This is a publicly visible forum to discuss the renovations to 1991 15th street. You must register to post. http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/list.php?10 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:31:32 -0600 Phorum 5.2.7 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,805,805#msg-805 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,805,805#msg-805 July 16-18th 2010.

At this time I am leaning towards a smorgasbord of smaller tasks, rather than one larger project. This is mostly due to lack of significant funding for a Dream House type project, and lack of any glaring issue or serious problems with the house.

If you have experience installing windows, or are good at drywall (specifically taping and mud) the list of tasks will definitely reflect that skill set. Hopefully we can get a few guys with some skill and get some serious work done.

The goal is to really work hard and focus to get the project(s) COMPLETELY done. I can't stress that enough. You are encouraged to have a good time and a few beers, but not at the expense of the project. My goal is not to have 20 people show up for a BBQ and swing a hammer for 20 minutes, but get 6-8 guys who can bang out the work. Taking Friday off work to get a true 2-2.5 days of work done is strongly encouraged.

Property Master budget will definitely cover all supplies, and perhaps some food/refreshments.

So let the volunteering and discussion begin.

Aren Paster
Property Master]]> Mr. Softee Dream House Forum Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:54:01 -0600 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,739,739#msg-739 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,739,739#msg-739 Weekend Warriors On Laser Focused Projects to Absolute Completion
Project.

My vision of these projects are to bring 6-10 guys to the house for a weekend (2-3 days depending on project). A project of limited scope will be chosen. All supplies will be purchased before hand. Everything will be moved out of the way before hand. A cohesive plan and concrete deliverables will be defined. The team will be comprised of knowledgeable, appropriately skilled members and good followers.

The goal is to get this project done, correctly, on budget. There will not be 15 trips to Home Depot. There will not be massive feature creep. Inexperience will not rule the day by shouting down common sense. The project will not be abandoned due to exhaustion and frustration before the finishing touches are complete. Basically it will be the exact opposite of the upstairs bathroom renovation.

You are more than welcome and encouraged to have fun, drink your ass off, and reconnect with alums and actives. You are barred from leaving before the job is complete, and 100% accountable for the finished product.

If people have issues with this plan/strategy/concept, please speak now. This is only my vision of WWOLFPAC right now. But I have a lot of Cool Aid and enough cups for everyone.

On to the project:

There is currently a leak in the basement at the junction of the wall and the floor. We have typically had water issues on this wall (central North by the furnace). Partly because the wall is somewhat porous, there is a window there, the downspout drains within a few feet, and our neighbors are close and any gutter issues tend to keep the ‘alley’ soggy. When I walked through last week, there was an approx 1” deep pile of dirt that had been washed in by recent heavy rains.

I don’t know the true cause of this. It appears there may be a loose piece of slate potentially blocking the downspout. So that water running down the valley of the roof is bypassing the gutters and just falling in front of the basement window. It’s possible the pipe the downspout has been routed to (which is believed to run to the storm drain) is clogged. Or that this pipe simply runs into the ground and the wet summer has ‘filled’ the ground sufficiently to get water intruding to the house.

Without more research I do not know if the answer is to a) dig a trench next to the house to examine and fix from the outside, b) apply serious interior waterproofing technology, or c) a solution I am even less familiar with.

If you have experience with this, please chime in with the answer.

If you want to help fix it, we need to pick a weekend in August. I am free the 8/9 and 15/16. And if my crew is rocking, you might convince me to just close the door, walk away, and assume it will all go to plan (Austin Powers style).

And as always, if you want to just sit at home and throw money my way, who am I to judge.

Aren Paster
Property Master
EI #356

I will try to throw up a picture or two to help assist my terrible explanation.]]> Mr. Softee Dream House Forum Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:58:22 -0600 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,738,738#msg-738 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,738,738#msg-738
Kitchen floor
o Quarry tile – industrial stuff you see at restaurants, easy to clean, indestructible
o Something else you need to talk me into

Bathroom walls
o Tile floor to ceiling. Expensive, easy to clean
o Tile to chair rail (~4 ft). ledge at transition will get dirty, but cheaper
o Sheet rock. Cheap, but won’t last

Dining room can be much larger if current bathroom is not converted to ½ bath. With ½ bath under front stairs, there will be at least one toilet on first floor and 2 upstairs. How would it affect living and parties to lost current bathroom completely? True question – bigger dining room or 2 shitters on first floor??

Should we throw a urinal in the upstairs bathroom? There is most likely enough space in addition to the 2 showers, 2 sinks, and 2 toilets

What sort of privacy enclosure do you prefer outside the shower stalls
o Full height tiled walls $$$
o Institutional type partitions w/ solid door $$
o Institutional type partitions w/ curtain door $
o Nothing at all (just shower stall like existing 2nd floor bathroom)

Colors throughout? It’s not critical, but something to think about. Do you want to make anything purple? Or lavender and yellow? Or just go with mostly neutral and institutional with everything.

