Advice with upgrading an old house

[Aecetia]

Get Allan to be the GC. He sounds like he has been down this road before.

[felix]

We’re in the process of doing many of the same things to our rental property in Del Mar area. We got some stuff done while renting but other stuff like the ceilings need to be done while vacant. We bought the place in 07.

We initially rented it for a year and half. While renting, we upgraded the electric service and installed new heating and air (the later, courtesy of our home warranty). Other than that we did minor repairs most of which was also covered under warranty.

Last summer, we planned on having the place vacant for a month while we got some work done and vacationed as best we could staying at the home. Although my wife is from the area, we live in the Midwest.

So we took down the pop corn and repainted the ceilings. As part of that job we also put in some new lighting. We also went ahead and replaced about 90% of the windows.

We are waiting on remodeling the bathrooms and kitchen. They are are serviceable but not stylish. We are also waiting on upgrading the flooring which has just too many different things going on.

The home is again rented on a year lease. If our tenant doesn’t stay, we will take advantage of the place being vacant. We will again vacation for a month and perhaps get a bathroom or two remodeled.

[felix]

We’re in the process of doing many of the same things to our rental property in Del Mar area. We got some stuff done while renting but other stuff like the ceilings need to be done while vacant. We bought the place in 07.

We initially rented it for a year and half. While renting, we upgraded the electric service and installed new heating and air (the later, courtesy of our home warranty). Other than that we did minor repairs most of which was also covered under warranty.

Last summer, we planned on having the place vacant for a month while we got some work done and vacationed as best we could staying at the home. Although my wife is from the area, we live in the Midwest.

So we took down the pop corn and repainted the ceilings. As part of that job we also put in some new lighting. We also went ahead and replaced about 90% of the windows.

We are waiting on remodeling the bathrooms and kitchen. They are are serviceable but not stylish. We are also waiting on upgrading the flooring which has just too many different things going on.

The home is again rented on a year lease. If our tenant doesn’t stay, we will take advantage of the place being vacant. We will again vacation for a month and perhaps get a bathroom or two remodeled.

[felix]

We’re in the process of doing many of the same things to our rental property in Del Mar area. We got some stuff done while renting but other stuff like the ceilings need to be done while vacant. We bought the place in 07.

We initially rented it for a year and half. While renting, we upgraded the electric service and installed new heating and air (the later, courtesy of our home warranty). Other than that we did minor repairs most of which was also covered under warranty.

Last summer, we planned on having the place vacant for a month while we got some work done and vacationed as best we could staying at the home. Although my wife is from the area, we live in the Midwest.

So we took down the pop corn and repainted the ceilings. As part of that job we also put in some new lighting. We also went ahead and replaced about 90% of the windows.

We are waiting on remodeling the bathrooms and kitchen. They are are serviceable but not stylish. We are also waiting on upgrading the flooring which has just too many different things going on.

The home is again rented on a year lease. If our tenant doesn’t stay, we will take advantage of the place being vacant. We will again vacation for a month and perhaps get a bathroom or two remodeled.

[felix]

We’re in the process of doing many of the same things to our rental property in Del Mar area. We got some stuff done while renting but other stuff like the ceilings need to be done while vacant. We bought the place in 07.

We initially rented it for a year and half. While renting, we upgraded the electric service and installed new heating and air (the later, courtesy of our home warranty). Other than that we did minor repairs most of which was also covered under warranty.

Last summer, we planned on having the place vacant for a month while we got some work done and vacationed as best we could staying at the home. Although my wife is from the area, we live in the Midwest.

So we took down the pop corn and repainted the ceilings. As part of that job we also put in some new lighting. We also went ahead and replaced about 90% of the windows.

We are waiting on remodeling the bathrooms and kitchen. They are are serviceable but not stylish. We are also waiting on upgrading the flooring which has just too many different things going on.

