The Vent and Rant Thread

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Oh, yes, once you have one of those epoxy floors, without extensive replacement, you're doomed. You're stuck with it and you really can't paint over it. I admit it, I couldn't live with that color. BUT, everybody has their own priorities and likes/dislikes.



Spirals are used when space is too tight for an alternative, not as an aesthetic choice, unless someone is a nut, seriously. They take up almost no space, compared to traditional stairs. At my age, NOPE, no more spirals for me. My knees would kvetch loudly. And yes, packages? Fuggedaboudit.

If you were going to rent, that would be one thing, but as you're talking about BUYING, carefully consider those two points, especially. Make sure that you're not going to be screaming about the staircase or that epoxy floor in the other house inside of two years. I made a mistake and caved to my husband, abut our current house, which has a kitchen that I HATE and it infuriates me daily.

Hitch

If the flooring was grey we would be able to live with, but the red is a no go for both of us.

I'm less critical than my sister. I've lived my whole life in a very old building that has very little updating. Most stairs are horribly steep with too shallow steps, so you have to turn sideways to go down. Originally there was a spiral staircase from the basement to the attic, but those were replaced with the steep ones in different places; in some places they cut the beams (without replacement for the support), in other places you have to duck to not hit your head. We don't have a proper bathroom, just a room where they installed a shower and separate WCs, a galley style kitchen with a warped wooden counter and no central heating except in the store (plus no insulation, mostly single brick). And that's just the start. So my standards are pretty low.

My sister's current kitchen has slightly higher counter tops than normal, that's nice. We would both like that (seriously and counter that a little bit too low is murder on your back). We both hate black/dark grey bathroom; it sucks out all the lighting and in summer it gets really hot. As I said before my biggest must haves are no leaks, central heating and fairly well insulated. I would live to have a big enough bedroom to create a reading/cross stitch nook, but having seen the houses in our budget I realize that that might not be possible.

[ownedbycats]

So this survey wants me to login to my (nonexistent) Netflix account with their browser extension... but don't worry, they'll protect my privacy!

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And they are hard to navigate when you are carrying large things.

And if one person is walking up and another is walking down it's usually awkward to pass… unless its a double helix and there ain't many of them.

BR

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Oh, yes, once you have one of those epoxy floors, without extensive replacement, you're doomed. You're stuck with it and you really can't paint over it. I admit it, I couldn't live with that color. BUT, everybody has their own priorities and likes/dislikes.
Hitch

A jack hammer is your only hope.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

If the flooring was grey we would be able to live with, but the red is a no go for both of us.

It's jut bloody hostile to restfulness, is my view of it. RED. Sheesh.

I'm less critical than my sister. I've lived my whole life in a very old building that has very little updating. Most stairs are horribly steep with too shallow steps, so you have to turn sideways to go down. Originally there was a spiral staircase from the basement to the attic, but those were replaced with the steep ones in different places; in some places they cut the beams (without replacement for the support), in other places you have to duck to not hit your head. We don't have a proper bathroom, just a room where they installed a shower and separate WCs, a galley style kitchen with a warped wooden counter and no central heating except in the store (plus no insulation, mostly single brick). And that's just the start. So my standards are pretty low.

Well, given the description, I can see that you might be less critical. Almost anything will be a big improvement, especially a proper bathroom and water closet, right? Hoorah!

My sister's current kitchen has slightly higher counter tops than normal, that's nice. We would both like that (seriously and counter that a little bit too low is murder on your back). We both hate black/dark grey bathroom; it sucks out all the lighting and in summer it gets really hot. As I said before my biggest must haves are no leaks, central heating and fairly well insulated. I would live to have a big enough bedroom to create a reading/cross stitch nook, but having seen the houses in our budget I realize that that might not be possible.

Oh, yes, I am exceedingly fond of slightly raised counters, as I'm tallish. Not huge, but, 5'8"+-5'9". That slightly crooked bending over, on the usual counters is a pain, literally, in the butt/back. :-) And given my bod and age and all that, it's unlikely to get better or improve anytime soon. so...if you can find them, grab 'em!

Hitch

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

It's jut bloody hostile to restfulness, is my view of it. RED. Sheesh.

It isn't even a proper red colour, it's a washed out brick kinda colour.

Originally Posted by Hitch

Well, given the description, I can see that you might be less critical. Almost anything will be a big improvement, especially a proper bathroom and water closet, right? Hoorah!

