On 1 Oct 2006 04:58:42 -0700, "tim1198" wrote:


an:
:Rip everything out first, siding, sheetrock, etc.. and get it down to
:framing. Foundation is first after that. Now it's easy to do your
:electrical, plumbing, AC.

There's very little sheetrock here. It's almost all lath and plaster.
But a WHOLE LOT of that plaster is disintegrating. I haven't evaluated
it carefully, but there are very very many places where it's crumbling
or has obviously come loose from the lath. Bulges, big cracks, etc. In
fact, most of the downstairs and some of the upstairs plaster was
covered with paneling, which I'm removed, almost entirely (exposing the
plaster problems). Maybe most or all of that plaster should be ripped
out, such as you say, prior to the foundation, plumbing and electrical
work. Then, I suppose it could either be replastered or else sheetrock
could be put up. Don't know if the lath should stay or not, if it's
sheetrock. Maybe not, since that would probably interfere with
installation of an updated electrical system, a central heating system,
and plumbing. I suppose that would mean the house would be a mere
skeleton prior to even the foundation work. Clearly, I'd have to live
elsewhere. AC I won't need (Berkeley), but heating, yes!
:
:Sometimes it's cheaper to start from scratch because construction
eople can get much more accomplished not trying to fit a square peg
:into a round hole. That's why renovations typically cost more than new
:construction.

By scratch I assume you mean what I described, not tearing the house
down, but I'm not sure.
:
:Either way, it's sounding like $100-150k depending on your material
:choices. Don't do cedar shakes. I have it, and they're very expensive
:and labor intensive ($400 /sq) for materials alone. For that much, I
:went with hardi shingles and I'll never have to worry about warping,
:checking, splitting..

So, you removed your cedar shakes? Or you have a combination with "hardi
shingles?"

:
:good luck

Thanks!