by "Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
Published 11/04/2017 at 22:08
by "Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
Published 11/04/2017 at 22:08
No Tags
STARS: 35
This is now mine!!! And by that I mean it’s the bank’s, but they graciously lets me live in it, in exchange for a not insignificant portion of my income.
4 Bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms, 1940 finished square feet plus a 850 squarefoot unfinished basement and 420 square foot 2 car garage. There’s also a crawl space under the family room behind the garage that I may be able to excavate and add another 400 square feet.
I’d go over more but I know all you gearheads care about is the garage, so I’ll just skip right to it. The long and short is it needs some love:
Of course, I could be a pessimist and say it sucks, but I prefer to think of it as a blank canvas. I’ve already got the floor coated, waiting for it to dry and I’ll get pictures. I had it professionally done with a 2 step polyaspartic/polyurea system that’s claimed to be much stronger than epoxy. Normally I love to take on my own projects but this is just one where I feel like it was worth paying a professional. Also, we are only the second owners, the first was a single woman, and she only really needed one garage door, so she only had one opener installed. And it sucks. I’m planning to rip it out and put in 2 nice Lift Master quiet drives.
My dad has been helping me with a few projects, the house sat vacant for 6 years so it needs a bit of work here and there, and we are currently working on installing a sub-panel in the garage. We should get the rough-in finished tomorrow. My panel is full downstairs and my garage needs circuits - there’s one receptacle and the 2 lights pictured. The one opener has been wired with a piece of lamp cord, stapled to the drywall across the ceiling, and plugged into the top of my one outlet, so I effectively only have 1 plug in the whole garage... which is also shared with the family room behind the garage. So the plan is to set the sub panel and add about a half dozen plugs on their own circuit (or two), more lights (all on a circuit), 2 openers on their own circuit, and a couple dedicated receptacles for my 60 gallon air compressor and welder. There’s enough space I can throw a few more 240V breakers in it so I can run a lathe and mill eventually (hopefully, I may be space limited).
Once all that’s done, I’m going to insulate and drywall it all up, and then get someone out to finish it and redo the existing drywall on the ceiling and 2 walls where the tape has delaminated. Then I’m going to paint, I’m thinking gray about 3-4 feet up from the floor, then a 6-9" wide color stripe (probably color matched to my eventual IROC), and then white above that and on the ceiling. My dad is also giving me 2 in wall/ceiling mounted speakers he salvaged from a job, and I’m going to mount a TV out there on the front wall, and hook it up to a small computer so I can stream music, and have the capability to pull up instructions, diagrams, manuals, and how-to videos when I’m out working on a project.
I’m pretty stoked about this and can’t wait to post some pictures when it gets done.
"Birddog" (maintmgt)
11/04/2017 at 22:15, STARS: 0
Congratulations!
I love how the garage almost looks bigger than the house. Someone had their priorities straight.
"Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire" (arch-duke-maxyenko)
11/04/2017 at 22:15, STARS: 0
Congrats, this will now be your life.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
11/04/2017 at 22:17, STARS: 0
Freaking nice man!
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
11/04/2017 at 22:23, STARS: 0
Very nice. First house I assume? If so welcome to the club and get ready to have all sorts of crap in that garage that you never thought you would ever have.
I’m sitting in mine right now smoking a cigar and having a drink contemplating how I’m going to clean up all this crap.
"Alfalfa" (alfalfa-romeo)
11/04/2017 at 22:24, STARS: 0
I love old brick buildings. Shame the garage doesn’t match.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:26, STARS: 1
Thanks. I am ready.
.......
I think.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:27, STARS: 0
Thanks! I’m pretty darn happy with it.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
11/04/2017 at 22:27, STARS: 0
Bigly house of bigliness
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:28, STARS: 0
Well I probably shouldn’t burst your bubble, but it’s not that old (1984, same age as me) and it’s just a facade. The far side and rear of the house are all vinyl siding over standard board or whatever. My parent’s live in an actual brick house and it’s pretty sweet, but it’s also 10 years older than mine.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:31, STARS: 0
Thanks! I agree, the garage is quite nice, though I do wish it were a bit deeper - the last 11-12 feet of it area nice family room with a hardwood floor and fireplace.
