MarkAReed

"crawlspaces: A bad idea, should be illegal"
In my 36 year career as a remodeling contractor I come across statements like this and just shake my head.

Illegal?... Why do people think the government is a weapon they can use to beat up on others that don't agree with their "new age progressive green awakening?"

Thank you Amish electrician for your sensible reply, even if you stated the obvious.

Every house foundation is different. No "laws" apply to the whole. My 1957 crawlspace is in perfect condition.

Your example picture is full of bad decisions like the location of the vent and gutter downspout. You mentioned already the other issues like grading.

Intead of discussing the importance of grading, proper closable vent locations 8-12" above ground level, gutter down spout locations and rain water displacement, a sump system added if you don't have one, maybe a radon vapor barrior with a vent pipe, a concrete floor and a de humidifier, and a radon gas indicator, the article here wants to start with a title saying we should demonize the whole design and make it illegal.

Am I right or did I miss something? Is this satire?

I've seen crawlspaces cleaner than their kid's rooms!
What is the difference in a full basement and a crawlspace with the features I just mentioned? I'll bet I've remodeled over 100 basements so far and this is the first time I've read anything like this. Maybe I missed the point.
illegal?...BS.

What's next? Random window and appliance compliance police inspections? Eccessive Electricity fines? Multiple car / non prius or GM volt use tax?
You know....I think we should fine people that have black roofs and make them illegal. Surely they soak up more heat and therefore take more energy to cool down in the summer time.
Maybe we can limit water and the sq. footage of grass per house too. Those selfish waterers are stealing from the rest of the world! Where's my pitch fork? Burn em to the ground.

Can't we just use our common sense and continue to work together and solve our problems without using the "I" word? (illegal)
I'm sorry if this came off disrespectful.. certainly was not my intention. Thank you

Very nice work. I wish my son wanted to learn woodworking from me. He's too busy texting and doesn't want to get dusty.

So if I may, I will be proud of your son with you.

Good job Dad.

How about putting a dishwasher back in it? Are you trying to eliminate it? Why? Where else could you put it without relocating the sink?

No drywall soffits! They are ugly, out of style and reduce the illusion of space in a small kitchen.

No cooktop on pennensula! You have a space for the stove and microwave. Put your money into a nice SS stove. I just bought a Kitchenaid SS stove for 1300.00 from ABT. My wife loves it. We have the same size kitchen and opted to put in a SS commercial looking hood vent from HD for 300.00 and built in a smaller ss microwave next to the fridge.
Vent hood through roof. Dont just circulate the air.

We opened the space between the uppers to 36" behind the 30" stove and installed really nice tile with a picture frame pattern.

We also removed the upper cabs on each side of the sink window and installed a 5 ft/ bay window with oak sill and puck lights. We put 16 small plants and cactis in it and it looks great. Nice view while you wash the dishes. A TV in the right corner on a swivel would be nice.

Dont change pennensula to an island! You cant afford to lose the cabinets or ctop space. Plus you will have to fix the floor and remove old DW electrical/plumbing which can get expensive.

I would put in 6-8 5" cans on a dimmer, in the ceiling and loose the fixtures, add a valance to bottom of uppers from cab factory to match and install undermount zenon fixtures if you dont have already.

Add back wall tile and eliminate the 4" backsplash.

Paint the walls darker.

Install granite or solid surface counter tops. Not tile. Grout lines crack and are a bitch to keep clean. Use the old tops in your garage or the basement.

I design, build, and install kitchens. I hope this helps.
Good luck and have fun.

will all you crazies with your right wing left wing democrat republican crap stop?! thats just political racism, a way for people to label others so they feel better about themselves. what makes us americans is that 99% of us will never know whats going on in our govenrment, EVER!

Thank you for saying that.
I appoligize for replying to someone talking about the Government outlawing windows and Humvees. Should have left that one alone. I believe most of us work hard to stay up to date on the latest information and technology on all the products we sell/ install. We don't need the Government to force us to do what we have been doing all along, always looking for ways to improve every detail of our craft.
Thats why we are reading this article.

I've been remodeling homes in Lake Forest Il. for the last 28 yrs and have installed many windows. But not one vinyl window.
Maybe I'm getting off track but why does the replacement window have to be vinyl or 100% payback? I'm all about saving money or saving repairable components but windows don't last forever. New windows have come a long way and can make a huge difference in many ways such as energy savings, low maintenence, and a complete asthetic make over. Triple tracks are ugly, period.

So is this a discusion about repairing a few "cute" windows that still look good enough to restore or about the real world?
Most of the windows I've replaced were old and rotted, sometimes because they were badly installed. They were badly designed, poorly insulated, had too many coats of paint, and bad hardware. The interior trim is beat and needs paint, the brick mold is dated and ugly. The home owner is tired of painting them every 5 yrs. and they leak air and have ugly storms.

I just finished installing 36 Pella Architectural series double hung windows and doors with true divided grills in a 1927 shingle style house. We were able to resovle many issues such as upgrading the trim inside and out, adding new flashing and insulation, no maintenence alum clad exterior, and we got rid of the storms. They were identical to the old windows but they made the house look brand new. Expensive and worth every penny. Anything cheaper would have been a sin.

Bottom line is: the customer, the quality of the house, the budget, and even the neighborhood determine what window is best.

And of course, you always get what you pay for.

By the way, a tilt pack replacement window from Marvin is about the same cost as a full window. The cost is in replacing(I call it upgrading) all the trim. Remember you will have to paint it anyway. Why not paint new trim to match the new window?

To Malcbuddy:
My work van that brings all the materials and tools to your green, Al Gore approved house gets worse gas milage than a Humvee. Do you want the government to outlaw my truck too? Or force you to replace your windows? Really?
Then I'm sure you won't mind being forced to pay for health ins. or join Obama's civil army.. unless you're union.