Big decisions, need help.
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:57 am
After 12 years in a 22 year old doublewide, it's decision time. The simplist option would be to buy something else and move. We have 3 beautiful, rural acres in north FL and don't want to leave it.
We spent some time yesterday looking at new mobiles and modulars and almost died of sticker shock. 100K for mobiles and 200K plus for modulars. New FL codes have driven up the already inflated price. Building on the property would mean months of pricey temporary housing.
That brought us back to the possibility of remodeling what we have. The place was well built for it's time with plywood floors etc. I'd like to ask questions about our biggest problems. Feedback would mean more than I can say.
1. We've had old, leaky roof problems. Had it reroofed about 4 years ago and it caused a whole new set of problems. 2 main rooms have a vaulted ceiling with insulation and no air space. When we had the old heat and a/c replaced with a heat pump, the ceilings dripped like a swamp. They had to take out the ridge vent since the roof was too wavy to hold nails properly. It didn't seem to make much difference when it was there. After they took it out, I had them put in soffet vents all the way around, gable vents, and a thermostat controlled attic fan was installed. We still get enough ceiling moisture in the summer to cause visible mold. Seems like the only viable solution would be to somehow repitch the roof. Some kind of roofover maybe?
2. This brings me to the mold issue. Is it possible to kill the mold thats been growing in the ceiling and behind some walls? I know the wall and ceiling material would have to come off. Can years of existing mold really be killed? Solving the roof problem should prevent regrowth. I just don't know if the extensive, pricey process would be effective enough to make it worthwhile.
3. We've had problems under the trailer. It has a standard crawl space with pier pilings on very sandy soil and stucco skirting. We get field rats living under there and they cause damage. My husband is elderly and crawly under there is a difficult process. We use live traps, baited with apple and peanut butter. He hauls them out and takes them into the National Forest to release. We refer to it as our Rat Relocation Program. I won't use snap traps since the thought of Jack encountering a wounded, crazed rat in an enclosed space is not good. I think the whole thing needs to come up some so there's a workable space under there. With the sandy soil, a tight enclosure doesn't work. Anything that can dig, does, even through gravel. I'm thinking the whole thing needs to come up so there's more maneuver room, then maybe lattice for looks. It would be easier to put out fresh mothballs when nobody had to crawl into the black hole. Is my thinking correct on this? How difficult would it be to jack the thing up?
Sorry for the lengthy post. I'm now diabetic, scrawny, and useless for anything heavier than painting. My husband had an 8 month bout of chemo last year and his energy level isn't what it was. His brain still works fine, he works at a university everyday. After several years of benign neglect, we're living in substandard housing and the frustration level is rising. All opinions gratefully welcomed!
Lou
We spent some time yesterday looking at new mobiles and modulars and almost died of sticker shock. 100K for mobiles and 200K plus for modulars. New FL codes have driven up the already inflated price. Building on the property would mean months of pricey temporary housing.
That brought us back to the possibility of remodeling what we have. The place was well built for it's time with plywood floors etc. I'd like to ask questions about our biggest problems. Feedback would mean more than I can say.
1. We've had old, leaky roof problems. Had it reroofed about 4 years ago and it caused a whole new set of problems. 2 main rooms have a vaulted ceiling with insulation and no air space. When we had the old heat and a/c replaced with a heat pump, the ceilings dripped like a swamp. They had to take out the ridge vent since the roof was too wavy to hold nails properly. It didn't seem to make much difference when it was there. After they took it out, I had them put in soffet vents all the way around, gable vents, and a thermostat controlled attic fan was installed. We still get enough ceiling moisture in the summer to cause visible mold. Seems like the only viable solution would be to somehow repitch the roof. Some kind of roofover maybe?
2. This brings me to the mold issue. Is it possible to kill the mold thats been growing in the ceiling and behind some walls? I know the wall and ceiling material would have to come off. Can years of existing mold really be killed? Solving the roof problem should prevent regrowth. I just don't know if the extensive, pricey process would be effective enough to make it worthwhile.
3. We've had problems under the trailer. It has a standard crawl space with pier pilings on very sandy soil and stucco skirting. We get field rats living under there and they cause damage. My husband is elderly and crawly under there is a difficult process. We use live traps, baited with apple and peanut butter. He hauls them out and takes them into the National Forest to release. We refer to it as our Rat Relocation Program. I won't use snap traps since the thought of Jack encountering a wounded, crazed rat in an enclosed space is not good. I think the whole thing needs to come up some so there's a workable space under there. With the sandy soil, a tight enclosure doesn't work. Anything that can dig, does, even through gravel. I'm thinking the whole thing needs to come up so there's more maneuver room, then maybe lattice for looks. It would be easier to put out fresh mothballs when nobody had to crawl into the black hole. Is my thinking correct on this? How difficult would it be to jack the thing up?
Sorry for the lengthy post. I'm now diabetic, scrawny, and useless for anything heavier than painting. My husband had an 8 month bout of chemo last year and his energy level isn't what it was. His brain still works fine, he works at a university everyday. After several years of benign neglect, we're living in substandard housing and the frustration level is rising. All opinions gratefully welcomed!
Lou