I REALLY appreciate your content and the advice is fantastic - neither too basic nor over my head. My next project? I have a 1886 1.5 story house, there is no insulation in the ceiling so I would like to take it down, add spray foam? insultion and put proper dry wall back in its place.
One last question, Jeff. During digging the concrete of my basement where the bathroom pipes will go, after a long rainy night, the next morning we noticed water accumulation where the sand was exposed below our new bathroom pipes. I freaked out because i didnt expect that since this house we bought has a french drain all around the house. Some of my friends say it is normal, since my floor is exposed to a certain level, I might be close to the groundwater. Other say this is a bad sign cuz if I have a french drain, no water should raise from the ground. Please help me with this issue. FYI, where there was water, today it is totally dry. Thanks again
@@kareldc2 can you cite where you are getting your information from? I was wondering the same and so looked it up and cancer.gov doesn't seem to agree with you (www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet#what-factors-affect-the-risk-of-developing-an-asbestos-related-disease). I am really not "starting something". I'd like to see where your information is coming from. I know that growing up, everyone said "any" contact was harmful (and that's true), but they never really said how much was deadly because I don't think it's easily quantifiable. In general, my contractor friends say to avoid, but if you don't work with it on a daily basis, wear a mask and eye protection you'll be fine. I am not a contractor myself, so I can only go by what others are saying, but that sounds like good advice. Past that, if one is still concerned, then spend the extra money and have a professional remove it. For example, if I moved into a house with a mold issue or had tons of cats, then I would hire a pro to clean it up as I am allergic. It's just common sense.
My dad was an electrician and all around handy guy, so our house was constantly under renovation. My mother had the patience of a saint, and after the kitchen table being used as a sawhorse all day, she'd move the lumber scraps, wipe up the sawdust and cook dinner. But watching my parents wallpaper together made me seriously question whether any relationship was strong enough to survive until the end of a renovation
There are few things worse than wallpapering with a spouse. I will NOT be in the house during wallpaper installs. I learned this the heard way, over 40 yrs ago!
Done it 5 or 6 times. By the 7th, I had a Contractor. I was tired. I did the design and demo. Purchased everything my self, an found a great Contractor to do it as specified. Came out awesome.
Jeff, your videos have helped me find another passion in life. I am a certified auto mechanic. After watching all your videos I have built my skills to professionally DIY and renovate homes for others. It has opened doors for me. God bless you man. You are an absolute stud, a superstar, and my instructor.
Im a diy auto mechanic, bought to get into hvac, know how to fix phones and almost literally anything I touch. I just wish I had the time to do carpentry. I think it looks so fun. You get to watch the progress as you go
same here,,, I can clearance oversize cams,,, build high performance race engines and drag bikes but build even a proper doghouse gave me problems..... tools are much more affordable though. most arent stationary which is nice, plus the cleanup is great. sawdust vs sharp coils of metal from the lathe or boring bar... Plus.. this dude is a great teacher. Im definitely going to be watvhig more of his tips and advise on how to work with our 1890s home we bought last year and its in dire need of attention and upgrades...... Keep up the good work and stay safe....
Thanks brother. I know it's been years. Just finished renovating my mom and dads mid century ranch built in 1964. My cost was around 25k but if I would have hired contractors the cost would have been well over 100k. I did work I did not know I could do and that's where you came in to give me the courage and motivation. You have saved folks millions of dollars over the years and for that you should sleep well at night. Thank you my friend.
As an automotive professor, it is difficult to find quality videos produced by experienced technicians that I can recommend to my students. It is equally difficult to find on-line instructors that know how to project personality throughout their presentations. You have nailed it on both counts. Your common sense approach, learned real world techniques and occasional gu-fas make for a dynamic learning session. I, or should I say my wife, decided it was time to reno our bathroom, mainly to chuck the jet tube. I was intimidated by the thought of doing my own drywall and finishing - figured it would turn out like the body work I did on my own cars as a youngster. Your full series of videos on this subject was outstanding. From planning, to tool/material purchase and methods, I was more confident in tackling the project. From one tradesman to another, thank you. Keep up the excellent work!
I usually don't comment on videos but I just wanted to say thank you for this video. I ended up watching all 56 min of it. The charm in this video comes from a sense that you are being honest with the viewers and are thinking what is best for the viewers. Please keep that going. You have a win-win situation. Thank you sir!
Cleared a 1/2 acre. 200 Loads of dirt to raise grade. Installed a well and septic system. Remodeling a 92' double wide completely. Need to remodel and replace everything in the mobile home. I'm a carpenter. The lot is beautiful. So much work everywhere, from roofing, electrical, water, redrywall, new everything. Hopefully it'll be worth it. Wish me luck :)
I am nearly done rennovating my second home. It has taken me 6 years to do it, 8 years total for 2 homes. Siding, roof, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, flooring, sheetrock, electrical, plumbing and everything in between. We just put an offer in on another home to scrub for the next two years. I am turning my 2nd home into our 2nd rental and buying my 3rd property house hacking. This channel is great, and helps me continue the craft of carpentry. Thanks for what you do.
I feel like I should be paying you just for this information. Watching your videos helped me build my confidence, and i was able to remodel my house myself including floors, tile, demo, plumbing, and electrical. Thank you Jeff!
Agree 100% he deserves a lot I really hope he’s being paid correctly off advertising if he had or does have a Patreon account I would donate I’ve been successful in part because of his videos best channel on RUclips thank you 🙏
Hey Jeff, Just got done with a major renovation project of the family room. Ripped old paneling from the wall; carpet, tile underneath, spackled the walls, primed & painted the all & the cieling. Decided to get the laminate floor installed by the professionals for less than $1,000 (labor). Total cost to me...about $3,200 (& 10-15 Tylenols). Probabley saved $4,000. Thanks for all your posted videos. I find your videos to be no-nonsense, to the point, with great suggestions. Keep up the good work. **Remember, if women don't find us handsome, they should at least find us handy!
There is nothing like a handy husband! I got a brainy husband with almost no hands😅😅😅 He makes money tho and I got not much brain, but I can do just anything with my golden hands👍😀 just show me how to do it once. There is not many professionals willing to show how to do that kind of stuff (especially in details) an Jeff is a very rare gem! Thank you Jeff again and again! You’re wife is a lucky woman and I’m sure she knows it🤗
@@dispm3324 I am not brainy, I love demo and putting up new structures, but I really suck and fine detail. Like yourself my wife has great detail, what takes me 1 minute it takes her 10 minutes. So it is a matter of knowing each limitation of each person, and learning to be quiet at times. BTW, Jeff is a "gem" not a diamond, but his wife is for allowing him this magnificent upgrade.
@A I you said that right. when they say a woman loves a man with a tool belt , this is true but now im 50 single and im a diy-er its not professional grade but its shonda grade. and im geting pretty good with these power tool WATCH-OUT !!!!!!! hahaha
I'm renovating my 75 year old house- upgrading electrical and plumbing, moving the bathroom around and incorporating the laundry, gas lines, insulation to the outside walls, new siding, and eventually will extend the front porch and looking at permeable paver/gravel driveway as the house is in the 'dip' in the road and water spills in. The bathtub and sink had been leaking for quite some time so new joists are being installed and building back up the bathroom/back hall area. Aside from getting in plumbers to do their work and an electrician that will let me work with him to update my old, non grounded wires to grounded ones, I've done 75% of the work myself. I've gone from a confused but willing DIYer to a confident wall breaker/widen the doorway/build new walls/bring on the tile and sheetrock DIYer. Your channels are the main ones I go to when I need to tackle the next stage in my build. I'm uncovering previous questionable 'repairs' from handymen and unfinished but invisible (and eyebrow raising) lapses that I just look at and wonder how the house lasted all this time. Thank you Jeff. Four years later your videos are still doing amazing work and teaching the next generation.
Your vids are so well thought out and presented. I especially like the off the cuff nuggets of valuable information you toss in that other RUclipsrs in your field neglect to offer. You were born to teach and so many of us appreciate what you do!
Renovating the second story of a 1950’s commercial/residential building - 3 units upstairs. All redwood timber. You should come to the Pacific Northwest and give us some pointers!
You made me feel so good about having chosen to DIY renovate. I just completely renovated my bathroom. I work full time plus, so it took me about 7 weeks. I had a blast doing it, and the whole project cost about $2600.. It came out great!
Is there such a thing where an old house isn't a money pit? Especially houses that still have the original electrical (yikes!), plumbing, and heating. Oh, and old windows and flooring?
For the first time since I found your videos back in Feb. I finished a video and felt thoroughly depressed. I had to take a few minutes to go in the other room to cry. Good video though. My daughter is usually very timid when trying new things and I often tell her, "Do it like you mean it." When you were putting in the sink I thought, "Yeah! Jeff does it like he means it. No messin' around." Lots of really good stuff here. Thank you for going through all the time and effort to share this information. It can't be easy and it certainly is time consuming. Just know your effort and hard work does not go unnoticed nor is it unappreciated.
I found this channel 2 days ago looking up “prepping for grout”. After my first tile job. I’ve watched 4-5 other videos of yours. Outstanding...yes! Do as much yourself as you can. Plumbing is the only thing I won’t deal with...water hates me but knowing at least one trade makes a difference. Thx for the videos. Will be watching more
Yes, I will be renovating my late 1970’s home that has had almost zero updating. My main issue with the house is water. The driveway slopes down into the garage and so the rain must too if there’s enough of it. The lot continues gently sloping down and so the garage is mostly on slab but part of it and the entire living area of the house is on a raised foundation. I know water must run under the house although luckily it doesn’t pool there.
