Awful News About The House
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- Опубліковано 23 лип 2022
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In today's video I'm sharing a bit of what's been happening since closing on the house! There was quite a bit of work to be done and to be completely honest I had quite a bit on my hands with all the content and uploads. I also found out some pretty awful news about the bathrooms in the lower unit.
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My advice as a single female homeowner is to slow down and breathe, don't rush into any decisions about major changes, research, get professional advice and use a measured approach. There's no benefit in lurching from one idea to the other without knowing all the options and possible outcomes/consequences. I know it's exciting but you'll regret expensive hastily made changes.
Exactly
Exactly !
So true. I didn't touch my kitchen or bedroom for 6 months as i wanted to know my needs and wants before doing anything. Some decisions can't be undone.
Omg so true
Jackie888// such great advice. I remember jumping into everything and afterwards regretted it and had to redo.
Drew, I work for a Construction Company / Water Restoration, and have been through a similar situations. You should really consider calling a leak detection company, they might be able to locate the leaks with minimal damage. 2. File a claim with your home warranty, this is something your agent should have mentioned to you. It will help with some of the expenses of the plumber and re-construction repair due to any of the water damage. Get a lead and asbestos test on any of the areas you are planning to renovate /Demo. Find out the city permit process, expense, and time line on obtaining them, because that can take a long time and be very expensive. Good luck 😊
I'm astonished that none of this was picked up at the survey stage - I wonder what the surveyors were playing at, frankly.
@@221b-Maker-Street AGREE!!! I bought a brick rancher sitting on 3 acres at an estate sale, but had it not been an estate sale, I would have had it inspected closer. I knew I had to gut it, but the bathroom was the last to be renovated...and it took that long to find the leaking in the basement and the walls, because the elderly couple never took showers, but now there was an adult and 3 children living in the house. I had a soda ash system installed, almost immediately, from someone who was recommended by my well company, but the copper pipes already had their pin leaks long before I bought it.....a slow leak until it showed in the walls and floor. Fun times back then! 😅
We hired a leak detection company. Found the leak and fixed it. Went really well.
So kind of you 😇😍
Please watch out for hidden toxic mold that is common after termites. I almost died from it coming from attic into my newly remodeled home. It caused me to be develop a brain tumor and major neurological problems such as stuttering and vision loss - along with 11 other chronic diseases. I lost my home and everything in it. Also because of my illness I had to stop being a nurse practitioner/ clinic owner which I’d done for 16 years. My husband also left when I got sick after 25 years together. My whole life ruined along with facing chronic diseases rest of my life. All because invisible toxic mold spores. That no one can see or smell. It was so difficult to find the right medical provider to do the right testing and treatment. Many thought I was crazy until levels tested In my house showed extremely high levels blowing out of the vents. Then I had to travel out of state to find a doc who knew how treat me. Haven’t been able to work in 6 years. I would be homeless without my parents helping me after ex left me and our children. My daughter also got sick although it was less for her and her youth allowed her to heal fast with no lasting effects.
Having bought and renovated several houses, the best advice I can give you is from past experience, don't make major changes until you've been in the house for at least a couple months and find out how it actually lives for you. You'll become aware of things that you hadn't thought of prior to moving in and experiencing them for yourself on a daily basis. I understand you can't wait to start your designing but it will save you $$$ in the long run. Best wishes on what will likely be the first of many homes for you!
Congratulations on your new house! It’s wonderful that you understand and appreciate the existing architecture and design. I have to say: Don’t remove the walls! As someone who has renovated houses, including removing load-bearing walls, don’t do it unless you are prepared for unpleasant surprises, cost overruns, and for it to take more time and $ than you plan. Also, that’s a well-designed, generous and elegant space that makes sense as it is. Deal with the plumbing and the termites. Connect the units with the archway. Do not hang a light in the vaulted living room. Overhead light is horrible and the wrong fixture will cast unsightly shadows on that beautiful ceiling. You want lots of gorgeous lamps. There’s a reason there’s no fixture on that ceiling. Enjoy and good luck!
Thank you for the advice. I has been thinking about adding a ceiling light.
Everything WithMetta said! And Drew needs to approach ripping out those walls as if he was doing major surgery. I'd recommend getting an expert's opinion -- load-bearing walls can mean big trouble later on, depending on what you've planned for.
Invest in local licensed contractors with good reputations; they're worth their weight in platinum!!
@@krisaaron5771 exactly. Remove the wrong wall, and the entire house could be in danger of caving in. My sister had a wall removed during a kitchen expansion, and an engineer came by after the fact and told her she could not inhabit the second floor because the house was in danger of collapsing. So yeah, get an engineer in to do an assessment because removing walls.
Exactly!...i see wall sconces & standing candelabras shimmering in ghostly echos, reverberating in that Amazing room!
Don’t rip out anything yet. I used an infrared camera to locate a leak in my bathroom. Once I located the exact point. I decided to tackle it by going in from the adjacent bedroom instead of ripping out my marble sink counter top, cabinetry, and tiles. Was the easiest to fix AND saved me a lot of time and money. Another trick is to find an access to the broken pipe and slide a strong flexible smaller pipe through the old one, then connect it to the tap and voila, you have yourself a working pipe without breaking anything.
I'm going to second this. We wanted to cut an opening between our living room and an old bedroom to convert it to a dining room, but the living room had cove molding. Was told they would have to cut through the molding in order to put in the proper joist support. Found another contractor who simply did it from the other side, which had nothing fancy, and was able to preserve my ceiling in the living room. Also, as someone who has done some remodeling in different ages of homes - take photos of every single wall at every single stage. It has enabled me to locate outlets that the drywallers covered accidentally, where certain pipes were, etc. Never be afraid to ask questions. A contractor got mad at me for questioning him once, and I wound up stopping him from wrecking my drain tile, because it turns out he didn't know what it was. Good luck to you!
Agreed, used one for my bathroom also
Excellent idea!!!!!!
Going in through an adjacent room was what I was going to suggest, if possible. Even if infrared isn't possible, I'm still wondering if all the exploring couldn't simply be done from the backside. That's assuming these are stud walls. It will be messy either way, so it's picking the least bad.
I was going to suggest the exact same thing, go behind the bathroom, be it a bedroom, or living room, closet or staircase there's always a wall between the pipes❣️
Welcome to the world of owning an older house. By all means get quotes for the wood floors but don't refinish them till near the end. You will have to patch where you are removing walls, possibly with new wood, so it has to all be done at once. I know you want to get to the decorating where you excel, but make sure of the basics first: ALL of the plumbing, electricity and foundation. You don't want to decorate and then have to remove it. Best wishes for your dream home! (I am an older fan so am cautious.....would have lived in one and rented the other!)
I agree with the wood refinishing I went through the processed and yes we ended up patching 3to 4 times.
I’m always cautious with any older home. They usually need a lot of replacement. I would expect the possibility of replacing a lot of charming aspects of it, not including behind the wall and material integrity. I recommend research to preserve the home’s character with new or preserved materials that have a lifetime expectancy. There’s so many beautiful, accurately vintage reproductions (or close enough) to still respect the space.
I concur. Do basics first!
Totally agree! Do your floors last!
There's a lot of us "older fans"!
There will be issues with this house, it was built along time ago. But the good thing is that it was built a whole lot better than any other new houses you're going to find out there.
