The Benefits of Home Ownership?

[cramx3]

 

[Chino]

I never had to mow a lawn until I bought my house. We never owned any lawn equipment growing up. My parents had a crew come in once a week. It's an overrated experience.

[The Walrus]

My lawn was just done today by my new weekly mower, Sergio. I have no shame in saying I want nothing to do with taking care of my lawn. Sergio also did all a huge job for me with all the weeds and overgrown trees and bushes. Spent a lot of money but well worth it.

Sergio??

I bet you don't even know what that GIF is from. It's hilarious. 

[cramx3]

Chappelle show?  That gif is hysterical

I never had to mow a lawn until I bought my house. We never owned any lawn equipment growing up. My parents had a crew come in once a week. It's an overrated experience.

My parents would have me mow the lawn and in return my dad would buy the WWF pay per views for me, that was our deal.  I must say I never loved doing the yard work, but I really liked wrestling those days.

[The Walrus]

Mowing the grass rocks as an adult. I throw on some music and go to town. Actually when I was a kid the flip switched as soon as I got an iPod - that suddenly made yard work so much more bearable. I love when the grass is super tall. It's like washing a REALLY dirty car, it feels so satisfying to see such a difference.

And yeah, it's the gay America skit from Chappelle's Show 

I'm being hyperbolic here, but I don't trust people who don't cut their own grass. 

[Stadler]

I dunno; I'm old school like that, it seems.  We had a service for a while, but I usually cut mine.  I do the weed whacking too, and I even bought a "burn barrel" to put in the woods to occasionally burn the clippings and twigs/sticks I pick up around the yard.  It takes time, and it's not easy in 95 degree heat, but it's decent exercise to get outside and sweat a little bit.

Back when I worked at GE, I worked with two brothers that were a lot more hands-on, and they would diss some of the senior executives with "that guy doesn't cut his own lawn".  Didn't really make sense to me at the time but I sort of get it now.   (Not saying I AGREE, just that I get it.)

[lordxizor]

I bought a new, electric lawn mower this season and now have my kids mow the lawn. I pay them $5 to mow while I sit and drink a beer while supervising. Having kids is finally good for something!

[jingle.boy]

I bought a new, electric lawn mower this season and now have my kids mow the lawn. I pay them $5 to mow while I sit and drink a beer while supervising. Having kids is finally good for something!

The lot at our last house, which was decent sized, but not nearly the acre field I have now, jingle.kids (as teenagers) owned responsibility for mowing - also with an cordless mower.  5 summers of bliss having them do it.  Now, mrs.jingle/jingle daughter take care of the smaller side/backyard, and I/jingle.son split responsibility for the side field/front year.  Still takes almost 2 hours for that even with a tractor.

[kirksnosehair]

My lawn was just done today by my new weekly mower, Sergio. I have no shame in saying I want nothing to do with taking care of my lawn. Sergio also did all a huge job for me with all the weeds and overgrown trees and bushes. Spent a lot of money but well worth it.

I haven't mowed my lawn or done any yard work since I moved into the house I'm in now.  It really boils down to time for me.  I don't get a lot of free time and a large portion of the free time I do get is spent at the gym, staying in shape so I can keep working and paying the bills.  I'd rather play my guitar or hang out with my grand kids or my dogs than mow the lawn.  So I pay to have the yard maintained.  I consider myself very fortunate that I can afford such things.

[hunnus2000]

There is absolutely no shame in having a landscaping company do the yardwork! I mowed, edged, trimmed the hedges and pruned the trees and raked the leaves - once in the winter and once in the spring. After about 4 years of that, I said fuck it and got a service and was never happier. I also maintained my pool and in the last year we were in the house, I said fuck it and got a pool service and was wondered why I hadn't done this earlier.

[lordxizor]

Yeah, if you can afford it, there's no shame in hiring a professional to do the work you hate to do.

I spent this week ripping out our flooring, the laminate came up easy, but ripping up 1/4" plywood with two layers of linoleum on it in the dining and kitchen was a pain in the ass to say the least. The new stuff is going in today with the help of my brothers in law. Looking good so far. I just hope the wife is happy with it.

[TAC]

A couple summers ago when I had my hernia done, we paid to have the lawn cut. I have a full acre, and the guy charged me $35 or $45 every two weeks for the whole thing. Well worth it.