One of our must haves is both a toilet downstairs and one upstairs. My aunt and uncle (with the spiral staircase) only had one upstairs and it was a pain to go those stairs to use the toilet. The one upstairs ideally is separate from the bathroom, but we can live with it if it's in the bathroom.

Originally Posted by Hitch

Oh, yes, I am exceedingly fond of slightly raised counters, as I'm tallish. Not huge, but, 5'8"+-5'9". That slightly crooked bending over, on the usual counters is a pain, literally, in the butt/back. :-) And given my bod and age and all that, it's unlikely to get better or improve anytime soon. so...if you can find them, grab 'em!

Hitch

My sister had her counters intentionally raised and it works so much better. Our kitchen, which my grandparents had custom build, also have higher than normal counters...for the 1960s. For my it's just a smidgen too low, so when I have to cut up a bunch of things it isn't fun. I love making Pico de Gallo, but I rarely make it because my back starts hurting.

But we're not going to visit the house on Tuesday, and probably also not the one on Friday and my sister and I won't be going to the Balloon Fiesta in Barneveld (we used to go with my grandparents, my grandfather was in a ballooning club). My sister felt a bit under the weather this morning and tested positive for Covid (her first time). And since our parents' health is fragile we are going to play it safe. Luckily neither of the two houses were big contenders.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

It isn't even a proper red colour, it's a washed out brick kinda colour.

Yes, I saw. Brick can be not-bad, but...not in that context, not a'tall.

One of our must haves is both a toilet downstairs and one upstairs. My aunt and uncle (with the spiral staircase) only had one upstairs and it was a pain to go those stairs to use the toilet. The one upstairs ideally is separate from the bathroom, but we can live with it if it's in the bathroom.

AMEN, sister. I never compromise on bathrooms. I'll give a bit on other things, but # of bathrooms? NO. And upstairs only? NO. You haven't lived until you have some gastro-intestinal disaster going on and need to run UP stairs to use the facilities. NO NO NO. Been there, done that, never again.

My sister had her counters intentionally raised and it works so much better. Our kitchen, which my grandparents had custom build, also have higher than normal counters...for the 1960s. For my it's just a smidgen too low, so when I have to cut up a bunch of things it isn't fun. I love making Pico de Gallo, but I rarely make it because my back starts hurting.

Trust me, food processors are your friend. I resisted that siren call for ages. I really did, decades. Had an itty-bitty one that I used from time to time. BUT...for a variety of reasons, we just got a new one, a big honker, (yes, yes, yes, I confess, it's a Breville!) and wowzers. I mean this thing does EVERYTHING. It literally peels and slices potatoes and...I can't tell you. I'm now making spring rolls and all that--things I'd given up as requiring too much chopping, dicing, etc. They really are godsends.

(Funny Mr. H moment; during the type and size selection, he said in a very plaintive voice "you're replacing me!" as he's been the official slicer, dicer and chopper of record for some time now...lol.)

But we're not going to visit the house on Tuesday, and probably also not the one on Friday and my sister and I won't be going to the Balloon Fiesta in Barneveld (we used to go with my grandparents, my grandfather was in a ballooning club). My sister felt a bit under the weather this morning and tested positive for Covid (her first time). And since our parents' health is fragile we are going to play it safe. Luckily neither of the two houses were big contenders.

Oh, I'm sorry and it's good to stay away from the folks, both of you. Dang. I hope it goes quickly and easily for her.

Hitch

[JSWolf]

A staircase should be able to have a stair-lift installed. If not, the staircase is too narrow or too twisty.

[badgoodDeb]

I was thinking that the whole circular stairway could be replaced by a circular elevator shaft. That wouldn't be cheap, though.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

AMEN, sister. I never compromise on bathrooms. I'll give a bit on other things, but # of bathrooms? NO. And upstairs only? NO. You haven't lived until you have some gastro-intestinal disaster going on and need to run UP stairs to use the facilities. NO NO NO. Been there, done that, never again.

Last year, during our long weekend away, my sister and I stayed in a cottage where it had only one bathroom, with the only toilet in it. And my sister likes to take her time in the bathroom. The problem is, there are times when I need to go NOW, so I had to boot her out of the bathroom so I could go. So yeah, it's important that we have at least one separate toilet.

We also both hate showering in the bathtub. We could live with it for a little while, but if we buy a house with that set up it will be one of the first things to get replaced by a nice walk in shower. Chances are that we have to replace the kitchen and bathroom. So we've set our budget for that. We can go higher if the place is fairly perfect; flooring in the living area, kitchen, bathroom. We know that we'll have to repaint the walls and maybe change the flooring on the upper floors.