Very true. My run-of-the-mill, over-priced, typical Southern California tract home doesn’t even have square windows in some rooms. A lady who came to take measurements for blinds and shades proved that.
@@avesraggiana Sorry to hear that. I see it too in new, expensive homes that look worn already for their shoddiness. At least it’s a shelter.
@@avesraggiana you could not be more right. Homes built at that time are hands down better built than anything in the past probably upwards of 50 years. I believe Drew will have good people around him that will give him great advice.
We have rent 3 different homes and purchased two different homes in our almost 40 year marriage. I honestly think the best advice we received was to live with our house for at least six months. The repairs obviously had to be made, but don't make big structural changes until you have lived there for a while. Ask your realtor if there are similar homes that have been remodeled. Our realtor did that for us and the owner was only to happy to let us see the changes that they had made. They have us frank and honest answers. After much thought and weighing out the pros and cons, we decided not to make the changes after all. When we sold that home the value had tripled and the homes that had been changed were selling for a great deal less, and they had a pool!
I love that seasoned home owners are providing Drew guidance. You're not only helping him, you're also helping us upcoming/new homeowners. Thanks everyone!!!
Add a few drops of food coloring into your toilet (different colors in each area of question) then flush or run water through and see what color is leaking... Good luck and Congratulations on your new home. Very excited to see what you do with it.
Brilliant
I had thought essential oils but this makes way more sense 😂😂😂
Drew, I don’t know if someone said this already, but all the plans I had for different homes I lived in changed after I moved in and found that I lived and spent time in areas I hadn’t planned on spending a lot of time in. Live their a year before making major changes you’ll be surprised where you actually spend time. Congratulations!
Tip: make sure your electric panel box is labeled correctly. This can help you find problems like you just had with the noisy thing in basement. Just turn breakers on and off till noise stops.
Also, I know you mentioned getting the lights appraised - definitely do - then put them on your home insurance immediately! Even if you don't plan on keeping them all, if any of them get damaged when removing or moving them then they will already be on your insurance at the appraised value. Plus if you haven't already - install security systems and cameras even in an empty home - you can't be too careful.
You're talking bucks, at what point do light fixtures become just an expensive problem.
@@rockingredpoppy9119 Those light fixtures are worth in the thousands each. They’re not from the local hardware store.
Not sure what part of the country is you live (Florida?,) but Never leave your tools overnight. ... or at least setup a dead bolt closet for work storage. ❤ your home !!!
@@rockingredpoppy9119 he could sell them as well to pay for the work on the house.. I would hate having to do that ..but ??
Happy birthday Drew! I am the daughter of three generations of home builders and I suggest you slow down a bit in your process. With an older home there are always going to be surprises that layer on work that has to be done in each part of a renovation. The level of work to be done with your ideas is going to take a long time. That is just the nature of the beast. Each trade has to work together on timelines, budgets and city codes. You are on a major learning experience that will help you if you want your career to unfold into this level of design work. This is much different than just restyling a space. I look forward to following along and seeing your dreams come true. This old house is amazing!
Totally agree. This is far more than just a room makeover and Drew has the rest of his life to ake this home exactly as he wants it so what's the rush?
Amen sister!
Absolutely. Slow down and do quality work.
Yea but this is a youtube show, and the show must go on.
Amen to that. We bought a 1965 mid-century ranch style home with almost everything original and intact. Big learning curve. We proceeded with caution. There was a reason the previous two owners did little remodeling on the home other than install brand new solid hardwood floors through the whole main floor and bedrooms and install ceramic tile flooring in the kitchen--and on the counter(of which we ripped out the tile on the counter)(both they hired a professional to do). We were lucky that most of the basement was unfinished except for a recroom and we were lucky that the ceiling had removable tiles. Lucky because we had access to wiring as we have been replacing all the wiring in the home over time and replacing light receptacles. We have access to the plumbing for most of the house because of that except for the two main bathrooms. Luckily our home has all copper pipes which are very durable. We have been working with the city as we fix it up to make sure we get the proper permits for any work we do and we hired a Master electrician to upgrade our electrical panel(which was a double bus/split with no main turn off breaker)and replace any old wiring that still needed replacing. As long as you have patience you will get through it. You also need to watch out for lead paint and asbestos. Asbestos can be in anything from flooring to insulation to furnace wraps, siding, etc. So you need to test things before working on it. Same as leaded paint. We were lucky to be clear of virtually all of that stuff except the linoleum in the bathrooms, but all you need to do with those in cover it with new vynl flooring(just don't cut into the floor and don't disturb it). Ceiling tiles and popcorn ceilings can also contain asbestos. The joys of owning an older home. If its part of the historic register there may be restrictions too... 😊
The light fixtures are spectacular! I love seeing younger generations appreciating the beauty of and workmanship of vintage homes.
From a first time homeowner of a 1950s home, my advice is to slow down on renovation. Deal with the most functional things first before the design - plumbing, water heater, furnace, foundation, electrical, roof. They can unfornately be very expensive.
Yes, and having to ruin design work to fix functional things is disheartening.
I want to think that will happen. I hope he’ll listen to all the advice here, but I’m not so sure. Intuition says I’ll have to stop watching this channel.
Absolutely correct. The main structures of the house are the most important. There was a leak from my hot water heater that leaked into my living room floor, which was carpet. Our home warranty took care of everything including the new carpet. I paid my deductible which was $50. New Hot water heater, the plumbing and drywall and carpet. So slow down and think smart. I know it's exciting but slow down. One step at a time.
Do NOT go dark with the floors! As pretty as they would be, I used to have darker wood floors and they show ALL the dirt/dust/hair, etc. the lighter the better when it comes to cleanliness from my experience!
I have super light laminate and it gets water spots all the time. Doesnt show my hair or my pet's hair (all lightish) but i would think a medium color would be better.
Same goes for super dark or black counter tops and furniture. You wipe it down or dust, look away for a minute and it is back!!! Aarrrgghhhh!!
Sometimes clean freaks want to see the dirt and hair if its there to clean. Just saying... and I loved my dark floors when I had them in Washington. In contrast they are great at hiding dark dirt...carpet and light flooring are a no- no in a place that has dark soil where it rains all the time.
@@nickygilstrap9439 I agree, I love dark flooring and like you said would prefer to see the dirt so I can clean it 🙈 black reflective counters are a no no tho for me, that's a bit too much cleaning haha.
Sorry, I feel like Drew probably lives a lot differently. My mom had dark floors in her previous home and she kept it immaculate in spite of living in the woods and having large dogs.
Drew check and make sure there is no arsenic in the grout of the kitchen counter tiles. I lived in a 1928 house in Michigan and my dad replaced the counter in the kitchen in the 1970's. He chose to cover the tile because he said it was a common practice back then to put arsenic in the grout to keep the insects out. Like asbestos, it was better to cover it and limit the amount of particles in the air with a dangerous substance in it. FYI
Wow! I've been watching "home improvement" and flipping shows, for years, and before computers became the thing and streaming became a thing, I watched "This Old House" and other similar shows on PBS, LOL! Yeah, I'm old. But I learned a hell of a lot over the years. Never heard about arsenic in grout, that's a new one. Just goes to show, you're never too old to learn, and you learn (or should learn) something new every day. Thanks for the info.
I grew up in an old home in Michigan and pretty sure this was an similar issue along with asbestos. Had terrible allergies all 16 years of my life until we moved. 😩
Congratulations on the new house Drew. Good idea to have the original light fixtures appraised for value and also to make sure the wiring has been updated. And if you're not too keen on using some of the fixtures in your design, the sale of them can help pay for the renovation you're about to take on.
