All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

@Aref Shehadeh I would remove the wall tile (floor tile too!) and have either a bare wall or add trim (chair rail or wainscot. If the walls are plaster, you'll have a bit of work to do but it's certainly doable and worth the effort.  Don't just cover over the tile; that's not quality.  Always do things as if you were going to live there yourself!

One other caveat: I was surprised to learn, when I took the lead certification course, that many old tiles can contain lead.  These may not be old tiles but make sure you test it and if need be, take proper precautions. 

@Krista Shane It's a shame that you have to consider the legal and liability implications of a swing set...but I know you do.  

@Michael Herr A leak where a valley meets a flat section is not a "flashing issue" nor a "small repair" plus you can not be certain what's going on until you remove the tarp and examine everything.

In addition, since it now has multiple fastener penetrations, it has multiple potential leaks.  The roof is going to need entire replacement. That is the only way to ensure that it is going to be leak-free. Don't not try to use roof cement on every hole: do it right.

@Nathan Love  My suggestion to use Diamond veneer was to avoid any sanding because of possible lead.  If you use the test kit and find it lead free, then skim it with regular drywall mud.  Drywall mud will be much easier for you to work with than Diamond (which is probably best applied by a professional).

I'd try to knock down the high spots with a stiff-bladed putty knife and scrape off any crumbly or loose areas. Don't sand unless you are certain there's no lead present. Before skimming, I like to use a product called: Zinsser Gardz. (http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-...). Apply it as you would paint and then start your skim coat after it has dried. 

When applying the mud, remember that it is better to do multiple thin coats than one thick coat. If you do it right, sanding will be minimal.

Have fun!

@David MacClintock I don't see "Insurance Agent" on your list.  A good one, who understands the needs of your business, is invaluable.

@Kelly Tucker One problem with a "live in flip" is that the work proceeds so much slower than if the house were unoccupied.  You're generally limited to doing one room at a time, which is not very efficient.  

Other advice: 

1, Screen any potential tenant very carefully. 

2, Have the house you're purchasing thoroughly inspected.

Good luck!

In my non-legal opinion, you're not obligated to hire Steve. He suffers no real harm by you canceling, unless he 'special ordered' some materials,etc.  

But two points:

1. You should be careful asking the contractor you didn't hire to critique or assess the one that you did hire.  His is not necessarily an unbiased opinion. I have seen several cases where jealousy or resentment colored the assessment. 

2. When you receive conflicting information, verify things yourself i.e. measure the roof yourself to see the actual size, see if there is rotted wood and notice the conditions.  If it's so obviously rotted, why did you even consider allowing it to be covered up?

@Stephan K.I know it's commonly done but I think it's inadvisable to paint tile in a high traffic, wet location. 

If you don't like the look, perhaps you can change it by using a different color grout, painting the walls a different color or even changing the lighting.  

Why does it only need to last 4-6 yrs?

You didn't say if the walls are drywall or plaster nor what the texture is but you can buy a lead test kit to see if it is lead paint.  If it isn't lead, I'd do a regular skim coat with drywall mud to cover the texture and sand it smooth.

 If it is lead, you can cover it with 1/4" drywall but I don't care for that solution as it is labor intensive and causes other issue with wall thickness.

I think the best thing is to cover it using a veneer plaster (e.g. Diamond Veneer).  You need to apply a bonding agent and base coat first but the results are very smooth and no sanding is needed.  It does requires a certain amount of skill to apply so you probably would  want to find a contractor that specializes in that kind of work. 

@Jessica Smith  A lot of it is about connections.  Here is a list of the local meetings in your (our!) area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/726/topics/21...

Many of us go to the 'informal' one that meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at Cameron Village (Tupelo Cafe) in Raleigh. It's pretty good  

Another crucial element to success is: knowledge. Learn all you can...this is a good site for that.

Good luck with things!