After three years living in our house, we finally decided it was time to install a subway tile kitchen backsplash! Here's how I installed this subway tile backsplash using matte white 3" by 6" tiles and ready mixed adhesive and grout. It took me about two days to complete, and cost less than $200. A subway tile backslash is an affordable way to update your kitchen. You can easily get this project done in a weekend. Our kitchen has dark stained maple shaker cabinets made by Vedder ... continue reading...
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2019 year in review and project goals for 2020
At the beginning of the year I made a list of projects that we wanted to finish for 2019. Generally all our projects fall into 1 of 5 categories: real estate investing, room makeovers, outdoor projects, furniture flips, crafts & DIY projects. The start of a new year is a great time to look back over the last year and see all the projects we've accomplished. I'll also list the project goals we'd like to finish this year so you'll know what to expect from us over the next year. 1. Rental ... continue reading...
Our first single family rental property renovation is finished!
Eighteen weeks ago we purchased a single family home with the intention of fixing it up and renting it out. In August we closed on the deal of this cute little two bedroom, one bathroom slab on grade bungalow in the town of Morrisburg, Ontario. We purchased the house at a great price and knew we could increase the value by doing a lot of the renovations ourselves. After just over four months, this house is finished and we have a tenant lined up! It was a lot of fun, lots of sweat, some blood, ... continue reading...
Week 15: Kitchen backsplash and progress on the final list
We've been whittling away at the final list over the last week. The main projects left to do are to finish off the kitchen and the bathroom. In the bathroom I finished caulking and painting all the paneling and Tony installed the vanity and the sink. In the kitchen Tony installed just about all of the doors, the microwave, counter top and the sink. Today I tiled the backsplash, and was pretty pleased that I was able to finish tiling in a day. After our failed attempt at an open house last ... continue reading...
Week 14: Kitchen and bathroom progress
I am still working on finishing up the trim in the house, but in the meantime Tony has been making a lot of progress on the kitchen and the bathroom. I will just post the pictures because I'm too tired to explain much more than that. It's been a huge change already since we started the renovation, and we are getting so close to being done! We had an open house this afternoon. I posted a rental ad and got a lot of great response with people saying they would come to ... continue reading...
Weeks 12 & 13: Baseboard, casing, and a shell of a kitchen
Over the last two weeks I've been working on installing the trim in the house. The first few days nearly broke me, but once I remembered what I was doing it all started coming together. It took me a good six days to install just the baseboard, window casing, shoe mold, and wainscoting. But it's starting to come together and I'm very excited to get this house finished! Living room Laundry room Bathroom My original plan for the bathroom was to paint the plastic tile that was on ... continue reading...
Week 11: How to increase your house curb appeal
I had hoped to get some trim done at the house this week, but that didn't work very well. First of all, I wasn't able to spend a lot of time there, and the time I did spend doing trim I ended up wasting by cutting every piece of trim twice. Apparently I've forgotten how to install trim right the first time. But in the mean time over the last several weeks I've been working on the exterior of the house. Making small changes to the outside of your house is a great way to make it look more ... continue reading...
Week 10: Vinyl plank flooring
This week was another big week at our rental house. I just about finished installing all the flooring in the entire house. With the new paint and the new vinyl plank flooring it's really starting to feel more like a house and less like a construction zone. We have never installed vinyl plank flooring in any of our houses, but this is great stuff, especially for a rental property. It's so easy to install, and it's supposed to withstand anything. And it's way cheaper than hardwood, but looks much ... continue reading...
