Team USA

[Hamartia Antidote]

It is definitely out, ma bro. But if it's something your mom likes and is easy to clean etc., then you can find it in certain places I think HD and Lowes still carry it to a certain extent. But if she's ready to move on, I would either tile the floor or install a prefinished wood floor, maybe even a synthetic type that locks together.

In their 1880's house the floor of one of the bedrooms was unfinished (looked like the floor you'd see in a walk up attic). Back in probably the 1970's we covered it with those 1 foot carpet squares with the sticky backs (that was torturous to lay down right BTW).

They were complete junk. Within a few years the soft springy foam backing deteriorated to basically sand and we had to put staples in the corners to keep them in place.

Well enough was enough and so back in the 1980's we bought the synthetic click-together type and covered the floor with it.

Looked at it today and there's not a mark on it. Of course even with the hardwood board pattern it isn't fooling anybody. Holds up well. Although as I recall it said to dry up any spills quickly or it may bubble.

So for a kitchen hardwood and laminate are probably out.

 

[Figaro]

Isaias is barreling towards Florida. Any Florida residents on this forum, take care and button down the hatches or adhere to any mandatory evacuations they might issue. Landfall is scheduled for early tomorrow. Moving northwest at about 12mph. Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet and 2-4 feet further along the east coast of the state.

And now they need to mitigate the risk of having shelters opened up with the virus reeking havoc in FA these days.

Right now it's pounding the Bahamas, one of my favorite spots to get to by boat straight from FLA.

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Te

Florida has some of the craziest weather I've seen in the States. Last December, I stopped by Palm Beach on a road trip and saw the weather turn from extremely sunny with white clouds to a massive rain storm with huge waves and overcast conditions in a span of 20 minutes. I thought Texas had severe weather but Florida is so much worse lol. It rained so much there I'm not sure why its even called the "Sunshine State"

 

[Gomig-21]

So for a kitchen hardwood and laminate are probably out.

I guess tiling it would be the best option for them but definitely get a pro who can take off the cabinet baseboard and tile to the cabinets and then put the baseboard back down over the tiles so you don't see the cut edges. It's a better look but keep in mind by the time you strip the current floor or add to it, the floor height is going to change and can affect some appliances if they're already a tight fit.

Florida has some of the craziest weather I've seen in the States. Last December, I stopped by Palm Beach on a road trip and saw the weather turn from extremely sunny with white clouds to a massive rain storm with huge waves and overcast conditions in a span of 20 minutes. I thought Texas had severe weather but Florida is so much worse lol. It rained so much there I'm not sure why its even called the "Sunshine State"

Love Florida and any chance I get to go, I take. Especially for us boating & fishing types, it's the greatest state in the country for that life style but you have to deal with hurricane season.

What part of TX are you at? My brother lives in Katy just west of Houston. I guess the virus was late in that state like most southern ones and it just passed peak from what I've heard and has barely started tapering down. Hopefully the whole country gets back to safe standards soon because it's hard to believe the US has the worst level of cases in the world? How the heck did that happen!?!?!

 

[Figaro]

What part of TX are you at? My brother lives in Katy just west of Houston. I guess the virus was late in that state like most southern ones and it just passed peak from what I've heard and has barely started tapering down. Hopefully the whole country gets back to safe standards soon because it's hard to believe the US has the worst level of cases in the world? How the heck did that happen!?!?!

My cousins also live in Katy! I believe the area is called Cinco Ranch ... very nice development there. I live in northern Dallas, north of Plano. But yeah Texas coronavirus cases are still extremely high (close to 10k daily). I too would think the US should have some of the best virus preparedness but I guess that is just not the case ... refusal to wear masks, insufficient lockdown periods, not enough testing, and a president who routinely underestimated the virus did not help the cause. Last year, Johns Hopkins released a report saying the US was the number 1 most prepared country for a pandemic ... now, I guess it is little more than a meme.

 

[Gomig-21]

My cousins also live in Katy! I believe the area is called Cinco Ranch ...

Come on, man, you serious? lol. Same one my bro lives in also hahaha, small world. It is a pretty nice development and he bought into it back in the early 90s I believe. They were building a lot of new homes and extending Cinco Ranch and other developments the last time I was down there, wow. When Construction happens in Texas, lookout lol. They start building like crazy and in huge sections.

I live in northern Dallas, north of Plano. But yeah Texas coronavirus cases are still extremely high (close to 10k daily). I too would think the US should have some of the best virus preparedness but I guess that is just not the case ... refusal to wear masks, insufficient lockdown periods, not enough testing, and a president who routinely underestimated the virus did not help the cause. Last year, Johns Hopkins released a report saying the US was the number 1 most prepared country for a pandemic ... now, I guess it is little more than a meme.

Dallas in on my list every time I get down there but that darn state is like the entire New England area put together! It would take something like 5 hours to drive from Houston to Dallas I think, and I'm dying to see Daley Plaza and all the history of that one infamous day. Usually we'll head down to San Antonio instead because the entire family usually meets up and I guess it's more of a tourist destination with the River and the Alamo etc. Very cool stuff. Don't mess with Texas!

