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The downside of a 1907 house

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  • The downside of a 1907 house

    So, as most of you will recall, since we moved in 12/11/06, the following has been done:

    new toilet for Nikolai's bath
    removed the wallpaper in Nikolai's bath
    moved Master pedestal sink to Nikolai's bath
    had Nikolai's room and bathroom painted.
    had Master bath done down to the pier and beam under the house, new tile, new vanities, new fixtures, new paint. Shower also installed on 6 foot claw foot tub.
    Bookcases installed w/ window seat in office
    New washer and dryer.
    Completely new HVAC system which included new unit, new registers, new ducts and three new thermostats to individually control the front half, the back half and the upstairs.
    New fence (yes, that would be 260 LINEAR FEET of handmade wrought iron fence...) is ordered.
    Painted all 9 columns PLUS first coated the porch floor AND the steps.
    Bought a new lawn mover and fired Matt the Stoner.

    and today? pin hole leak discovered UNDER the house. Which required excavation to get to the pipe. and then the plumber had to crawl under the house, remove the bad pipe, replace with new and then the excavators had to return to fill in the hole. Hello quick 1k expense...

    Thank goodness I got paid today.

    But, the upside is that we had 1st Thursday again, at the oldest house on the street (1895)- it's AWESOME inside. They've unintentionally done it shabby chic. Like the Shabby chic ladies could learn from these ladies. Sat in the backyard, sipped vino, ate yummies and looked at some amazing architecture.

    Lesson learned: don't buy an historic home until or unless you are willing to spend every single penny you may ever accumulate (accidentally or on purpose) on home maintenance.

    Jenn

  • #2
    Re: The downside of a 1907 house

    Hell - same could be said for a house built in 2002 w/o the amazing character of your house. Right now my husband is outside in a rainstorm wading through the pond of water that accumulated due to the sh!tty grading. We've found that the window into his office is leaking.

    And I can't drink.

    Sorry to hijack, but misery loves company (isn't that why we're all here??)

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    • #3
      Re: The downside of a 1907 house

      Circa 1900 rowhome here. Total bathroom redo hell. Pretending I don't see leaking skylights under heavy rains. Cracking front stoop. Air conditioner replaced last summer.

      I need a drink. (Oh, and I'm not handy or flush with cash). Old home -- awesome character ... priceless repairs.

      I feel your pain.

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      • #4
        Re: The downside of a 1907 house

        awesome character ... priceless repairs.
        No, THAT may be the quote that lives on.

        We are very lucky that our recent turn to frugality has allowed me to have this reasonably available. But my mom said when she first laid eyes on this place, "you'll never be done."

        and once again she was RIGHT!

        Kevin- skylights have always scared me for that very reason. and Jenn, you are absolutely right- ex and I moved in to our brand new townhouse and almost immediately had to have a French drain installed. and had to have it painted thanks to the crappy painter's grade paint. and it took 3 coats.

        Yay homeownership.

        Jenn

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        • #5
          Re: The downside of a 1907 house

          One of my neighbors just had her skylights replaced and was pleased with the work and the price BUT...since we just blew the wad with the bathroom AND I know the roof and gutters need work (next summer?), I'm not even letting myself think of the few (er, several) drips from the skylights during heavy rains.

          The goofs that repaired our bathroom laughed that they wouldn't take on skylights because they never ever wanted to "own the leak".

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          • #6
            Re: The downside of a 1907 house

            Originally posted by DCJenn
            ...my mom said...

            and once again she was RIGHT!
            Isn't that always the way?

            This 1930's house we're renting is very cute and all, but I don't think I'd want to own it unless I was rolling in cash. Latest thing is the back porch is about ready to fall down.
            Sandy
            Wife of EM Attending, Web Programmer, mom to one older lady scaredy-cat and one sweet-but-dumb younger boy kitty

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            • #7
              Re: The downside of a 1907 house

              Now I know what to save $$ for... I would really like an old home. My uncle has a gorgeous old home in Seattle-- it's just great. He's done a ton of work on it. I think it's from the 30s or so...

              DH is a lot less excited about a historic home. Maybe after the kids are all gone!
              Peggy

              Aloha from paradise! And the other side of training!

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              • #8
                Re: The downside of a 1907 house

                We've got a 1910ish home....with a 1940s addition. Last night, we had a leak in the kitchen ceiling. It's the upstairs toilet. Great!! Now I know what I'm doing today! Plumbing! What I love is all the mysterious wiring, rewiring, plumbing, and re-plumbing that seems to go through these homes. You can never guess what's behind those walls. In our first old house, we had all the original gas lighting fixtures and plumbing in place. Better people would have saved them....but we only kept a few for atmosphere.

                We have great moldings and huge beams supporting the house in the basement. You don't see that in new homes. Still, it is a constant source of projects. You either love that or hate it.
                Angie
                Gyn-Onc fellowship survivor - 10 years out of the training years; reluctant suburbanite
                Mom to DS (18) and DD (15) (and many many pets)

                "Where are we going - and what am I doing in this handbasket?"

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                • #9
                  Re: The downside of a 1907 house

                  I'll have to post a picture of Amy & Geno's house, it was built in 1764!!!!!!! It has great histroy. My SIL is very involved in the Buck's County, Pa Historical Society. They are doing some renovations now because in the 1940s an addition was put on that didn't really match the house. They had that taken off and are now having a new addition put on. Unfortunately, they are in a one bedroom apartment until at September.
                  Luanne
                  wife, mother, nurse practitioner

                  "You have not converted a man because you have silenced him." (John, Viscount Morely, On Compromise, 1874)

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                  • #10
                    Re: The downside of a 1907 house

                    DCJenn, I feel your pain. Our condo is from 1902. I'm right there with you...

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