The garage is on the other side of the right wall in this pic. I already tried to sell the wife on knocking that wall out and extending the garage back all the way, but that isn’t going to happen.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:33, STARS: 0
It’s funny you say that, I’m actually like 1/4 mile form the “Donald Trump National Golf Course”. I’ve already started trolling everyone by suggesting we go have lunch at the clubhouse when they come visit.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:33, STARS: 0
It’s funny you say that, I’m actually like 1/4 mile form the “Donald Trump National Golf Course”. I’ve already started trolling everyone by suggesting we go have lunch at the clubhouse when they come visit.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:33, STARS: 0
It’s funny you say that, I’m actually like 1/4 mile form the “Donald Trump National Golf Course”. I’ve already started trolling everyone by suggesting we go have lunch at the clubhouse when they come visit.
"John Norris (AngryDrifter)" (angrydrifter)
11/04/2017 at 22:42, STARS: 1
So I internet stalked you by doing an image search with the front yard picture. Sorry, no one is safe.
Nice location. Lots of big expensive properties around you, particularly to the east. I’m guessing that is one of the most expensive zip codes in the country. I think you made a great purchase. Real estate prices can collapse in the rest of the country and you probably won’t be effected. On the up side that area will continue to grow and your home value will go up with it.
Location, location, location. You win.
"Manny05x" (Manny05x)
11/04/2017 at 22:51, STARS: 1
Congrats. Fill it with bikes.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:52, STARS: 0
Oh, I’m very much aware that no one is safe. I just accept it at this point.
But thank you, it’s a great area, I think this neighborhood is really an undiscovered gem. And you’re right, Fairfax, Loudon, and Arlington Counties in VA are always in the top 5 richest counties in the US. Great Falls is 99% in Fairfax, but our sliver happens to fall in Loudon. Loudon is a little more reasonable with taxes and things, so it’s like the best of both worlds.
I’m sure you could reverse search further and find out what we paid for our house (if you didn’t already), but we got an amazing deal considering the region we’re in. This house was perfect in that it was basically move in ready -it sat vacant for 5 years, the owner finally decided to sell it a year ago and spent some money cleaning it up and doing a limited amount of remodeling, but then it sat vacant for another year after she passed away suddenly. So it needs little things here and there but over all its very nice. At the same time, the house is like a blank canvas and has a ton of potential to do stuff to. My wife and I are kicking around so many ideas - redoing the upstairs to create a master suite, modifying the first floor to make it more open concept, extending the back out to expand the dining room and kitchen, creating a walkout basement, etc. I don’t know what we will do yet, but all these things can (relatively) easily be accomplished with this house.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 22:53, STARS: 1
Thanks! The CB-1 will be coming home soon! Eventually I’d like to get a Ducati. Need to replenish the coffers first, though.
"McMike" (mcmike)
11/04/2017 at 22:56, STARS: 0
Damn you could play cornhole on that deck..
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 23:03, STARS: 1
That was another consideration in purchasing the property. We loved the deck. The yard, though, needs a little work (as in burn it down and start over) but it will get there.
"Alfalfa" (alfalfa-romeo)
11/04/2017 at 23:08, STARS: 0
Oh woops, I read 1940 sq ft as built in 1940.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
11/04/2017 at 23:09, STARS: 0
No worries, I could see where that might be a little confusing.
"ranwhenparked" (ranwhenparked)
11/04/2017 at 23:52, STARS: 0
That’s pretty recent for a solid brick house, they’re lucky. My cousins have an all brick house in Fairfax that was built in the ‘60s, and I thought that was surprisingly new. Ain’t nobody had time for that in the postwar housing boom.
"ranwhenparked" (ranwhenparked)
11/04/2017 at 23:55, STARS: 0
Love the window arrangement, such a classic look, must be good light inside. The nicely wooded lot is a plus, too.
