We have a 1929 home w/ plaster walls. We need to CAREFULLY remove the
current hardwood floor, possibly shim or replace some joists, replace the
subfloor, and CAREFULLY reinstall and refinish the hardwood floor. We also
need to re-inforce the fireplace mantel from underneath (it looks like they
just used a wood box to hold it, looking up at it from the basement) with
metal brackets. In the room of the floor being refinished, we need to
replace really old wiring (we were told by a DIY electrician guy we could do
it without tearing the wall out, by fishing new wire around tied to the old
wire as we pull it out, or by fishing the wire around with fishing tools or
whatever), and we might need to blow insulation either from the outside or
the inside. We also need to paint the room.

What order should these things be done? I know the obvious ones, like paint
after the wiring is done, but it seems like some other things could go
either way. The fireplace guy said we need to do the mantel last, but a
floor guy said we need to have the mantel done first, etc. Plus an
insulation guy said do the floor first, but then a different insulation guy
said do the floor afterwards. I've had a really hard time getting any local
professionals to say the same thing, so I've kind of lost my trust in them,
and can also no longer afford to pay people to come here and inspect things
and give me completely different answers than the last guy.

Any thoughts would help and be appreciated.

And by the way, I'm a new homeowner with very little money and no
experience, so I'll probably be posting on here a LOT. So if I break any
rules of posting or whatever, please let me know.

Thanks again.

I fogot to add that the windows also need to be replaced, as well as one
door that leads outside. Sorry


"CompleteNewb" wrote in message
news
We have a 1929 home w/ plaster walls. We need to CAREFULLY remove the
current hardwood floor, possibly shim or replace some joists, replace the
subfloor, and CAREFULLY reinstall and refinish the hardwood floor. We
also need to re-inforce the fireplace mantel from underneath (it looks
like they just used a wood box to hold it, looking up at it from the
basement) with metal brackets. In the room of the floor being refinished,
we need to replace really old wiring (we were told by a DIY electrician
guy we could do it without tearing the wall out, by fishing new wire
around tied to the old wire as we pull it out, or by fishing the wire
around with fishing tools or whatever), and we might need to blow
insulation either from the outside or the inside. We also need to paint
the room.

What order should these things be done? I know the obvious ones, like
paint after the wiring is done, but it seems like some other things could
go either way. The fireplace guy said we need to do the mantel last, but
a floor guy said we need to have the mantel done first, etc. Plus an
insulation guy said do the floor first, but then a different insulation
guy said do the floor afterwards. I've had a really hard time getting any
local professionals to say the same thing, so I've kind of lost my trust
in them, and can also no longer afford to pay people to come here and
inspect things and give me completely different answers than the last guy.

Any thoughts would help and be appreciated.

And by the way, I'm a new homeowner with very little money and no
experience, so I'll probably be posting on here a LOT. So if I break any
rules of posting or whatever, please let me know.

Thanks again.

CompleteNewb wrote:
We have a 1929 home w/ plaster walls. We need to CAREFULLY remove the
current hardwood floor, possibly shim or replace some joists, replace
the subfloor, and CAREFULLY reinstall and refinish the hardwood
floor. We also need to re-inforce the fireplace mantel from
underneath (it looks like they just used a wood box to hold it,
looking up at it from the basement) with metal brackets. In the room
of the floor being refinished, we need to replace really old wiring
(we were told by a DIY electrician guy we could do it without tearing
the wall out, by fishing new wire around tied to the old wire as we
pull it out, or by fishing the wire around with fishing tools or
whatever), and we might need to blow insulation either from the
outside or the inside. We also need to paint the room.
What order should these things be done? I know the obvious ones,
like paint after the wiring is done, but it seems like some other
things could go either way. The fireplace guy said we need to do the
mantel last, but a floor guy said we need to have the mantel done
first, etc. Plus an insulation guy said do the floor first, but then
a different insulation guy said do the floor afterwards. I've had a
really hard time getting any local professionals to say the same
thing, so I've kind of lost my trust in them, and can also no longer
afford to pay people to come here and inspect things and give me
completely different answers than the last guy.
Any thoughts would help and be appreciated.

And by the way, I'm a new homeowner with very little money and no
experience, so I'll probably be posting on here a LOT. So if I break
any rules of posting or whatever, please let me know.


