Project 1964

In the next week I'll be kicking off remodel projects on our 1964 Ranch. We bought the house on a nice end of town but a bit off a beaten path. A small secluded section of West Hills Park right off of the West Hills area. Here you can follow our progress (might have started a blog, but tend to like the forum format better) on a limited scale budget.

HISTORY
We are the 3rd owners - The home was built by a family that lived here for about 5 years. It was then bought by another family who kept it until we bought it some 3 years ago. We since have replaced the Central H/A unit with a new and efficient unit and had left room in purchase negotiation for this. This home has some unique features that we wish to preserve or enhance. The lot is a corner lot with the house sitting in a direction for plenty of privacy. We have a wooded area on 3 sides with only one home directly near us. The other sides have space around them to give us good privacy. When we bought this place we were actually looking for another listing that had sold unknown to us at the time! Brought us right down the street to this place instead.

PROJECT
The home has been well cared for but not updated. This is good in respect that it gives us a nice canvas to work on. The downside is that the kitchen, lighting and bathrooms are 1964! We have a few windows that need replacement due to inefficency, and the remodel mentioned are the scope of our project. We have been painting the home with more upbeat and modern colors as well. There are 2 brick fire- places in the home - one has never been used. Both are quite ugly (one can be seen in background of my Sig. pic)by today's standards. I have started to paint over one but it just isn't what we want overall. We are opting to find some more natural product like americanclay.com's earth plaster.
Did I mention this house has nice hardwood under the carpet? ...Another project to take into account.

Now we are on quest to find the best windows and doors for
a ranch house at a good (read limited budget) price. We will be on the side of pushing it to accomplish all that needs to be done with the liquid capital we have at hand for now. It all comes as stepping stones is how we like to look at it.

In short - We have a lot of shopping to go out and do then line up what we can do ourselves vs. what we will have to have help with from friends and contractors.

My background includes Industrial Engineering so I have a grasp of how to facilitate jobs/contractors and facility needs etc. but I'm not an architect. Luckily artistic blood runs in the family, but beauty is in the eye, right?! We shall see just how well we do here on our own and with input from You in this Forum!

Andrew

Just updating an older home is proving
to be a fun challenge with both of our
busy schedules! In the last few days we
have been shopping for new windows and
doors. This doesn't even cover the windows
that will have to be made for the one end
of the house.

So far I like what I see from Pella more
than others. This takes into account the
ready availability, standardization, and
the quality to price ratio - being the
main point here. Open to suggestions however...not finished yet.

First project is to replace a huge sliding
glass door - looking at the Proline Pella
without grid frames to keep it minimalistic.
There was a $500 difference on this and the
architect series and we just didn't see it
in the fit/finish/quality. The lower line
was a big step from many, but not quite
there for a job that needs to last as long
as what was built ot better. also looking at front storm type doors to replace the old
aluminum one (barely) existing.

Heading to 2 Pella stores this morning to
compare info., service and pricing. Already
been to Lowes. Costs add up quick so we are
already in cutting mode! It's just opinion
of mine that with a large budget amazing things are possible. It's with a SMALL one that the going gets tough and the creativity comes out from necessity.

Andrew

If you like Pella's aluminum clad wood windows you should compare to Weathersheild's aluminum clad line. Weathersheild is a bit more flexible about custom sizes. They also have a wider range of colors. If you want a good value then look at their Prosheild line, a vinyl and wood window that should price lower than Andersen.

Thanks for the guidance, Greg! We have an appt. coming up for a local Weathershield dealer. We aren't set on wood but it would add a lot of character. Eventually be going back to the original hardwood to get the natural material back into some rooms. In those other places we'll have to explore adding it in some form or another.

We did find a nice fullview Andersen storm door for the front of the house. Having that one delivered in the next 2 weeks. Despite the news on the economy, the auto safety company that I do quality engineering work for has never slowed. Been working mostly 7 days a week for the better part of this year - plenty of work is a good problem but leaves little time for spec. shopping. That and I've been lagging here and on my projects!

In the last 2-3 weeks my Wife has been landscaping outdoors and replacing some of the original. Adding new stones for a natural look, replaced our old mail box with a new one on a cedar post. Ordered cool new "avalon" numerals for the post from: http://www.atlashomewares.com

Looking into cedar siding for a part of the house exterior in the "curb appeal" areas. That's another project to add along with spicing up the "old" brick. Amazing how trends change over time.

Will know a lot more about what direction to go with windows after the visit to our local shop (already been to Pella).