[poohbear_nc]

Finalist for The World's Stupidest Question:

I go to my pharmacy today to pick up a refill of a prescription I've taken for years. The pharmacist verifies my name and asks me: Have you taken this medication before?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

Last year, during our long weekend away, my sister and I stayed in a cottage where it had only one bathroom, with the only toilet in it. And my sister likes to take her time in the bathroom. The problem is, there are times when I need to go NOW, so I had to boot her out of the bathroom so I could go. So yeah, it's important that we have at least one separate toilet.

We also both hate showering in the bathtub. We could live with it for a little while, but if we buy a house with that set up it will be one of the first things to get replaced by a nice walk in shower. Chances are that we have to replace the kitchen and bathroom. So we've set our budget for that. We can go higher if the place is fairly perfect; flooring in the living area, kitchen, bathroom. We know that we'll have to repaint the walls and maybe change the flooring on the upper floors.

If you guys/ladies still have the "oomph" for refinishing, and all that, then fixing-up can be a great way to make equity on the fly. AND getting exactly what you want, too, which is always preferable.

Mr. Hitch and I have reached that point, though--we did that with this house when we bought it, 15 years ago, and now, we're like, NEVER AGAIN. Hell, I'm still messing with the landscaping and hardscape for the front porch, because I haven't been able to settle on what I want. (Although I'm finally sure I have it, for this fall. I was going to do this, this past winter, but you guys remember that this past winter wasn't so great for me)

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Finalist for The World's Stupidest Question:

I go to my pharmacy today to pick up a refill of a prescription I've taken for years. The pharmacist verifies my name and asks me: Have you taken this medication before?

Yeah, I get that too and it boggles me. Like--you ARE looking right there at my records, right?????

Hitch

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

If you guys/ladies still have the "oomph" for refinishing, and all that, then fixing-up can be a great way to make equity on the fly. AND getting exactly what you want, too, which is always preferable.

Mr. Hitch and I have reached that point, though--we did that with this house when we bought it, 15 years ago, and now, we're like, NEVER AGAIN. Hell, I'm still messing with the landscaping and hardscape for the front porch, because I haven't been able to settle on what I want. (Although I'm finally sure I have it, for this fall. I was going to do this, this past winter, but you guys remember that this past winter wasn't so great for me)

Hitch

We don't want a fixer upper, like the one we visited. EVERYTHING needed to be done. As I've said before, I think it's smarter to pay more and have to do less. With prices of supplies, long delivery times and having to pay more for the work There's a chance it isn't worth it. My sister is particular in how the kitchen has to look. And we both want a nice bathroom (having grown up without a proper one). I would love to have a shower without a shower curtain, so with a glass door or a big shower with no door and a glass divider. I realized I hate shower curtains; they always stick to your backside.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

Last year, during our long weekend away, my sister and I stayed in a cottage where it had only one bathroom, with the only toilet in it. And my sister likes to take her time in the bathroom. The problem is, there are times when I need to go NOW, so I had to boot her out of the bathroom so I could go. So yeah, it's important that we have at least one separate toilet.

We also both hate showering in the bathtub. We could live with it for a little while, but if we buy a house with that set up it will be one of the first things to get replaced by a nice walk in shower. Chances are that we have to replace the kitchen and bathroom. So we've set our budget for that. We can go higher if the place is fairly perfect; flooring in the living area, kitchen, bathroom. We know that we'll have to repaint the walls and maybe change the flooring on the upper floors.

We have an open plan kitchen, living room, and eating area. Plus we have two full bathrooms with walk-in showers. No bathtubs at all.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

We don't want a fixer upper, like the one we visited. EVERYTHING needed to be done. As I've said before, I think it's smarter to pay more and have to do less. With prices of supplies, long delivery times and having to pay more for the work There's a chance it isn't worth it. My sister is particular in how the kitchen has to look. And we both want a nice bathroom (having grown up without a proper one). I would love to have a shower without a shower curtain, so with a glass door or a big shower with no door and a glass divider. I realized I hate shower curtains; they always stick to your backside.

Growing up, the bathroom upstairs that I used had a bathtub with a shower. We originally only had one full and one half bathroom. Eventually, my parents took one of their closets in their bedroom and turned it into another full bathroom with a shower.