Sure is quiet around here

[Northern Miner]

We figured it was best to paint while old carpet was down and then one room at a time we paint and pull. Soon the new floors - can't wait for school to finish so my SIL and DD can help. Today I bought compressor to do the nailing. This way we only need to rent a gun and since we have so much flooring to do here at our house and over at their house. Compressor has different gun that came with it to do baseboards and window casings etc. We are splitting the cost as our Fathers' Day present to ourselves!

[Northern Miner]

What a sad lot we have become. Nothing going on and nothing to share I guess. Not quite used to the inactivity so the questions to be asked are is it because of the site, or the people (not) using it?

You hate to post for the sake of posting and it's not my intention to drum up interest but....

[Doctor Q]

Maybe just because summer's getting started.. But if anyone is having trouble with the site, please tell me about it! We're refreshing the look of the forums within the next few days as well.

[lessismore]

Well, I figured that everybody was tired of hearing of my renovation projects!
I am certainly busy trying to make the right decisions. Battling between my love of wood windows with the practicality of these PVC windows that I find a tad cheap-looking. So that is my present dilemma. Price difference certainly makes my partner pay attention.

[Northern Miner]

Hey ,there is some life in this old board afterall. Okay two lives so far and maybe we can guilt a few others into posting too. Thanks for that heads up Q and look forward to seeing whats new.

Lessismore - personally it would be nice if wood wins, but given their price compared to the other guys it really is hard to defend or expend. Good luck and pictures make perfect.

Here we have finished what painting we can do and only have the rug in the LR & DR to remove and then when the kids finish school we can start the process of home at last and then unpack everything. Oh what fun.

[lessismore]

I know, the wood thing is really bothering me. Everybody around me is stymied by my desire to have wood windows on the interior but what can I say... they just look better. (IMHO) Anyway, thing is they are showing me solutions, the trim is in wood etc. etc. The window in the kitchen is quite large (42 X 68, guillotine style) and the price difference is about 400$. And of course since we are looking at two windows right now it adds up and of course we have to replace approximately 7 more windows before all is said and done. That will happen over the next year or two but once you start with one design, wood or PVC then you are sort of stuck....right? And everybody says that since I am planning on painting the wood then there is no point in wood. OMG, I am getting on the 'too many decisions mode!!'

[Dustbunnydiva]

Checking in... oh go wood. PVC means you are pretty much stuck with the colour forever and ever and no matter what people say I just can't figure how plastic is seen as quality compared to wood. It's just an 'economical' option sort of like a plastic/vinyl purse/wallet/shoes compared to leather. Just no comparison IMO. PVC also has a life span and does break down while wood when taken care of can last and last. There are plenty of old houses around with original wood windows that demonstrate that one. Not unusual to see wood that is decades and decades old still looking great while I think PVC is seen as a 20 year option.

I can tell you that on my last house I replaced a lot of the windows with wood and found going to a local window maker vs HD or Sears or any of the big box stores made a huge difference in price. I think I ended up paying about 30% of what HD quoted on their wood and less than they even quoted on the vinyl (and I got to get custom stuff which suited the era of the house when it came to divided light etc.).

One big difference was I was able to choose a quality of window that suited the house. Now that house had no insulation and was over 70 years old so having the best super duper 3E oodles of argon or whatever windows made no sense what so ever. The big box folks had very few options in that regard while the local company had all sorts of them so I went with good, better, best and got 'better' which was lightyears ahead of what was there but not over kill given the house (really there is only so much windows can do with a house that isn't up to speed on insulation).

So shop around and if you know any contractors, ask who they recommend locally as that gets you a great price and quality.

FYI most companies will also pre prime the wood if you want (which I did for a couple of them). The rest I had delivered early so I had a couple of days to do a finish on them before they were put in place (much easier having them in the basement all set up than trying to do it on both sides once they are in).

[Northern Miner]

Well the world hasn't ended and I didn't fall off, but things have not happened quite as quickly as I had hoped for.

Yes things have changed - new wiring panel, all new switches, painting is 99% done and flooring is going down. Today we added insulation to the attic to go from R12 to R52 and also last week put in new energy efficient furnace and air conditioner. Whew - guess we have done some things afterall.

Anyway here are some transition shots to give you an idea of what has, and is happening. Remember that ugly flat grey powder room wall - well it's still ugly albeit in an off white semi gloss now. Helps. Flooring for LR/DR is almost done - tomorrow according to SIL and DD. Then baseboards and window and door casings and voila - one part of the house done. Yippee. So here is where we are at.

[lessismore]

You know me with photos I need explanations otherwise I get easily confused. ;$
Where is the 3rd pic from?
Love that front door...are you going to be painting or staining it at all?

[Northern Miner]

Ok,ok, geesh #1 is the front hall looking at the front door from the LR and the old grey brick is now off white. #2 is the DR wall that is now finished and even has baseboard. #3 is close up of that old grey wall that now is semi gloss off white. #4 is looking from the DR to the LR with a few obstacles in the way.

As for the front door, it is sheltered and you are looking at the outside of it and it's open into the hall. Wasn't going to do anything to it.