I’m renovating a house built somewhere around 1900. Doing most all the work myself...sometimes with other people helping. It’s taking a while to get done:( I have just found your channel and have really been enjoying the honest and real information you give. You’ve made me feel like it would be okay to tear open my ceiling in my bath to put a vent in (there is not one at all currently). I am now pretty skilled at drywall and electrical but the worst part is doing everything from a ladder because I’m short. I agree....do it yourself saves you a ton if you do it correctly. Thank you so much for all the info
We just bought a 73 model mobile home, lanai, carport in Bradenton Fl in a 55+ for a winter getaway, wonderful even amazing condition but needs some modernizing, your You Tube channel is a gold mine for me as I am extremely capable but have not spent much time in home reno. more of a mechanical guy... I can easily get from your video to doing the work with less frustration, Thanks so much for taking the extra time to produce this series. Do a Doublewide some day and the market is huge and redo flips are a massive market in the retirement south...
Thanks Jeff, I have bought into an 90 yrs old fibro house, that was mistake no1 paying too much was another. By installing a new bathroom and toilet, tiling, renewing the asbestos for dry wall, ventilation, insulation, more lights and fans is a small part of it. I have been watching your videos constantly. I have already lots of the tools needed and I am skilled in most applications I do, I am a pensioner with a small mortgage and I would like to some how improve my living standards by renovating and hopefully get the purchase price I paid for plus a little more would be good. I live in Australia so I guess I wont meet you any time soon but would like to one day, thanks for all the trouble you are going through to improve all of us DIY. Cheers Terry
*Successful people don't become that way overnight. What most people see at a glance-wealth, a great career, purpose is the result of hard work and hustle over time. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life..*
Is not all about watching videos and wasting your time on strategies, I was ignorantly doing so...not untill I gave Expert Mr Pooley a try and ever since then he has changed my story for the better
My daughter sent me your link. Shes a single Mom and has been repairing her house, in wet Washington, herself by watching you. Im single with a pack of rescues just trying to keep a roof over our head. We need alot of work done, roof, ceiling, flooring, pipes.... My house was originally built 1931. We appreciate you.
Love all these tips! My husband and I survived a diy kitchen/dining room/basement renovation that took about 6 months by doing things similar to your advice! The stress is very real but the end results were very satisfying! Keep it up! Love your videos!
I totally get the point regarding "work on everything in stages" vs "focus on one room at a time". But the greatest benefit or working on one isolated room for most of us is the satisfaction factor, that confidence boost comes from working on a room and seeing it completed, that (quicker) satisfaction will carry over to the next room to move along the project. versus working on everything all at once in stages, you might be months away from seeing anything close to getting finished, it can become a test of personal will and determination...
I do get it... I'm doing my own thing second time within a year in a second property I'm living at. And I would of love watched his vids before. I just started doing so cause they fun and informative. But that's a pain and a hassle living without a bath or kitchen for so long. Luckily I was able to finish fast and leaving like him a private space and focusing on a room at a time. Reason why is because you don't jump from one to another having potential unfinished important or not details or having to come back to fix it after you got into a different stage, having to rewind the tape or worse ripping something off costing time and money over again. So yeah organization is key, the way he showed it. that's just what I'm doing at this time in my new project, pretty much all what he mentioned im doing and it does pay off top dollar and gratification. I do DIY stuff since my childhood and is awesome to know more stuff every time. I hope I get the success he has also the knowledge as well.
Very true! Plus, working on one room at a time means my husband and I can shuffle the kids from one room to the other without impeding on their livelihood.
I own a few old multi family homes that I rent out. The fact they are old homes and tenants who don't take the greatest care of the apartments, I always have some type of project. Jeff is my go to for videos. He is a great teacher and has amazing knowledge.
Just bought a war-time house, has never renovated before, don't know what I am getting myself into. But this video boosts my courage. (South-western Ontario)
I’m just at the end of a war home Renovation. You are right in the poor insulation & 2x4’s, but the reason I bought this house was because of the strength of the framing. 2x4’s are really 2x4’s and the centre support for the main floor is an 8”x8” beam sitting on 16” concrete pillars which get larger toward the floor. The exterior walls are covered in true 1” thick boarding that encloses the whole house. My first year, when I just lived here to make it livable for my family ,I didn’t even have a working furnace yet the temperature never dropped below 14C. The skeleton is solid then everything else can be fixed and improved. I did it myself,with a kitchettte in the basement, while our family lived here and now our house is worth 4x what we bought it for originally.
@@terrymiller5028 spray foam inside and as much insulation on top of sprayfoam as you can get in the attic foam board outside with strapping/shims attached to foam board to allow air movement and water drainage for siding to attach to should be warm in winter and cooler in the summer i live in new england usa it works so great
You can get a bunch of free boxes from Walmart. Just go at night and ask them if you can take boxes. Hell I've seen people just go with a shopping cart and take them. Or you can just ask the post office and they will give you free boxes as well and some supplies if I'm not mistaken.
I DIY'd and changed every square foot of my floor plan. It started with a water leak that rotted the kitchen floor. Replaced joists. Moved the stairs to a different area of the house. Installed all new copper runs for my baseboard. Tore up all of the existing maple (warped very badly) and replaced with 3/4" plywood. Eliminated 2 bedrooms on the first floor and turned them into a living room. The old living room was turned into a dining room off of the newly expanded kitchen with bar countertop between the two. Vaulted my ceilings and reinsulated the 2nd floor and created 2 large bedrooms that were not there prior (attic cape cod). Replaced all of the cloth wiring with new conduit runs using 12 wire. It's a nightmare. I demo'd most of it and moved onto another room. Been mostly living like this for 2 years. The work is good, and the house is going to be great, but not one single room is finished. Baby is due in March, and I'm hoping to have it finished by then. lol
And that's kinda why I keep the jobs I sign up for at home to a minimum. Not enough time to get it all done. Typically takes me twice (or more) as much time as a pro to do anything so it's a balance between living with unfinished stuff for months/years and paying to get it done (with probably better quality BTW) but in a day or two. Those who are ok living with the dust though; go for it!
The absolute best hour of my time ever spent!!! I'm 58. I've done so many things wrong (a few right) over the years and every single piece of advice provided here is invaluable! Just bought a 1400sf home on 8 acres on a beautiful river for 35k! Needs to be completely gutted and yes I'm it's in the 100 year flood plain. However, as long as I keep my cost down (as detailed here) I'll always have equity and while I own it, my family and extended family will have years of enjoyment on this gorgeous river!
We have a home built in Southern Alberta in 1912 that we have taken part of our main floor down to the bones to replace the electrical, plumbing, and reinforce the ceiling so we can make the attic a living space! This video was amazing and we cannot wait to continue with some of these great tips!
Your videos have been-hands down-the best “tool” in my workshop for the past year or so. We bought our first house and have had multiple projects going concurrently ever since. I’ve always been “handy” and I’ve never been scared to bite off more than I can chew and Learn while doing. That said, I refuse to settle for anything less than a professional finish and your videos have helped me so much going from “yeah I can figure this out” to “knowing exactly what I need to do.” Thank you for all the quality content! Whew! All that said, I’m in the middle of a bathroom renovation right now that started as fixing a rotting piece of wall right next to the tub and turned into a full gut with a new layout. One thing that I’ve been surprised about on every project we’ve tackled so far is the time-everything seems to take at least twice as long as expected. Do you have any tips for 1. Setting a realistic timeline in the first place, and 2. Keeping that timeline on track. After the bathroom is done I’ve got a laundry room to expand and then a full renovation on the upstairs completely changing the layout-I feel like the time again will be where I get into trouble with the fam. Thanks again for everything-truly a great channel!
Yes! I’m diy renovating my tiny 80s bathroom by myself! I barely know how to use my new drill but I’m watching you and learning one step at a time!! Demo is so fun and empowering and best of all its FREE! Taking the tub out by myself was the best feeling! currently working on some subfloor repairs which has been a bit scary but I’m facing my fears and getting it done!! Thank you for your guidance!
Yes. Have to Reno to make the main floor livable. Had been two rental suites - completely Micky Mouse job! My son and I are watching and rewatching all of your videos Every day ….. thank you, thank you, thank you . 🤞
Jeff, you are amazing! I’m renovating my bathroom and have binge watched your videos throughout the process. You make things look SOOO easy! Thanks for helping us novices save some money! ♥️♥️♥️🛠
I don't know if you're still reading your comments on this video, but here's a little heart warming one for you to have a good day - i hope. I was raised the son of a contractor/architectural engineer/spec home builder... but he passed in his 50s before I ever got the chance to work with him or have a house of my own for him to share his wealth of knowledge with. Now, years later, my wife and I have 2 kids and are under contract for our first house - a 1966 house in northeast U.S. I saw you come on my youtube feed and called my wife over to watch with me because you reminded me of my Dad and you are so down to earth with a can-do attitude! Bottom line first - we're wondering if this house is just too much to take on or if it's worth the investment (assuming we live there for at least 5 years). Inspection is in a few days so we can still back out if need be... The asphalt-shingled roof is 18 years old, 100 amp circuit board, dated (probably with asbestos) bathroom and windows that will probably need to be replaced over the course of our ownership of this house. Kitchen is good, layout makes sense, 2 car garage, amazing location, it's currently a 3bd 2ba. Baseboard heat with no duct work in the house at present. It's a lot of work overall, but the house is a good $50,000 or more under the market of the best neighborhood in town. After closing, we'll have about $40,000 USD left for work on the house. We're thinking of hiring a contractor to finish the 1400sqft basement as that may be too much for us to handle with the 2 kids and no family close by (NOTE: basement's got a full bath in it already for some weird reason) and then DIYing the upstairs bathroom and any other remodeling we decide to do. Any advice you've got we'd LOVE! Thanks for this channel!
You are a god send! I’m about to take on remodeling my mothers main level in her home. I am a makeup artist, not a handy man, but I’m a quick study and with your help I feel I can do this as long as I take it one step at a time. Thank you for sharing so much knowledge.
Thank you so much. I have a 100 year old home it’s 2600 square ft. Starting the Renovating next month. This video has helped me soooo much. Thank you a million times over👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I've been a contractor for over 20 years. I still really hesitate on decisions to renovate areas in my home. I of course have the tools, skill, and experience to do the jobs, but I know the time commitment involved. TV shows show you a full renovation start to finish in 30 minutes and people think that's how it works. They dont show you the cans of worms, the issues or setbacks. Renovation is hard work, you need to commit to a project and do what it takes to get it done right. I feel like people dont understand what it really takes.
It has been a year but just want to say your comment hits the nail on the head. I am have been working on a mobile home renovation for 9 months now. Had to clean up nicotine, the plumbing was crap, the electrical needed updating, tore out the kitchen and bath, putting down new flooring...Wow I had no idea of the time involved. The setbacks, the issues to work out, how to redesign a bad design, the COST of things every time I have to run to Lowes or HD. No light at the end of the tunnel yet and often wonder how it will all end...Do I make a profit, break even? Time will tell. It is love - hate. I like to fix/restore things but I will be so glad when I get some life back. I don't need to go to the gym for now because all the bending, pulling, pushing, lifting, squatting etc keeps me in shape. I never knew it could kick my butt after a long day.
Love the videos, I’m planning on renovating a couple bathrooms and a kitchen in a 1905 house. I was in the trades for about 15 years and still find these videos very informative. Keep up the good work
I love that you said you like how the younger generations are evaluating work and asking if it's worth it to be all work and no play. Most people our age and older (I'm 45) are too focused on our jobs and not enough on the bigger picture.
Talking about the stress involved in a renovation is very well said. It’s all fun and game until your kitchen has been out of commission for two weeks.
The nice thing about doing the drywall, is it's easy to practice starting small and build up to it. Fill some holes in an otherwise good room and learn how to handle the compound and feather your edges, and build to hanging whole sheets. My daughter can do a fair job mudding and she's 3.
I've become a huge fan of learning new skills on RUclips to save money. We've been trying to update our 1973 Idaho home a piece at a time. Thankfully my hubby works for a lumber store in the Northwest so we get great discounts. I became an "expert" popcorn-ceiling remover this past month and it was totally worth the sweat equity. We still need to finish updating a few more windows, gutting the kitchen (can't be saved with cosmetic fixes) and finishing the outside siding after the windows. Thanks for all the great ideas.
I've been building and renovating my entire life. Finally bought a house and just spent the last six months overhauling my own. It's always good for a refresher course to come to you channels, know matter how much experience one may have!
Hugely inspired now to get as much as possible done myself and save wherever I can and turn my home into a real paradise!! First time to hear Jeff today. Wow!!! What a fantastic and kind and helpful man!! Jeremy, England.
I’ve just come across your videos and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them. In 2021 I graduated from a carpentry and renovations program, so a newbie. I am living in a renovation which is actually an unfinished house I started over 20 years ago. About 3-5 yrs ago i studded, insulated and drywalled the basement. I’m off grid with plans to set up a solar power system. I find your videos very informative for some of the things I want to incorporate into my home. Thanks
Love this video! I really enjoyed how you got real about the costs. Especially the stress levels involved and how to mitigate them a bit. Our house has been a mix of renovation and remodel. The mechanicals are in the process of being renovated, while most of the rest of the house has been remodeled. We bought a 2000 sq ft house built in 1890 in NE Ohio. (so we get a lot of the same weather you do) The structure is amazing. Full thickness 2 x 8 floor joists with 8 x 8 beams supporting them. 9' ceilings with beautiful textured plaster (that was hidden behind painted wallpaper). What seems to be original hardwood floors, and nice big 6' tall windows, including a bay window bump out that that carries all the way from the foundation up through both stories. We stripped all the wallpaper. Did some plaster patching, and painted most of the rooms. Laundry room and kitchen were paneling. The laundry room and 1st floor full bath are from the 1969 addition that was put on. Laundry room ended up being a full gut, because when I opened up the wall to do work on the water supply I found the drywall behind the paneling was moldy. Kitchen we pulled the paneling and all the cabinets (which were custom built plywood with paneling vener, including the doors :o ) All new cabinets and countertops from Home Depot cost us $3000 for 12 linear ft of countertop + upper/lower cabinets + 2 pantry cabinets. I already replaced all the gas lines myself. Had to, to get the gas turned on to get heat into the place. No fun doing that job in January after work. Luckily here, we can do the work ourselves, just have to get it inspected by a licensed plumber who then signs off on the paperwork with the gas company. So I only had to pay the $75 inspection fee. (for 15 minutes of work while they pressurized the lines and made sure there was no drop off). Also, re-did the plumbing while I was at it. It was a tangled mess with mis-colored shut-offs everywhere. Untangled and streamlined that contorted copper nightmare. Next up, is a panel swap in the spring. To replace the breaker box that feeds 4 different fuse boxes. Then I can get on with rewiring the place. Mostly just splitting up circuits and adding more receptacles. Though most of the 2nd floor is still knob & tube that needs completely replaced. Thankfully my best friend is a licensed electrician, so he is going to do the actual panel swap. Then I need to replace the circa 1960's furnace. Then I can start thinking about how to insulate the place, as the only insulation in the whole house is in the 1969 addition. And that is the thin, foil-backed pink stuff. Always something to do, when you own an old house.
It has been. While we were painting is when I discovered your channel. You were talking about painting tips. It wasn't anything I didn't already know, but I just loved your no-nonsense approach and how well you explained what you were doing, and why. Been a subscriber ever since.
I’m still just getting my feet wet with remodeling stuff right now. We’ve only owned our house a year and I’m 6 months pregnant so there’s only so much I can do at this point. I’ve changed light fixtures, put in dimmers, changed out hardware and painted every room in the house. Didn’t feel I could handle carpet so hired that out, glad I did! Sometimes it’s just best to get something done fast so your house doesn’t get disrupted too much. I’m looking forward to trying my hand at some bigger stuff in a year or 2 once my little one is older.
This is the best renovation video I have ever seen. I bought my house 11 years ago and only changed the floor in the basement (I hate carpet). I am thinking about renovating my bathroom because the floor tile is cracking, the tub is not fully functional and the ceiling fan is close to broken. I will keep looking through this channel and see if I can find some confidence to do it myself. To answer the last question of this video. YES. I want to do the renovation. Thank you so much for sharing all the knowledge.
Love the video!!! Very informative! I have inherited a 1950 mill house with 1100 square feet. It needs some work. I’ve been wanting to renovate but didn’t want to finance 50,000 to do it. I started last week with my bathroom… taking it slow because I don’t want to make mistakes. I have watched several of your videos before… all very helpful. I appreciate your simplicity and honesty!!
Yes, I am a renovator. Thank you so much for inspiring me and my family. Thank you for all the valuable information provided and thank you for making everything seem more easy thank it actually is. I hope you and all your loved ones will stay healthy. God bless you!
I really got a lot out of your video. I am about to finish a ground floor renovation of my 2,300 sq foot house and just about all of your video brought flashbacks of what I did right and what I did wrong. The biggest "wrong" for me was not having a temporary kitchen like you had...and regrettably, due to many reasons including COVID, I was without a kitchen for three years. Keep up the videos, I learn something every time. You have a very good "down to earth" approach to things which I enjoy. A big thank you.
Home was built in 1966, MN. 1250 sqft walkout basement. No insulation on foundation, 70s paneling, leaky windows, 1/2 bath that was 40+ years old. This was my Covid-19 lockdown project. Researched and taught myself electrical, framing (interior) and insulation: foam board on foundation then frame 2x4 and add non-faced fiberglass batts so 19+ easy. Added a 4th bedroom, upgraded to a really nice 3/4 bath with heated floors. The new door, windows, insulation, heated and carpet flooring in different areas, almost cut our energy bill in half for the year. Its been awesome. Did 90% of my project myself and saved a ton of money because I could take my time, learn because well, since covid, nothing else to do.
I've been renovating my house since I moved in nine years ago. I started making it a bachelor pad and then fell in love and got married. Then the hard work began. We are getting there, slowly but surely.
I just bought a house 3 weeks ago. Learned to used a drill 2 weeks ago. Thanks to your videos, I am learning what I am able to do myself, what I need to ask help with, and what I will need to pay someone else to do. Thank you so much for all that you do!
Good luck to you 🥰 I have learned a lot of things over the years.... people asked me why. I always say, I'd rather be watching with a cool glass of tea, pointing out what someone missed.....but it costs too much, so you learn..... Men are still critical 🥱 I had a guy tell me my tile floor was not right...I asked how many floors he'd installed, he said none! He thought you started an area from one wall to the next... that doesn't work, due to cutting at the edges. You have to plan based on your layout, so that you're not cutting in the middle of a room. Beware of men who think having testosterone means you can automatically build!
Thanks so much for all your great info! You are an amazing teacher!! I just bought a house from 1970’s & was terrified of the popcorn ceilings! Thanks for putting it into perspective! We are in the beginning of our remodel... carefully peeling back that crazy onion! So much fun! So much to DIY Thankfully we are not living there as well! Great videos!
So so helpful. I love all your realistic information! I’m a designer and you are right about doing things in a way that you can afford and still getting the look and feel and function you want. Thanks for your dedication to these principals.
So thrilled to learn so much in such a fun way. I can see why everyone loves you so much!! Thank you. Do you have a certain day and time new ones come on? Where can I find the plumbing show? I missed the end and for a 78-year-old lady plumbing is what I have had to do the most. Now that I don’t have to repair after my teenage girls!!! Wish I had known wall repair then. You would have laughed SO hard. I had no idea what was behind the wall. It looked crocheted together. They sat on bathroom drawers. Made a pool of the bathroom floor for slip and slide. Now that I remember I may change my will. Creative, though. Thanks mucho. Your accent reminds me of when we lived in Michigan briefly. I couldn’t drive on the ice and snow. Beautiful, though.
