All Forum Posts by: Mike Reynolds

I think it's a great idea even if it is just a Zoom mastermind. In person would be great also. Let me know. A lot has happened in the last 5 years. Most of it good but some bad. Lessons learned though.  

 I'm not an engineer but I have seen many "specs" from engineers. One that was very puzzling to me was 18-gauge metal blocking in the walls at a large hospital wing I was building back in '09. It was 6 stories of hospital. We installed grab bars in the bathrooms, med gas walls and even the handrails in the hall. I never thought it would hold but here we are 12 years later, and they have held. I think 1/2" plywood or better would work just fine for most applications. If you are still wary, then use Snap-Toggles from the big box. They hold 250 lbs each in 5/8" drywall alone. Imagine what they would hold in 1/2" plywood + 1/2" drywall. The best thing about these are you can take them out and the toggle will stay there. No need to replace the toggle. 

SNAPTOGGLE | Steel Wall Anchors | Heavy Duty Toggle Bolts (toggler.com)

Why would you need to find a stud on a shear wall? You have built in blocking with the plywood. 

Nice detailed info. I don't do STRs but I have been thinking I might one day just for kicks. 

One thing has me puzzled though. Why would cities make it hard to have them? If I was a mayor, I would want all the tourists I could get. They spend money and increase revenue. 

What am I missing? Why would they want to tamp down on Rentals?

Originally posted by @Jason J.:

I'm looking for anyone who could share experiences of how much they paid to demolish interior office space and turn it into bare shell condition. Job size and cost or price per sf. Picture shows similar building.

 It's always Tree-fidy. Every time. 

Seriously though, it will depend on so many factors in your area. And so many factors on what you are keeping and getting rid of. 

Are you tearing out the MEPs? Is there asbestos? Lead paint? How much does it cost at the landfill? Are they accepting construction debris at the landfill? Will you need a permit to demo? 

Find the cost of a roll off dumpster in your area. Estimate the yards of debris and figure about 30% more than that. Minimum. If you will be doing a lot of these buy a dump trailer on payments and use that for metal. Let the metal pay the notes on the trailer and it saves on landfill fees too. DONT go cheap on the labor. Cheap labor will hurt worse than good labor. Everyone thinks demo can be done by anyone but it really cant. The demo can make or break you. 

I have paid as much as 40 dollars a foot for these types of jobs. They had insurance and have had to use them too. When you break a fire sprinkler pipe and it lands on college students eating lunch on the floor below, it tends to make people mad. It was a bone headed move and he was using cheap labor. 

Did I mention not to use cheap labor? 

 Are these single homes or parks? I am not sure I would buy paper on a mobile home unless it had land under it. Not trying to be critical, just wondering what was the issue. 

 The good news is that you have at least 100 amp service at your poles. Why not just rent out the homes to companies that are working there. They may take a whole block of them. Then you could move the worst ones out and transition those to RV pads a little at a time. 

 You have to compare apples to apples. Chances are, he has different or better materials. Back in the '80's I once lost a bid on an entire house by 100 dollars. I figured double pane windows, R-30 attic, Foil board and 30-year singles. 

He went with the other bid and got single windows, R (freakin') 11 in the attic and black construction board. Oh yeah, 20-year shingles too. 

Which was really the better deal? But hey, he saved 100 dollars though. 

My point is this. It is so easy to get sideways with a preconception about any bid. Ask him why he is higher and if he is honest, he will show you why. Then you can decide what to do. 

 That is interesting for sure. I have always heard they dont work up north too. My father always told me to believe half of what you see and none of what you hear though. If they are offering rebates, then they must work just fine then. 

 If your drywall crumbles, it is likely it has been wet before. It is now dry but won't have the same strength as it was new. I would replace the whole thing.