Also, check the tile, because alot of them were made with lead! If so, you need a professional service to remove them.
You don’t need to remove it etc. All tile needs to be sealed, 1x to 2x yearly, to protect it anyway. The old grout should also be sealed in that. (MOST LIKELY, THAT ISNT SAME GROUT FROM 1920 ANYWAY!) If you are concerned about anything leaching out, you can regrout or simply put a layer of fresh grout on top of the existant layer.
Here's a tip from an experienced DIY home renovator: refinish your floors LAST, after you've moved walls, pipes and electrical and after you've painted, etc. Hire a professional, who will be able to patch the floors where needed. The whole process will take 5-6 days and cost you somewhere around $3.00 - $5.00 per square foot. Also, if you want painted white shoe molding, instead of clear-coated red oak, you'll probably have to paint it yourself (at least that was my experience with contractors in Washington, DC where I live).
Hi Drew- I’ve bought a few old houses and had similar experiences. Sometimes vintage fixtures also mean no one updated the plumbing. Don’t worry. Almost everything can be fixed and all that wall surgery isn’t as bad as it sounds to find the leak. Just make sure you have good tradespeople and they are worth their weight in gold. The house is stunning and such a beautiful find. It will all work out. I love my 1905 house!
Congratulations on your new home! My advice: live with this house for a year before making any structural or other permanent changes like removing walls. You may have totally different ideas once you are living in the space.
I agree. I was even thinking he could set up one of the units for rental income while he works on the other unit.
AGREE
Absolutely agree with this. Houses tell you what they need over time.
Such good advice. I know it's realllllly hard to be patient, but I agree with Barbara.
yes, look how many times he changes the paint and room arrangement. He needs to listen to us old timers! Gone through it several times. And an ex that did tearing apart and no putting together. But I learned how to use power tools!
I've recently completed a reno on my older home. When things start getting demoed you never know what they'll find. So whatever quotes you're given double or triple your budget for the unexpected. I'd also recommend just moving in and living in the house a while to see what kind of changes should be made for how you want to live in the house before doing any major renovations. Good luck!
Yes I agree I would live there for a while first then decide.
You are ever so right!!! Houses reveal some potentials only if you're patient.
I would get the major work done before moving in.
Great information and suggestions!
YES Xavier !! thank you - it's almost always a couple of YEARS before you know what you really want to change. In meantime it's a perfectly great house! enjoy it!
It’s so exciting to want to dive into decor and renovation with a new house. But with an older home, it’s about getting those basic structural issues fixed first. It might prolong what you want to do, but home renovation is a journey that takes years. One thing at a time! It will be gorgeous and worth the wait!
Watch out for mold, especially if you’re saying your having allergies. I became very allergic for over exposure to it.
Amen to that Pricilla! 30+ years of illness due to toxic mold exposure here. It's not just sniffles so hopefully he'll be sure to have it remediated by an experienced mold remediation company - not just torn out by building contractors!
You're absolutely right. Too many people really don't understand just how detrimental mold can be on ones health
@@hippiebippie8870 I take it that you're a walking wounded mold survivor too?
Beautiful. Having bought and renovated several old and or historic homes (and made all the mistakes) the best advice anyone who's done this will tell you....slowwwwww down. Live in the house at least a year before making big changes.
That’s the best advice so far. I’m 71. I know this is true.
Great advice!!!!
When he asked for our thoughts......first thought i had was...mmmmm..i would have to live with this for a while before i could dare change Anything.....now..i get what that meant.
I think as far as knocking walls down goes...hang tight. A house of this age will keep revealing issues once you start living in it. Unexpected expenses are not fun! So get a couple of savings pots going: one for long term reno, like taking out walls and another for those unforseen circumstances. Spend at least a year getting to know the house and how you operate with the extra space. There's no rush.
With regard to the tile- if it can be remedied without removing the tile then that's great. But otherwise, if it has to come down then maybe its just the houses' way of saying 'put your stamp on me!'
maybe its just the houses' way of saying 'put your stamp on me!'
Love that perspective!
My mother said that to me when. I bought my girst house. Same fir garden. Wait a tear before doing anything major, get a feel. You'll be wasting money otherwise. Decorate, but don't tear walls down.
I was going to say the same thing. If the tile has to come down, maybe this is the universe telling Drew that he should really make it his own. Maybe in a way that honours the original (same colour or style) or in a new but still beautiful style that he can really enjoy. 😊
yeah almost 5 years in we had unexpected...like why was our propane gas like 5 times everyone else and we have electric stove so only the gas water heater. The one company is well, got in trouble with county before so we switched to the only other company in this small town. We wanted to move it to the lot main house is on. It was built on empty lot adjacent to an old houe builder bought and tore down. So propane tank on that one. They refused to move. So new company did. Yah lots wrong. Old concrete slab unstable. Then we foundout digging trench to redo it had a major leak. 3 plum trees were sick, cancer sores! As soon as we dug up the dirt was like smelly coat tar briquettes. The flies came like Amytiville horror! The new piping is now flexible and gee the bill is 5 times less. But that tech said the leak must have been going on years to become that. So that got fixed. But had to look to what to do with plum trees. I finally found on the EPA website they inject hydrogen peroxide into soil and in lakes. The issue with toxins the soil goes anerobic. No bacteria to produce oxygen. I got that and mixed with water each time. They came back! Got comletely health again. Any tree looking sickly I give it a shot of hydrogen peroxide. And amend soil. We have calcium high desert soil. By other comments this county is not lets say complying or full of any answers. Shrugging is the mode. We buried the soil under our new driveway!
Just found your channel. Actually, about 3 hours ago. You're addictive and I'm looking forward to watching your journey with your new home!
Also in older homes especially with plumbing issues like flooding of basements or leaks you can get mold. And mold is not your friend. You can get allergy like symptoms or cold like symptoms. We had changed out our toilets one time to the taller toilets and we were shocked to see how much mold was underneath them both. Crazy , be safe, be smart Drew. You should really seriously have a mild check in upstairs and downstairs and in your basement. Seriously better to be safe than sorry. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Jus friendly advice, no judgement zone here ✌️
My body is a black mold detector, instant severe reactions. Went to St Augustine Florida with a friend, rented a hotel room on the beach, the hotel had been renovated for hurricane damage. They moved us to an area that was not damaged. My thoughts also, he might be reacting to mold in his home.
Thanks for your advice maybe that's why he's feeling like he has a cold just here praying for his health and for his great attitude he's so positive I really didn't like to hear that someone wants to rip the walls out OMG and thanks to all of you who are giving him advice it makes a big difference😉
I restore buildings here in Los Angeles. B and W tile in Gardena California is a great resource for color matching vintage style tiles. They are great to work with !
i hope he sees this
Yes, I was going to tell him to look in the basement too. I use to live in an apt now style and color combinations in the tile lavender yellow, green and black, pink and burgundy with the same octagonal floor tiles. Might be able to find some other people with extra tiles or remodeling. Might can find other apt/duplex ownets with extra tiles that are the same as his.
That happened with me with the plumbing problem, all the electrical stopped working in thosevwalls they started bowing but they were able to fix it with not too much damage to anything I think they went through the other side of the wall in another room.
I hate this phones auto correct sorry for the typos.