Good video, I’m current remodeling my bathroom. I ripped out the shower and today(after watching your pex videos) converted from copper to pex and put in a new shower mixer, head and handheld feed. No leaks, I’m insanely excited I did it all without a plumber! I bought new water resistant drywall and plan on using aqua defense on it but I want to use the Schluter Pan and Drain so I can do a mosaic tile. I don’t want to go the whole expense of using the Kerdi membrane for the walls. Can I do the Kerdi band where the wall/pan meet and then aqua defense down to it? Thanks!!! I love your videos, would love to see a fireplace facelift sometime if you do one :)
IMHO, there are some trades you DO need a specialized contractor unless you have perfect knowledge of the thing : Plumbing electricity carpentry roofing waterproofing inside partitions, tiles, backsplash, kitchen, finishing, it's not that important to be flawless with those things. i bought a house from a DIY dude...it's awfull all those atrocities i saw regarding plumbing and electricity ! you outta be aware of the codes goddammit !
Hi Jeff! thank you for all this helpful information. I feel so much more prepared to take on some projects in my house. I'm curious how you'd deal with mortar subfloor (?) in a bathroom that's not well supported by joist in basement and how to take down/eliminate textured ceiling that isn't popcorn in a 1920s home. Thank you! Belle
Thank you for putting together these videos. To those who want to start DIY projects, if you can buy a 2 unit home you can live in one space while you do the other. It goes along with whats suggested in this video.
Wow what an eye-opening video, the creator delves deep into the often underestimated expenses and hidden challenges that DIY home renovators face. Your honest breakdown of the "REAL" cost will make you reconsider your next renovation project and could save you from unexpected financial surprises. A must-watch for anyone considering tackling home improvements themselves. thumbs up👍👍👍
The worst part is that every DIY project seems to look simple on the surface, but then spirals out of control with unforeseen issues. "Oh, I'll just tear up my bathroom floor and lay down some new tile. Wait, the subfloor is rotten? Guess I'll have to replace that too. What? The joists are all messed up too?" And on and on and on.
And if it isn't unforeseen problems, it's "while I am at it . . . " While I have this opened up, I might as well do this, this, and this. That is where time and cost really creep up.
I bought a house about three months ago and I am planing a renovating the garage into a 2nd master suite for my mom and step-dad. Watching Jeff's vidoes over the past few months has given me the knowledge and confidence to try and tackle the job on my own. I feel that I've planned for almost any curve balls the project may throw at me. I'm going to try to keep it small and cheap but I'm prepared for the project to try and run away with me. :-)
What do you mean it's all steel reinforced concrete? Why does tearing up the wall break the ceiling? Why is the old galvanized pipe falling apart? What is this, a bunker? ;_;
Yeah, I agree with you. Still even Matt said in his last video his videos are for contractors, not DIYers. He's also admitted he got in over his head with that old house.
@@AsadAkbar1 it's in his latest video for sure. I mostly like watching him to learn about building science, and new materials that are emerging. This channel is far better for learning how to DIY, and picking up trade tricks. If you want to watch none contractors 1806stonehouse, Diyfferent, and homemade home are most enjoyable.
Jeff, let me start by saying you are the absolute man when it comes to being a "Go Giver" with all your information. I am a long time watcher/listener first time caller. I have a 1920 house that I'm buying in the states in NC and it seems renovated but the crawl space has wood that I don't think is treated. I also want to redo the kitchen because it is very old and I want the open concept. I'm curious if you can move stairs if it is going to a smaller space upstairs? Thank you again Jeff and Max! I've been with you guys for going on 4 yrs!
i love Jeff because he fills that bob vila hole that's been void for years, PLUS he has actual norm skills (2 in 1). although, he doesn't have that delicious sticker shock endings, when he tells an owner that the $15k budget turned into a final $150k because they flew in the guys that mined the marble from italy to explain how fabulous it is.
i'll go to my grave having missed my calling. i wanted to build houses since like birth. never did. maybe some day i'll have a garage to make tables and cabinets at the very least.
This video was excellent. I don’t know that I’ve ever watched a 56 minute RUclips video all the way through without stopping. I have inherited a mid to late 1800s farmhouse built by my great great grandfather that needs renovating and this video has shown me that I should definitely do the demolition myself. One of my fears is exactly what you said, that a contractor would come in and rip things out willy nilly. I want to preserve as much as possible and potentially find some easter eggs along the way (e.g. like the 1800s shoes I found in the attic space above the kitchen when the roofers removed the old roof, which were supposedly to ward off evil!). I will likely have a contractor do most of the rest but want to be involved as much as possible. What tips or recommendations do you have for finding contractors that know how to renovate these very old homes, taking into account old construction technology, and valuing/maintaining as much of the old character of the home in the process?
I totally forgot about the length until I saw your comment haha. I saw the time when I started the video and thought mmm, yeah, gunna skip through a bit. But nope, I watched every minute. It was so good!
great lecture on "re-model" vs "renovation", many start off on the first and end up on the second without knowing the difference. Then the building inspector sees the dumpster in the yard, no permit on the window and you end up in a big can of worms.
I miss the days where you could reno without permits if nothing structural was changed and the total cost involved was < $5000. I believe I'm not allowed to do my own gas appliances anymore. Damn taxing authorities and all their micromanagement. 😜
@@alanmartin4607 you might be able to do gas work but like most trades you wld need to get permit and inspection.permit and inspection is usually less than service call
First off, sir, you are one of the most invaluable resources on RUclips for DIYers. Your practical, no nonsense approach towards your videos has helped me out several times during my remodeling (not renovation!) project. You are my go-to for answers when i have questions. And speaking of which: I'm currently in the process of switching out an old popcorn ceiling over a stairwell that had some water damage, and the headaches that have incurred with trying to hang these sheets over the old walls is making me lean towards demoing all the existing walls and hanging all new drywall just to make hanging the new ceiling easier. So, is it worth it to spend a little extra time and roughly $300 to make one aspect easier, or do i just hang the new ceiling up against the old painted walls and spend a lot of effort trying to make that look good? If the latter, how do I go about mudding and taping new drywall to painted walls? Any insight, advice, and info would be greatly appreciated. Once again, thank you for doing what you do.
Hi Jeff from Portugal. My wife and I decided to renovate one of the bathrooms. After a million events, we ended up demolishing the house and building a new one. It was an adventure of almost 2 years !!
Let me know what you will be renovating! Do you have questions ask them in the comments. Cheers!
I am thinking about take the all dry wall out and just upgrade with new insulation.
I'll be redoing all my basement! I love your channel and the information that you give. Thank you!
I REALLY appreciate your content and the advice is fantastic - neither too basic nor over my head. My next project? I have a 1886 1.5 story house, there is no insulation in the ceiling so I would like to take it down, add spray foam? insultion and put proper dry wall back in its place.
One last question, Jeff. During digging the concrete of my basement where the bathroom pipes will go, after a long rainy night, the next morning we noticed water accumulation where the sand was exposed below our new bathroom pipes. I freaked out because i didnt expect that since this house we bought has a french drain all around the house. Some of my friends say it is normal, since my floor is exposed to a certain level, I might be close to the groundwater. Other say this is a bad sign cuz if I have a french drain, no water should raise from the ground. Please help me with this issue. FYI, where there was water, today it is totally dry. Thanks again
@@kareldc2 can you cite where you are getting your information from? I was wondering the same and so looked it up and cancer.gov doesn't seem to agree with you (www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet#what-factors-affect-the-risk-of-developing-an-asbestos-related-disease). I am really not "starting something". I'd like to see where your information is coming from. I know that growing up, everyone said "any" contact was harmful (and that's true), but they never really said how much was deadly because I don't think it's easily quantifiable. In general, my contractor friends say to avoid, but if you don't work with it on a daily basis, wear a mask and eye protection you'll be fine. I am not a contractor myself, so I can only go by what others are saying, but that sounds like good advice. Past that, if one is still concerned, then spend the extra money and have a professional remove it. For example, if I moved into a house with a mold issue or had tons of cats, then I would hire a pro to clean it up as I am allergic. It's just common sense.
My dad was an electrician and all around handy guy, so our house was constantly under renovation. My mother had the patience of a saint, and after the kitchen table being used as a sawhorse all day, she'd move the lumber scraps, wipe up the sawdust and cook dinner. But watching my parents wallpaper together made me seriously question whether any relationship was strong enough to survive until the end of a renovation
I’m not going out there
Haha...my husband and I are building a house together...3 years into it.
@@joannhall3521 building and renovation is totally different. You not living in a house while it’s being built😂😂😂
@@arubarobinson4663 the balkans has entered the chat
There are few things worse than wallpapering with a spouse. I will NOT be in the house during wallpaper installs. I learned this the heard way, over 40 yrs ago!
Done it 5 or 6 times. By the 7th, I had a Contractor. I was tired. I did the design and demo. Purchased everything my self, an found a great Contractor to do it as specified. Came out awesome.
Jeff, your videos have helped me find another passion in life. I am a certified auto mechanic. After watching all your videos I have built my skills to professionally DIY and renovate homes for others. It has opened doors for me. God bless you man. You are an absolute stud, a superstar, and my instructor.
Happy to be of help. A wise man once said a man with many skills is never without a job!
Im a diy auto mechanic, bought to get into hvac, know how to fix phones and almost literally anything I touch. I just wish I had the time to do carpentry. I think it looks so fun. You get to watch the progress as you go
Nice! help pp..Do not charge and arm and a leg please
same here,,, I can clearance oversize cams,,, build high performance race engines and drag bikes but build even a proper doghouse gave me problems..... tools are much more affordable though. most arent stationary which is nice, plus the cleanup is great. sawdust vs sharp coils of metal from the lathe or boring bar... Plus.. this dude is a great teacher. Im definitely going to be watvhig more of his tips and advise on how to work with our 1890s home we bought last year and its in dire need of attention and upgrades...... Keep up the good work and stay safe....
Brown noser
Thanks brother. I know it's been years. Just finished renovating my mom and dads mid century ranch built in 1964. My cost was around 25k but if I would have hired contractors the cost would have been well over 100k. I did work I did not know I could do and that's where you came in to give me the courage and motivation. You have saved folks millions of dollars over the years and for that you should sleep well at night. Thank you my friend.
