Post your driveway/garage/carpark!

[the Teuton]

I have to say; that's kind of strange.  Were they not getting along with him?

They just didn't think about it at the time.  Life was rushed and he was their first child to go to college.  They had a 5, 6, and a 7 year old to take care of and it just slipped.

[Raghavan]

Holy crap, how much of an age difference is there between you and your brother?

[the Teuton]

I'm the youngest at the ripe old age of 20.  My oldest brother is 35.

[dazzleman]

Here are a few more pictures of the house and property:

This first one is the front of the house from the side opposite the garage:



This next one is the back of the house:



The next two are the back yard from 2 different angles:




This one is the back deck (which will need to be replaced soon):



This last one is the front yard and the street, taken from the front/side yard on the opposite side from the garage:

[the Teuton]

Freaking awesome house.  I like oldies much better than houses made of fiberboard like most new ones.  I just hate old fashioned insulation.

[dazzleman]

Freaking awesome house.  I like oldies much better than houses made of fiberboard like most new ones.  I just hate old fashioned insulation.

Thanks man.

You're right about old fashioned insulation.  It's an inefficient and expensive house to heat, but at least I'm able to keep all the rooms comfortable.

For the area, my house is about the average age -- 67 years old, built in 1940.

[GoCougs]

Oh, wow - great house. I have that exact same siding ("raked" cedar shingles). I don't know if you've done any repairs, but that stuff is extremely expensive.

I had my house of similar vintage and construction (1929) completely (re)insulated last year. I had nothing in the walls and crawl, only only a little in the attic.

[dazzleman]

Oh, wow - great house. I have that exact same siding ("raked" cedar shingles). I don't know if you've done any repairs, but that stuff is extremely expensive.

I had my house of similar vintage and construction (1929) completely (re)insulated last year. I had nothing in the walls and crawl, only only a little in the attic.

Thanks man.  I know the cedar shingles are expensive, but luckily I haven't needed to do any repairs.  They've been kept very well maintained over the years, and I've only had to paint them.

How did you insulate your house?  Did they have to rip out walls (I assume not), or did they blow it in from the outside?

My house actually has insulation; it's just not that great.  The worst room is the den (the room off on the right in the picture taken from the front of the house).  It's a very drafty room.  Because the house has wings, and isn't just a box, the heating is inefficient.  My office is over an unheated space (the garage), and is part of a separate wing with three exposed sides, so I had to put a supplemental heating system in that room because it was frigid in cold weather.  The den is also exposed on 3 sides and loaded with windows, and it also has a supplemental system.  Both supplemental systems are hot water baseboard, while the rest of the house is hot air vents.

[GoCougs]

How did you insulate your house?  Did they have to rip out walls (I assume not), or did they blow it in from the outside?

Yep, for the walls they did blow-in from the outside. It was a contractor I made sure removed siding and THEN drilled the access holes. I've seen houses where in contractors simply drilled access holes right through the shingles.

[dazzleman]

Yep, for the walls they did blow-in from the outside. It was a contractor I made sure removed siding and THEN drilled the access holes. I've seen houses where in contractors simply drilled access holes right through the shingles.

I imagine that cost a lot.  But drilling through the shingles would have been a disaster.

Greg told me he thought my house would look better with clapboard.  I'm not sure if I agree; it's hard for me to visualize how it would look different.  It's not something I had thought about before.  In any case, my attitude is, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" so the cedar shingles will definitely stay as long as they're in good condition.

[Colonel Cadillac]

I haven't been to Connecticut in a few years, and last time I was there I don't recall seeing any.  And there are no houses that hue near my house, nor anywhere I generally go.  Sure, you get stucco and those other lame semi-yellow colors out there, but nothing so vibrant as yours.

My house is off white or semi-yellow

[dazzleman]

My house is off white or semi-yellow

Beautiful house, Charlie.  I see you also have a cedar roof.

[Colonel Cadillac]

Thanks man.

You're right about old fashioned insulation.  It's an inefficient and expensive house to heat, but at least I'm able to keep all the rooms comfortable.

For the area, my house is about the average age -- 67 years old, built in 1940.

My house was built in 1938 and the heating can be pretty inefficient too. The room above our garage also has a supplemental heating system. When that's off and the door is shut, it is usually about 10 degrees colder than the rest of the house.

[Colonel Cadillac]

Beautiful house, Charlie.  I see you also have a cedar roof.

