low-budget kitchen remodel.

By on February 7th, 2010

We are adding on to our house. I want to make new kitchen cabinets. What’s the easiest way to do this. I like the old country look, so they dont have to be fancy. But i do want them done correctly. Any ideas.

Replacing a broken drain under cement foundation—do-able by homeowner.

By on February 6th, 2010

We live in a fifty-three year old modest tract home in Southern Calif.
The kitchen sink started to back up.
Soon, water was coming out from under the sink/cabinet.
Husband rented a commercial snake to open up what we thought was a clogged kitchen sink.
The tip of the snake kept bringing up mud/clay.

My husband felt we were opening up Pandora’s Box so I called my homeowners insurance, explained the situation and they opened a claim.

Mercury (our insurance) sent a Leak Detection Specialist who diagnosed the problem as a main drain T’d off from the bathroom tub and kitchen sink, which run directly across from each other and meet in the middle/dining room, had rusted out and the broken/rusted part of the pipe was now sitting in mud under the cement foundation.

Homeowners Insurance called me this morning and said they will pay for a camera to see the break and pay for any damage.

Other than the kitchen cabinet that is soaked (we have been drying it with two large fans for the last week), here is no damage as we caught the drain break quickly.

Twenty-two years ago the same thing happened to my parents’ home and their homeowners insurance paid for access to the drain break and to close up the foundation and replace the wood floor.My parents were responsible for paying all the plumbing work with regards to their drain break.

Unfortunately we are not so lucky.
Why pay my homeowners insurance all these years if all they will pay for is the Camera to go down and find out exactly where the break is located. Rhetorical question.I’m just venting.

It’s up to us, the homeowners, to pay for removing the wood floor, opening up the cement slab, repair the break and then pour a new section of concrete and replace the floor.

Other than the jack hammer, we have the saws, the drills and we’ve done most of the repairs in our home ourselves over the years except for the new roof.

We’ve put in all our own windows over the years, laid our own cement patio and I can put up drywall, tape, mud, sand and plaster right along side my husband.

Do any of you ‘Pros’ feel the broken drain under cement foundation is doable by a homeowner who has experience with tools and cement.

Savings was depleted when we moved my elderly parents in with us so this ‘fix’ will have to go slow.paycheck by paycheck.

Thank you for any and all advice, opinions and responses.much appreciated.
Rtc Lady

Loan Options for Kitchen Remodel.

By on February 5th, 2010

I was thinking of remodeling my kitchen to add value.I would like a loan for this. Nothing more than $20,000 that I just don’t have at the moment. I don’t believe I can get a Home Equity Loan, cause I have no equity.
(300k loan, zero down, and the place dropped 35K in value in 3 years)

What other loan options do I have. I have great credit and always pay my mortgage on time. I just don’t have 20k.

Are hot oil treatments too heavy for european hair.

By on February 4th, 2010

My hair is dyed from dark brown to blonde, and while it’s not in awful condition, it is quite dry. I have a load of pure cocoa butter lying around in the kitchen and I was thinking I could heat it up and use it as a hot oil treatment, just on the middle/ends of my hair, not the roots. Do you think this would make my hair limp/greasy or is it a good idea.

Can you help me figure out financing for a cheap home I like.

By on February 3rd, 2010

Hello, I’m 21 and reeeeally am feeling the want to move out of my parents’ home. I’ve put a lot of thought into it.

I have my eye on a foreclosed home. It’s in a moderate area of a very very nice city. It’s listed for $34,000.
It has had its kitchen cabinets torn out, the bathroom vanity torn out, and there is a medium sized (old) water damaged spot on a ceiling (no knowledge yet where it came from). It is marked uninhabitable by the city with these things listed. Assuming these are the worst of it’s problems, I am interested in buying it.

I am curious if I would be able to finance this home. It seems like a pretty complicated problem. The other day, I sat down with a mortgage broker at my bank. We talked a while, and he said he would have no problem giving me a mortgage for a home costing $34,000. I am an A+ client he said, he might have to “override the system” though.

We didn’t go into specifics about the home. they have no financing options for uninhabitable homes. Please give me some advice.

I have $15,000 saved.
I have a 754 credit score (not much credit history).
I have no debt and only $150/month for car and cell.
I want to put down $6,800 (20%). Not counting closing fees.
I want to have at least $10,000 to put into the home (Will do most work myself and with dad’s help).
I need an interest rate of 6.2% or less- nothing crazy please.
Willing to do 30 year mortgage over 15.

I have another problem. I have only about $525 a month in documented income. (Undocumented I also bring in around $1000- nannying. I know this doesn’t matter.)

I’ve read a bit about the 203K rehab loan. is there any way I can take advantage of this.

Can you come up with any solutions for my problem.

I would LOVE to hear your ideas. Thanks.

How do I know if my kitchen soffit contains piping or electrical work.

By on February 2nd, 2010

Should I use a stud finder or some other tool to determine if there is piping contained within. Do people just make a small hole and look around inside.

Why do a lot of kitchen these days have no cabinet doors on the top.

By on February 1st, 2010

I see that a lot of people use this to show off their dishes and other things in their cabinets. Do you think its messy or unique or just plain stupid. LOL

Here is a pic of what i am talking about.

http://s424.photobucket.com/albums/pp329/benotnobodi/.action=view&current=opendoors.jpg&newest=1