The home is again rented on a year lease. If our tenant doesn’t stay, we will take advantage of the place being vacant. We will again vacation for a month and perhaps get a bathroom or two remodeled.

[felix]

We’re in the process of doing many of the same things to our rental property in Del Mar area. We got some stuff done while renting but other stuff like the ceilings need to be done while vacant. We bought the place in 07.

We initially rented it for a year and half. While renting, we upgraded the electric service and installed new heating and air (the later, courtesy of our home warranty). Other than that we did minor repairs most of which was also covered under warranty.

Last summer, we planned on having the place vacant for a month while we got some work done and vacationed as best we could staying at the home. Although my wife is from the area, we live in the Midwest.

So we took down the pop corn and repainted the ceilings. As part of that job we also put in some new lighting. We also went ahead and replaced about 90% of the windows.

We are waiting on remodeling the bathrooms and kitchen. They are are serviceable but not stylish. We are also waiting on upgrading the flooring which has just too many different things going on.

The home is again rented on a year lease. If our tenant doesn’t stay, we will take advantage of the place being vacant. We will again vacation for a month and perhaps get a bathroom or two remodeled.

[UCGal]

What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…

Popcorn ceilings may or may not have asbestos – and you need to properly dispose of it (not the dump) if it does have asbestos… You can buy a kit to test it (you send it off to a lab) at Home Depot.

If it does have asbestos – you need to hire a contractor – unfortunately… Regular joe-schmoes aren’t allowed to dispose of asbestos material.

Removing the popcorn ceiling can be a DIY job. We did it in our house (for the non-asbestos portions… our house was 1/2 and 1/2 due to a burst upstairs pipe causing the downstairs ceiling to be replaced in the 80’s.) It’s kind of like removing wallpaper… get it wet – scrape it off… messy but not really a skilled labor type of job. Texturing or skim coating the ceiling is something you might want to hire out.

I disagree with the comments that you don’t have to spend as much time if a GC is running things. It’s still up to the owner to make sure the project stays on track, and is done correctly. Maybe it’s just our bad luck – but we had two GC’s and in both cases, supervision of the subs was non-existant.

I’d also skim the pamphlets the CSLB has online.
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Library/GuidesAndPamphlets.asp

[UCGal]

What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…

Popcorn ceilings may or may not have asbestos – and you need to properly dispose of it (not the dump) if it does have asbestos… You can buy a kit to test it (you send it off to a lab) at Home Depot.

If it does have asbestos – you need to hire a contractor – unfortunately… Regular joe-schmoes aren’t allowed to dispose of asbestos material.

Removing the popcorn ceiling can be a DIY job. We did it in our house (for the non-asbestos portions… our house was 1/2 and 1/2 due to a burst upstairs pipe causing the downstairs ceiling to be replaced in the 80’s.) It’s kind of like removing wallpaper… get it wet – scrape it off… messy but not really a skilled labor type of job. Texturing or skim coating the ceiling is something you might want to hire out.

I disagree with the comments that you don’t have to spend as much time if a GC is running things. It’s still up to the owner to make sure the project stays on track, and is done correctly. Maybe it’s just our bad luck – but we had two GC’s and in both cases, supervision of the subs was non-existant.

I’d also skim the pamphlets the CSLB has online.
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Library/GuidesAndPamphlets.asp

[UCGal]

What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…

Popcorn ceilings may or may not have asbestos – and you need to properly dispose of it (not the dump) if it does have asbestos… You can buy a kit to test it (you send it off to a lab) at Home Depot.

If it does have asbestos – you need to hire a contractor – unfortunately… Regular joe-schmoes aren’t allowed to dispose of asbestos material.

Removing the popcorn ceiling can be a DIY job. We did it in our house (for the non-asbestos portions… our house was 1/2 and 1/2 due to a burst upstairs pipe causing the downstairs ceiling to be replaced in the 80’s.) It’s kind of like removing wallpaper… get it wet – scrape it off… messy but not really a skilled labor type of job. Texturing or skim coating the ceiling is something you might want to hire out.

