A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Opinions on a house?

I'm looking a buying an old (circa 1876) School house thats be renovated into a 3 bedroom house. The plots decent size (82.5 x 198 feet) What do you think?
http://images.realtor.ca/listing/reb82/highres/6/x18279661.jpg?PhotoId=634061954040000000
http://images.realtor.ca/listing/reb82/highres/6/x18279663.jpg?PhotoId=634059249126600000

I couldn't figure out how to put pics in but these links will show you two of the pics of the house.

I like it very much, Shani!

I'm sending you a pm in a few minutes.

OMG, that's gorgeous..buy it, buy it

Bless you, I wouldn't know what to do with it. I'm not an open concept person. How are you going to heat it? What kind of insulation does it have? I rented one place where the electric bill was 1 and 1/2 times the amount of the rent. I moved out quickly.

I like it .

Would make a grat place.

Good luck.

dodge

There are actually 2 ways of heating it. It has a large wood stove (approx 3x3x2 feet) as well as the previou owners set it up with Geothermal heat via a heat pump that draw the warm ground water through radiators (or at least thats how I think it works. We're thinking when the roof gets done we'll put up solar panels on half for electricy. That would take us right off the grid.

wOULD YOUR DEEP SNOW HAMPER THE SOLAR PANELS?

HECK COOK ON THE WOOD STOVE FOR HEAT IN THE WINTER.

GOOD LUCK.

DODGE

Thats a good question. Because of the pitch of the roof I think it would slide off but that is a very good question to ask before we get them installed.

Looks like steel roofing, the snow would slide off...thats the next roofing that'll go on this house. Great idea on the solar panels.

Thanks I'm kinda getting excited about it. I need to take my dad to see it first, then we'll be putting an offer in on Monday I hope.

i have brown coragated steel on my carriage house, you out to hear the noise when it slides off.

b

we have a corrugated metal roof on our screened in porch and I love it.

Looks like a cool house.

LOL
its my house for the 4 wheelers an garden tools , not me.

b

Very nice, I would love to have a old school house in the woods to make a getaway home for snow play. The open floor plans are so nice to have .

We seen one on the way to the in-laws that was all landscaped recently and WOW it was so cool . Even the school bell was all polished....wonder if that's how MOM wakes everyone up in the morning ? I know I would be

4rings ...wake up, 2 rings ... time to eat

snow

Just thought of something .

In Denver .Colorado, they have Chalots they live in , they have the solar panes .

Take a look at photos of Denver sking resorts.
Much like canadas weather.
dodge

Ontario doesn't get as much snow as we do Dodge...

I have family in Brampton, Shani.

ok thats a bonus.
Wish we didnt. GOt 4 ft last winter.

dodge

It definately depends which part of Ontario your in the Greater Toronto Area, including Brampton hasn't had much in the past few years. The school house is almost centerd between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. Just Far enough that it woun't get the same winter warming lake effect. I think we'll have more snow but not 4 feet, maybe an average of 1.5 feet on the ground through out the winter. But I guess we'll wait and see.

I'm looking forward to all the potential in Landscaping this place offers. Its mainly a flat lot on the top of a hill so theres lots that can be done bot visible from the road and private garden.

This is so very exciting! I hope you get it!!

Shani, is the school bell still there?

It is, though I may have to go up on the roof to attach a new rope to it. Then figure out how to get it down to the living room. I can't wait to ring the bell.

Do it

Get the photo too as you ring it . Maybe we can hear it .

b

SNOW SHOVELER FOR HIRE !!!!!
Right here

Room and board,food and some playtime for meself and you will have winter walls of white.. fit for a queen !

I try to get all the snow out of the clouds before they get over lk huron ...but I do have friends in ont that need some of it too.

Kids would hate me if I plowed the school for it to be open ....recess would be fun

This just my little space here and I spend hrs playing .




...something different every storm

snow

You'd love winter in my area...we get much more than that.

Inotice the snow thrown over a hill like an isnt really that deep.
We had 4 solid feet most of this past winter. had to buy a huge snow blower for the tractor to get in .

b

I remember seeing that Dodge. That was a lot of snow.

Right an very unusual here .
No snow at christmas, then blap .......Here we are.

b

Whats all the red xxxx on here

I've still got to figure out what to do with att the snow we could get. I'm tempted just to do the end of the drive way and snow shoe out to the car and back to the house.

We did put in the offer and are waiting to hear back.

Ever snow shoe with bags of groceries in tow? You might want to think about getting a hand snow blower also

Trust me on that one

how bout a sled?
I know I'll need something just not sure what yet.

All sounds good but what about if something breaks down or you need to get a major appliance in or out..or if you'd need an ambulance or firetruck?

Here sometimes we get 14 ft of snow in a winter..I've seen peoples houses and a barn full of cattle burn to the ground because the fire truck couldn't get to the house. We've also had times where Government plow trucks or blowers had to plow to peoples houses to get an ambulance in and damage to their yards and pave was awful.

Not trying to be condescending but one never knows what can fall at their feet.

Oh by the way, you'll get to know me better..I worry about everything

Lol no worrys I appreciate all input.I've pretty much lived in toen all my life (never cared for it too much) And this is my first house So all input is welcome.

What about a Red Wagon w/ runners on it instead of wheels? Or a sled that has a big crate-like thing attached to the deck of it? That way, you could put all manner of things inside and not worry about them falling off the sled's deck while you pulled it along & went over bumps.

Whatever happens or whatever advice you get, don't get discouraged. You can learn anything! When we first moved to Maine I did not know much about living w/ quantities of snow. I learned fast! And it didn't take too many winters until I had the right kind of coat, the right boots, etc. I was cold much of the time the first winter we were here just from inadequate gear but that didn't last long!

You adapt.

Looky here .....you need one of these





....but if you are going to be sharing on who drives ...you better just get 2! ...they do make a 2 seater too like the quad side by sides.

...I would so.. love to live in that much snow
I have friends that have to ride their sleds 9mi to their house from town when the snow gets deep...plus they live on a non-plowed road during the winter mo's.
They use a big sleigh behind the sled to run things in. Their daughter rides her sled to school 15mi away.

Dressing right IS the whole key. The right stuff and layering correctly and you could really enjoy the winters...very beautiful. Yeah there's some work when the snows hit but they can be fun with the right tools too.
When you get ready to buy your winter stuff let me know and i'll help you on some choice items . Materials that the clothing is made of makes all the difference :wink: .

snow

I don't know if we'll quite need that but I'm sure Mike would love to have one. I've been looking at the possiblity of getting a small ride on motor that has a plow attachment.

Though we are still waiting to hear back if the offer we put in was accepted

Good luck Shani..