tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post6006197643820475826..comments2023-10-19T05:40:59.162-04:00Comments on Sippican Cottage: Ten Dreadful Things That Have Become Housing StandardsSippicanCottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14940797380578921776noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-87076821262670482942008-05-30T12:59:00.000-04:002008-05-30T12:59:00.000-04:00sipp..I have a post up re gothic woodwork you may ...sipp..I have a post up re gothic woodwork you may enjoy.Thudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18320037763190473684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-52251779032670111752008-05-26T10:17:00.000-04:002008-05-26T10:17:00.000-04:00Correct me if i'm wrongCeiling fans were in every ...Correct me if i'm wrong<BR/><BR/>Ceiling fans were in every shop or store in the South - southern Long Island to be exact - when I was growing up in the 1950s. And they worked great.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the ceilings were a little higher.John J. Coupalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14251189003749371248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-31198494878703072892008-05-25T15:56:00.000-04:002008-05-25T15:56:00.000-04:00Here are two suggestions for ferreting out the com...Here are two suggestions for ferreting out the competent contractors from the fly by nighters.<BR/>I don't like to say never, but NEVER hire a contractor on a strictly time and material basis. A "real" contractor will use a contract, provide a bid, and any changes to the bid will be addressed with change order forms. You would be surprised at how many people, particularly on remodels, go for the " it's an old house and we may run into unexpected problems so how can I provide a bid" line from potential contractors. An experienced contractor will have seen it all and will anticipate problems. <BR/>Another easy way to separate the wheat from the chaff is to ask your potential contractor to briefly describe the different grades of lumber and other building materials and under what circumstances they might be best utilized. Even if you as a home owner know squat about building materials, this is a hard subject to BS your way through and if you have even a moderately sensitive bull shit detector, you'll know if he doesn't have a clue.<BR/>The ONE rule to remember is always require an easily understood contract. It's why they call them contractors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-66344027825519949592008-05-25T09:30:00.000-04:002008-05-25T09:30:00.000-04:00Charles, I could draw you ten thousand plans for a...Charles, I could draw you ten thousand plans for a 50 foot wide lot that aren't snout houses. <BR/><BR/>Pat- Those are great ideas. <BR/><BR/>Anonymous- so you do live in Casablanca.SippicanCottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940797380578921776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-39495736746266411572008-05-23T22:22:00.000-04:002008-05-23T22:22:00.000-04:00Your list is perfect, except for #8- ceiling fans ...Your list is perfect, except for #8- ceiling fans make a huge difference if you're living way down south. You can keep the a/c pegged up a few notches and still keep a room cool with the fan blowing.<BR/><BR/>My favorite house was the 1895 Victorian I lived in 8 years ago in Champaign - beautiful layout, plenty of natural sunlight, wide doorways, substantial porches and a falling down, lilac covered garage way out back. <BR/><BR/>I still dream about that house.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-4091836259478635612008-05-21T13:22:00.000-04:002008-05-21T13:22:00.000-04:00So what kind of house do you build on a 50 foot wi...So what kind of house do you build on a 50 foot wide lot with street access only at the front? Oh, you don't. Put the blame where it belongs: on the (lack of) planning commission.Chuck Pergielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14473338620167201696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-73156670763456224072008-05-21T12:25:00.000-04:002008-05-21T12:25:00.000-04:00I'm right with you, of course, on your list. You k...I'm right with you, of course, on your list. You know what you are uniquely suited to provide for the benefit of your readers, Sip?<BR/><BR/>A list of the top ten things to look for when buying a house to tell whether it was built by contractors who knew what they were doing or whether it was built by the sort who put the tile over the particleboard and raised the toilet just by stacking the wax rings.<BR/><BR/>And, for those folks having a house built, some helpful top ten signs that the contractor your interviewing is really qualified (or top ten questions to ask him).PatHMVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15542719040606654134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-77711567869721549792008-05-21T12:21:00.000-04:002008-05-21T12:21:00.000-04:00Now come on... You've got to admit some of the hou...Now come on... You've got to admit some of the house renovations they made on Monster House were pretty cool... like the time they installed the pneumatic tube system (think drive-through at the bank) in the house, so that the person in the kitchen could send a beer to the person on the barcolounger without moving more than 2 feet. I'm telling you, they'll use that thing EVERY DAY!Or how about the house they built with the UFO "crashing" through the ceiling?PatHMVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15542719040606654134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-47232324902867107362008-05-21T11:21:00.000-04:002008-05-21T11:21:00.000-04:00Hoo boy, the house makeover programs. My wife's fa...Hoo boy, the house makeover programs. My wife's family is all contractors, paperhangers and painters. I'll occasionally tune in just so they can comment on the rooms that get painted with no on-camera evidence of dropcloths or, more telling, sandpaper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-59747392176914029642008-05-21T07:49:00.000-04:002008-05-21T07:49:00.000-04:00And don't forget those awful "art projects" that t...And don't forget those awful "art projects" that the designers coerce the home owners in to making with them on many of these shows. <BR/>Unfortunately, I watch too much of that channel, like a gawker drawn to a car accident.