I disagree with the comments that you don’t have to spend as much time if a GC is running things. It’s still up to the owner to make sure the project stays on track, and is done correctly. Maybe it’s just our bad luck – but we had two GC’s and in both cases, supervision of the subs was non-existant.

I’d also skim the pamphlets the CSLB has online.
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Library/GuidesAndPamphlets.asp

[UCGal]

What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…

Popcorn ceilings may or may not have asbestos – and you need to properly dispose of it (not the dump) if it does have asbestos… You can buy a kit to test it (you send it off to a lab) at Home Depot.

If it does have asbestos – you need to hire a contractor – unfortunately… Regular joe-schmoes aren’t allowed to dispose of asbestos material.

Removing the popcorn ceiling can be a DIY job. We did it in our house (for the non-asbestos portions… our house was 1/2 and 1/2 due to a burst upstairs pipe causing the downstairs ceiling to be replaced in the 80’s.) It’s kind of like removing wallpaper… get it wet – scrape it off… messy but not really a skilled labor type of job. Texturing or skim coating the ceiling is something you might want to hire out.

I disagree with the comments that you don’t have to spend as much time if a GC is running things. It’s still up to the owner to make sure the project stays on track, and is done correctly. Maybe it’s just our bad luck – but we had two GC’s and in both cases, supervision of the subs was non-existant.

I’d also skim the pamphlets the CSLB has online.
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Library/GuidesAndPamphlets.asp

[UCGal]

What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…

Popcorn ceilings may or may not have asbestos – and you need to properly dispose of it (not the dump) if it does have asbestos… You can buy a kit to test it (you send it off to a lab) at Home Depot.

If it does have asbestos – you need to hire a contractor – unfortunately… Regular joe-schmoes aren’t allowed to dispose of asbestos material.

Removing the popcorn ceiling can be a DIY job. We did it in our house (for the non-asbestos portions… our house was 1/2 and 1/2 due to a burst upstairs pipe causing the downstairs ceiling to be replaced in the 80’s.) It’s kind of like removing wallpaper… get it wet – scrape it off… messy but not really a skilled labor type of job. Texturing or skim coating the ceiling is something you might want to hire out.

I disagree with the comments that you don’t have to spend as much time if a GC is running things. It’s still up to the owner to make sure the project stays on track, and is done correctly. Maybe it’s just our bad luck – but we had two GC’s and in both cases, supervision of the subs was non-existant.

I’d also skim the pamphlets the CSLB has online.
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Library/GuidesAndPamphlets.asp

[Clifford]

[quote=UCGal]What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…
[/quote]

UCGal,

The house was built in the 1970s. As it is, it may be considered “liveable”. I just want to make it nicer to live in because most of the work is easier to do while it’s vacant.

Do you know how much it cost (per room) to have popcorn w/asbestos removed by a professional ?

[Clifford]

[quote=UCGal]What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…
[/quote]

UCGal,

The house was built in the 1970s. As it is, it may be considered “liveable”. I just want to make it nicer to live in because most of the work is easier to do while it’s vacant.

Do you know how much it cost (per room) to have popcorn w/asbestos removed by a professional ?

[Clifford]

[quote=UCGal]What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…
[/quote]

UCGal,

The house was built in the 1970s. As it is, it may be considered “liveable”. I just want to make it nicer to live in because most of the work is easier to do while it’s vacant.

Do you know how much it cost (per room) to have popcorn w/asbestos removed by a professional ?

[Clifford]

[quote=UCGal]What year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…
[/quote]

UCGal,

The house was built in the 1970s. As it is, it may be considered “liveable”. I just want to make it nicer to live in because most of the work is easier to do while it’s vacant.

Do you know how much it cost (per room) to have popcorn w/asbestos removed by a professional ?

[Author]

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