Suggestions please

[Margaret]

I am taking care of my 84 year old father. We own a 45 year old house. 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, and a half finished basement. I have my father, myself, my son and his wife and their 3 kids, 10, 12, and 13. The suggestions i need are how to upgrade, roof, insulation, drywall, floors.

 

i know we have had carpenter ants eating at the house and blue board. I know i need new windows. Also the wood siding is rotting from the bottom up

 

i am looking forward to the new world, but i need to keep us warm.

 

thank you my friends.

Edited January 11, 2019 by Margaret

[kejedo]

Dear Sis, I have no words of suggestion, but wish to offer you my best wishes. Keep on keeping on. Love from here. 

[Vinnie]

Best thing to do is to educate yourself as best as you can.

 

I suggest looking at these You Tube videos as a starting point.  Take some things with a grain of salt because everyone's budget is different and usually the deciding factor.  Mike Holmes brings out a good point in the first video,, basically Start on the outside to protect the inside. 

 

Roof - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F1Gocuy_qM

 

Not by Mike Holmes but gives you a good idea on how to determine if your roof has enough insulation during winter time? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6nJbk2Ux3k

 

Other tips to help get you started, from in my opinion, a trusted professional - Mike Holmes who shows people how to do  the job right.

https://makeitright.ca/holmes-advice/home-safety-maintenance/preventing-heat-loss-in-your-basement/

 

Edited January 12, 2019 by Vinnie
because I don't want to re-invent the wheel

[Vinnie]

Other things to consider... Questions to ask a contractor to determine if you will hire them or not.

 

http://www.chba.ca/CHBA/Renovating/Interviewing_a_Contractor.aspx

 

https://www.hgtv.ca/renovations/blog/mike-holmes-most-frequently-asked-renovation-questions-1916681/

 

 

[Vinnie]

replacing windows...a primer on window information

 

http://holmesspot.blogspot.com/2013/10/mike-holmes-which-window-is-best-for-you.html

 

[Joey]

Do you qualify for any of the home repair programs?I think HUD is closed due to Govt.shutdown but you may be able to see if there is a program in your area when its back up again.

I got a new hot water tank,my entire home isulated,a new refrigerator,  carbon monoxide detectors ,new basement windows and a ventilation system installed with grant money I did not have to repay.

https://www.hud.gov/states/michigan/homeownership/homerepairs

In our area there are also programs that replace roofs,doors, furnaces,etc. Through local  community action agency.

Edited January 13, 2019 by MyCookies

[Margaret]

Great Sister Nancy , I’ll look into it.