I was born and raised in Gardena nice to know good things are still there
The building inspector really should’ve caught that vertical leak and could’ve been something you could’ve negotiated in the sale. Some Inspectors have like a 6 month warranty if they miss something big. I’d reach out to the building inspector you used too to let them know about this.
I’m going too!
Absolutely check with the home inspector. A leak on a vertical water line must be seeping down to the basement somewhere. It should have been caught. They do have liability insurance to cover such items.
And...Happy Birthday
@@lonefox and when you talk to OWNER of inspection company -1. leverage your UA-cam channel and exposure 2. have a couple ways for them to remedy problem like they can pay for 2nd opinion plumber and they can pay for final repair. yes!
Boy I agree with this comment. I hired a building inspector on three separate houses, two of the houses failed inspection which I cancelled the contracts. On the third and final home the inspector gave the home a gold star and it passed with flying colors, however the living room light fixture has a fan that doesn't work... so go figure, how did he miss such a simple thing. I wish I had known about the 6 month warranty on inspections.
@@deb5710 do you mean just the light fixture itself had an issue? Like you could replace it with a new fan and it would be fine? This likely sounds snarky, but lighting with fan combos are so outmoded and cheap to replace. Yes, it would be a dumb miss for home inspection, but not anything that would impact the sale price/negotiation, surely. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Knocking down walls & creating a more modern open layout just doesn't gel with the style of the house. Would you consider perhaps adding another arch opening to replace the door to the kitchen? Maybe an 6-8 food opening?
Agreed!
Would he consider buying a more modern home? Eh, sorry.
It’s such a wonderful house! I want to agree with other comments. Make sure your foundation and roof are perfect before you do anything else. After that start mapping your renovation plans, to get an idea of what possible structural changes will be needed. Then you can get plumbing and electrical update estimates. Floors and wall finishes are last. It’s exactly the opposite of what you probably want to do, but it’s the best use of your money. The ceilings and floors are just beautiful ! Best of luck !
I wouldn't decide on the layout changes for a bit honestly. When I first moved into my home I had a lot of ideas that looking back wouldn't have been the most functional for how we use the house. The ideas I have now would have never crossed my mind without spending a good amount of time here thinking about it. Love the new house!
Agree totally!
Yes, it's like living with a garden for a year before you do anything to it.
Yes! Live there for a bit first. At least a year. See where you settle and how the light and seasons change.
The number of times I’ve been like “oh crap where’s the landlord” to then think “oh crap thats me. I own this house” as a new homeowner myself…
My husband is a gas fireplace technician! He said the sand in the fireplace means that you have a natural gas, vented gas log set. He said you need to run the fireplace with the damper open at all times 🙂 And the black stuff is called glowing embers! It’s decorative and makes the fireplace look pretty when it’s on.
I just found your channel tonight and I'm obsessed! I haven't watched any of your renovation videos yet. The first one I watched was you showing your landlord the apartment. But your work is gorgeous and I don't want to miss a second of you renovating the new house! I'm so excited!
Melanie, me too. Just discovered this. My first video was the one where the landlord visited the apartment. Can't wait to see the new house unfold.
So glad Madolyn said it! I too am an old home owner.
Floors are usually last, especially in older homes, where lathe and plaster demo's are heavy and can be damaging to floors. You are already working on your foundation which is the best thing you can do first! That way any new plumbing will stay stable.
Getting your plumbing sorted out before you decorate can save you soooo much grief!!! You can take a guess on how I know that.
Next I would get your electrical "looked at", older homes have "interesting" electrical work.
I know you are counting on your inspection to be good enough but there are things they don't know to look for in an older home.
A suggestion: Talk to your long time resident neighbors, they probably know some things about your home that will surprise you and they may have already made the upgrades you are thinking about.
Oh the bathroom plumbing? Can they work from the opposite side of the wall, so that the tile work isn't ruined?
🙌🎯🥰
You should try an infrared camera before ripping out tile. It’s often way easier to find leaks with infrared! There are tons of videos on youtube on finding leaks with infrared that can show you how it’s done! Way cheaper than exploratory wall surgery. Good luck ❤️
That’s a fabulous suggestion. Some of the slab and pipe leaks around our general area had a whole industry of leak detection with sound and new technology that also spurred the whole repiping industry. Much like Drew’s Duplex would be our units also had vertical leaks and had to go in both of the units to find the leaks with infrared and sound tech
Also a good way to find other infestations like bees or wasps in the walls or roof.
Excellent idea!
I agree with this suggestion!
Totally try this. Rent from Home Depot for a few hours. Helped us find the spot before we started destroying the walls in 1938 house. Ran hot water for 30 minutes. Also had a bunch of pipes replaced when strategic holes were open. New pipes are like flexible plastic. First 2 plumbers suggested same as your guy. 3rd plumber was more on the page with us. Do what needs to be done with least damage. One other tip replace wax rings in all toilets you do not replace. Those leak over time too.
As a realtor I have seen those leeks found with a camera inside the walls to avoid tearing the walls.
I love how much you’re reusing the older tiles and keeping character and being sustainable, so inspiring!
I just want this out there for anyone looking to purchase a home. Please be very careful taking recommendations from your realtor especially when it comes to inspectors! Some realtors give kickbacks to inspectors to overlook things to help them sell a home. Do a lot of research on inspectors. Go to the inspection yourself and feel free to bring any professional you know that will ask questions and make sure the right things are being checked. If something doesn’t feel right, get a second inspector to come out. Even the best and most honest inspectors will miss things. It’s so important because this can easily be one of the biggest purchases in your life and you can always renegotiate your contract depending on your findings. This is not a comment on Drew’s situation, as I said even the best inspectors miss things.
OMG. Ceiling beams... fireplace... the HUGE ARCHED WINDOWS.... I would have thought this fell into my lap straight from heaven! No matter what twists it throws at you, you will not only overcome them, you will make this place a paradise!
Yes please get the light fixtures appraised and do a video on it!!! They’re so beautiful 🤩
i cant tell you the amt of times homeowners(even in relatively new homes) have found problems behind the walls after they have bought the home. dont let it get you down. its very common. get the leaks fixed. thats the priority. everything else can be done in good time. try not to stress out. put it all in context. my dad use to tell me when i got upset w/ work or boyfriend trouble...."youre not in a hospital dying...everything else is fixable & you get over it & thru it & in time you'll think what the heck was i so hysterical over??!!" sooo true!
i live by that maxim.
Just a note about really dark floors...they show EVERYTHING. I opted for a mid-tone and was much happier. I loved the really dark floors until I had to maintain them on a daily basis.
Yes, they show everything. My friend had bigtime regret after she went dark!
also agree with this! we went with a lovely Brazilian mahogany in our place but its SO hard to upkeep. shows everything in like a few hours after cleaning
I agree 😭
Smile... I am in the same boat. (and imagine a house with two little children).. Oh My Goodness!
The apartment I rent has beautiful dark floors and I HATE it! It shows anything and everything right after you clean it so it just always feels dirty for me
So happy you found the house of your dreams. You will work Thru the problems and I know it will be gorgeous when you are done! Mom
Hes a bit overwhelmed. Heck who wouldn't be.
I know and it’s amazing the difference in pricing to do the same thing from one company compared to another is insane!!
This msg was so sweet! 💕
Ohhh sweet message from mom, my heart 😍❤️
I really hope that U get the problem sorted out Drew, as it's such a beautiful home..
