Monday, August 30, 2010

The Money Pit

We moved to Iowa in 1991. When we purchased our house, I imagined we would live in it 6-7 years and then move. However, events took a different course and this summer marks 19 years since we established our residence here. In the last couple of years we have moved beyond routine home maintenance to some major repair and replacement projects.

We replaced our water heater, air conditioner, and garage door and opener within the last 2-3 years. We also remodeled both upstairs bathrooms with new paint, ceiling fans, medicine cabinets, floor tile, and toilets.

Last year we installed a brick patio in the back yard for Brenda, creating a little oasis where she can sit on a yard swing in the shade and take photos of the animals and birds she feeds.

This spring we dealt with basement flooding caused by a failed sump pump and had new carpet, carpet pad, trim, and doors installed downstairs. And this month we had installed atop the insulation in our attic an aluminum energy saving barrier that will hopefully save money and also regulate the fluctuating temperature inside our house.

Next is the biggest improvement project of all. We are replacing the siding on our house, the top boards on both the front and back decks, and installing a new energy efficient furnace – all at one time! What are we thinking?

After talking to a few vendors for siding projects – and getting past the initial sticker shock of the estimates we received – we decided on a company with whom to work. Then we faced the really difficult decision, which was deciding on a color. Initially we thought we would stay with something like our current yellow, though a more muted Wheat color. But when we looked at some houses with this siding we noticed they showed dirt and grime more than did darker, more neutral colors. And Mom decided that she has lived in far too many yellow houses. So she has been deliberating between two colors, Clay and Cypress.

A house identical to ours just down the street has the Clay siding, so we have been able to view this in all light and cloudy conditions. I think that Mom leans toward Cypress, however, so that is probably what we will choose. I’m so color blind that I can hardly tell the difference between the colors and didn’t realize that Cypress has a subtle green hue. (You can see these colors online at http://crainsiding.net/ by selecting "Launch the Interactive Style Tool" and choosing Cypress siding – though this color looks a brighter shade of green online than it does installed.) Tomorrow we should finalize our order and schedule the installation.

More to follow …