A few new closets are being constructed. Do you want doors on them? Almost none of the closets currently have doors.

Aren Paster
Property Master]]> Mr. Softee Dream House Forum Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:44:38 -0600 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,737,737#msg-737 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,737,737#msg-737
- all bedrooms we renovate (102, 202, 204) HAVE to have new doors (1 hour fire rated). I'll need some strong reasoning from a few people to convince me we don't replace all of them.

- front and rear exterior doors HAVE to get upgraded locks so that NO special action is required to exit. (ie - no deadbolt, no turning knob to unlock as we currently do on front door)

- a door SHOULD be added by the bulletin board to prevent downstairs fire from running up the stairs

- a door SHOULD be added from the bar room to the back stairwell. Having to exit out through the potentially burning kitchen is not a great idea.

- I'd like to add those magnetic holders on all the doors to the stairwells. Then they could be always open, until a fire started and then they'd close automagically. Current solution where they have closers but are always propped open with cinder blocks is not particularly safe.

- We cannot legally sheet rock and use the attic unless we install a FULL house sprinkler system, raise the rafters further, add windows for ventilation, add stairs in the front of the house, and rebuild back stairs (note at lower left of print). So at this time, I think it's best to leave this alone.

Feel free to discuss any of these or other issues. I will be happy to discuss them with the architect.

Aren Paster
Property Master]]> Mr. Softee Dream House Forum Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:48:41 -0600 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,608,608#msg-608 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,608,608#msg-608
Large 'structural' projects - obvious shit from the new floor plan

2 Enclose furnaces
3 Replace front double doors with single door & windows
3 Half bath under stairs on First floor
4 First floor bath replaced by half bath
4 Downstairs kitchen makeover
2 Convert First floor porch to pantry
5 Enlarge study into closet
4 Remove Second floor bathroom, expand bedrooms
5 Convert Second floor kitchen into dorm style bathroom
4 Second floor porch access from stairwell
5 Second staircase to attic

Other - smaller projects perhaps for Weekend Warriors

5 Attic windows
3 attic floor
4 Attic ventilation
3 Attic insulation
4 New windows throughout house
4 Refinish wood floors
3 Sump pit
4 Basement water issues
3 Fix up exterior masonry (front steps, bricks)
3 remeter gas and electric
3 remove coal chute
3 fix washer drains
2 clean up wiring
2 fix up wood trim
1 Dehumidifier in basement
2 revent clothes driers
2 motion controlled lights in common rooms

??? to do - survey results for these are mixed, not sure we want to even do them

4 raise pipes in basement
5 Bilco door (exterior exit to basement)
3 BBQ pit

I also have a few dozen little shit projects (not listed) that might be good for workweek. They are more maintenance type stuff. I would also anticipate that most of the demolition work for the larger projects could be done by us.]]> Mr. Softee Dream House Forum Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:15:08 -0700 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,372,372#msg-372 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,372,372#msg-372
Do you like the idea?
Do you want to sign up?
Are you knowledgeable and/or good at anything house repair related?
Are you an eager grunt who can shut the fuck up and follow direction?
Or are you just Bill Maloney?]]> Mr. Softee Dream House Forum Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:19:44 -0700 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,159,159#msg-159 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,159,159#msg-159
I encourage you all to bring up any other projects, and comment on what we should do first, second, etc... I also suggest you ponder what you might be skilled enough to help with, or loaded enough to pay for, or "know a guy" who can hook us up with supplies.

refinish wood floors throughout
attic ventilation
Convert basement sump to wet sump with pump $300-350
Repair exterior masonry $350-400
Correct electrical deficiencies $150-200
Repair cracked ceilings and walls $1500-1800
Install additional outlets $30-40 each
Remeter gas and electric services $800-1200
Dehumidifier in basement $400-500
Plug holes in foundation
Revent clothes driers
Leaf guards on downspouts
Remove extra wood partitions in basement
Repair/replace storm windows
direct Exterior door access to basement
BBQ pit
motion sensor controlled lighting
patch, paint wood trim throughout
new windows throughout
workshop area in basement for tools, projects
insulate attic
new floor in attic]]> Mr. Softee Dream House Forum Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:50:56 -0600 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,133,133#msg-133 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,133,133#msg-133
The full plan is probably close to this:

- Agree to basic layout by August 2008
- Generate a huge list of tasks to get from here to there
- Somewhat prioritize said list
- Begin working and fundraising individual tasks

I would anticipate (and expect) the actives to provide more of the priority and labor. The alumni to provide more of the funds, and color choices.]]> Mr. Softee Dream House Forum Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:15:47 -0600 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,132,132#msg-132 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,132,132#msg-132 Sarcazmo Dream House Forum Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:22:07 -0600 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,130,130#msg-130 http://www.tepei.org/alum/forum/read.php?10,130,130#msg-130 Sarcazmo Dream House Forum Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:35:56 -0700