Let's See Your House Projects!

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Yowza, that's some work! Looks impressive; congrats!

What is the area that is having concrete poured on top? Some kind of storm shelter or safe room?

Yes, it’s safe room.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Figured I'd tag on to get the collective...

Has anyone added fill dirt over septic? I'm throwing out an off-the-cuff number, but I'm estimating 100' x 40' off the side of the house. It's relatively flat, but the cleared area is in place for septic tank and its respective field. We have a 5+ bedroom septic system installed about a year ago (not sure if that matters). As the 40' section grows away from the house, so does the need for dirt depth - closer to the house, a few inches, further away, maybe 12" or so of fill dirt/top soil and then sod.

We live out in the woods on some acreage that I'd like to have a larger, flat area for the kiddos to kick around a soccer ball and what have you. I'm not as keen to go knock down more trees, so hoping to utilize an otherwise unused space.

A couple things come to mind...

Is it even possible to add more dirt? I've heard the septic system is intended to be a general depth so that, in addition to the field, it has an opportunity to evaporate.

Realistically, what weight could go over the field? I've got a 38hp diesel tractor with a 60" bucket. That's a LOT of scoops, but I'm not sure how else - if at all - to get the dirt out there short of going full Andy Dufresne and going by hand.

Since we are building our home right now, and will be installing a septic system. I am assuming you want to put more dirt over the leaching field and not the tank.

What kind of system do you have?

We are installing a Microdrip system which does not have the typical sand mound or underground leaching feild. Our leaching field is 20' x 150' and only has about 1' of fill dirt above the ground. We are told the most that can be places on this field is grass, it has be kept free of all trees or anything with long roots like shrubs and we can not drive any heave equipment over it. I have not asked about being able to drive compact tractor over it or only hand mower. This system is considered a sewage processing plant and the water is so clean it is approved to be discharge in to water ways. Where we live they will not allow it, they want the water returned to ground water, since we are on well.

I am suspecting you will not be able to add more dirt to your field since you run the risk of putting to much weight on the drip system in the ground.

Back in the day, when they use to dig pits in the ground and filled it with gravel and sand and it acted as the leaching field you could do petty much what you wanted over those areas. Today they put all kinds of restriction on the leaching field.

[dreamingat30fps]

We have been looking to move for a couple years now. Never could find anything we liked or ones we liked always had some issues or were way too much $$$. We were looking at stuff that had already been updated, however we saw a house we loved the layout, lot, area etc, but we would have liked it a little more updated. Price was below our budget, so we decided to get it and do some minor updating.

Honestly I was dreading this because of all the horror stories I've read but I was pleasantly surprised. First quote I got I almost died, I was like I guess we'll just live with it as it. Some other people couldn't be bothered to even send a quote and finally one company made a reasonable quote and they seemed to have decent reviews... but I was very worried. Anyways I think they did a pretty good job.

Basically just did all the floors, redid 3 showers, one was a tub to shower conversion and did all the vanity countertops and removed some soffits in 2 showers. In the kitchen just replaced appliances and hardware and replaced countertop and backsplash.

I was surprised what a difference those small changes made.

Original Kitchen



New



Original Master Bath



New

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

We have been looking to move for a couple years now. Never could find anything we liked or ones we liked always had some issues or were way too much $$$. We were looking at stuff that had already been updated, however we saw a house we loved the layout, lot, area etc, but we would have liked it a little more updated. Price was below our budget, so we decided to get it and do some minor updating.

Honestly I was dreading this because of all the horror stories I've read but I was pleasantly surprised. First quote I got I almost died, I was like I guess we'll just live with it as it. Some other people couldn't be bothered to even send a quote and finally one company made a reasonable quote and they seemed to have decent reviews... but I was very worried. Anyways I think they did a pretty good job.

Basically just did all the floors, redid 3 showers, one was a tub to shower conversion and did all the vanity countertops and removed some soffits in 2 showers. In the kitchen just replaced appliances and hardware and replaced countertop and backsplash.

I was surprised what a difference those small changes made.

Original Kitchen



New



Original Master [...]

Love it!!!

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

We have been looking to move for a couple years now. Never could find anything we liked or ones we liked always had some issues or were way too much $$$. We were looking at stuff that had already been updated, however we saw a house we loved the layout, lot, area etc, but we would have liked it a little more updated. Price was below our budget, so we decided to get it and do some minor updating.

Honestly I was dreading this because of all the horror stories I've read but I was pleasantly surprised. First quote I got I almost died, I was like I guess we'll just live with it as it. Some other people couldn't be bothered to even send a quote and finally one company made a reasonable quote and they seemed to have decent reviews... but I was very worried. Anyways I think they did a pretty good job.