Oh my gosh......the wood beams on the ceiling upstairs......STUNNING!
THE LIGHT FIXTURES!!!!! OH MY GOSH! Jaw dropping GORGEOUS!
Hey Drew - Welcome to home ownership. Just a little word to the wise, it really doesn't get any easier. But, a couple of ideas. For the downstairs bathroom wall exploration; has anyone thought about going through the wall in the adjoining rooms (the rooms on the opposite side of the leak area)? You'd be able to see into the wall just the same, just wouldn't damage the bathroom tile. Also, be very careful with what you do with the lighting. Some of it looks original and could be very valuable. Additionally, it could be irreplaceable if lost or damaged. The 1920s were a very important time in quality home construction in LA. The ceiling beams with the accent painting are also very important. It seems like you have a home with a lot of valuable and original features. So just be careful what you do. Jonathan is a great resource but you should also tap into the experts in the area (like in Pasadena, e.g. the Gambel House) about homes from that era. I agree with you that the floors should be finished closer to the ceiling color. You don't seem to have pets and a Swiffer is easy to use. But, you may want to wait and see what you do in regard to removing walls before you refinish the floors. As I'm sure you know, you have a HUGE project before you. You have a great eye and superior taste. Just take your time and don't rush into anything. This is going to be very expensive, and take longer than you'd expect. Just budget wisely for both, time and money.
The light fixture upstairs in spare bedroom (stain glass) is newer. The rest are very vintage. They are worth thousands. You should have them appraised by an antique dealer before you remove them. You could sell them online for big money and help pay your repairs...
@Lone Fox, Drew, oh my gosh, it would be sooooo sad to sell the original light fixtures! They are a huge part of the authenticity & charm of your new home. Eventually, if you did sell them but later wanted to restore with other, comparable historical light fixtures, it would probably cost way more.
Those amazing original light fixtures are the jewels of your home. Please do not take them out & sell them!
@@saraheschweiler4939 Sarah, I actually agree with you! I personally wouldn't remove them, but I believe Drew isn't fond of some of them and if he does remove them, I wouldn't want him not to know their value.☺️👍
Light fixture is :
ua-cam.com/video/t6xiSVca6I8/v-deo.html
I highly doubt he’s struggling that much financially to sell them. In the tour video he said he was going to keep them.
@@kristibeisecker I never thought he's struggling. He commented in the tour vlog he didn't like certain fixture. I hope he retains the fixtures. I just wanted him to be aware of the value in case he does not.
Personally, I like having the walls in older/historic homes. It goes with the style of the home. I hate it when reno shows say they love all the character in an older home and then remove a lot of it by opening up walls. I'm very curious about your light fixtures, would love to see an appraisal. I'm hoping that the plumbing issues can be fixed easily, perhaps get several quotes. As others said, it's possible to pinpoint it better with technology rather than smashing stuff.
I know you want everything fixed asap but please take a breath, it's a process and you have time. I wouldn't go too much darker on your floors, it shows everything and you don't want to be too matchy with your beautiful ceiling. Your new home is amazing, enjoy!
I agree- it doesn't matter if it's green pink yellow or purple elephants... whatever! KEEP IT otherwise~ YOU'LL COME TO REGRET IT DOWN THE ROAD!
Work with it!
I agree, I already have a feeling that all of the beautiful character is going to be gutted for the sake of “aesthetic, styling, and content”
That is why so many historic homes now a days have no character. It is a damn shame.
@@pricklykitty939 yes!!! I can’t believe he is going to butcher that already amazing kitchen and bathrooms. I would freakin do anything for a historically accurate kitchen and bathroom. Shame on the previous owners too for adding that ugly marble.
As a project manager for a couple of decades, there is no surprise that doesn't come with the overwhelming feelings of panic about cost and delay and the basics of any unknown. Old homes, even well cared for old homes will have their mysteries. Do your best not to panic. Every challenge has a solution at many price points. Use the medical approach of do no harm until you know harm is the only option. If a trade tells you it is the only option, find a different voice to explore with. The easy route is usually not the best route. When vintage tile is involved know it is set on a thick bed of concrete mortar and you should not go through it unless you intend to demolish the tile wall. You come at the same wall cavity from the other side of the wall which is almost never tiled over and will sometimes be in the back wall of a closet which is ideal. A plaster or sheetrock wall is infinitely easier to repair when exploring and any good plaster company can skim coat the entire wall to make a repair virtually impossible to locate. Avoid exploring from the tile and mortar side and open the other side to have a peek in the cavity. Also, never trust the drip you see at the floor or below in the basement. Water will find the easiest route out and will usually follow a pipe or framing to any opening even one far from the source. An old dry home in a dry climate can also just absorb a very slow leak making it very hard to find until you locate the rot or the termites do it for you. Ants and termites will often find the source of water before you do. My motto remains, every catastrophe has the potential to be an opportunity if you explore wisely rather than swiftly. Make a good plan and stick to it. Good luck. Congrats on a cool project house.
I am sooooo crazy about the pink and yellow bathroom!!! My grandparents had a 1950’s hot pink bathroom and bright purple bathroom so when I saw your house tour I screamed!! The pink tiles are amazing and I’m thrilled you’re going to try and restore them!!
Rarely does someone buy a house and renovate it without finding a few issues crop up here and there. My Dad was a developer and more often than not there would be some hidden issues just lurking to be discovered, but my Dad told me that how the buyer handled the situation made all the difference. I think the fact that Drew immediately wanted to problem solve and tried to understand the issues by using his resources to call and discuss it with the contractors is a really good approach. While the situation is not ideal, if this is the only problem that is found with the house, Drew is still doing pretty well.
Always always unseen problems crop up. That is just the nature of renovating.
It appears the house was built in the 1920s or 1930s, it's nearly 100 years old. It IS going to have issues, that's a given. Anybody who expects to buy an existing home and it NOT have issues is pipe dreaming themself.
For having renovated several, living in 200 yr and older buildings : one always has surprises...My last ones were enormeous roofleaks and a wall with salpeter.. And trust me, many an expert including myself had been fooled on that one. ( A direct consequence of climate change and temperatures in a usually temperate rainy area that has turned in a fairly mild, almost dry climate.
But that is part of the game...gives everybody work and problems to be solved.:))
Is there not the possibility to get repairs back from vendor?
Here’s the problem: Plumber realized there’s two leaks in the upper bathrooms leaking into the lower bathrooms through the walls. They have to do exploratory work to determine how bad the problem is, but worst case scenario they need to pull out all the original tile.
Inspection missed it cause they didn’t look at vertical pipes
Thanks
Right and Drew remember that , you can always go back to those inspectors as they have , be cause you high-erred THEM , to make sure you where getting a so,I’d sound place ! I had to do this with my inspectors and you know what ? They had to lay up ! So remember that !
You da real mvp
However you figured out there was a leak... the inspector could have found out the same way. It's LITERALLY their job. I think your inspector dropped the ball here. He should be liable. Not you. If it was an under the table deal with your agent... they are both liable.
Also... you could check the disclosure list from the homeowners. If it wasn't disclosed... I would start calling every local contractor, plumber and ask if they have ever been to your house on a call before you owned it.
If you found this out so soon. The owners knew.
@@es4242 well... you pay them to not miss things.
