Does anyone have any experience with house restoration?

Question

i just want to know how you got to doing house restoration, when you realized it was what you wanted to do, and what kind of education you got for it

Answer 1

Started with concrete work,(flat,basement foundations), then went to work as a carpenter's helper, for a carpenter putting up a house from the foundation. From there, various stints as a roofer, custom interior/exterior painter(also wood finishing), plumber's helper, electrician's helper, carpet layer, wood & tile floor's, rough carpenter,& finish carpenter, and on. I wanted to know it all, as much as possible, so that I could restore/remodel homes. I now have done a stint as a general contractor, and have an architecture professor/architect as a friend! As another answerer previously said,"School of Hard Knocks". I like to work with my hand's, and my,(somewhat limited,LOL!), intelligence. I get bored easy, life's short, so I need to do everything I want to. Sound's like I have a few year's behind me? See my avatar, that's real close to what I look like,(hair goin' white!) How would I advise you to get into the field? Easy! It sound's like you already have the 'bug'! The Architectural professor I know, started in her field by going to school, working three part-time job's to get her through, and eventually started re-modeling her own home. She sold it, and has done many since. I believe, that if you believe in yourself, you will accomplish what you want! I worked for a multi-millonaire down in Weatherford, Tx., who told me the only difference,(money status), between him & I was, that he just went for it! He had children, it was rough! See if you can buy a house from the bank that's on foreclosure, or check the tax sales of homes. Watch the market in your area, and close lying areas.Buy one, get a loan to re-build, and sell it! Then use the money to buy another house, and do the same thing again, until you have enough profit to do this full time, have several house's, and have sub-contractor's do it for you. Eventually you'll have enough money, and time to go to school for Architecture, if you wish! Really make's contractor's situp, and listen, when a woman know's her stuff!
(Don't forget, if you have any question's what-so-ever, we're here at Yahoo Answers!)

Answer 2

I'd been in the construction business for a few years before I bought my first 'fixer-upper' I learned a lot while doing that house alone. There's a lot of publications and websites that give you tips, but it's basically a lot of common sense that's really involved. You start by picking the 'right house'. You look at a house thoroughly- to see if it's something you think you have the skill level to restore. Start easy- like one that's had a partial remodel done, or at least been updated in the last 30-40 years. The older the house, and the older the remodel, the more you've got to do. Wiring can be a HUGE issue, since that usually involves gutting the whole house...take your time and look around before you pick your project. It can be a rewarding experience, but it can be a costly lesson as well!

Answer 3

I have bought and repaired several fixer-uppers. I started at the library by checking out books on being your own home owner-contractor. Ask around for the names of reputable tradesmen. I do a lot myself but some things you may want to hire out, and you want dependable, cheap, skillfull workers. Make sure yo have a written contract for work to be performed, and have a penalty clause for work not completed by stated times. There are many examples in many books.

Answer 4

It was a natural progression of jobs and abilities. I spent 20 years working for other people in a variety of trades. Call it the school of experience (hard knocks).

Answer 5

For me it was the discovery that I can do almost anything.
Followed by the realization that most workers in the building and decorating industry spend their time bodging things.
I do it myself, after reading as many books and blogs as it takes to understand a subject.
Most writers have inbuilt asumptions about things - they always think you know something or another.
So, read four different authors. Get four different ideas and do it.

Answer 6

I do electrical work for three house restoration contractors, along with my other work. They are carpenters and handymen. They hire electricians and plumbers and sometimes the heating and air conditioning contractors for those parts of the job. They do carpentry, drywalling, flooring, windows, roofing, and general fixing.

Answer 7

School of hard knocks.....being in different trades learning, from others.... problem solving....math.helps allot