Brick + Beam Detroit

The Miller House

House, 1,501-2,000 Square feet

Purchased at a Land Bank auction in September 2014, this art&crafts foursquare style was gutted of radiators and boiler, had sustained squatter damage with bullet holes and missing flooring, and was in bad need of all new plumbing. Most of the fantastic original details remained, however, and we fell in love with the house despite it's superficial condition. The neighbors have been a blessing to this house over the years, keeping it secure, chasing off squatters, and maintaining the yard. See the complete ongoing story with photos and videos on our blog at www.dreamingdetroit.com

Projects

Repaired collapsed basement stairs

It took: An hour or two

Cost: Free!

Recorded: April 2016

Cleaned up back yard and installed new fence

It took: A weekend

Cost: $151-$500

Recorded: April 2016

Steam pipe asbestos abatement and pipe removal

It took: a weekend

Cost: Free!

Recorded: April 2016

Installed security doors donated by neighbors

It took: An afternoon

Cost: Free!

Recorded: April 2016

Removed knob and tube wiring and installed new complete modern electrical system

It took: 2 months

Cost: $1,000-2,500

Recorded: April 2016

Removed galvanized and iron pipes and installed all new PVC drains and pex water pipes throughout house.

It took: 2 months

Cost: $1,000-2,500

Recorded: April 2016

Designed a new balanced forced air HVAC system with supplies and returns to both stories along with a new furnace, humidifier, and electronic air cleaner.

It took: 6 Months

Cost: $2,501-$5,000

Recorded: April 2016

Fabricated custom wood storm windows for the front of the house and the casement windows. Installed aluminum storm windows for the rest of the windows.

It took: 6 months

Cost: $1,000-2,500

Recorded: April 2016

Stripped the exposed front porch roof beams, shutters, and windows to original natural wood and sealed with spar urethane.

It took: 2 weekends

Cost: $51-150

Recorded: April 2016

scraped and painted front exterior

It took: one week

Cost: $151-$500

Recorded: April 2016

Tuck pointing all exterior brick on house, porch, and porch columns

It took: a month

Cost: $51-150

Recorded: April 2016

Stripped original fireplace surround to original detailed woodwork and sealed with spar urethane

It took: still working at it

Cost: $51-150

Recorded: April 2016

Found missing dining room hardwood flooring in neighbor's garage, and along with some leftover original flooring from another house, repaired dining room floor

It took: a weekend

Cost: Free!

Recorded: April 2016

Removed ancient front shrubs and replaced with young azaleas, hydrangeas, various flowering bulbs, rose bush, rhododendron, fountain grass and a japanese maple.

It took: an afternoon

Cost: $151-$500

Recorded: April 2016

stripping and sealing all original interior trim moulding and woodwork

It took: ongoing

Cost: $151-$500

Recorded: April 2016

restoring all original wood double hung windows with new glass, new sash cord, and refinished wood.

It took: ongoing

Cost: $151-$500

Recorded: April 2016

Whole home wired for smart receptacles, ethernet, and coax television networks.

It took: ongoing

Cost: $151-$500

Recorded: April 2016

Installed smart video security doorbell

It took: less than an hour

Cost: $151-$500

Recorded: April 2016

New laundry area in basement with new hookups, hammer arresters, direct drain, electrical circuit and gas service.

It took: a couple days

Cost: $151-$500

Recorded: April 2016

New kitchen plumbing, cabinets, countertop, double sink, garbage disposal, dishwasher, fridge with ice maker and water dispenser and gas range. Temporary set up while we redesign the dining room into an open concept kitchen. Lots and lots of help from craigslist and Architectural Salvage Warehouse.

It took: 2 months

Cost: $1,000-2,500

Recorded: April 2016

Gutted bathroom floor to joists. Removed previous owner's concrete jungle floor slab. Ripped out and replaced drains to toilet, sink, and shower. Replaced sub-floor. Installed heated floor wiring. New floor tile. Repaired tub surround tile. New pedestal sink, toilet, tub/shower plumbing and fixtures. Programmable heated floor thermostat.

It took: 3 weeks

Cost: $1,000-2,500

Recorded: April 2016

Laboratory water lead test returned. Passed with 0.003 ppm

Cost: Less than $50

Recorded: April 2016

Jacked up basement stairs pillar to correct main floor slope. Used a large vertical automotive bottle jack/jack stand combination device.

It took: an hour or two

Cost: Free!

Recorded: April 2016

installed housecat

Cost: $51-150

Recorded: April 2016

Repaired fireplace louver and installed glass doors purchased from Architectural Salvage Warehouse

Cost: Less than $50

Recorded: April 2016

Have a rehab question?

Ask a question in our Q&A forum. Experts are standing by.

Ask now
Ask a question in our Q&A forum at https://brickandbeamdetroit.com. Experts are standing by to help!