1. You may not be able to remove the hardwood floor for exact reuse,
carefully or otherwise. But that may be okay if you can live with a
"distressed" look (I personally think it adds character). There's going to
be at least one board that splinters all to hell when you take it up - do
you have spares? Look for compatible planks before you decide to re-use the
floor. You may end up choosing a laminate veneer.

2. The mantel: I'd say last, unless it's an integral part of the fireplace.
Heck, they make bolt-on mantles that you can stick up anytime.

In sum, I'd say attack in the following order:
1. Structural integrity (leveling floor)
2. Safety concerns (electrical)
3. Cosmetic items (floor, painting, mantle)

Please post your weird or mundane questions; we don't mind. You'll often get
expert advice, and you'll always get some good ideas.

"CompleteNewb" wrote in message
news
We have a 1929 home w/ plaster walls. We need to CAREFULLY remove the
current hardwood floor, possibly shim or replace some joists, replace the
subfloor, and CAREFULLY reinstall and refinish the hardwood floor. We
also need to re-inforce the fireplace mantel from underneath (it looks
like they just used a wood box to hold it, looking up at it from the
basement) with metal brackets. In the room of the floor being refinished,
we need to replace really old wiring (we were told by a DIY electrician
guy we could do it without tearing the wall out, by fishing new wire
around tied to the old wire as we pull it out, or by fishing the wire
around with fishing tools or whatever), and we might need to blow
insulation either from the outside or the inside. We also need to paint
the room.

What order should these things be done? I know the obvious ones, like
paint after the wiring is done, but it seems like some other things could
go either way.

The decision comes easier if you know what has to be done. Just stop and
think about the process of the job and how it is affected by other projects.

Consider the wiring. You already know the wires have to be pulled through
or fished in the walls. Logic says that is easier done in an open space
rather than one filled with insulation.

Stuff falls on floors and workmen will be carrying their tools and equipment
over it so do the refinishing towards the end.

In any case, try to get some or al of the insulation done before winter.

As for replacing the joists, it may be easier to sister the old ones with
new. I can't see them from here so I can't give an absolute answer as could
someone looking at them.

You may at times get conflicting information here too, but it is more
information to help you make the final decision. Ask as you go along and
don't worry about mistakes. You'll make them just as we all did so just move
on forward.

CompleteNewb wrote:

We have a 1929 home w/ plaster walls. We need to CAREFULLY remove the
current hardwood floor, possibly shim or replace some joists, replace
the subfloor, and CAREFULLY reinstall and refinish the hardwood floor.
We also need to re-inforce the fireplace mantel from underneath (it
looks like they just used a wood box to hold it, looking up at it from
the basement) with metal brackets. In the room of the floor being
refinished, we need to replace really old wiring (we were told by a DIY
electrician guy we could do it without tearing the wall out, by fishing
new wire around tied to the old wire as we pull it out, or by fishing
the wire around with fishing tools or whatever), and we might need to
blow insulation either from the outside or the inside. We also need to
paint the room.

What order should these things be done? I know the obvious ones, like
paint after the wiring is done, but it seems like some other things
could go either way. The fireplace guy said we need to do the mantel
last, but a floor guy said we need to have the mantel done first, etc.
Plus an insulation guy said do the floor first, but then a different
insulation guy said do the floor afterwards. I've had a really hard
time getting any local professionals to say the same thing, so I've kind
of lost my trust in them, and can also no longer afford to pay people to
come here and inspect things and give me completely different answers
than the last guy.

Any thoughts would help and be appreciated.

And by the way, I'm a new homeowner with very little money and no
experience, so I'll probably be posting on here a LOT. So if I break
any rules of posting or whatever, please let me know.

In general, things that make a mess are done first, and fine-finish things
are done last (after the mess is cleaned up). For example, the floor
finish is put on last so it isn't messed up by the guy blowing insulation.

1. Remove flooring
2. Remove subflooring
3a. Repair joists
3b. Reinforce fireplace
3c. Replace wiring
3d. Install insulation
4. Install subflooring
5. Repair holes from blowing insulation
6. Paint
7. Install flooring
8. Sand and refinish flooring

You can do 3a-3d at the same time since they'll be different people.

Get the flooring and fireplace guys to decide between themselves how to
get it done.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX

CompleteNewb wrote:

I fogot to add that the windows also need to be replaced, as well as one
door that leads outside. Sorry

3e and 3f


--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX