Home Remodel has begun

kl8ton

After a year of planning and a several month battle with the township's building official, my home remodel has begun! It was a beautiful 10 degree morning here in West Michigan.

I have a farm house built in 1900.  The addition being removed was built in the 1960s.  It was nearly impossible to keep this addition above 50 degrees in the winter.  We are digging a full basement and adding  a two story addition.

WeberWho

Cool! Keep us updated. Congrats!

MN-Egger

Post pics as the project progresses. 

Hotch

I need one of those!

4Runner

Dang. Looks like you have a spread all to your own....what was the issue with the township?

kl8ton

@4Runner
That gambrel roofed barn in the back ground of the second pic was built by the previous owner without a building permit.  It is a very funky looking structure.  It was added on to a shed roof two stall garage and over top of a single stall flat roofed garage.  Township wanted full construction prints of the barn/garage building.  Once that was turned in, I needed a building permit for the garage, followed by an inspection.  Dealing with a real estate lawyer, the title insurance company, the township, the previous owner, etc took several months.

They should be digging the basement today!

Focker

Sweet!  Nice lookin' spread you got there.  Keep us updated.  

Looking at a kitchen remodel in early planning stages, .  Doing everything on my own, with help from a buddy.  Verde Butterfly granite tiling over plywood and hardibacker with 1/16 spacing on countertops and backsplash, replumbing new sink/faucet, new cooktop, range hood, and updated lighting.  Will be a fraction of the cost of granite slabs.

Love seeing extensive projects like this underway.  Always something to do my friend.

Proud to say the only job I've hired out was a furnace, AC, and water heater. Cousin is trained, I didn't trust him, and know my limitations.  

Hope everything works out as planned. 

DuckDogDr

Government beaurocrats will stick it to you every time if they think they can get a dollar... 

kl8ton

Had about 15 trees that were 30' tall taken down as they were crowding the driveway.  Here is a bonfire pile.




Progress on basement yesterday.  Should be done with digging today.


.

Chubbs

You should have an egg fest in your yard while bonfire burns

victor1

nice project, good luck.   and i'm complaining about having to finish the lower level of our addition into a second family room?  lol

4Runner

kl8ton said:

@4Runner
That gambrel roofed barn in the back ground of the second pic was built by the previous owner without a building permit.  It is a very funky looking structure.  It was added on to a shed roof two stall garage and over top of a single stall flat roofed garage.  Township wanted full construction prints of the barn/garage building.  Once that was turned in, I needed a building permit for the garage, followed by an inspection.  Dealing with a real estate lawyer, the title insurance company, the township, the previous owner, etc took several months.

They should be digging the basement today!

Sorry to hear that.  Just seems silly since your are so isolated. Good luck. 

4Runner

Any deer on your property?

kl8ton

@victor1
I am not doing this myself.  I am really doing none of it.  Hired an architect and a builder.

@4Runner
Yes, I put up a trail cam this past fall

kl8ton

4Runner

Nice. 

pgprescott

Nice place. You weren't kidding about a remodel! Quite extensive. Good luck with everything. Remodels tend to be a bit more of a pain than new construction, but it looks like you are well on your way.

kl8ton

@pgprescott
It is a huge pain.  I love the property.  It is 5 minutes from work.  We got what we wanted: "an old farmhouse."  It's funny about getting something you want. . . sometimes once you have it, you don't know why you wanted it so badly.  It is so much headache, paperwork, stress, decision making, etc. that I don't think i would go through it again. . . and we just started digging.  I think i would sell and find something already done that suits my large-ish family.

pgprescott

kl8ton said:

@pgprescott
It is a huge pain.  I love the property.  It is 5 minutes from work.  We got what we wanted: "an old farmhouse."  It's funny about getting something you want. . . sometimes once you have it, you don't know why you wanted it so badly.  It is so much headache, paperwork, stress, decision making, etc. that I don't think i would go through it again. . . and we just started digging.  I think i would sell and find something already done that suits my large-ish family.

Hope it all goes well and you have many, many, years of enjoyment for your troubles.

kl8ton

Footings poured yesterday.

kl8ton

kl8ton

Basement walls poured a couple weeks ago. Weather has not been good for pouring the floor.  Supposed to happen any day now.  75 degrees  tomorrow here in west Michigan! 

YEMTrey

Hopefully the weather cooperates and this job gets progressing nicely.

kl8ton

That is the plan!  

kl8ton

kl8ton

The builder says full steam ahead now that concrete is out of the way.  Lumber delivery any day . . . 

kl8ton

Backfill tomorrow.  Then framing.  We are awaiting lumber delivery.