Did you have prior experience? What did you do when you needed more hands? I'm curious to know if there is such a thing as solo renovation
As an automotive professor, it is difficult to find quality videos produced by experienced technicians that I can recommend to my students. It is equally difficult to find on-line instructors that know how to project personality throughout their presentations. You have nailed it on both counts. Your common sense approach, learned real world techniques and occasional gu-fas make for a dynamic learning session.
I, or should I say my wife, decided it was time to reno our bathroom, mainly to chuck the jet tube. I was intimidated by the thought of doing my own drywall and finishing - figured it would turn out like the body work I did on my own cars as a youngster. Your full series of videos on this subject was outstanding. From planning, to tool/material purchase and methods, I was more confident in tackling the project.
From one tradesman to another, thank you. Keep up the excellent work!
I usually don't comment on videos but I just wanted to say thank you for this video. I ended up watching all 56 min of it. The charm in this video comes from a sense that you are being honest with the viewers and are thinking what is best for the viewers. Please keep that going. You have a win-win situation. Thank you sir!
Facts!
This channel is the best, l renovated my wife's kitchen and l passed the test l finished the kitchen and l am still married, that was successful
Didnt do your kitchen while you were at it?? :D
“My wife’s kitchen” auch
your wife's kitchen? jesus, 1940 called.
😂😂😂😂😂😂 stay married bro. Good luck
How Can one learn this ability
Cleared a 1/2 acre. 200 Loads of dirt to raise grade. Installed a well and septic system. Remodeling a 92' double wide completely. Need to remodel and replace everything in the mobile home. I'm a carpenter. The lot is beautiful. So much work everywhere, from roofing, electrical, water, redrywall, new everything. Hopefully it'll be worth it. Wish me luck :)
Good trees and beautiful lot will always carry value in my opinion.
I am nearly done rennovating my second home. It has taken me 6 years to do it, 8 years total for 2 homes. Siding, roof, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, flooring, sheetrock, electrical, plumbing and everything in between. We just put an offer in on another home to scrub for the next two years. I am turning my 2nd home into our 2nd rental and buying my 3rd property house hacking. This channel is great, and helps me continue the craft of carpentry. Thanks for what you do.
I feel like I should be paying you just for this information. Watching your videos helped me build my confidence, and i was able to remodel my house myself including floors, tile, demo, plumbing, and electrical.
Thank you Jeff!
Just found him today and feel that same! Mannnn am I excited to watch more videos because I plan on doing some of those same things around my house!!!
Agree 100% he deserves a lot I really hope he’s being paid correctly off advertising if he had or does have a Patreon account I would donate I’ve been successful in part because of his videos best channel on RUclips thank you 🙏
Hey Jeff, Just got done with a major renovation project of the family room. Ripped old paneling from the wall; carpet, tile underneath, spackled the walls, primed & painted the all & the cieling. Decided to get the laminate floor installed by the professionals for less than $1,000 (labor). Total cost to me...about $3,200 (& 10-15 Tylenols). Probabley saved $4,000.
Thanks for all your posted videos. I find your videos to be no-nonsense, to the point, with great suggestions. Keep up the good work.
**Remember, if women don't find us handsome, they should at least find us handy!
Cheers Sam, happy to help!
There is nothing like a handy husband! I got a brainy husband with almost no hands😅😅😅 He makes money tho and I got not much brain, but I can do just anything with my golden hands👍😀 just show me how to do it once. There is not many professionals willing to show how to do that kind of stuff (especially in details) an Jeff is a very rare gem! Thank you Jeff again and again! You’re wife is a lucky woman and I’m sure she knows it🤗
@@dispm3324 I am not brainy, I love demo and putting up new structures, but I really suck and fine detail. Like yourself my wife has great detail, what takes me 1 minute it takes her 10 minutes. So it is a matter of knowing each limitation of each person, and learning to be quiet at times. BTW, Jeff is a "gem" not a diamond, but his wife is for allowing him this magnificent upgrade.
@A I you said that right. when they say a woman loves a man with a tool belt , this is true but now im 50 single and im a diy-er its not professional grade but its shonda grade. and im geting pretty good with these power tool WATCH-OUT !!!!!!! hahaha
hahaha love the red and green show
I'm renovating my 75 year old house- upgrading electrical and plumbing, moving the bathroom around and incorporating the laundry, gas lines, insulation to the outside walls, new siding, and eventually will extend the front porch and looking at permeable paver/gravel driveway as the house is in the 'dip' in the road and water spills in.
The bathtub and sink had been leaking for quite some time so new joists are being installed and building back up the bathroom/back hall area. Aside from getting in plumbers to do their work and an electrician that will let me work with him to update my old, non grounded wires to grounded ones, I've done 75% of the work myself.
I've gone from a confused but willing DIYer to a confident wall breaker/widen the doorway/build new walls/bring on the tile and sheetrock DIYer. Your channels are the main ones I go to when I need to tackle the next stage in my build. I'm uncovering previous questionable 'repairs' from handymen and unfinished but invisible (and eyebrow raising) lapses that I just look at and wonder how the house lasted all this time.
Thank you Jeff. Four years later your videos are still doing amazing work and teaching the next generation.
Your vids are so well thought out and presented. I especially like the off the cuff nuggets of valuable information you toss in that other RUclipsrs in your field neglect to offer. You were born to teach and so many of us appreciate what you do!
Cheers Tom, I appreciate that!
No!!! Please don't encourage this guy, that doesn't know a hole in the ground from his butt....
@@joshuawoodruff7100 I'm sure he knows more than what you do
Joshua Woodruff, so where can we find your much more informative channel?
Nowhere near needing to renovate, but this was the best hour of my day.
Renovating the second story of a 1950’s commercial/residential building - 3 units upstairs. All redwood timber. You should come to the Pacific Northwest and give us some pointers!
You made me feel so good about having chosen to DIY renovate. I just completely renovated my bathroom. I work full time plus, so it took me about 7 weeks. I had a blast doing it, and the whole project cost about $2600.. It came out great!
I decided yesterday I’m renovating my parents house that’s falling apart.. thank you for this content! 😊
I wish you luck in your endeavor. I will also point you to Project Farm to assist with tool and material choices.
Hire me I can help!
How’d it go
Is there such a thing where an old house isn't a money pit? Especially houses that still have the original electrical (yikes!), plumbing, and heating. Oh, and old windows and flooring?
I'm going to renovate my 360+ sf 1st floor unit in my duplex. This channel will be my go-to.
Practical. Straight to the point. And realistic.
For the first time since I found your videos back in Feb. I finished a video and felt thoroughly depressed. I had to take a few minutes to go in the other room to cry. Good video though. My daughter is usually very timid when trying new things and I often tell her, "Do it like you mean it." When you were putting in the sink I thought, "Yeah! Jeff does it like he means it. No messin' around." Lots of really good stuff here. Thank you for going through all the time and effort to share this information. It can't be easy and it certainly is time consuming. Just know your effort and hard work does not go unnoticed nor is it unappreciated.
We are very happy to be filming these renovations to help people. Cheers to you and your family!
I found this channel 2 days ago looking up “prepping for grout”. After my first tile job. I’ve watched 4-5 other videos of yours. Outstanding...yes! Do as much yourself as you can. Plumbing is the only thing I won’t deal with...water hates me but knowing at least one trade makes a difference. Thx for the videos. Will be watching more
I am currently working on an old farmhouse 1940-1950 . What a nightmare !! Your channel is fun and informative.
Yes, I will be renovating my late 1970’s home that has had almost zero updating. My main issue with the house is water. The driveway slopes down into the garage and so the rain must too if there’s enough of it. The lot continues gently sloping down and so the garage is mostly on slab but part of it and the entire living area of the house is on a raised foundation. I know water must run under the house although luckily it doesn’t pool there.
I’m renovating a house built somewhere around 1900. Doing most all the work myself...sometimes with other people helping. It’s taking a while to get done:( I have just found your channel and have really been enjoying the honest and real information you give. You’ve made me feel like it would be okay to tear open my ceiling in my bath to put a vent in (there is not one at all currently). I am now pretty skilled at drywall and electrical but the worst part is doing everything from a ladder because I’m short. I agree....do it yourself saves you a ton if you do it correctly. Thank you so much for all the info
We just bought a 73 model mobile home, lanai, carport in Bradenton Fl in a 55+ for a winter getaway, wonderful even amazing condition but needs some modernizing, your You Tube channel is a gold mine for me as I am extremely capable but have not spent much time in home reno. more of a mechanical guy... I can easily get from your video to doing the work with less frustration, Thanks so much for taking the extra time to produce this series. Do a Doublewide some day and the market is huge and redo flips are a massive market in the retirement south...
Thanks Jeff, I have bought into an 90 yrs old fibro house, that was mistake no1 paying too much was another. By installing a new bathroom and toilet, tiling, renewing the asbestos for dry wall, ventilation, insulation, more lights and fans is a small part of it. I have been watching your videos constantly. I have already lots of the tools needed and I am skilled in most applications I do, I am a pensioner with a small mortgage and I would like to some how improve my living standards by renovating and hopefully get the purchase price I paid for plus a little more would be good. I live in Australia so I guess I wont meet you any time soon but would like to one day, thanks for all the trouble you are going through to improve all of us DIY. Cheers Terry
Cheers William, Perhaps One day I will get out to see your beautiful Country. It would be a pleasure meeting with our viewers down under!
Most welcome, will get organised soon to send photos with email and give you a briefing in general what i hope to accomplish,
Cheers Will
*Successful people don't become that way overnight. What most people see at a glance-wealth, a great career, purpose is the result of hard work and hustle over time. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life..*
@Pierre Dubois that's why you need the help of a professional who trades and understands the market more to earn good income
Is not all about watching videos and wasting your time on strategies, I was ignorantly doing so...not untill I gave Expert Mr Pooley a try and ever since then he has changed my story for the better
He has made success much more easier than we thought.
Sometimes I wonder if he uses magic finger to trade.
please i need help too, how can i reach an expert that will help me manage my account🙏🙏
My daughter sent me your link. Shes a single Mom and has been repairing her house, in wet Washington, herself by watching you. Im single with a pack of rescues just trying to keep a roof over our head. We need alot of work done, roof, ceiling, flooring, pipes.... My house was originally built 1931. We appreciate you.