Here in Delaware, most houses built since the ‘80s just seem to be dropped down in the middle of big empty fields, and nobody seems to have even thought of planting a shade tree or even erecting a privacy fence.
"itranthelasttimeiparkedit" (itranthelasttimeiparkedit)
11/04/2017 at 23:57, STARS: 1
Can you leverage the basement for shop space at all? My wife’s cousin did that, has a big set of stairs in the back of the garage that go into a 700 sq ft basement that he uses as a wood shop
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
11/05/2017 at 00:15, STARS: 0
Congrats! Looks like a lovely place and don’t be a downer on that garage it has a ton of potential. You should be very excited, seems like you will be happy for years.
"AM3R, lost another burner" (am3r17)
11/05/2017 at 00:16, STARS: 0
Nice house! Looked very NoVa, makes sense it’s near great falls. Lots of awesome stuff in the area. Hiking, cars & coffee, DC nearby. Great location! I’m over in the fairfax/centreville area. Congrats on the house, good luck with all the projects!
"CRider" (crider)
11/05/2017 at 00:26, STARS: 0
You fancy enough to have a hotel AND a separate house for your cars!
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
11/05/2017 at 06:15, STARS: 0
That’s nice about the garage being unfinished. No need to cut and patch drywall to run wiring. I had to do the same in my garage with new circuits. At least the POs installed a couple runs of wiring from a spare panel in the basement, they never hooked it up though. So that gave me two new circuits right off the bat. That’s been enough for me and my two car. I’d love to strip off the drywall and insulate, but we don’t plan to be here much longer. The next best thing to add to yours, since you’ve done the floor, and after the belt drive door openers (which are awesome BTW) is to add lights. I’m running 8 double 4’ led fixtures on chains in mine, and it’s about enough light. I’d easily add 4 more and reconfigure the other lights if I were to start over, but again, short timer syndrome. We have a 2 car, about the same size as yours, for reference, but we have a 16’ door instead of your double setup. Good luck with the outfitting, and congrats on the new place. Oh yeah, and IKEA and Home Depot have nice inexpensive options for garage cabinets. With Home Depot, just sign up for their emails, they run a 30% or more off garage storage a few times a year. Should have one coming up before Christmas.
"arl" (arl1968)
11/05/2017 at 06:59, STARS: 0
Much lawn. Many mow.
We are in alexandria and are living in a banks house that has no garage. Houses with garage are easily 700k and up. I haz a sad for no garage.
Congrats on the abode.
"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
11/05/2017 at 07:43, STARS: 0
Yeah, as someone else said, that looked like Nova without even having to search. We looked at a house in great falls when we moved from Alexandria, but ended up in Vienna instead. Congratulations!
"John Norris (AngryDrifter)" (angrydrifter)
11/05/2017 at 09:12, STARS: 0
... I’m sure you could reverse search further and find out what we paid for our house (if you didn’t already), ...
No my internet stalking efforts only go so far.
"adamftw" (adamftw)
11/06/2017 at 06:54, STARS: 0
Nice dude, congrats. My garage is pretty much the same size and it’s already filled up with shit. Crazy how easy it is to do that. I need a 10x10 shed for yard equipment and in a couple years I’m going to build a detached.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
04/24/2018 at 20:03, STARS: 0
That looks like a great place. Re: the garage going out the back wall - my in-laws had a 2-car garage, then added on to the house basically out the front of the garage, to add a 3-car garage. In other words, if you knocked out part of the wall at the back of their current garage, you’d have two more spaces behind it - project car space?! Heated workshop space? So tempting. But it’s not my house. When we build a garage, it will be 28' deep x 3 bays.
Congrats on the house!
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
04/26/2018 at 23:19, STARS: 1
Thanks!
Garage isn’t currently heated, but I may throw a space heater out there. I’ll get it finished off first, insulated, and see how it goes in the winter. At the current time I’ll probably continue to park outside and keep my space for my project car. And I got something good in the works...