What to spend money on this year, what can wait?

[jeffb]

OK, we know we have a few things around the house that need to get done. The main question is what we have to do, and what can wait....

replacing the rotting molding and painting the trim 3-5K

replace the cracked spots in the drive way with new asphalt the sealing it, or just sealing it and filling in the linear cracks with hot rubber...

Replacing the few spots that need new asphalt brings the cost up to 3K....

Either way, we have to fix part of the soffit....

Now, freezing and thawing will damage both the rotting molding and the driveway, so I'm not sure which one we should do this year, and which one we should wait on.

So all of you DIY, what do you think? I just don't know...I'm afraid that the driveway will get really bad if we don't do it and that the wood can wait...

So what say you?

[stretch]

I'll be interested to hear from some of the handy-dads about the driveway. We've got the same thing going on. I'm leaning toward just filling and resealing and putting off the day of reckoning another year or two.

[woodchuck]

IF you can wait on the house, and it's more aesthetics than function, the house/roof need to stay dry or it becomes a snowball of hidden problems.
Obviously, take care of any real immediate needs first.

Then do the driveway right, you'll be using it everyday, and a temporary fix that may fail will just agravate the snot out of the whole family, day in and day out.

[Hockeyfan]

I would go with things that improve the house. That is where the value is. Driveway can wait. You don't want rotten wood around the house. Moisture can get in along with who knows what. That's the biggest investment you have...unless you have a nice car. Super nice. Good luck.

[jeffus]

I'd go with the house repairs. Once there's an opportunity for water or insects to enter the house, bad things start to happen.

You can fix smaller cracks with a bottle of Qwik-crete driveway patch/filler and a coat of sealant (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=239551-57139-H6400&lpage=none)over the whole thing. Driveways should be sealed every couple of years. Cheap stuff and very easy for a dyi project (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=99557-268-864005&lpage=none).

[chuck]

have us dads do it for ya when we are there in July:
new trim and paint=$150
Beer=$200
new ladder after slight accident=$150
new window right under bad trim (due to same slight accident)=$200
body work and new paint on car after above mentioned accident=$450
sealing and repair of driveway after SAHD mixed (and made slight mess) of paint for house= $3k
Several trips to local emergency room due to loss of footing on roof by several slightly intoxicated SAHD's who thought it to be a good time for a shovy, shovy fight $1250
Look on wifes face when she returns after SAHD weekend PRICELESS!
chugchug:

[Will'sdad]

I would go with things that improve the house. That is where the value is. Driveway can wait. You don't want rotten wood around the house. Moisture can get in along with who knows what. That's the biggest investment you have...unless you have a nice car. Super nice. Good luck.

I hate to admit it but I agree with HF ;)...go with the house. Just make sure you get a reputable company to fix your driveway when the time comes. There's a ton of scumbag pavers out there, more than in your typical business.

[MADDOX626]

have us dads do it for ya when we are there in July:
new trim and paint=$150
Beer=$200
new ladder after slight accident=$150
new window right under bad trim (due to same slight accident)=$200
body work and new paint on car after above mentioned accident=$450
sealing and repair of driveway after SAHD mixed (and made slight mess) of paint for house= $3k
Several trips to local emergency room due to loss of footing on roof by several slightly intoxicated SAHD's who thought it to be a good time for a shovy, shovy fight $1250
Look on wifes face when she returns after SAHD weekend PRICELESS!
chugchug:


No way I am hanging out with Yankee and Sox fans.

[jeffb]

No way I am hanging out with Yankee and Sox fans.


What? Come on now..... More the merrier... Even if they are Sox fans....

As for doing this stuff at the Dadstock, Chuck, thanks, but I'll pass... :)laughing

[jim]

House repairs first and always, IMHO.