Love all these tips! My husband and I survived a diy kitchen/dining room/basement renovation that took about 6 months by doing things similar to your advice! The stress is very real but the end results were very satisfying! Keep it up! Love your videos!
I totally get the point regarding "work on everything in stages" vs "focus on one room at a time". But the greatest benefit or working on one isolated room for most of us is the satisfaction factor, that confidence boost comes from working on a room and seeing it completed, that (quicker) satisfaction will carry over to the next room to move along the project. versus working on everything all at once in stages, you might be months away from seeing anything close to getting finished, it can become a test of personal will and determination...
I do get it... I'm doing my own thing second time within a year in a second property I'm living at. And I would of love watched his vids before. I just started doing so cause they fun and informative. But that's a pain and a hassle living without a bath or kitchen for so long. Luckily I was able to finish fast and leaving like him a private space and focusing on a room at a time.
Reason why is because you don't jump from one to another having potential unfinished important or not details or having to come back to fix it after you got into a different stage, having to rewind the tape or worse ripping something off costing time and money over again. So yeah organization is key, the way he showed it. that's just what I'm doing at this time in my new project, pretty much all what he mentioned im doing and it does pay off top dollar and gratification.
I do DIY stuff since my childhood and is awesome to know more stuff every time.
I hope I get the success he has also the knowledge as well.
I agree. I'm going to be a one room at a time kinda person.
Very true! Plus, working on one room at a time means my husband and I can shuffle the kids from one room to the other without impeding on their livelihood.
I own a few old multi family homes that I rent out. The fact they are old homes and tenants who don't take the greatest care of the apartments, I always have some type of project. Jeff is my go to for videos. He is a great teacher and has amazing knowledge.
Just bought a war-time house, has never renovated before, don't know what I am getting myself into. But this video boosts my courage. (South-western Ontario)
sounds like 2x4 framing poor insulation and weak floor package. as long as it stayed dry you will be fine! Cheers!
I’m just at the end of a war home Renovation. You are right in the poor insulation & 2x4’s, but the reason I bought this house was because of the strength of the framing. 2x4’s are really 2x4’s and the centre support for the main floor is an 8”x8” beam sitting on 16” concrete pillars which get larger toward the floor. The exterior walls are covered in true 1” thick boarding that encloses the whole house. My first year, when I just lived here to make it livable for my family ,I didn’t even have a working furnace yet the temperature never dropped below 14C.
The skeleton is solid then everything else can be fixed and improved. I did it myself,with a kitchettte in the basement, while our family lived here and now our house is worth 4x what we bought it for originally.
@@terrymiller5028 spray foam inside and as much insulation on top of sprayfoam as you can get in the attic foam board outside with strapping/shims attached to foam board to allow air movement and water drainage for siding to attach to should be warm in winter and cooler in the summer i live in new england usa it works so great
Omg you to!! My home is early 1900 and needs lots of love. You can do this keep your head up!!!!
You can get a bunch of free boxes from Walmart. Just go at night and ask them if you can take boxes. Hell I've seen people just go with a shopping cart and take them. Or you can just ask the post office and they will give you free boxes as well and some supplies if I'm not mistaken.
I DIY'd and changed every square foot of my floor plan. It started with a water leak that rotted the kitchen floor. Replaced joists. Moved the stairs to a different area of the house. Installed all new copper runs for my baseboard. Tore up all of the existing maple (warped very badly) and replaced with 3/4" plywood. Eliminated 2 bedrooms on the first floor and turned them into a living room. The old living room was turned into a dining room off of the newly expanded kitchen with bar countertop between the two. Vaulted my ceilings and reinsulated the 2nd floor and created 2 large bedrooms that were not there prior (attic cape cod). Replaced all of the cloth wiring with new conduit runs using 12 wire. It's a nightmare. I demo'd most of it and moved onto another room. Been mostly living like this for 2 years. The work is good, and the house is going to be great, but not one single room is finished. Baby is due in March, and I'm hoping to have it finished by then. lol
Keep on Keeping on. Living the dream!!!!!
God speed! That's an amazing and hide reno!
So...did you git'er done?
Wow
And that's kinda why I keep the jobs I sign up for at home to a minimum. Not enough time to get it all done. Typically takes me twice (or more) as much time as a pro to do anything so it's a balance between living with unfinished stuff for months/years and paying to get it done (with probably better quality BTW) but in a day or two. Those who are ok living with the dust though; go for it!
The absolute best hour of my time ever spent!!! I'm 58. I've done so many things wrong (a few right) over the years and every single piece of advice provided here is invaluable! Just bought a 1400sf home on 8 acres on a beautiful river for 35k! Needs to be completely gutted and yes I'm it's in the 100 year flood plain. However, as long as I keep my cost down (as detailed here) I'll always have equity and while I own it, my family and extended family will have years of enjoyment on this gorgeous river!
Best guy on RUclips, thank God for Canadians
We have a home built in Southern Alberta in 1912 that we have taken part of our main floor down to the bones to replace the electrical, plumbing, and reinforce the ceiling so we can make the attic a living space! This video was amazing and we cannot wait to continue with some of these great tips!
I see so much comments that this video inspired so many people to renovate their homes DIY. Would be great all they come back and tell how thing go :)
Your videos have been-hands down-the best “tool” in my workshop for the past year or so. We bought our first house and have had multiple projects going concurrently ever since. I’ve always been “handy” and I’ve never been scared to bite off more than I can chew and Learn while doing. That said, I refuse to settle for anything less than a professional finish and your videos have helped me so much going from “yeah I can figure this out” to “knowing exactly what I need to do.” Thank you for all the quality content!
Whew!
All that said, I’m in the middle of a bathroom renovation right now that started as fixing a rotting piece of wall right next to the tub and turned into a full gut with a new layout. One thing that I’ve been surprised about on every project we’ve tackled so far is the time-everything seems to take at least twice as long as expected. Do you have any tips for 1. Setting a realistic timeline in the first place, and 2. Keeping that timeline on track. After the bathroom is done I’ve got a laundry room to expand and then a full renovation on the upstairs completely changing the layout-I feel like the time again will be where I get into trouble with the fam.
Thanks again for everything-truly a great channel!
2 tips...never change the plan and shop for materials at the end of the day while the project is fresh in your mind.
3800sq ft 1926 build.... got a free weekend or 12. Ugh every Square inch needs something.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Do you mean never change the structure or the idea for renovation plan? Where live a Permit is needed to even remove a wall.
🎯👍
I agree, best help/best tool
Yes! I’m diy renovating my tiny 80s bathroom by myself! I barely know how to use my new drill but I’m watching you and learning one step at a time!! Demo is so fun and empowering and best of all its FREE! Taking the tub out by myself was the best feeling! currently working on some subfloor repairs which has been a bit scary but I’m facing my fears and getting it done!! Thank you for your guidance!
How did your bathroom project turn out?
Yes. Have to Reno to make the main floor livable. Had been two rental suites - completely Micky Mouse job! My son and I are watching and rewatching all of your videos Every day ….. thank you, thank you, thank you . 🤞
Yes, my wife and I are in escrow to purchase a 1930 Spanish Style Home that we want to renovate. Learning so much from your videos! Thank you!
Jeff, you are amazing! I’m renovating my bathroom and have binge watched your videos throughout the process. You make things look SOOO easy! Thanks for helping us novices save some money! ♥️♥️♥️🛠
Awesome! Thank you! Cheers Jacquelyn!
Owner of a townhome built in 1976. Thank you for your informative video. Watching in 2021 and the information is still relevant. I've subscribed.
I've wanted to renovate my 1942 house for a while, but didn't know where/how to start, this video is a huge help!
Thank you for creating this channel. There are sooo many myths regarding costs associated with renovations.
I don't know if you're still reading your comments on this video, but here's a little heart warming one for you to have a good day - i hope.
I was raised the son of a contractor/architectural engineer/spec home builder... but he passed in his 50s before I ever got the chance to work with him or have a house of my own for him to share his wealth of knowledge with.
Now, years later, my wife and I have 2 kids and are under contract for our first house - a 1966 house in northeast U.S. I saw you come on my youtube feed and called my wife over to watch with me because you reminded me of my Dad and you are so down to earth with a can-do attitude! Bottom line first - we're wondering if this house is just too much to take on or if it's worth the investment (assuming we live there for at least 5 years). Inspection is in a few days so we can still back out if need be...
The asphalt-shingled roof is 18 years old, 100 amp circuit board, dated (probably with asbestos) bathroom and windows that will probably need to be replaced over the course of our ownership of this house. Kitchen is good, layout makes sense, 2 car garage, amazing location, it's currently a 3bd 2ba. Baseboard heat with no duct work in the house at present. It's a lot of work overall, but the house is a good $50,000 or more under the market of the best neighborhood in town. After closing, we'll have about $40,000 USD left for work on the house. We're thinking of hiring a contractor to finish the 1400sqft basement as that may be too much for us to handle with the 2 kids and no family close by (NOTE: basement's got a full bath in it already for some weird reason) and then DIYing the upstairs bathroom and any other remodeling we decide to do.
Any advice you've got we'd LOVE! Thanks for this channel!
Jeff Thorman is one of the more intriguing, informative, and invested RUclipsrs that i follow! Spits some serious knowledge and wisdom!
You are a god send!
I’m about to take on remodeling my mothers main level in her home.
I am a makeup artist, not a handy man, but I’m a quick study and with your help I feel I can do this as long as I take it one step at a time.
Thank you for sharing so much knowledge.
Thank you so much. I have a 100 year old home it’s 2600 square ft. Starting the Renovating next month. This video has helped me soooo much. Thank you a million times over👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I've been a contractor for over 20 years. I still really hesitate on decisions to renovate areas in my home. I of course have the tools, skill, and experience to do the jobs, but I know the time commitment involved. TV shows show you a full renovation start to finish in 30 minutes and people think that's how it works. They dont show you the cans of worms, the issues or setbacks. Renovation is hard work, you need to commit to a project and do what it takes to get it done right. I feel like people dont understand what it really takes.
