators around, and flowers that attract them.


Sold. Cost me nothing. I get 42 apps from a gallon. An application is 3 gallons mixed, covers my yard and house. It’s like .80 cents an application per month for the pesticides alone and it covers not just mosquitos but any pests in the lawn or around the home.

Figure the 300 bucks for the mister which is also a high powered back pack blower too, I need applications from day April to October maybe. So 6-7 months. It’s say 50 a month for the blower alone at 6 months. So 50.80 a month all in for 6 months.


Next year is .80 cents a month for control and 10-15 minutes of work.

Cost wayyyyyy more locally for that service.