What would you do with the exterior of my 1980 block house.
Julie Og
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
80 cement block house, brown aluminium window frames, next project, I am to paint the windows matt black ( can't afford new ones) Already painted the trim (its a black green grey blend) am considering painting all the block black, house is 2 story at the back (the block has an uneven surface to look like mud brick) and looks a little depressing- thoughts recommendations ideas please
here are some before and after pics.Last week I turfed the top area ( it was previously and old shed and mud driveway. I'm to lay a meadow wildflower turf bed on the porch roof to attract bees and soften the look. (last pic is a before)
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Comments (10)
oklouise
3 years agoJulie Og
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Reno - what are the steps?
Comments (6)First thing you need to understand is the scope of the project and what your abilities and experience will cover. Do you have any experience managing a construction project? Have you ever scheduled a construction project? Have you drawn up a trades (i.e. framing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, etc., etc..) contract? Have you ever dealt with the permitting office in pulling permits? Have you ever inspected any construction for quality and compliance to the design documents? Have you ever dealt with inspections or construction deficiencies and had to resolve them with the sub-contractors? If you can't answer yes to all these questions, then you're venturing into a field you know little or nothing about. Any mistakes or stumbles you make in your learning curve are most likely going to be costly in both time and your budget. There are some projects that are DIY level.......there are some that would best be left to those of us already having the background and experience. Let me give you an example. I have an oak tree beside the house I'm renovating. It sits about 12' from the end of the house and has at least a 30' radius drip line which means it extends out over the roof of the house. Having spent a number of years of my young life on a ranch and farm, I know how to drop trees. I know how to operate a chain saw safely without loosing a limb or making a quick trip to the ER. From years in the construction / design field, I know how to operate a high lift ......... but even I know that the task of removing this tree is beyond my level in spite of my willingness and wish to save the $3500 I've been quoted. There are some things best left to the pros. Besides, If I drop a 14" diameter limb on the roof, I would never hear the end of it from my wife. Based solely on the questions you asked, I would highly recommend that you hire an Architect to help you with the design and your budget. Then I would find a well recommended GC to do the job......I'm betting you'll make the most of your limited budget going this route....See More"Need help for 3rd Floor of my House
Comments (7)So you just want to enclose the top area to make it a place to sleep? Does it need to have a kitchen and bathroom or just a sleeping area? I am not an architect but you might want to ask more direct questions like " How can I enclose this upper floor to make it livable?". It looks like you live in a very mild climate. Perhaps you should put up wood walls with windows that match the design on the balcony panels. I am not a builder so I hope someone else has some ideas for you....See MoreNeed help with covering windows on French doors that are very close to
Comments (11)I have to say that well made Roman Shades are not cheap, they are the higher end of the market. Secondly the thing to consider is that they are an all or nothing product, they are either open or closed. What part of the country do you live in? What direction do the windows face, and how often are those doors used? Drapery that can not be moved completely out of the way will get caught in the doors all the time, so while I hate taking out a window for any reason, removing it might make sense as it seems rather redundant. Don't do any type of venetian if this door is used a lot, and if you do, make sure you do an outside mount, allowing for the stack to go above the frame of the doors when they are open. I suggest that you look into Hunter Douglas Polysatin Shutters, they are great on french doors, and the Hunter Douglas Duette Architella Vertiglide is perfect on doors, they also come as a duo light, meaning you can put two blinds into one product - so a sheer and an opaque or semi-opaque product. Just some thoughts to consider....See MoreThe HouzzAU Queenslander club
Comments (2)I LOVE OLD QUEENSLANDERS.....emphasis on O L D! What a sight, a tall Queenslander...having come into being because of the heat in this State and therefore on tall and not so tall piers...I LOVE these houses but with one exception...and probably because in those days ther were no such things as... LIFTS! Nobody thought of the older Queenslander human whose hips and knees are worn out from hard work on the land..or for the little kids and toddlers.....STAIRS, STAIRS and more STAIRS! Beautiful gracious staircases....but.... Recently a young enthusiastic couple built a magnificent looking replica old Queenslander right across from my place. I watched it go up...and so did the rest of the neighbourhood...well, not criticising the modern builder but I'd rather have a genuine old Queenslander put together with hammer and iron nails! STAIRS seemed to have been made into a feature. The land overlooks a waterway that is prone to flooding so the piers had to be quite high....and that meant more treads! I think that maybe the builders were unaware of the need for a landing every...is it eight? steps? The back steps are straight up the rear of the house...no landings....OOOFFF going to welcome your new neighbiurs! I would not build a replica Queenslander but if I couldn't help myself I'd install A LIFT and I would invent a feature for going up and down .for the children...and I'd get my inspiration from some of the great Theme Parks that have to comply to strict safety standards.....Then and only then would I build a replica Old Queenslander...But I'd prefer A REAL ONE! .It has been my experience that replicas do not have the strength of the enormous oldies. For example: Show me a replica Queenslander with iron cyclone bolts securing the floor of the house to the piers. Show me a replica Queenslander where every VJ board in the walls and ceilings is held to the next with hidden nails? Show me one where the framework is all tongue and groove each piece locked into the other.....that cannot be achieved anymore because timbers are not seasoned for between 30-50 years and such building methods would weaken the structural timbers used today...so said the builder who added a veranda to my old place. He took photographs of the joinery! I LOVE OLD QUEENSLANDERS...But I'd only buy a really old one and renovate it using old methods and as much old timber as possible...and I'd add a LIFT and a kids "upper and downer" if the steps were to be high. One thing above all would deter me from building one from scratch....the unavailability and the expense of genuinely old timber...if it could be sourced.. A replica would never match the longevity and the methods of construction of the old ones. Those times are gone! Those homes can never be repeated...only replicated and its not the same by any bash of the nail. You can't buy those nails anymore and its impossible to hire a crew as large as a swarm of ants to build an old Queenslander from scratch. We just do not build like that these days. Meaning no disrespect to the skilled modern day builder who does marvellous things for the modern day.....its impossible to build a genuine old Queenslander for many reasons. LOVE and ADMIRE and CHERISH the old Queenslander, BUY ONE if you can and restore it as genuinely as possible. We'll never see its like again from any perspective....See More
PROStyle Precinct Interior Design & Decoration
3 years agoJulie Og thanked Style Precinct Interior Design & DecorationUser
3 years ago
Kate
3 years agoIt does look dull and depressing. Before painting bricks add some colour. Flowering plants picture on wall, cushions. Outdoor rug under swing.
G S
3 years ago
julie herbert
3 years agoHi Julie,
I love what you have done so far, love the black, to bring bees and butterflies into your garden plant the gorgeous Buddleia, they come in a range of colours that would look great with your house, add a water bowl, bird feeder and you can sit in your lovely chair and enjoy your beautiful house and garden.
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