Like any job! but how a kitchen will cost 60k remodeling? artifacts and cabinets $20k.. labor cost 40K ..(3 workers and done in 6 days..$40k?)
@@bridesnyc easily 20 - 60k
@@cjschmitt4882 There is no way I will pay someone 40k for labor only on a kitchen. No paying their mortgage or vacation..lol
@@bridesnyc I get that but that's how much kitchen remodels have been for a long long time now, it's rediculous!
It has been a year but just want to say your comment hits the nail on the head. I am have been working on a mobile home renovation for 9 months now. Had to clean up nicotine, the plumbing was crap, the electrical needed updating, tore out the kitchen and bath, putting down new flooring...Wow I had no idea of the time involved. The setbacks, the issues to work out, how to redesign a bad design, the COST of things every time I have to run to Lowes or HD. No light at the end of the tunnel yet and often wonder how it will all end...Do I make a profit, break even? Time will tell. It is love - hate. I like to fix/restore things but I will be so glad when I get some life back. I don't need to go to the gym for now because all the bending, pulling, pushing, lifting, squatting etc keeps me in shape. I never knew it could kick my butt after a long day.
Love the videos, I’m planning on renovating a couple bathrooms and a kitchen in a 1905 house. I was in the trades for about 15 years and still find these videos very informative. Keep up the good work
I love that you said you like how the younger generations are evaluating work and asking if it's worth it to be all work and no play. Most people our age and older (I'm 45) are too focused on our jobs and not enough on the bigger picture.
Talking about the stress involved in a renovation is very well said. It’s all fun and game until your kitchen has been out of commission for two weeks.
The nice thing about doing the drywall, is it's easy to practice starting small and build up to it. Fill some holes in an otherwise good room and learn how to handle the compound and feather your edges, and build to hanging whole sheets. My daughter can do a fair job mudding and she's 3.
I've become a huge fan of learning new skills on RUclips to save money. We've been trying to update our 1973 Idaho home a piece at a time. Thankfully my hubby works for a lumber store in the Northwest so we get great discounts. I became an "expert" popcorn-ceiling remover this past month and it was totally worth the sweat equity. We still need to finish updating a few more windows, gutting the kitchen (can't be saved with cosmetic fixes) and finishing the outside siding after the windows. Thanks for all the great ideas.
I've been building and renovating my entire life. Finally bought a house and just spent the last six months overhauling my own. It's always good for a refresher course to come to you channels, know matter how much experience one may have!
Hugely inspired now to get as much as possible done myself and save wherever I can and turn my home into a real paradise!! First time to hear Jeff today. Wow!!! What a fantastic and kind and helpful man!! Jeremy, England.
I’ve just come across your videos and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them. In 2021 I graduated from a carpentry and renovations program, so a newbie.
I am living in a renovation which is actually an unfinished house I started over 20 years ago.
About 3-5 yrs ago i studded, insulated and drywalled the basement.
I’m off grid with plans to set up a solar power system.
I find your videos very informative for some of the things I want to incorporate into my home. Thanks
Love this video!
I really enjoyed how you got real about the costs. Especially the stress levels involved and how to mitigate them a bit.
Our house has been a mix of renovation and remodel.
The mechanicals are in the process of being renovated, while most of the rest of the house has been remodeled.
We bought a 2000 sq ft house built in 1890 in NE Ohio. (so we get a lot of the same weather you do)
The structure is amazing. Full thickness 2 x 8 floor joists with 8 x 8 beams supporting them.
9' ceilings with beautiful textured plaster (that was hidden behind painted wallpaper). What seems to be original hardwood floors, and nice big 6' tall windows, including a bay window bump out that that carries all the way from the foundation up through both stories.
We stripped all the wallpaper. Did some plaster patching, and painted most of the rooms.
Laundry room and kitchen were paneling. The laundry room and 1st floor full bath are from the 1969 addition that was put on.
Laundry room ended up being a full gut, because when I opened up the wall to do work on the water supply I found the drywall behind the paneling was moldy. Kitchen we pulled the paneling and all the cabinets (which were custom built plywood with paneling vener, including the doors :o )
All new cabinets and countertops from Home Depot cost us $3000 for 12 linear ft of countertop + upper/lower cabinets + 2 pantry cabinets.
I already replaced all the gas lines myself. Had to, to get the gas turned on to get heat into the place.
No fun doing that job in January after work. Luckily here, we can do the work ourselves, just have to get it inspected by a licensed plumber who then signs off on the paperwork with the gas company. So I only had to pay the $75 inspection fee. (for 15 minutes of work while they pressurized the lines and made sure there was no drop off).
Also, re-did the plumbing while I was at it. It was a tangled mess with mis-colored shut-offs everywhere. Untangled and streamlined that contorted copper nightmare.
Next up, is a panel swap in the spring. To replace the breaker box that feeds 4 different fuse boxes. Then I can get on with rewiring the place. Mostly just splitting up circuits and adding more receptacles. Though most of the 2nd floor is still knob & tube that needs completely replaced. Thankfully my best friend is a licensed electrician, so he is going to do the actual panel swap.
Then I need to replace the circa 1960's furnace.
Then I can start thinking about how to insulate the place, as the only insulation in the whole house is in the 1969 addition. And that is the thin, foil-backed pink stuff.
Always something to do, when you own an old house.
sounds like a great time. Cheers!
It has been. While we were painting is when I discovered your channel. You were talking about painting tips.
It wasn't anything I didn't already know, but I just loved your no-nonsense approach and how well you explained what you were doing, and why.
Been a subscriber ever since.
I just love Jeff Thorman when i need something. He is my to go to handy guy!!!
I’m still just getting my feet wet with remodeling stuff right now. We’ve only owned our house a year and I’m 6 months pregnant so there’s only so much I can do at this point. I’ve changed light fixtures, put in dimmers, changed out hardware and painted every room in the house. Didn’t feel I could handle carpet so hired that out, glad I did! Sometimes it’s just best to get something done fast so your house doesn’t get disrupted too much.
I’m looking forward to trying my hand at some bigger stuff in a year or 2 once my little one is older.
do you want to be my second Dad?
Would love to. Cheers!
ROFL
Hey Jeff am up for adoption too (am thirty but we’ll round the age round).
I really like Jeff! He seems so nice! I like his laugh too! 😊
A father to the fatherless. This guy has the manliest job you can get. TEACHER!
This is the best renovation video I have ever seen. I bought my house 11 years ago and only changed the floor in the basement (I hate carpet). I am thinking about renovating my bathroom because the floor tile is cracking, the tub is not fully functional and the ceiling fan is close to broken. I will keep looking through this channel and see if I can find some confidence to do it myself.
To answer the last question of this video. YES. I want to do the renovation. Thank you so much for sharing all the knowledge.
You can do this. We have a membership for $5 a month. you can send me pics and I can help tyou with the confidence issue. Cheers!
We've done 2 kitchens and I wish I had a temporary kitchen set-up like yours. Love your videos. Thank you
One of the basic necessities on all my projects. Cheers!
It's so rare to get good practical information anywhere today, but a full hour of it is crazy!
We have a lot to get through with this renovation. sorry we didn't break it up into 20 traditional youtube videos. Cheers!
Love the video!!! Very informative! I have inherited a 1950 mill house with 1100 square feet. It needs some work. I’ve been wanting to renovate but didn’t want to finance 50,000 to do it. I started last week with my bathroom… taking it slow because I don’t want to make mistakes. I have watched several of your videos before… all very helpful. I appreciate your simplicity and honesty!!
I'm going to renovate by myself, my kitchen, next year. Your information is solid gold!!!!
Cheers Alex, our kitchen videos start next week! I hope they will be of some help!
Yes, I am a renovator.
Thank you so much for inspiring me and my family. Thank you for all the valuable information provided and thank you for making everything seem more easy thank it actually is.
I hope you and all your loved ones will stay healthy. God bless you!
I really got a lot out of your video. I am about to finish a ground floor renovation of my 2,300 sq foot house and just about all of your video brought flashbacks of what I did right and what I did wrong. The biggest "wrong" for me was not having a temporary kitchen like you had...and regrettably, due to many reasons including COVID, I was without a kitchen for three years. Keep up the videos, I learn something every time. You have a very good "down to earth" approach to things which I enjoy. A big thank you.
The whole time watching the video all I’m thinking is if I ever hire a contractor I hope he’s as knowledgeable and honest as you.
Yes! This channel is exactly what I need to renovate my house I’m buying!
Home was built in 1966, MN. 1250 sqft walkout basement. No insulation on foundation, 70s paneling, leaky windows, 1/2 bath that was 40+ years old. This was my Covid-19 lockdown project. Researched and taught myself electrical, framing (interior) and insulation: foam board on foundation then frame 2x4 and add non-faced fiberglass batts so 19+ easy. Added a 4th bedroom, upgraded to a really nice 3/4 bath with heated floors. The new door, windows, insulation, heated and carpet flooring in different areas, almost cut our energy bill in half for the year. Its been awesome. Did 90% of my project myself and saved a ton of money because I could take my time, learn because well, since covid, nothing else to do.
I've been renovating my house since I moved in nine years ago. I started making it a bachelor pad and then fell in love and got married. Then the hard work began. We are getting there, slowly but surely.
You’re so great! Such great and honest advise. I can heaarrrr the passion in your voice. Love it! Thanks a ton!
I just bought a house 3 weeks ago. Learned to used a drill 2 weeks ago. Thanks to your videos, I am learning what I am able to do myself, what I need to ask help with, and what I will need to pay someone else to do. Thank you so much for all that you do!
Good luck to you 🥰 I have learned a lot of things over the years.... people asked me why. I always say, I'd rather be watching with a cool glass of tea, pointing out what someone missed.....but it costs too much, so you learn..... Men are still critical 🥱 I had a guy tell me my tile floor was not right...I asked how many floors he'd installed, he said none! He thought you started an area from one wall to the next... that doesn't work, due to cutting at the edges. You have to plan based on your layout, so that you're not cutting in the middle of a room. Beware of men who think having testosterone means you can automatically build!
Thanks so much for all your great info! You are an amazing teacher!!
I just bought a house from 1970’s & was terrified of the popcorn ceilings! Thanks for putting it into perspective!
We are in the beginning of our remodel... carefully peeling back that crazy onion! So much fun! So much to DIY
Thankfully we are not living there as well! Great videos!
Love how in depth every video is. Don’t use 60% of the info, but definitely prefer to have more info than less.
So so helpful. I love all your realistic information! I’m a designer and you are right about doing things in a way that you can afford and still getting the look and feel and function you want. Thanks for your dedication to these
principals.
Awesome video!! One of the best, with great info about costs and preparation! Thank You!
And congratulations to Max and his new wife! 🎊
Cheers Pierre! They are such a cute couple!
So thrilled to learn so much in such a fun way. I can see why everyone loves you so much!! Thank you. Do you have a certain day and time new ones come on? Where can I find the plumbing show? I missed the end and for a 78-year-old lady plumbing is what I have had to do the most. Now that I don’t have to repair after my teenage girls!!! Wish I had known wall repair then. You would have laughed SO hard. I had no idea what was behind the wall. It looked crocheted together. They sat on bathroom drawers. Made a pool of the bathroom floor for slip and slide. Now that I remember I may change my will. Creative, though. Thanks mucho. Your accent reminds me of when we lived in Michigan briefly. I couldn’t drive on the ice and snow. Beautiful, though.
Absolutely. As long as I have information to reference my only choice is to renovate myself. Thank you for helping change DIWHY into DIY.
Good video, I’m current remodeling my bathroom. I ripped out the shower and today(after watching your pex videos) converted from copper to pex and put in a new shower mixer, head and handheld feed. No leaks, I’m insanely excited I did it all without a plumber!
I bought new water resistant drywall and plan on using aqua defense on it but I want to use the Schluter Pan and Drain so I can do a mosaic tile. I don’t want to go the whole expense of using the Kerdi membrane for the walls. Can I do the Kerdi band where the wall/pan meet and then aqua defense down to it?
Thanks!!! I love your videos, would love to see a fireplace facelift sometime if you do one :)
You are awesome Rebecca!!!! cheers to that!
I am certified in Schluter, if the whole system isn't Kerdi there is no guarantee . It is never a good idea to mix membrane or waterproofing systems
John Henderson correct, likewise, don’t frankenstein the thing do it right 💯 % orange.
IMHO, there are some trades you DO need a specialized contractor unless you have perfect knowledge of the thing :
Plumbing
electricity
carpentry
roofing
waterproofing
inside partitions, tiles, backsplash, kitchen, finishing, it's not that important to be flawless with those things.
i bought a house from a DIY dude...it's awfull all those atrocities i saw regarding plumbing and electricity ! you outta be aware of the codes goddammit !
sorry i didn't want to reply to your message. I wanted to comment the video.
So much information! A lot to think about before doing anything. Thank you, Jeff.
Thanks Sandy, its a lot more than just grabbing a sledge hammer for sure. Cheers!
Yes! I just bought a house from 1955 and the rooms show it! Thanks for all your tips I'm learning a lot!
best thing on the computer I have seen today, thank you
Cheers i appreciate that!
Hi Jeff! thank you for all this helpful information. I feel so much more prepared to take on some projects in my house. I'm curious how you'd deal with mortar subfloor (?) in a bathroom that's not well supported by joist in basement and how to take down/eliminate textured ceiling that isn't popcorn in a 1920s home. Thank you! Belle
Thank you for putting together these videos. To those who want to start DIY projects, if you can buy a 2 unit home you can live in one space while you do the other. It goes along with whats suggested in this video.
You missed the biggest need for me to renovate: My wife wants it.
Cheers to that Geoff!
Thought you were going to say the biggest thing to renovate was "the wife"
buy her a fancy vacuum cleaner and a set of pans. solved.
Ding ding ding,.... We have a Winner. The Wifey wants it, she gets it. Im in same boat. Well played.
« Wifey wants it » is the synonym for human advancements and progress. Man would still be living in caves otherwise
YES!!! I'M READY!!! Now I just need a house....😂
Wow what an eye-opening video, the creator delves deep into the often underestimated expenses and hidden challenges that DIY home renovators face. Your honest breakdown of the "REAL" cost will make you reconsider your next renovation project and could save you from unexpected financial surprises. A must-watch for anyone considering tackling home improvements themselves. thumbs up👍👍👍
The worst part is that every DIY project seems to look simple on the surface, but then spirals out of control with unforeseen issues. "Oh, I'll just tear up my bathroom floor and lay down some new tile. Wait, the subfloor is rotten? Guess I'll have to replace that too. What? The joists are all messed up too?" And on and on and on.
Those skunks ...
And if it isn't unforeseen problems, it's "while I am at it . . . "
While I have this opened up, I might as well do this, this, and this.
That is where time and cost really creep up.
I bought a house about three months ago and I am planing a renovating the garage into a 2nd master suite for my mom and step-dad. Watching Jeff's vidoes over the past few months has given me the knowledge and confidence to try and tackle the job on my own.
I feel that I've planned for almost any curve balls the project may throw at me. I'm going to try to keep it small and cheap but I'm prepared for the project to try and run away with me. :-)
What do you mean it's all steel reinforced concrete? Why does tearing up the wall break the ceiling? Why is the old galvanized pipe falling apart? What is this, a bunker? ;_;
You just spoke to my exact reality.
Yeah, I agree with you. Still even Matt said in his last video his videos are for contractors, not DIYers. He's also admitted he got in over his head with that old house.
JWW187 which video was that?
@@AsadAkbar1 it's in his latest video for sure. I mostly like watching him to learn about building science, and new materials that are emerging. This channel is far better for learning how to DIY, and picking up trade tricks. If you want to watch none contractors 1806stonehouse, Diyfferent, and homemade home are most enjoyable.
Jeff, let me start by saying you are the absolute man when it comes to being a "Go Giver" with all your information. I am a long time watcher/listener first time caller. I have a 1920 house that I'm buying in the states in NC and it seems renovated but the crawl space has wood that I don't think is treated. I also want to redo the kitchen because it is very old and I want the open concept. I'm curious if you can move stairs if it is going to a smaller space upstairs? Thank you again Jeff and Max! I've been with you guys for going on 4 yrs!
i love Jeff because he fills that bob vila hole that's been void for years, PLUS he has actual norm skills (2 in 1). although, he doesn't have that delicious sticker shock endings, when he tells an owner that the $15k budget turned into a final $150k because they flew in the guys that mined the marble from italy to explain how fabulous it is.
I wish I had Norm Skills. Cheers!
LOL! I do miss 'This Old House' and 'Holmes on Homes'. So grateful we now have Jeff.
i'll go to my grave having missed my calling. i wanted to build houses since like birth. never did. maybe some day i'll have a garage to make tables and cabinets at the very least.
This video was excellent. I don’t know that I’ve ever watched a 56 minute RUclips video all the way through without stopping.
I have inherited a mid to late 1800s farmhouse built by my great great grandfather that needs renovating and this video has shown me that I should definitely do the demolition myself. One of my fears is exactly what you said, that a contractor would come in and rip things out willy nilly. I want to preserve as much as possible and potentially find some easter eggs along the way (e.g. like the 1800s shoes I found in the attic space above the kitchen when the roofers removed the old roof, which were supposedly to ward off evil!). I will likely have a contractor do most of the rest but want to be involved as much as possible.
What tips or recommendations do you have for finding contractors that know how to renovate these very old homes, taking into account old construction technology, and valuing/maintaining as much of the old character of the home in the process?
I totally forgot about the length until I saw your comment haha. I saw the time when I started the video and thought mmm, yeah, gunna skip through a bit. But nope, I watched every minute. It was so good!
Yes,
We bought a 50 year old wooden house in Japan
We just started with easy thing,your channel is helping us with a lot of info.
Thanks
great lecture on "re-model" vs "renovation", many start off on the first and end up on the second without knowing the difference. Then the building inspector sees the dumpster in the yard, no permit on the window and you end up in a big can of worms.
Just happend to me 😣
zee stef what did the inspector say?
Just because you have a bin does not mean that you are in need of a permit. tell the inspector to mind their business. Cheers!
I miss the days where you could reno without permits if nothing structural was changed and the total cost involved was < $5000. I believe I'm not allowed to do my own gas appliances anymore. Damn taxing authorities and all their micromanagement. 😜
@@alanmartin4607 you might be able to do gas work but like most trades you wld need to get permit and inspection.permit and inspection is usually less than service call
First off, sir, you are one of the most invaluable resources on RUclips for DIYers. Your practical, no nonsense approach towards your videos has helped me out several times during my remodeling (not renovation!) project. You are my go-to for answers when i have questions. And speaking of which: I'm currently in the process of switching out an old popcorn ceiling over a stairwell that had some water damage, and the headaches that have incurred with trying to hang these sheets over the old walls is making me lean towards demoing all the existing walls and hanging all new drywall just to make hanging the new ceiling easier. So, is it worth it to spend a little extra time and roughly $300 to make one aspect easier, or do i just hang the new ceiling up against the old painted walls and spend a lot of effort trying to make that look good? If the latter, how do I go about mudding and taping new drywall to painted walls?
Any insight, advice, and info would be greatly appreciated. Once again, thank you for doing what you do.
Hi Jeff from Portugal. My wife and I decided to renovate one of the bathrooms. After a million events, we ended up demolishing the house and building a new one. It was an adventure of almost 2 years !!
Must’ve been a money pit. I’m sorry.
@@powderdescent It was...
Man Risinger gettin kicked in the teeth for that series lol.
Thanks for the vids Jeff. This is one of the realest channels on RUclips by far👌🏾
I hope it seems real. I am actually renovating my house! MYSELF!