<BR/>-Deb in MadisonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-34768391273981817412008-05-21T07:12:00.000-04:002008-05-21T07:12:00.000-04:00I think you are being rather restrained..just 10! ...I think you are being rather restrained..just 10! I am arriving in Ca in a few weeks time and will be looking to buy a house to refurb.Considering I have never lived in anything less than 150 years old it is going to be intersting at least.you seem to be rather in demmand...i have gothis bargeboard to make here at the moment...if you could see my woodworking skills you would know just what a task I face!Thudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18320037763190473684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-64307577475347396782008-05-20T23:24:00.000-04:002008-05-20T23:24:00.000-04:00I agree with you on a lot of these. On the others...I agree with you on a lot of these. On the others, you have educated me. Thanks.<BR/><BR/>"Snout" houses. Good name for them. In my town there are brand new developments full of houses with small front lawns and big front porches, with garages out back on the ALLEYS! You see, good sense eventually comes back in style. "Snout" houses kill a neighbourhood deader than doornails.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600030574995481267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-61349476707678063952008-05-20T20:57:00.000-04:002008-05-20T20:57:00.000-04:00Hi all.anybodyinpoulsbo- I saw a "instant fix the ...Hi all.<BR/>anybodyinpoulsbo- I saw a "instant fix the house guy" install a toilet by stacking wax seal rings at the flange because the floor was laid over the old one, and no one raised the closet flange. With a camera pointed at them. That should turn out well in a couple of months. <BR/><BR/>ruth anne- I would walk on hot coals for the Adams. Not sure how much use I'd be in North Carolina, though. <BR/><BR/>cg- I like old houses too. There have been lots of booms in housebuilding in America. I think the greatest period was the 1920s. More regular people got their first decent house in the twenties than any other decade I could name. The houses were small, but well built and well laid out. Lots of different styles, all interesting. I have a lot of plan books from the twenties.SippicanCottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940797380578921776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-10782659276722635082008-05-20T18:03:00.000-04:002008-05-20T18:03:00.000-04:00Amen to number 1 ... and to all of them, really. ...Amen to number 1 ... and to all of them, really. As for those snout houses, certain programs on HGTV show couples house-shopping where the choices are often three such homes, each more egregiously tacky than the last, and all with monstrous SUV/Abrams tank-capable garages in the front.<BR/><BR/>Fortunately we still have a lot of pre-war residential neighborhoods in this country - the ones that survived "urban renewal," anyways - which can teach those of us willing to listen a thing or two about tasteful design both inside and out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-27483045752353478282008-05-20T11:38:00.000-04:002008-05-20T11:38:00.000-04:00We anticipate building/buying a house in the next ...We anticipate building/buying a house in the next several years. We both agree that snout houses are out. In my region, though, just try to find a new house that isn't a snouter in our price range. Will you come to NC and be our contractor/designer?Ruth Anne Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01936054116421006847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-59424796329572108162008-05-20T11:24:00.000-04:002008-05-20T11:24:00.000-04:00I was a carpenter and home builder before giving ...I was a carpenter and home builder before giving it all up for the lure of inconsistent pay and universal loathing as a realtor so these home improvement/flipping shows offend me on a couple of levels. <BR/>Does anyone believe that you can gut a house to the studs, redesign the floor plan, purchase material and perform all the necessary labor, and then sell the home for a handsome profit all on a budget and schedule tighter than anyone not living in TV land would spend to put a coat or two of paint on the place?<BR/>I don't know who I feel more sorry for...the people quitting their day jobs to become "houseflippers" or the poor saps who buy these things after we watch the "contractor" lay tile over particle board in the shower enclosure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-62521858448702769102008-05-20T10:22:00.000-04:002008-05-20T10:22:00.000-04:00Uh oh, it's Gerard.11. What's with all the hostas ...Uh oh, it's Gerard.<BR/><BR/>11. What's with all the hostas and geraniums?SippicanCottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940797380578921776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14474631.post-20533775379615056772008-05-20T10:14:00.000-04:002008-05-20T10:14:00.000-04:00Words to live by!Words to live by!vanderleunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10296245324443413545noreply@blogger.com