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

They were building a lot of new homes and extending Cinco Ranch and other developments the last time I was down there, wow. \!

What a horrible existence both your relatives live in...why would anybody want to move to America and live in a place like this!

@jamahir this is what people moved out of big cities to
sparse rural -> dense urban -> medium suburban

 

[jamahir]

@jamahir this is what people moved out of big cities to
sparse rural -> dense urban -> medium suburban

Very nice ! They seem to be newly developed areas still waiting for occupants.

Nice greenery, water, gardens and those flower plantings. Would love to live there.

Funny thing. That mall towards the end, there was a Tommy Hilfiger shop and right now I am wearing a TH white pant.

 

[Gomig-21]

What a horrible existence both your relatives live in...why would anybody want to move to America and live in a place like this!

lol, don't start that here, will ya! Funny watching that and being familiar with most of those places.
The other interesting thing is that when he bought his house in the late 90s, he paid something ridiculous like $100K and when I went down to visit and I looked at it, I told him that same house in practically any suburban neighborhood up here would be around $400K easy. It's amazing the difference in the cost and they knock them out down there, of course. They put up these developments (and they're not cheaply made, either) using very decent materials that are made for that TX climate which is mostly hardi backer board that lasts in almost any climate since it's essentially cement board and air conditioning in every single building no matter what where and why it's built. Even though they have winters but nothing like we do. I remember being down there in Thanksgiving and it was 70 degrees +/-.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

lol, don't start that here, will ya! Funny watching that and being familiar with most of those places.
The other interesting thing is that when he bought his house in the late 90s, he paid something ridiculous like $100K and when I went down to visit and I looked at it, I told him that same house in practically any suburban neighborhood up here would be around $400K easy. It's amazing the difference in the cost and they knock them out down there, of course. They put up these developments (and they're not cheaply made, either) using very decent materials that are made for that TX climate which is mostly hardi backer board that lasts in almost any climate since it's essentially cement board and air conditioning in every single building no matter what where and why it's built. Even though they have winters but nothing like we do. I remember being down there in Thanksgiving and it was 70 degrees +/-.

I was in Florida back in 2001 and was looking at this gorgeous 4/5 bedroom home with a pool inside for only $137K and felt like weeping. That's like $1.5M up here.

 

[Gomig-21]

I was in Florida back in 2001 and has looking at this gorgeous 4/5 bedroom home with a pool inside for only $137K and felt like weeping. That's like $1.5M up here.

I think in both cases and others in the south that since then, prices have gone up and caught up exponentially to the north. Like nowadays, I don't think you'll find those deals or anything close to it. They seem to have suddenly woken up or something happened with the real estate economics that most certainly got impacted in the 2008 crash.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I think in both cases and others in the south that since then, prices have gone up and caught up exponentially to the north. Like nowadays, I don't think you'll find those deals or anything close to it. They seem to have suddenly woken up or something happened with the real estate economics that most certainly got impacted in the 2008 crash.

https://www.zillow.com/
Katy, TX

I think this would be a 5/5/5 dream home up here
5 bed, 5 bath, 4,532 sqft, $640,980
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3203-Mystic-Shadow-Ln-Katy-TX-77494/118404846_zpid/

Edit: Actually it looks like attic space is most of it. Need another search.

 

[Gomig-21]

https://www.zillow.com/
Katy, TX

I think this would be a 5/5/5 dream home up here
5 bed, 5 bath, 4,532 sqft, $640,980
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3203-Mystic-Shadow-Ln-Katy-TX-77494/118404846_zpid/

Edit: Actually it looks like attic space is most of it. Need another search.

lol, that's like a mansion and even @ $640K for that would be considered a steal up here. It's just nuts.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

lol, that's like a mansion and even @ $640K for that would be considered a steal up here. It's just nuts.

BTW what's up with the Northern style steep sloped snow roof?? Serves no purpose.
Kind of funny seeing a Colonial house like that in Texas

 

[Gomig-21]

BTW what's up with Northern style steep sloped snow roof?? Serves no purpose.
Kind of funny seeing a Colonial house like that in Texas

View attachment 658436

It does rain there. Sometimes when it rains, it rains for weeks lol. That was a tough storm they had but even aside from that, some of the hail and thunderstorms they get there are nasty and bring a lot of rain. I guess the heavily sloped roof angles drain quickly but I'm sure it has a lot to do with attic/2nd/3rd floor space as well as looks, too.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

It does rain there. Sometimes when it rains, it rains for weeks lol. That was a tough storm they had but even aside from that, some of the hail and thunderstorms they get there are nasty and bring a lot of rain. I guess the heavily sloped roof angles drain quickly but I'm sure it has a lot to do with attic/2nd/3rd floor space as well as looks, too.

pretty neat