I would feel pretty good about putting a huge percentage of my reno budget into opening up those walls for a bigger kitchen! sounds like it'll be an AWFUL process but I think a big kitchen would be the one thing that would really make it feel like a big single family home instead of two duplexes.
You kind of make we nerves don't touch any of that chimney stuff how how weird it wasn't there before sand I'm wondering what that really is anyway I'm really excited for you blessings to you and all this work your young and have so much energy may you be blessed and have the strength for you through I know if anyone can get this done it's you just your energy is positive and all good😉
Enormous chef's kitchens open to the rest of the house are a fad that needs to end.
@@melodyfleck9368 Makes me crazy when I see those shows where the homeowner says they don't cook but want 75,000 worth of marble countertops and stainless appliances. Then their living room sofa two feet from the stove ends up with grease all over it from the frozen french fries they're making all the time😛
@@Glim246 lol! So much racket from the kitchen if a person does cook. Who wants to hear that all over the house when kids are trying to study, a good show is on or someone wants to read or listen to music?
That's EXACTLY what I'm yelling at the tv as they are breaking through the walls😂 My dream house has a small room with a fireplace and seating connected to the kitchen so the cooks can be part of everything.
The rest of the time I want you to leave me to cook in peace.
Daughter of a fireplace installer. Dad owned his own shop. Those are gas logs. You can light them and if they are good quality the material that the logs are made of will glow as they get hot in the gas flames. Good quality ones can look incredibly real. The funny black stuff at the bottom is a fireproof produit that is heat sensitive similar to the logs. They will glow and sparkle when hot and look like real log ashes. Probably when the chimney man did the chimney he realized that your ashes were missing and added them for you so that when you light your logs they will look nice. The sand substance is just a substrate for the ashes. Check to see if your logs are hooked to gas and if the gaslines are up to code. If they're just setting in there you can take them out and do what you like with them or get them hooked up for a super clean way to burn a fire and heat a room. It's very pretty and romantic as well. If they are hooked up you'll want to get them serviced to make sure they're clean, functional and the gaslines are up to code. :) I hope that helps!
16:15 I have commented under your house tour video already. Think about the option to not remove the walls completely, but make the openenings more wide. This is going to connect the spaces in a really nice and flowy way
Totally agree!
You can defiantly widen the existing openings, but what about adding a series of open archways along the wall instead of opening the walls completely. Picture the interiors of a Spanish style courtyard with all those arches and pillars. **Bonus it will mimic those triple arches in the breakfast nook and the book nooks in the upstairs.
I is agree ROOMS are important. Open spaces just feel like a lackluster apartment
I’ve purchased and sold quite a few homes. Questions… why didn’t the original inspection find this? Was the home owner aware and did not disclose? Very significant issues to discover after the fact. I would question the realtor, inspector and the homeowner. I can understand why the realtor is helping- he may be a friend but this is a business deal. Also remember water under the home- clearly this is from the bathroom? The inspector should have questioned the origin. So should the prior homeowner. But I love love love the house 💝
yeah we bought as is but that was cosmetic. In california too. There are things the inspection has to have but our agent back in the bigger town we had for selling our old home had to tell us to tell agent in smaller rural town what was missing! The buying documents were redone and redone several times because each time somehting left off that was in, typos and yah...lots of things! To make a note...this new county doesnt enforce ANY weed abatement although in a fire state and at times flames coming over the mountains. Fire Captain drives by the huge weed lots on either side of us daily.
@@retroredo9850 buying as is sounds crazy to me. I got a full inspection report on every home I've purchased and negotiated with the sellers based on report findings. I live on the west coast with a very competitive market, but that was non-negotiable to me.
Anyone can give themselves the title of Home Inspector- so great to find a truly experienced one.
L Jones I am glad to see you post that, because I had the same question. I thought perhaps the inspection laws were different in CA. I too have not only bought but sold my homes and when inspections found issues the owner had to fix or in my last sale the buyer and I worked together to fix, which even the Realtors found unheard of. (Many was just cosmetics) . This is no small house, I hope the repairs won't be astronomical.
Exactly. When drew says the realtor is helping find a person to help. No they knew problems and the owner/ inspector/ and realtor are to blame.
The house is beautiful. Miss that beautiful apartment you had. I can't wait to see how awesome you make this home
I do too. I wonder if he inquired about buying that apt from the owner. It seemed perfect. I don’t know him but this house feels like an odd choice.
@@thedepthsofrepair I agree that it seems odd but maybe this is his dream home
I love that you have such a great realtor! Really shows his character and professionalism!
I know it's so exciting to have your own home! I would suggest living with it for a little while and slowly making decisions. As much as that's not very fun, it's definitely the best advice as a first time homeowner. Also would suggest joining some old house groups on Facebook to help you with the bathrooms or other details. My old house "fix" is a great one on fb where lots of people know how to do deal with old house stuff.
Drew, I always advise living in a space for a year before making any major changes like walls or windows.
This!
At the very least 6 months.
Brother! Please make sure you are decompressing at the end of the day. During the phone call about the pipes, I could see your leg going 100 miles an hour under the table. Take care of yourself. Much Love and Respect. Peace.
OMGOODNESS,!! I remember when I bought my first house. I see all the excitement In your expressions and
voice. PLEASE. PLEASE 🙏 do not get rid of those light fixtures!! The one looks like an original Tiffany!!! I'm excited for you. I can't wait to see all the renovations. I hope you keep the tiles and most of the kitchen in its original state. These homes are hard to find. All you see now are cookie cutter homes. Make it yours with all those vintage, Eclectic, Beautiful pieces of history. Love your channel.
17:09 this is why you have to do all the expensive "ugly work" before the pretty decorating can be done. Imagine finding these problems after you installed a whole new bathroom or, floors, or kitchen.
Would be so interested in seeing a video on getting the light fixtures appraised!
Welcome to homeownership Drew! It is a stressful but incredible ride. Plumbing and other issues are common with these old gems. You have an amazing historic home and will have a fantastic journey with it. There will be repairs but you have 1Mil+ subscribers who will help and support you along the way! :)
Drew, If you haven't already, watch the DIY show Restored with Brett Waterman!! His shows will help you with salvaging and reusing the original tiles, fixtures, etc. He works with THE BEST craftsman in CA! You could potentially contact and consult with some of them on some of the projects you are wanting to do. Brett is sooooooo great at restoring and modernizing older homes while maintaining their original history and aesthetics.
Something I feel you do incredibly well also. Especially in your recent apartment, which is why Roger loved it so much. You brought out the original beauty in it. You will gain a ton of wisdom from watching Brett and see how and breathes new life into each one!
I can't say it enough... please, please, please watch a few of his shows.
Each episode has the architectural style of the home that is being renovated, and their are similar ones to your new home.
I recommended the same thing! So glad I'm not the only one on that wavelength! Someone else advised Drew to talk to him too, so I hope that person was "seconding" us! Ha ha!
Drew, definitely try to make contact with Brett, after you watch his shows! He worked on several houses with features similar to yours, and you will learn about the stenciling on the ceiling, and even possible ways and why's about removing or not removing walls! Many "architectural features" in older buildings and homes are really due to structural necessity, or even climate needs--like taking advantage of breezes, or central courtyards with water features in southwestern architecture had alot to do with the hot dry climate, and allowing for air circulation and adding humidity and the feeling of water to the home. Learn about the history of the home and what has been done to it and why before you tear things up. "Rehab Addict" is another good show to watch, because she works hard to restore old houses, instead of just remodeling and flipping them, and she goes to great lengths to find replacement pieces that are actually from the period and style of the house. You have the credentials, influence and chutzpah to talk to these "celebrities;" Architectural Digest doesn't pick "nobodies" for projects! You deserve the caliber of help you can get from them, and I'm sure they can use the exposure they can get thru you!!! You go, guy,!!
