I won $1200 in home repair/remodeling today!!

[GOPisEvil]

So, some folks around the office went desk to desk talking about their raffle of $1200 of home repair. I bought 6 tickets for $5. Today, they told me I won!! :bounce:

So, what should I get with my $1200? New windows? Replace some siding? Cabinets?

:party:

[bettyellen]

1. congrats!

couldn;t happen to a nicer guy. :)
look around your place/ flip through some magazines, see what tickles your fancy.
:hi:

[GOPisEvil]

2. Having a job DOES have benefits!

Thanks! :hi:

I really need windows...the ones I have suck.

[bettyellen]

i like the jacuzzi idea though. :)

either way, good for you!

[Bunny]

3. A big-ass jacuzzi!

Then you can invite 80,000 of your closest DU friends to come over and try it out! :D
Congrats! :bounce:

[GOPisEvil]

6. I like the way you think!

:bounce:

[matcom]

4. time to put in Matcom's wet bar

:P

[GOPisEvil]

8. $1200 wouldn't buy a big enough bar for you!

:P

[matcom]

11. a down payment is better than nothing!

:D

[GOPisEvil]

12. True!!

Maybe I can win again next year!! :bounce:

[djeseru]

5. Congrats sweetie!

:hug:

Hardwood floors? New roof? Am I just extending the list? ;)

[GOPisEvil]

9. Yes...and I have considered those as well..

Decisions...decision...

Thanks, honey! :hug:

[djeseru]

15. Mmm, you're welcome.

I know! Padlocks and chains for your lucky cat! :P

[GOPisEvil]

17. Are you going to kidnap my lucky cat?

Would that make it unlucky then? :silly:

Although...if you kidnapped me, I'd consider myself lucky. ;)

[djeseru]

21. Considering the luck you've had...

...that cat could be in grave danger. ;)

I would, but you wouldn't like the meals. :P

[GOPisEvil]

22. You have fresh bread right?

How's your water? ;)

:hug:

[djeseru]

23. Just picked it up from HEB.

And the water's filtered. :thumbsup:

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

25. Woohoo!

So it won't be all bad then! :thumbsup:

:party:

[SOteric]

7. Hot tub!!!!

:bounce:

Congratulations! :pals:

[GOPisEvil]

10. I wish!! If I had no other repairs, I'd do it!

Thanks! :pals:

[Darth_Kitten]

13. congrats!

what have you wanted to do but just didn't have the money? :D

[GOPisEvil]

14. Unfortunately, I need to be practical.

New windows or some siding repair are the likely candidates. Maybe hardwood floors or kitchen cabinets...I have a long list. :)

[Darth_Kitten]

36. I hear you......

I have to be practical as well. :) Good luck!

[Left Is Write]

16. Lucky you!

[GOPisEvil]

20. You got that right!

[Left Is Write]

37. If it were me, I'd put the $1200 toward new flooring in the kitchen

and foyer.

:D

[GOPisEvil]

39. Both areas have ceramic tile already.

I'm pretty happy with it.

I'd like to put hardwood in the living room and hallway.

[dolo amber]

18. How cool!

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. :thumbsup:

[GOPisEvil]

19. Thanks!

:blush:

[NewJeffCT]

24. Windows? For $1200, you might get 2

Congrats on the win, but windows are expensive - I spent like $5 grand to replace them on my old ranch home in '98 or '99.

Does your home need blinds or anything like that?

[GOPisEvil]

26. Wanna kick my dog too?

;)

Kidding...I don't have a dog. And I only have 6 windows...how expensive can they be?

[NewJeffCT]

31. If you want decent windows

Expect to pay around $500 or more for double hung vinyl. You can get the el-cheapos, you may be able to get them for $200 each...

[GOPisEvil]

32. Well...shit...

:(

Keep in mind that I might not be paying retail as this is a contractor... I don't need the best window ever. This is just a starter home.

[jmowreader]

41. I thought you said "decent windows"

Notwithstanding the fact that vinyl offgasses plasticizers into your house, they're just fucking ugly.

And they're very sensitive to how they're shimmed when you install them. I'm working with someone whose installer shimmed the shit out of the vinyl windows she bought from me, with effect that the bottom sashes open easier than the top sashes. (Then the fucker had the nerve to come to the store with his customer and tell me it was the windows' fault because there's more weatherstripping on the top sash. I took my display window, pulled both sashes out of it, dropped them on the desk next to each other and told him to point out the extra weatherstripping. It isn't there.)

You're better off buying the primed wood windows off the shelf than you are getting vinyl.

