All Forum Posts by: Mike Reynolds

Derek Tyler

You say they are in the steps leading to the house? Are these steps over the basement or outside of the basement? Most contractors pour steps well after the slab and its sad to say they don't always use the steel they should on them. Many believe that they are not load bearing and while that is true, they still need proper steel put in them. Ice and heat put stress on them and thye tend to crack.
This may be the only problem you have but need more pictures really.

Bob Hank Instead of 1/8" plywood have you thought about using wood laminate instead? It works much like formica and you can get whatever species you want. Another bonus is that you wont have to adjust doors and/or drawer guides as you would with plywood. If paint grade I would always choose the poplar as it takes paint great.

I forgot to mention that my day job is construction in all aspects over a 34 year career. Including commercial and industrial but mostly residential/remodeling. If I can be of help to anyone in that field just let me know.

Al Williamson Thanks for the welcome. Glad to be here. This seems like a very helpful forum for both pros and newbies.

@Jon Klaus thanks for the welcome. The deal I am working happened over a beer and a fishing pole actually. My father lost his fishing cabin rentals during hurricane Ike. There were leveled in entirety. There is a house in east Texas that he had promised me in his will so I offered to buy it from him instead and use that money to build an RV park where the old cabins were. That way I wont have to pay taxes and/or fight with anyone else over it in probate. He gets his income back and I get half interest in the park.

It will be right on east Galveston bay waterline so the value will be more than My house I am financing is worth so win/win I think. I am finding that the rules on house financing has changed dramatically since I last bought though but I am working through it so far. I am sure I will have many questions still.

Just happened in here once out of curiosity and found my way back. I am trying to work a deal now and I thought I should get all the knowledge I could get. I think this is something I could do well but I want to do it the right way.

I am 95% sure it will be pine. I only have a good look at the grain on the fourth and fifth one from the right. Not vertical grain either but a very durable floor for a den.

That knotty pine paneling in the other room is a hard to find item nowadays too so make sure your carps dont mess it up if you plan on keeping it. I can get you some resources to get more if the worst happens but it will be not quite as wide as what you have so it wont match perfectly. And the lead time may be as much as four weeks as it is built to order.

Awesome house from what I can tell and pretty sturdily built. I hope it works out great for you on it.

I have heard of this same problem with the company I now work at. They have properties all across Texas. The problem I found out is that all hard water isn't the same. The maintenance guy told me he went to the closest plumbing supply house near the problem toilet and they recommended the best one for that particular area. What worked good in one location didnt work as well in another part of the state.

It really depends on the type of wood it is too. When folks say wood floors they almost always assume hardwood. Many old floors are made of pine, cypress or other softwoods. I am new here and trying to get educated some on REI but I am a master carpenter by trade. I would take the flooring but not use it on a rental unless it was a high end one. Do you know what kind of wood it actually is?