I was going to hire him the following summer, but he kind of neglected the Spring Cleanup, and that was that. I'm back to mowing.


I generally hate the thought of it. but once I get going, it is prime music listenage.

Takes about a 30/40 minutes for the front and about an hour and a half, with breaks, to do the back.

[ReaperKK]

Yeah, if you can afford it, there's no shame in hiring a professional to do the work you hate to do.

I spent this week ripping out our flooring, the laminate came up easy, but ripping up 1/4" plywood with two layers of linoleum on it in the dining and kitchen was a pain in the ass to say the least. The new stuff is going in today with the help of my brothers in law. Looking good so far. I just hope the wife is happy with it.

Did you use one of those peelers to get the linoleum up? What are you putting down?

A couple summers ago when I had my hernia done, we paid to have the lawn cut. I have a full acre, and the guy charged me $35 or $45 every two weeks for the whole thing. Well worth it.

I was going to hire him the following summer, but he kind of neglected the Spring Cleanup, and that was that. I'm back to mowing.


I generally hate the thought of it. but once I get going, it is prime music listenage.

Takes about a 30/40 minutes for the front and about an hour and a half, with breaks, to do the back.

I like doing the lawn too when it's nice outside in the spring and fall but now temps are in the mid 90's and it takes about 2 hours to do the lawn and it's a killer. The guy I got has some really nice stuff lawn equipment so he knocks it out in 40 minutes.

[jingle.boy]

I generally hate the thought of it. but once I get going, it is prime music listenage.

Takes about a 30/40 minutes for the front and about an hour and a half, with breaks, to do the back.

Ditto. It’s about a 90 minute job for me start to finish. Faster this time of year, because it’s been so dry the last 2 August’s. We only have 3 trees on our property, so there isn’t a lot of shade, and it’s pretty dry ecology - It’s all clay about 2 inches down. in the spring and early summer, it’s 2+hrs.

[TAC]

I generally hate the thought of it. but once I get going, it is prime music listenage.

Takes about a 30/40 minutes for the front and about an hour and a half, with breaks, to do the back.

Ditto. It’s about a 90 minute job for me start to finish. Faster this time of year, because it’s been so dry the last 2 August’s. We only have 3 trees on our property, so there isn’t a lot of shade, and it’s pretty dry ecology - It’s all clay about 2 inches down. in the spring and early summer, it’s 2+hrs.

Well, I think you said you had a rider. It's all walking for me. I haven't cut my back in at least a month. But it's been so hot, it's not growing like crazy.

[ReaperKK]

You guys are lucky. This year we've had a lot of rain and a crab grass explosion despite the preimergent treatments I did.

[lordxizor]

Yeah, if you can afford it, there's no shame in hiring a professional to do the work you hate to do.

I spent this week ripping out our flooring, the laminate came up easy, but ripping up 1/4" plywood with two layers of linoleum on it in the dining and kitchen was a pain in the ass to say the least. The new stuff is going in today with the help of my brothers in law. Looking good so far. I just hope the wife is happy with it.

Did you use one of those peelers to get the linoleum up? What are you putting down?

There was two layers of linoleum over a 1/4" plywood layer. I started trying to rip up the linoleum until I realized the plywood was there. It was easier to just pry up the plywood. We put down premium vinyl planks. Basically looks like wood but made out of plastic. With 4 young boys, we wanted to go with something waterproof and durable. Looks great so far. Need to get all the trim on next.

[ReaperKK]

Nice, a few of my friends put down vinyl planks and I think they are really nice.

[jingle.boy]

You guys are lucky. This year we've had a lot of rain and a crab grass explosion despite the preimergent treatments I did.

There’s been a shit ton of crabgrass in my area too. And a handful of other weeds as well.

[cramx3]

This orbweaver has made a home next to my back door on my patio, it's web stretches about 5 feet across from the railing near the door (my back door has 3 steps down to the patio) to the side of my house.  Typically I'm not really into having such huge insects close by, but I'm so fascinated when I grill or just chill outside and watch it weave the web or when it wraps up and eats a fly it caught.  If I had kids or an outdoor pet, I'd probably put an end to it, but it seems harmless although big and nasty looking.  I don't know if this is actually a benefit of home ownership, but I'm totally fascinated by the nature on my small property

[axeman90210]

Nope, I think it's time for you to find someplace new to live.

