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art_susan8645
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RE: Building On Level Ground: Step-By-Step Tips For Making The Most Of A Flat Lot
I get the appeal of gravel and timber edging, but I’ve had gravel paths turn into weed magnets after a year or two. Maybe it’s just my luck, but I ended up spending more time maintaining them than I would’ve with pavers....
RE: Finally upgraded my kitchen counters and I'm loving it!
Funny thing - I've actually found the opposite with waterfall edges. Maybe it's just my crew, but the straight drop seems easier to wipe down than the rounded ones, where crumbs always seem to hide. Scrapes happen no mat...
RE: Building base structures - what if you had to start over?
Man, I hear you on the condensation. My first go, I was so paranoid about drafts I pretty much shrink-wrapped the whole place. Felt like living in a Ziploc bag - quiet, sure, but then every shower or pot of pasta turned ...
RE: Estimating building expenses: what tools or sites do you trust?
Honestly, I’ve never had a calculator get within 20% of my final costs. The “local” numbers always seem to lag behind what’s actually happening on the ground. Last year, I budgeted based on what a tool told me, then half...
RE: Weighing the pros and cons of switching to a 15-year mortgage
WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS OF SWITCHING TO A 15-YEAR MORTGAGE Couldn’t agree more - flexibility is huge. I tried to budget for a 15-year once, but then the roof needed patching and my “extra” cash evaporated overnight...
RE: WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE? I’ll second the bit about “detailed drawings” not being a magic shield. I’ve been elbows-deep in my own build for the last year, and even with what I tho...
RE: Weighing the pros and cons of switching to a 15-year mortgage
TITLE: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Switching to a 15-Year Mortgage I ran into the same wall when I tried crunching numbers for solar vs. just doing better insulation and sealing up the attic. Honestly, the insulation ...
RE: Bank loan vs. investor funding, which makes more sense?
I get where you’re coming from. When I built my garage apartment, I had a few weird choices - like a laundry chute that drops right into the kitchen (long story) - but no regrets because it’s mine. Had an investor sniffi...