[MissB]

42. Thank you.

I am a wood window snob.

[sbj405]

34. If you aren't interested in a name brand

like Anderson, you can get decent windows for around $300 each. Check out this price estimator http://www.contractors.com/h/info/resources.html I've found it to be pretty accurate. It'll give you a ballpark for various repairs.

[GOPisEvil]

35. Ooooh...thanks! That's nice!

Looks like I'll be picking another project. Windows almost $3k.

[DancingBear]

27. You can buy this 33% completed Shaker dresser!!

(shipping not included)





You can not, however, have my Ping S59 blades. :)

[GOPisEvil]

28. Do golf clubs count as home improvement?

:think:

Nice dresser, but won't your wife be upset?

[DancingBear]

30. Yes, most probably

Especially since it's hers when I'm finished. <sigh>

Golf clubs count as any damn thing you want them to.

I bought mine from a golf pro who let's just say owed some money to the wrong folks.

The irons still have his name etched into the hozel, but the clubs only needed to be tweaked a bit (lie-wise) for me and they fit perfectly.

They're the only blades I can hit, BTW. I tried a set of Titleists and I felt like I was swinging frying pans. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

29. What wonderful news, my dear Evil!

I have no suggestions except to follow your heart...

Or maybe you should follow your head! Oh I don't know! :silly:

Anything you do for your house will be first-rate, I'm sure! :hug:

[GOPisEvil]

33. I need to follow my head.

There are lots of little jobs that need to be done around here.

[jmowreader]

38. Fiberglass entry doors and house paint

$1200 isn't enough to replace all the windows.

It's not enough to install new siding, insulation, or any of the other really juicy upgrades one might like.

It is, however, enough for two fiberglass entry doors, a big package of shims, a box of Sikaflex Construction Sealant, and a few gallons of Sears Weatherbeater Ultra paint, which is the second-best paint on the market right now. (The best is pure urethane housepaint, which is almost impossible to find and $45/gallon if you do.) It is, strangely enough, even better than Sherwin-Williams' own version of the Sears paint.

[GOPisEvil]

40. I need to replace one section of Masonite siding.

It's probably 15'x8' or so. There is area of rot, so I'd like to put hardi-plank up instead.

[jmowreader]

45. You should still have some money left

I'd charge you about $200 for all of the materials you need to put up a 15' x 8' section of Hardiplank (wise choice--this stuff is the best). If the contractor doubled that, you've still got $800 left to play with.

[GOPisEvil]

51. Oh thanks!!

I think I'll get that done, and figure out some other odds and ends...

[jobycom]

43. Dude! Congo-Rats! No home improvement like a party with tequila!

Or Tito's Vodka, or summich like that.

Other than that, I'd improve the curb appeal. New door, shutters, maybe a shrubery. No bushes, though. Peace plants.

On edit: None of that is a comment on the current condition of your house. I'd actually forgotten I'd been there! :-)

[GOPisEvil]

55. A new front door is on the list too...

Good choice. :) Thanks.

[u4ic]

44. Congrats!!!

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

Whatever you decide to do, show us before and after pics, ok? :hi:

[GOPisEvil]

56. I'll have to remind myself somehow.

Thanks. :)

[bigwillq]

46. WOO HOO!

Congrats! That's a nice prize! :toast: :bounce:

[GOPisEvil]

58. Thanks!

I agree! :)

[MissMillie]

47. $1200 won't get you very many windows

I vote cabinets.

[GOPisEvil]

57. Those are expensive too...

:(

I think I'll repair the siding; maybe a new front door...

[GumboYaYa]

48. Have an image of yourself sculpted into a shrubbery, Edward Scissorhands

style. It will be the gift that gives not just to you, but to the whole neighborhood.

[GOPisEvil]

54. Bwahaha!

I've found a use for that juniper bush out front now! :think:

[faithnotgreed]

49. always late to the party

but i can still send congratulations on your new found wealth

will they let you do the work yourself so you can pocket the rest
home repairs are usually a bite but from what i understand youre pretty good at those things (home repairs)

have fun whatever you do
good to see you even if it was yesterday that you posted this

[GOPisEvil]

52. Thanks!

It's a gift certificate from the remodeling company itself, so no cash equivalent. I can't do certain things myself, so I'll have them do that.

It's good to see you, even late. :)

[maveric]

50. Now you can get the washing machine off the front porch!

:evilgrin:
I know, I'm an asshole!

[GOPisEvil]

53. I don't even have a front porch.

:cry:

[jmowreader]

59. Now we know what you need most.

A front porch.

With a refrigerator on it.