[ReaperKK]

We have a few of those in the summertime, I try not to bother them as they end up killing a ton of flies.

Has anyone here fixed peeling latex paint? There is a spot in my guest bathroom where the curtain rod was put back on wet paint. I just tried moving the rod higher and ended up peeling a bit of the paint. Is it just sand - patch - paint over the spot?

[Stadler]

I generally hate the thought of it. but once I get going, it is prime music listenage.

Takes about a 30/40 minutes for the front and about an hour and a half, with breaks, to do the back.

Ditto. It’s about a 90 minute job for me start to finish. Faster this time of year, because it’s been so dry the last 2 August’s. We only have 3 trees on our property, so there isn’t a lot of shade, and it’s pretty dry ecology - It’s all clay about 2 inches down. in the spring and early summer, it’s 2+hrs.

Well, I think you said you had a rider. It's all walking for me. I haven't cut my back in at least a month. But it's been so hot, it's not growing like crazy.

This seems like a different thread, now. 

[Stadler]

We have a few of those in the summertime, I try not to bother them as they end up killing a ton of flies.

Has anyone here fixed peeling latex paint? There is a spot in my guest bathroom where the curtain rod was put back on wet paint. I just tried moving the rod higher and ended up peeling a bit of the paint. Is it just sand - patch - paint over the spot?

Pretty much, unless there's damage to the wallboard underneath.   You have to be very careful with sanding, though; you want to sand enough to feather the edges of the old paint, so you don't have that "crater" look when you're done, but you DO NOT want to to scuff whatever the surface is underneath.  If it's wallboard, it's essentially paper, and so it will have the tendency to "ball up" and hard to cover smoothly.  And with water/steam, if you don't get it covered, that will potentially lead to problems.   I'm not trying to scare you, because it's not a big deal, just be careful.

Use a REALLY fine sandpaper.  The higher the number the better; I would go 220, myself.  (Softball tossed....)

[ReaperKK]

Cool I'll give it a shot, I'll send the bill for my work to my father-in-law who put the rod up in the first palce

[Nick]

On a separate subject - anyone have the unfortunate experience of dealing with moles?

I've got 6.02x10^23 problems, but moles aren't one of them.

[jingle.boy]

On a separate subject - anyone have the unfortunate experience of dealing with moles?

I've got 6.02x10^23 problems, but moles aren't one of them.

Funny, I was just coming in here to say that I now have a mole problem. Caught one mofo literally as he was digging in my backyard, and watched a second slip under my fence. Mole traps around here aren’t easy to find, and amazon.ca has a shit selection.

[King Postwhore]

I've got them. Holes everywhere in this spring and I could never find them.

[hunnus2000]

Well, I guess I will try traps next year or even this year. They say you have got to eliminate the food source (worms, grubs etc..) which is a good idea because we have red robins all over the place in the spring. They feed off the bugs and worms in the yard but they also shit all over the place (bastards!). They also say douse the yard with castor oil (or some shit like that) but where do you get enough of that junk in bulk? I've got a 10lb mini-pin that often eats grass and that's the last thing I need is for him to eat castor oil and puke all over the place.

Must kill moles! Must kill moles! Die moles die!!!!! 

[Stadler]

Karma kills, man.  I made that joke above and I was over at my wife's old house and front and back yards are just a MAZE of moles.   MF. 

[Phoenix87x]

Anyone ever consider having an Epoxy seal done in the garage?

I enjoy tooling around in the garage, so I think I will look in to this when I buy a house. Here's a before and after of what it looks like:

[Podaar]

I've seen it done a lot. I'm going to have mine done next summer after I do some renovations to the electrical and change out the cabinets in my garage. That particular floor looks like one of those professional installations where the epoxy is actually quite thick--almost an 1/8th of an inch. That would be tricky to do on your own. You'd need some pretty good ventilation and chemical mask protection.

[Stadler]

Ditto to all of that. 

[gmillerdrake]

There are some cool ways to resurface and finish concrete. I’ve seen it also to where it’s made to look like hardwood flooring. I’m sure it’s not cheap but it looks incredible. 

[Phoenix87x]

In every house I lived at growing up, the garage was always dark and dingy looking. I think the epoxy makes it look sleek, clean and inviting.