Thanks! Yeah, we switched over from the standard black (not really sure what material that is) 5ish years ago. I like the look of the cedar roof much better.

[CJ]

We're not allowed to have a cedar roof in this state.  Something about fire hazards...

[GoCougs]

I imagine that cost a lot.  But drilling through the shingles would have been a disaster.

Greg told me he thought my house would look better with clapboard.  I'm not sure if I agree; it's hard for me to visualize how it would look different.  It's not something I had thought about before.  In any case, my attitude is, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" so the cedar shingles will definitely stay as long as they're in good condition.

Actually, it was only about $4,000. My house is single story, and only about 1,300 square feet however.

Changing siding would be a major ordeal I'd think. At least with my house, there's both an inner and outer shingles, and both are nailed to horizontal stringers. As a result, the window sills, door frames, and the like, stand off the that much more from the base wall material (6" tongue and groove).

[TheIntrepid]

Nice house, David.

[SaltyDog]

Great house Dazzle!  The property looks nicely private too   The only thing I would want to do is paint the shutters black...I've always loved the yellow/black combo for some reason.

[dazzleman]

My house was built in 1938 and the heating can be pretty inefficient too. The room above our garage also has a supplemental heating system. When that's off and the door is shut, it is usually about 10 degrees colder than the rest of the house.

Any room over an unheated space is a problem, especially if it has exposure on three sides.

I put a supplemental system in my office last year, and it works great.  I'm very happy I did it.  The room is now perfectly comfortable.

[dazzleman]

Great house Dazzle!  The property looks nicely private too   The only thing I would want to do is paint the shutters black...I've always loved the yellow/black combo for some reason.

Thanks man.  The property is pretty private.  My aunt jokes that I could walk around naked in my yard and nobody would be able to see.  I don't think it's THAT private, but it does have a great feel.

It's less private in the winter when the leaves are off the trees.  But on the flip side, I have a great view of the golf course in the winter, but it's blocked by all the trees in the summer.

As for the shutters, I was thinking about black shutters the next time I paint, but for now I'm done...

[dazzleman]

Actually, it was only about $4,000. My house is single story, and only about 1,300 square feet however.

Changing siding would be a major ordeal I'd think. At least with my house, there's both an inner and outer shingles, and both are nailed to horizontal stringers. As a result, the window sills, door frames, and the like, stand off the that much more from the base wall material (6" tongue and groove).

There's no way I'm changing the siding until I absolutely have to.

[dazzleman]

Nice house, David.

Thanks Trep.

[rohan]

These were taken not very long after I painted the floor right around Halloween.





The big mower is Tony's and the little one is mine- I like his better. 

[cawimmer430]

This is not my driveway but I just want to show you guys how small some of the garages are in Germany.




See that Peugeot 306 in that garage? That's a pretty small car...

[Submariner]

These were taken not very long after I painted the floor right around Halloween.





The big mower is Tony's and the little one is mine- I like his better. 

Damn.  I love the gloss on the floor.  I painted mine a beige color a few years back, and not suprisingly, it always looks dirty.  What's worse, is that it's already starting to peel. 

[the Teuton]

My carpark is a narrow street in the heart of college district.  I don't think I need to post pictures of it.

[rohan]

Damn.  I love the gloss on the floor.  I painted mine a beige color a few years back, and not suprisingly, it always looks dirty.  What's worse, is that it's already starting to peel. 

If you used the Valspar brand they say if it peels just get a new kit and lightly sand down the area that;'s peeling then re-do that area.  Don't know if that'll work but I'm sure I'm gonna find out in a few years.

[Submariner]

If you used the Valspar brand they say if it peels just get a new kit and lightly sand down the area that;'s peeling then re-do that area.  Don't know if that'll work but I'm sure I'm gonna find out in a few years.

I forget what brand it was.  I may have the cans lying around somewhere.  There is a service locally that does it professionally, and they don't charge much more than what I paid to do it myself.  I may give them a call soon.

[dazzleman]

These were taken not very long after I painted the floor right around Halloween.





The big mower is Tony's and the little one is mine- I like his better. 

Great garage Randy.  Mine is considerably more cramped.  Your car is the exact color that mine is, only it's much cleaner in that picture than mine currently is.

[280Z Turbo]

These were taken not very long after I painted the floor right around Halloween.





The big mower is Tony's and the little one is mine- I like his better. 

Who backs into their own garage?

You must be a fan of delayed gratification.