Fired the mexicans! About to try to renovate my own apartment?

submitted by naples from self.AskSaidIt

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[–]Zapped 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Is this a full home remodel, or just a few room projects? What do you mean when you say "apartment"?

[–]naples[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

This will be seven rooms out of a two bedroom apartment.

I live in an apartment, what uppity city types call a condo. Mostly I need to repair the walls and the bathrooms. The floors were recently renovated by contractors.

You do much wrench-turning?

[–]Zapped 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I was confused about the terminology because in the Southeast, apartments are known as rental units. I'm used to seeing the terms condo and townhouse when it's owner occupied.

So you have no restrictions on remodeling inside your unit? Some HoA's forbid it.

I have been known to do some remodeling and I know my way around a construction site. I am remodeling a unit in a 106 year old duplex I own. I'm tearing out all of the plaster so I can re-wire the ceilings and insulate the ceilings and walls. I'll do most of the work myself, but will leave the tub, shower and cabinets to others.

Drywall is a skilled talent, so you will need practice before you're happy with it. If the plumbing looks good, you should be able to tie back in to it. Spend the money on good bath fans. Check to see what shape the ductwork is in for the dryer and bath fans, too. If it is an older build, it may be plastic flexible hose and if you're opening up walls, you will want to run new metal vent duct.

When hiring Hispanics immigrants, be careful of craftsmanship. They were used to working with scraps where they are from and are still in the habit of piecing things together so the finished product can look like crap. I am speaking generally, so there are exceptions. They are faster, though.

[–]naples[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Regarding my HOA, I am on friendly terms with them. One thing I have going in my favor is that the HOA is of excellent quality.

The cool thing about living in a redneck area is that people like me are seen as a solution, not a problem.