The second light you showed, the “stained glass with roses” one, you might want to have checked for it being a Tiffany Lamp, my grandmother collected Tiffany lamps and that one looks exactly like one that she had (sitting in my dads living room currently) but they have also been duped and reproduced so def look into it! Tiffany lamps were super beautiful and expensive!!
And as for the tile that you love and want to keep, look into re-glazing! I just bought a 100 year old farmhouse in my home and have done everything I can to preserve the original woodwork, moulding, hardwood floors and had the old deep farmhouse sink I’m looking into have re-glazed instead of replacing with a modern replica
And don't be discouraged if Tiffany lamp not signed or marked, there was a time period when they were not, you will need professional assessment.
I thought the same thing. If it’s not it’s a pretty good knockoff!!
@@HeatherMarie725
I totally agree with U..
I'm not an architect, so this is just my opinion..
why buy a period home & then go & rip out all the things that make that home look unique..
a major bug bear of mine..😡😡
Just 4 reference, but not the same, in my home town, we have a 250 yo building with lovely old stonework that builders want to rip out & replace it with modern sh**e..(sorry, I do apologise 4 the lingo but I hope U can tell I'm furious about this.. so far thankfully, everyone in the town has been against it..🤞🤞)
I was thinking the same thing
When you get the alabaster light appraised ask about having it cleaned. It may have years of grime and tobacco stains on it and be a totally different color once cleaned. Also the brass may have some amazing details that you can't see being there dirty.
I’m really excited for the lamp appraisals! Hope there are some gems he can auction off to cover the new house expense.
...they're* dirty 😁
This is common for older homes unfortunately. I know it’s hard but be thankful that you found this issue before the renovation. You must keep an open heart and mind with restoration as everything will not be salvageable. Gorgeous house!!!
Also, thank you for documenting this adventure. It reminds the rest of us just how much is involved in buying a house. Yours is a gem, and I hope everything goes as planned for you!
Oh Drew... as you will find out, when purchasing a home, the inspection never tells the whole story. I've owned and fixed up 4 houses. You do what you can afford with a lot of research (get 3 quotes minimum) and then some things can ve claimed on your home owners insurance, like the plumbing issue since the inspection didn't find it. I know you wanted to keep the bathroom in its original state, but there are salvage stores or new fixture made to look old (MaCenna is ase great resource for that). Once you've done, you'll know that house inside and out. Ask all the people you know who have owned and renovated! Good luck! I'm cheering for you!
Yes. Always hire your own unbiased inspector. A lot of time they are familiar with the realities and are dishonest because of that.
N,
I agree with people who advise living there awhile and seeing how the house works for you. Get the structural repairs done, of course, but the optional cosmetics can wait. I'm sure you'll be eager to change things that don't look good to you, tho--it's hard to be patient with visuals that are unsatisfying when you are so visually-oriented.
That house is a prize! Definitely get those lighting fixtures appraised! And find all the architectural salvage and "junk" dealers in the Southland, and develop relationships with them so they'll watch for things you're looking for, and call you when they see them! Research, research, research! Learn all you can about the house, the design era, structural engineering, repairs, etc, but don't always let the estimators/contractors know how much you know. You have such a great eye and design sense, and your enthusiasm is contagious; mistakes will happen, and lessons will be learned, but I pray you don't get cheated or taken advantage of! Best of luck, and happy birthday! 🥳🎉
Being a homeowner can be overwhelming and stressful. Sometimes it feels like everything is against you. Just keep yourself grounded, you don’t have to do all the renovations at once. You got this, Drew. Love all the updates.
Thank you for sharing this with us! I love the in-the-moment detail and it makes me feel invested with you. Good luck and have a nice week 🤍
I’m honestly so excited for the design process, I’d love more videos like the one you posted a while back showing your process on photoshop. I can’t wait for this to all come together! Your style is so inspiring! Thank you for being amazing! X
Hey Drew- don’t get discouraged! After we bought our house, a potential contractor discovered that water was accumulating in the crawl space, weakening floor supports and creating mold. I was devastated but they put in a sump pump, did some bracing and clearing, and then later found that the problem was a very stupid drainage system for storm water. While it cost a fair amount to fix, it’s all fine now. I actually forgot it happened (this was 2 years ago) until I saw what you are going through.
One recommendation- live in the house before making some of those really big changes. You might come up with a different plan after living there.
When you showed the different shades of tile in the bathroom it made me think there was probably a plumbing issue and they had to use different tiles to patch up where they cut out the wall. Maybe they could start by taking out the discolored tile to see what's behind those areas? 🤷♀️
You may have bought a money pit, but it's still such a beautiful house. You're young and have no kids to drain the bank. Lol!
The house reno is the new star in your career and your 'baby'.
It will be worth it to get the major things fixed and leave the major esthetic remodel stuff for later. You have a life time to renovate that house. Baby steps. It's all about the journey.
It sounds like you are building a great team of supportive professionals. Your house is going to be so amazing and such an awesome investment when you're done. I've been following you for years, and so very proud of you Drew! 💕🙌 You're doing great things to create the life you love!
I don't think it's a money pit. Speaking from my own experience, sadly. Everything he's mentioned is actually super normal.
Excellent suggestions. Also, I noted that the stucco on the exterior of your chimney was textural at the base, but not at the top. Evidence of repair work? Also, in the wall you want to cut for a staircase. Same thing. It's hard to hide flaws or repairs in plaster or stucco.
@@awildelife I don't mean "money pit" in a bad way. I meant in comparison to buying a house that doesn't need any work, just esthetics vs. buying an old house to repair and fix up. In Texas it cost good $5,000 to get your house tinted for termites I can't imagine what the cost would be in California.
Kudos to Drew though. He's doing great things and way ahead of the game for being in his mid-late 20's 💗
I’m so in love with your new home. Try and preserve the old tile. But I do think some of it has actually become a safety hazzard. I’m so happy for you. Can’t wait to watch your journey ❤️
We bought a 6 bedroom house a couple years built in 1865. I wish I had the energy to restore the essence of it, but it's hard while living with narcolepsy. Just gotta take it 1 thing at a time. ❤️
Hopefully you haven't stained floors yet...
Dark stain SHOWS EVERYTHING! Been there, done that.. shows every speck of anything not dark.
Super high maintenance!
I'd stick with a mid tone if you want darker. It'll also not take away from the beautiful ceiling!
Ohhh so very true!
You just helped me make a decision for my house. Thanks for that!
So true. I just recently took out dark chocolate brown floors in my apartment for that reason. Vacuum and it starts looking dirty again 30 mins later since every dust speck shows on the floor.
As one who restored a house that was built in 1905, I would agree with those who said let the floor wait. I would work from the top down and get all the basics, plumbing, electric, painting, etc. done first. I was also wondering why the home inspection didn't discover all this prior to the sale but you and others explained that pretty well. An old house is a money pit but so nice when it's done. Some of the light fixtures are certainly unique. If you take them down, you may find they are worth a lot more than you thought and could recoup a bit of cash to go forward with. Sell what you don't like and keep the rest. Best wishes on this journey. I think you are amazing, you will figure it out.
