Anyone got any big home improvement projects in the plans for 2018? We're starting to put together a list of contractors to get quotes on finishing our basement up a little better than it current is. I also want to update our backyard with a patio area and upgrade our crappy chainlink fence to something a little nicer.

We're redoing our kitchen in the spring. New floor, counters, backsplash and appliances. We're going to paint the existing cabinets. I'm not looking forward to it even tho our current kitchen is hideous. 

This year we did shutters, new doors and windows in garage and concrete wall, driveway and sidewalks...we are good for a minute. Gave our son’s room an update but nothing major. Our bedroom next.

I also plan to do some major projects in the garage, namely insulating the walls and putting up OSB. I'd love to throw a ceiling in and insulate that as well.

We met with a basement company yesterday, and a general contractor this morning to get quotes for redoing our basement. The basement company was close enough to our budget that we're pretty sure we can finish the basement exactly how we want to without compromising much. The contractor won't have a quote for us for a few days, but I'm guessing he'll come in significantly cheaper than the basement company.

Still need to finish framing ny basement.  Got half of it done.  Blacked out ceiling, acid stained floor blue and trimmed everything in white.  5" can lights in ceiling with double and triple gang light swithes to control them in a few difrerent ways.

We're planning on doing the blacked out ceiling as well. Our basement currently has a pretty shabby drop-ceiling but it's a little low for my liking.

Looking to tear out the whole deck and make it 3 to 4 times bigger

Adding to patio this summer

Total gut job in kitchen.  128 yr old house so I am adding all new electrical, plumbing, and duct work.  I am doing it all myself so my wife is being quite patient.  Two walls and ceiling closed up with drywall.  Saved the sink until the end just pulled it Tuesday and wiring the wall for range hood also bought a gas range so have to add a line to that wall.

posted by justincredible

We're planning on doing the blacked out ceiling as well. Our basement currently has a pretty shabby drop-ceiling but it's a little low for my liking.

Dont go cheap.  Buy the Sherman Williams flat black.  Its expensive but goes on well.  

posted by Spock

Dont go cheap.  Buy the Sherman Williams flat black.  Its expensive but goes on well.  

I’ll take Benjamin Moore over Sherwin Williams any day. 

I'm a big fan of Benjamin Moore paint, I've been using it the last few projects. I won't be painting in our basement, though. 

Always something to do on the farm.  This summer will probably extend our paddock area 100 yards to meet up with our pasture.  This should help in deterring our neighbor's stupid fucking pit bull.

Upgrading the kitchen already purchased the stainless steel appliances, sanding, new hardware and painting the cabinets, thinking of cement counter top but that still in debate, new flooring just don't know material to be used.

I want to change the floors in our house. It has cheap vinyl. Does anyone have experience with lumber liquidators. I’m sure they’re cheap for a reason. The one I’m interested in is more expensive than the cheap stuff there (3.50 sq ft) but other nice places are like 5-6 sq ft. 

I'm  looking at Karndean flooring ...we have dogs and this flooring is scratch resistance 

We are doing vinyl plank flooring in our basement. It's apparently come a long way over the last few years as far as looks go. And being completely waterproof is a nice bonus in case our basement gets water in it again. 

posted by justincredible

We are doing vinyl plank flooring in our basement. It's apparently come a long way over the last few years as far as looks go. And being completely waterproof is a nice bonus in case our basement gets water in it again. 

what brand, where you get it and what is the cost?

posted by Spock

what brand, where you get it and what is the cost?

No clue on that, we just know the type of flooring we are going to use. Most seem to be in the $2-3 per square foot range at home depot.

Not sure if any will get done, but wanting to:

Cement the driveway

Remodel the upstairs bath

New floor and bar in my cave. 

posted by justincredible

No clue on that, we just know the type of flooring we are going to use. Most seem to be in the $2-3 per square foot range at home depot.

I have used the Sam's club flooring.  It is unreal good for under $2 a sqft.  

Our contractor sent us a link to his preferred flooring, which is Armstrong. We're probably going to go with something like this:

https://www.armstrongflooring.com/residential/en-us/vinyl-flooring/luxury-vinyl/traditional-luxury-vinyl-tile/luxe-plank-with-fastak-install/item/A6723.html

We also think we're leaning towards painting the ceiling a flat gray instead of flat black.

Anyone have any experience with Ikea cabinets? We will be putting in a small bar area (I'll be doing this work once he's done) and like the look of these cabinets:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/ikea_kitchens/23607/

The end goal is something similar to this, without the wall cabinets (our basement isn't tall enough).

We're going to be DIY renovating at least one, probably two, bathrooms this year.  Both are total gut jobs with updated plumbing, electric, fixtures, drywall et al.  Good chance we'll be renovating a hallway at same time.  After that I think she wants me to put in the laundry/storage area downstairs.

Just bought some Bamboo flooring to put downstairs. Also am buying new trim and painting it white and replacing the undersized honey oak trim in the house. Gonna try to get this house out of the 90’s. 

Speaking of that... does anyone have experience painting stained wood?  I have a built in book case that is all honey oak that id like to paint white. What’s the best way of painting over stained wood ?