Craftsman / group intro

[Valerie Cohen]

My husband and I are [attempting] to embark on a renovation journey of a family owned early 1900's Craftsman home in the Kingman Place District. I really feel like I am SWIMMING in information, and yet that makes me feel like there's probably even more information that I'm clueless to. Any directional pointers are much appreciated :) We have had a contractor out to give us some basic info, because I wasn't comfortable that my guesstimate was accurate enough, though it happens that I was in the ballpark. The estimate is that to fully fix up the home, $87,000. Steve Wilke-Shapiro also gave us some food for thought after a much appreciated walk through... I guess I'm just hoping to introduce myself (and our project) and tap into any wisdom anyone feels like sharing. I was in touch with Jack Porter already, and NFC... we might slip through NFCs cracks because we are not able to occupy the house until after the renovations AND we're not "buying" it. With our daughter being over the age of 6, we miss the boat on lead abatement funds unless we do succeed in having another child. So... ummm... that was my intro and a "Here, pass it here... I'm open [for info/wisdom]"

[Jennifer James]

Hi Valerie,

Welcome to the Drake Neighborhood! It's a great place to raise kids.

We've found that taking it slow and one project at a time can be a good way to go. Allows for getting to know the house and appreciating original features. 

Sometimes contractors pressure homeowners into "ripping it all out," to the detriment of original craftsmanship that has stood the test of time. Plaster, for example, is superior to drywall. And insulation can be added by drilling holes at the tops of interior walls and blowing it in, then patching the small holes. 

RE lead abatement funding -- it isn't always a golden egg to receive it. I worked with a thesis student who found that Polk Co. and City of DSM lead programs often made people rip out original features and replace with cheap, flimsy vinyl etc.

We have a 5-year-old and a baby due in the next few weeks -- so we're very sensitive to lead issues. We encased all painted trim with a special oil-based primer that seals tightly, then followed with two coats of oil-based paint. Have had no problems in the last 8 years with chipping paint. And our daughter's lead levels have always checked out fine.

A few thoughts!

Best,

Jen James

1056 26th St.

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[Valerie Cohen]

Thanks for the interesting info on lead abatement, and the other tidbits. We're trying to pull together as much of the funding as we can and gosh I do wish we could be living there in a year... but it needs sooooo much... --- On Wed, 2/24/10, Jennifer James <jenja...@gmail.com> wrote: