All Forum Posts by: Christopher Boggs

We are planning on it being a rental, but are also open to a fix n flip. We are probably going to list it for sale for a month and see if we get any bites. If we don't get any decent offers we are happy just renting it. The neighborhood is a combination of renters and home owners, and the potential rent is between $900 and $950.

Our long term goal is to create a rental property portfolio, but since this is our first one we are open to selling it and using the profit to buy/rehab two more rental properties.

I redid the white formica countertops with Rust-Oleum Countertop transformations and they look great. Now I need to decide what color to paint the cabinets and what hardware I should pickup from Home Depot. The color of the tile I am using is also up in the air if you want to chime in on that too.

Overall Picture before we started - http://imgur.com/WGoev

Pictures of the new countertops - http://imgur.com/EokJX,oDT6P

Home Depot Hardware Section - http://www.homedepot.com/Kitchen-Cabinets-Cabinet-Hardware-Cabinet-Hardware/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbrh2/h_d2/Navigation?catalogId=10053&Nu=P_PARENT_ID&langId=-1&storeId=10051&searchNav=true

Facts:

- I already have the white appliances. I am using the fridge in the above picture and bought a new Whirlpool white gas range. ( http://www.lowes.com/pd_394357-46-WFG510S0AW_4294715790__?productId=3760971&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1 )

I want to put some kind of Vinyl Plank Tile down, but unsure of the color yet ( http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Vinyl-Flooring-Resilient-Flooring-Resilient-Vinyl-Planks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbzjz/R-202075782/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UNCNM4O7PK0 )

There will be new baseboard trim put in the kitchen

The house has a very open floor plan and the adjacent dining and living room has 1950's hardwood flooring in a maple finish.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Musings?

It seems alot cheaper than any other option for finishing a bare concrete floor in a basement. Only $50 per 250 sq ft + labor. I used a similar product they make for counter-top re-finishing and it looks great.

Rust-Oleum Epoxy Shield Basement 1 gal. Gray Floor Coating Kit - http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202588476/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=rust-oleum+basement&storeId=10051#.UM98BYO7PK0

I was previously considering painting the basement floor, but everyone I talk to says that it is going to peel eventually.

Has anyone tried this product? Whats the durability like?

I know this could also be posted in the Rehab forum, but I am aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the two options as a homeowner.

I am trying to make this decision as an investor though......

I am in the middle of a rehab on a future rental property. The current decking was only 2x4's and was damaged by a leaking roof, so I have to replace the decking boards and railing. I can't decide whether to use composite or treated wood. I know composite has lower maintenance, but wood is cheaper. My buddy owns a lumber yard so he gave me some pretty good prices on some closeout Trex Origins Composite. Also both prices below include brackets, screws, etc.

Approximate Rent - $900
House has blue vinyl siding
Deck has a brand new roof over it
I just installed a new support beam, posts, and sistered the roofing joists

Treated Wood Decking and Railing - $640
Trex Origins (grey) Composite Decking and Railing - $1140

What do you guys think I should do?

Does anyone know how long the paint/stain would last on a wood deck that is covered?

This picture was taken before I finished installing the new beam, but here you go - http://imgur.com/WQa7H

I want to start this out by stating I have already done all my homework to find out what I am planning to do is correct. That being said I am not sure what a reasonable price is, and how many coats of paint to do

I have a basement with 600 sq ft of floor space and about 1000 sq ft of wall space. I need to scrape and wire brush all of the walls, and repaint / drylock them. I only need to paint half the floor (other half is getting flooring put in it). So my the quote I got is below. I want to know if the price is reasonable, and if I really need to use 2 coats of drylock paint.

Concrete Block Walls - 1000 SQ FT

Tear off plastic and furring strips (only 500 sq ft)
Scrape / Wire Brush the 2 coats of existing paint that are flaking off
Clean walls with concrete prep solution
Clean up / Remove all scrapings, plastic, furring strips
2 Coats of Drylock Paint, including taping off 4 glass block windows, painting around electrical box and other utility hookups

Stairway Drywall Walls - 150 sq ft

Clean Walls
2 Coats of paint

Floor - 300 sq ft

Clean and prepare floors with concrete floor prep solution
2 Coats of Concrete Floor Paint including taping off furnace, hot water tank, etc.

Price with materials - $1800

I have already done this and no water :). I was also in the basement 1 day after hurricane sandy and no water

The basement already has paint that is flaking, and I am going to scrape it off does that change anything? Also I am going to make part of the basement finished with just painted block walls. Is the Drylock paint ok for that, or should I paint over it with another coat of something else afterwards?

I am doing a Rehab on a property I just purchased to turn into a rental.

The basement has been inspected by B-Dry and they said it is a dry basement, and there is no need for any kind of waterproofing system.

I am repainting the basement walls, and I have always heard that drylock, Kilz, or similar is the best kind of paint to use on concrete block walls. Then recently a contractor told me that drylock is horrible and will rot out your block since the water cannot come through. He suggested I use a regular paint so if water ever comes through I will see it.

I don't really have any experience here. What do you guys think?

UPDATE:

B-Dry / Waterproofing - I had B-Dry come in twice. One of the times was after it rained for 3 days straight. They said that I do not need any kind of waterproofing system, and that the wetness/mold was due to the water loss from burst pipes. So good news I have a dry basement and don't need to spend any money on waterproofing. I have had the plumbing problems addressed also.

After considering the costs I don't think I will get the value out of adding a bathroom to the basement, but finishing it might be a good idea.

I already tore out the existing water damaged finished basement. Again to clarify this basement was water damaged from frozen pipes bursting NOT water seepage.

After considering the costs and all the posts above I thought of this -

Scrap and paint the block
Paint the drop ceiling framing and put in new tiles
Surface mount the existing electrical outlets
Put in cheap carpet
Put in cheap baseboard trim

DONE. Nothing fancy, but finished and usable as living space. Also there will be no drywall to get damaged or moist.

To clarify this is only half of the basement, and the basement is split by a concrete block wall. The other half with the laundry and utilities will remain unfinished.

What do you guys think?

What do you guys think about advertising it as a 2/3 bedroom, and offering to put in the walls/doors for an additional say $100 a month. Its a little unorthodox-ed, but has anyone ever tried that before?

Also someone mentioned that leaving it as a large 2 bedroom, and going after a different market. What would that be couples with no kids or just single people?