Andrew

Speaking to a contractor since my first post and he's said he has had good luck with Pella's Proline. I understand these are their rock bottom builder grade windows. Aluminum clad, no custom sizes but competitive with Andersen. If so then not a bad way to get an aluminum clad window.

Results of the new Storm door install this morning!
Went with a nice Andersen for this application. Pic
is a little dark but not a bad looking Dwell type
shot. We like the original design of the wide front
Main door.

Still working like a banshee but the schedule is
getting better than it was. So, the window and door
search is still on for the Slider replacement and
for the std. size windows. I did however, locate a
good Contractor to replace the custom windows in
the end of the house that are irregular. This is
taking the price from 400+ ea. to 200 ea.(including
the install!). Now I just have to spec out tempered
and insulated glass to find best deal for what we need.

Andrew

I sincerely hope that this Holiday weekend
finds you well and in good spirits.
Enjoy your Holiday

Work is finally slowing for me so we'll have
some updates here soon as I'm 'finally' able
to get my feet back on the ground.


Andrew

You've guessed it...I'm a slacker. Wrapped up in far too many
things at once (like my job!) and not focusing on the house. Cool
weather is nearly here which is much more ideal for working in
our nasty humidity here. My Wife has accomplished some very nice
landscaping and a new mailbox. Tremendous improvement!
More soon.

it's fun reading about your experience... if you have an open house or anything, I'd love to see it when finished.

OK it's been a while since I posted last. Just to
give an update, I've been working in Mexico and
just got back from working in Xi'an, China. THAT
will leave some appreciation for where we live if
nothing else does! It was quite an impressionistic
experience, and I really enjoy adventure/culture
travel. I'll say that I saw many things that never
thought about and saw things I had never wanted
to see as well.

Have a lot of work to do here. Like eating a grind
stone, one just has to pick a spot and start going
at it...Egads. Much labor of love as most of you can
truly appreciate! Will collect my thoughts and review
and post an update here again soon.

Hope that you all are well,

Andrew

OK Knoxville and East TN + surrounding areas, IKEA is in
Atlanta now! Used to have to run up to D.C. (Woodbridge)
for a good IKEA fix. Now it's a nice daytrip from K-Town!

Made our first run down a week ago, wandered the new store,
got our fix at the Cafe (it's hard to pass up), and importantly
raided the bins for goods. Picked up a lot of new lighting
this round. The Lotorp ceiling lamp being the surprise find.
What a terrific design this is and easy enough to hang with
only a small amount of help (ran out of hands!).

Another great newer item is the new LACK tv stand. I have
a nice 50 SXRD, so the 58 Lack is a match that we could
not believe. Especially for the price! The next generation
of this tv will not have external speakers like mine so a
sightly smaller stand may be better. It weighed in at 55lbs.
and had to be tucked in to the older model Maxima. We barely
made it but I wasn't leaving without it. Next time goes the
truck.

Accessorized the kitchen with a mix of the Dinera dishes
in mixed grey and green. New set of flatware to replace
daily my favorite Dansk Parallel Diamond set. Wine glasses
galore, The Optimal is nice and sparkles.

Friends came over for a party this Friday and now have a
road trip planned that includes a u-haul! Fair warning.

I can go on, but for not a lot of money it's very easy to
spruce up your place big time. It's pretty easy to access
as well from the interstate. And for those American reviewers
that regard IKEA as Target Chic, all I have to say is that
sounds just like an arrogant American attitude considering
how long IKEA has been at this and the general service
provided to society by the Co. philosophy. Arguably of
course but if someone can suggest better...I'm all ears!

Until next time!

Andrew

Long overdue update! Spoke too soon about slowing economy in last posts as I was put on furlough that Fall (marking my absence while re-establishing myself into a new career). Sort of put an end to having funds to pull house projects. Time and persistence take care of many things though.

Here is a new update with what we have been doing with the 1964.

We have replaced the roof with a nice 3D shingle, and had a ridge vent installed. Made a very nice change to the entire home from street level. Next we began tearing up the carpet indoors and found what we had hoped for; PERFECT beautiful hardwood floors running through the house. This project is still in progress (ugh). I was quite peeved with whomever went ape with the staple gun and tacking stips. Not my idea of fun, but the result is so well worth the pains.

This past weekend we made a run on IKEA in ATL. Came home with a kitchen appliance setup: Wall oven, cooktop, and dishwasher. Unfortunately the wall oven in stainless was not in stock so another trip to IKEA is in order soon. I'm not disappointed about that part! Gives me a week or two to do homework on any last minute cheap projects to pick up for while we recoup from this expenditure.