Basically just did all the floors, redid 3 showers, one was a tub to shower conversion and did all the vanity countertops and removed some soffits in 2 showers. In the kitchen just replaced appliances and hardware and replaced countertop and backsplash.

I was surprised what a difference those small changes made.

Is the flooring luxury vinyl over tile? If so how do you like it?

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Is the flooring luxury vinyl over tile? If so how do you like it?

No they are wood look tiles. Was never a fan of how the vinyl felt. My mom did it in her apartment over tile and my brother in law also. I had old school laminate in the bedrooms of the previous house and I liked those, but they got all messed up after a leak so didn’t want to deal with that again.

Since we did the work before moving in it wasn’t so bad to have all the tile ripped out and the new one installed.

[Donatello.]

No pics, but in the process of installing a generator inlet. Finding an interlock kit that was not $100+ for my panel was no fun.

Ended up finding a kit on Azazon that will work by flipping it around.

[nyalpine90]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

No pics, but in the process of installing a generator inlet. Finding an interlock kit that was not $100+ for my panel was no fun.

Ended up finding a kit on Azazon that will work by flipping it around.

I hope its code compliant.

[Donatello.]

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

I hope its code compliant.

An interlock kit is an interlock kit. It's 2 pieces of metal & a couple screws. They all work the same.

[Josh-PA]

Just finished residing and new entryway on the house. Insulated and drywalled the garage and did an epoxy floor, mini-split and walk up attic. We are pleased with the results.

[wrickem]

Josh-PA, Serious garage envy here, yours turned out beautiful!

[BReif61]

The winch up to the attic... great idea.

[Josh-PA]

Thanks for the garage compliments. BReif61 the winch and rail set up is awesome. It makes hauling tires, bins, etc up to the attic a breeze. Not hard to DIY and not overly expensive either. I screenshotted everything I got from Amazon. The Trolley Track allows you to winch something up through the hole and then transport it to the decking so you're not hanging over the opening trying to manhandle it the last couple of feet.

[MassWholeBimmer]

Nothing glamorous, but a project none the less. Cleanup of 30+ years of chit behind the barn. Dump runs tomorrow....

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by MassWholeBimmer

Nothing glamorous, but a project none the less. Cleanup of 30+ years of chit behind the barn. Dump runs tomorrow....

For a second, I thought there was a radioactive symbol in there but it's just the wheel on the wheelbarrow.

[Maestro]

Here is the next installment of build pictures. Were are all framed and starting some of inside work. Weather delayed us the framers could only work 2 or 3 days each week due to constant rain.

[M3Sleeper]

I wish I had pictures of before and after. We built my son a 2nd floor in his bedroom so he has a staircase in the corner of the room that leads up to a top floor that was not there when we purchased the house. The ceiling height was like 2 stories so even on his loft he's up 15 feet + he can stand up and walk around.

My next project is a front walkway and patio. If I can find pictures I will show you guys the loft later on. As a kid I know I would have loved it so I did it for my son.

[x3sm]

Originally Posted by Maestro

Here is the next installment of build pictures. Were are all framed and starting some of inside work. Weather delayed us the framers could only work 2 or 3 days each week due to constant rain.

Nice! Any reason you went for the 5/8 zip sheathing vs the green board? Was it a big price difference? Also, this house will be air tight, are you doing fresh air system?

[Sedan_Clan]

Pool construction begins today. I hate tearing up the backyard, but it’ll be worth it.

[Maestro]

Nice! Any reason you went for the 5/8 zip sheathing vs the green board? Was it a big price difference? Also, this house will be air tight, are you doing fresh air system?

Actually it is all 1/2 zip and yes a little less expensive. We did not see a reason for 1
7/16” or 5/8". The roof trusses are 16" on center verse 24" so we did not need to use 5/8. all the outside walls are 2x6 16" on center so we have lots of structure with the walls and didn’t really need 1/2"
but we decided to use 1/2” everywhere and what we saved on roof made up the cost between 7/16 and 1/2”.

We are planning for the house to be tight, we have EVR system going in. It also going to be the exhaust for the main bathroom.

[Llarry]

Our house has a very small yard and a short but steep driveway. Last winter -- our first in the new house -- we experienced no ice or freezing rain but still are concerned about safety.

So we had this small project done -- a series of concrete blocks, topped by pavers and with a handrail, replacing lawn.

[Sedan_Clan]

Pool layout drawn and strung, and the ground has been leveled. The dig begins Monday.