I so so SO appreciate your authenticity and transparency in this process. I bought my first home a couple years ago and went through something similar. It was so cute and nothing big came up during the inspection so I moved in and started getting so excited planning cosmetic updates/renovations. That's when the big issues started to come to the surface. I was very disappointed but I will say that it helped me bond with my home and made the future cosmetic updates that much more satisfying.
First.. love the house! Regarding dark floors. They are gorgeous unless you have a sunny room. You can’t dust enough for them to look nice. I have and love how bright and light our home is BUT… I dust and 5 minutes later it looks dirty again. I’m in the process of lighting everything up. Hope it all works out perfectly for you.
Drew, I have lived in so many houses in my long life. I think it would be wise to live in your place before you make too many significant changes. I don't know what your budget is, but you are moving from your beautiful apartment to your new home with so much potential. Living in your home, your ideas may change. The floors for sure if they need it. But just enjoy your home and make the changes slowly. I am excited to watch the process.
Realtor and broker here. So nice to see your Realtor going the extra mile. Lean on him and his resources. Congratulations on the house. I hope this leak situation is just a blip and you're onto the fun stuff soon!
Just found your channel. Love how positive you are (when a lot of people would be freaking out). Really enjoying your videos now. Best of luck with the new house and Happy Belated Birthday :)
Don't rush, if you can move into the upper unit which is in good condition, live there, take the vibe of the spaces and see how it actually works for you before you make more permanent changes. I think when you live in the space you can invision it better and see in reality what is more practical and efficient in your everyday functionality. Also the tiles might be that old but this doesnt mean you need to keep them. Those represent the taste of the owner that intsalled them, not nessassarily yours. You could find old tiles i guess or kind of replica which will reflect your tste and aesthetics. Good luck and congratulations!
Slow down on the knocking down of walls. the style of the house is what you loved and you don't yet know what it will be like to live in it. It's YOUR house so you have a lifetime to change things. You are so good at the decorating, room by room and that could be enough to start with. You have a lot of expense with plumbing etc coming up. I love everything you do and I'm sure it'll be a success . Fabulous.
Basically once you start opening something up, in these old homes you have to start doing everything, especially will new building codes and such. Ideally you just want to do cosmetic work and not serious construction cause it will end up being really really expensive
I agree. Also, once you open walls and then find mold or asbestos, you've opened Pandora's 🎁...
Your home is gorgeous and full of wonderful history, congratulations to you
OH my word ! The light fixtures are gorgeous ! Please KEEP THEM. ALL !
As heartbreaking as it is, you're better off getting rid the old cast iron pipes before you finish the bathrooms. Just let them do what they do and you'll never have to think about it again. I don't think you would have been able to save most of that old tile anyway, ripping it up usually breaks them, so transplanting a few from one to the other was probably not going to work. My suggestion is to take photos and replicate the original style as best you can. I actually just had to do the same thing, and after it was all over, it felt fine.
Yeah, as much as I generally prefer trying to preserve original features... houses are also homes, not museums, and - especially with kitchens and bathrooms - renovating them to modern standards is often the right move. Just don't slap something randomly modern looking - like the upstairs bathrooms - in, but take inspiration from the rest of the house and the previous bathroom design and go from there - but then I prefer "inspired by" to "replicated exactly," I think!
I do think trying to keep the green kitchen tile would be nice, though, if possible!
Taking photos is such a good idea! It's something I'd do with an older house anyway, making a photo book or folder with notes and pictures, documenting how I found it and what I changed! Just imagine how interesting this could be for a future owner!
Good advice. 👍🏾
It might be that all those old tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms are set in concrete. Makes the very difficult to remove with out breaking. I removed kitchen tiles in my 1906 house in Oakland and more than half broke. Bathroom wall tiles were set in 1 inch of concrete. Had to strip the walls to the studs and install water resistant dry wall and then concrete backer board before the tile. Yeah may be overkill, but when I got finished using a superb tile setter installing modern subway tile you could not tell that it was a new installation.
Hi-I learned from my own experience darker the floors and everything shows up way way more-go with a light to mid color -the ceilings are gorgeous-those upstairs light fixtures are soo expensive-if you want to sell them get them appraised first-keeping the integrity of the home as much as you can-granted it needs to be your style and your home,sometimes it’s just not cosmetic
Archways are my all time favorites. Older homes have definitely beautiful vintage looks. I REGRET letting a jerk destroy the original bathroom tile floors in my 1955 house. Sure some were cracked, but I could have lived with them. My parents were the original owners.
Personally I like a lighter stain on the hardwood floors.
This is a nightmare: JUST found out the cast iron pipes need replacing. My Social Security won't cover this. FYI: use kool-aid instead of pee. It reveals leaks from where.
Never fun to learn about problems but better you found out before fixing it all up and then having to open walls! A blessing in disguise. You will have a sound home in the long run! It’s a beauty of a place!
I'm sorry to hear about your plumbing issues, Drew - that's really unfortunate. With respect to opening up those 3 walls, I strongly recommend that you live in the space before making a huge (and expensive) decision like that. When I bought my house 3 years ago, I had several specific renovations in mind. My thought process has shifted during that time, and I'm glad I focused my energies on the aesthetics like paint and decorating. The renovations I'd like to do now are different from what I had in mind then. Take your time and enjoy the journey. Making your home your own is a marathon, not a sprint.
Agree totally! It's important to live in a space to really get a feeliing for what works. I say this as someone who has owned and remodeled 13 homes in 5 states over the years.
Agree
Congrats on the fantastic house You'll have great fun to redo it. I have renovated a number of houses and I agree with others. Do the mechanicals first. You might consider doing a complete plumbing replacement using PEX tubing. Trying to piecemeal repair old plumbing is a never ending chase to find the next leak. Do a pressure test. Turn on faucets and then flush the toilet and see what happens to the water pressure. If none of the old cast iron pipes have been changed they are beyond their life span. If the previous owners have done some repairs by connecting copper into the old galvanized there is a possibility for leaks at the unions. The first main renovation I did was a froze out house in St Paul Minnesota where ALL water and heating systems had to be replaced in a 7k sq ft house on four floors. I could go on, but, get a few bids from plumbing companies. You'll thank yourself when all the mechanicals are done.
I also agree about removing walls in an older home. The charm is in the age and it seems to have good space. Give it some serious thought before making a drastic change. If you go ahead, make sure an engineer does the plans for it and then make sure you get a permit. It will protect your investment.
Drew, we are literally dealing with the same thing in our San Diego condo right now. You might want to consider checking with a water damage mitigation company. They are specialists and have access to tools and resources (camera probes, fans, dehumidifiers, etc.) that many plumbers do not. They are also experts at minimally invasive repairs. We found ours through the insurance company. Just a thought…
Congrats on the new house and best of luck. Can’t wait to watch it all unfold for you!
Ahh this is great info! Thank you so much
I feel your pain. Don't stress the bumps in the road it distracts you from the little gifts along the way. Keep posting. Good luck.
Hi Drew! We bought a 100 year old home with beautiful unique hardwood floors. We also opened walls causing a gap in the floors. We had a very knowledgeable contractor that found salvage wood that he plained. When the floors were sanded and refinished, they were stained to match. I looovvvved the floors. I cannot wait to see your home transform into your vision!