How to Achieve This Stucco Texture?


So there is this concrete wall I plan on stuccoing. However I want to achieve this look/texture in the photo but I don’t know how. Is this something that can be done with pre-mixed stucco (product) or is this the paint/coating finish stucco (acrylic latex product)?? Or something completely different?

What tools do I need to achieve this?

Categories: Renovation
By mike69 | 04/27/2011 11:45 AM | Comment

Paint Balcony Railing, Should I Do Myself or Ask Sponsor?


So the metal railing along my balcony is starting to rust and some of the paint is starting to wear out. I pay CC’s and so far there is no condo board because all of the units have not sold in the building.

The developer/sponsor is still the one who oversees the building. Do I have the right as a unit owner to tell him to dip into the CC to repaint the railings or should I just repaint myself?

Categories: Painting
By mike69 | 04/19/2011 2:25 PM | Comment

Backyard Landscaping Costs??


So spring is around the corner and my backyard is nothing but dirt and unlimited rocks. I am wondering how much it would cost to buy the materials to do landscaping myself?

I think for the most part I’m curious about laying down some tiles/bricks onto half of the backyard as flooring for my patio set. And around the fencing I will have a raised bed for bushes/plants.

Does anyone have experience landscaping who can give me their thoughts?

Categories: Decorative
By mike69 | 03/15/2011 2:51 PM | Comment

Hot water boiler keeps going out!?


So I have a new AO Smith hot water boiler that’s only been in use for around 6 months. It’s located inside the mechanical room where the room temperature tends to be warmer than it is in living space.

The dilemma here is that the pilot light goes out every few days and when it does I’m force to reignite it everytime. My guess is that water drops from condensation is what’s causing the pilot to go out. I have this hunch because everytime I reignite my boiler i can hear the drops fall onto the flame.

This has started since day one…has anyone got a clue what I can do to fix this? I only assume this won’t happen in the summer, but then I could be wrong.

Categories: Maintenance
By mike69 | 02/22/2011 3:42 PM | Comment

Filing my taxes and tenant affecting me because I own property?


Is anyone here an accountant or is familiar with how they file their taxes if owning property?

Currently I own a condo with only my name on the deed, and my gf lives with me paying her half of the mortgage which is usually a monthly check towards my name.

My brother has told me that since that is the case, I will be considered the landlord and she a tenant – and that when I file my taxes the gov’t will take more from me.

Is this true? Is there a workaround to this – like having her check go towards the bank (and not me) to pay the mortgage?

Categories: Real Estate
By mike69 | 12/22/2010 3:56 PM | Comment

Paint/stucco a wall in my backyard on neighbor’s property??


I had bought a condo recently with a backyard that has an ugly concrete wall. I was thinking of painting or applying stucco to that wall in my backyard that technically lies on the neighbor’s property line. The sponsor’s response to this was that the neighbor probably would not care and it would be okay. The majority of that neighbor’s backyard is littered with debris and garbage also, which implies that since he doesn’t care about his backyard – he probably would not care about the side of the wall he doesn’t see being painted (friends are also offering a similar opinion). My guess is that even if I were to do it, he wouldn’t know.

I asked my real estate attorney for his opinion, and he said stucco would be permanent and if asking the neighbor would be out the question.

He also suggested I bring it up to the condo’s management attention…which does not make any sense to me – does it to any of you here?

Should I go ahead and do it anyway with the notion he won’t know/ won’t care. Or should I seek his permission first?

Categories: Garden
By mike69 | 12/21/2010 1:28 PM | Comment

How long to receive recorded deed after closing?


It has been nearly 2 months since my closing and my lawyer has not received the recorded deed to return to me.

He said on average it takes 4-6 weeks, but so far there has been nothing. How long does this usually take? Is it possible to get my lawyer to be proactive to obtain it or should I just be patient and wait?

Categories: Real Estate
By mike69 | 11/18/2010 3:00 PM | Comment