replace floors, windows, or ceilings? (PIP)

[7costanza]

I'm trying to decide which project to do next on our 1978 split level house. We currently have popcorn ceilings, light blue/gray carpet in pretty bad shape (nice quality but stained), and aluminum double pane windows. The windows were top of the line when they were installed with the house, but obviously outdated now. We have the budget to replace one item right now. We would put in hardwood floors in the main living areas and carpet in the bedrooms if we go with that. We also have a 3 month old  who will be crawling at some point and I worry about the gross carpets, but I don't know how much of that is just paranoid first time mom worry. I'm not really a germaphobe in general.

Here's a pic of the living room so you can kind of see all three elements.

What project do you think would have the most impact?

[rubytue]

Two comments:
1) 1978? Are you sure there aren't hardwoods underneath the carpet? You are at the tail end of when it was still standard to out the, in and cover them up.

2) I'm pretty sure the link is showing your full name. Just and FYI. I think that changed recently bc mine now shows up (I I won't use it to link to anymore)

[7costanza]

Oct 23, 2013 21:44:42 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Two comments:
1) 1978? Are you sure there aren't hardwoods underneath the carpet? You are at the tail end of when it was still standard to out the, in and cover them up.

2) I'm pretty sure the link is showing your full name. Just and FYI. I think that changed recently bc mine now shows up (I I won't use it to link to anymore)

Unfortunately there for sure aren't hardwoods under the carpet.  

Thank you for the heads up about the link! I hardly ever post photos, I'll change it. 

[dexteroni]

Definitely floors first; that will have the most impact on your daily lives. Then windows. I might not even bother with the ceilings. This the only place I've ever encountered the popcorn ceiling hate. Maybe I would understand if I had them? But if you really really hate them, I would do them last.

[MadamePresident]

Do your windows not insulate well or do you just not like them. In the picture your carpet doesn't look bad and I feel like windows have a huge impact on your everyday comfort level in the house. If the windows insulate well then floors always make the biggest visual impact.

[7costanza]

Oct 23, 2013 22:06:02 GMT -5 MadamePresident said:

Do your windows not insulate well or do you just not like them. In the picture your carpet doesn't look bad and I feel like windows have a huge impact on your everyday comfort level in the house. If the windows insulate well then floors always make the biggest visual impact.

Mostly we just don't like them, but they do let in a bit of cold air.  

[ellipses84]

From a MM perspective, I'd do the windows first because it will save you money on your heating/cooling bills and increase the resale value of your house. Use the savings for the other projects and if you can swing it, do them at the same time with the ceilings going first because it is messy.

Get your carpets cleaned really well for the baby or buy a carpet cleaner. Once they are a toddler, you will worry more about the toddler damaging the carpet than the other way around

[steph96]

I would probably go for the windows. That would help with energy costs and soundproofing.

The flooring still looks fine. Have a professional come out and clean it if you are worried about how dirty it is. I'm not a parent, but I think I would actually prefer older carpet over hardwood floors while they are small and learning how to walk. I would be too worried about them falling and hitting their head on the hardwood floor.

I honestly don't get all the hate for popcorn ceilings. If you really do hate them, could you maybe try to DIY the scraping? Then just have someone come in and texture/paint it? I don't think it would be too expensive. You could have hardwood floors installed in the main area, leave the bedroom carpet for later, and have the ceilings done.

[Marmee]

Clear the room, scrape the ceiling (if no asbestos this is easy & cheap), paint ceiling, roll up the carpet (which is full of the popcorn) toss it & install new floors. I'd do ceilings first & together with floors if possible. This is what we did in our first 1942 house.

[dexteroni]

If you are going to do the ceiling, the suggestion of having the ceilings done first and the floors immediately thereafter is definitely a good one, even if you have to save a bit longer to do it. The adage of cleaning top to bottom also applies to renovating, especially when sanding the entire mf'ing ceiling is involved.

[explorer2001]

I just did my Windows from old aluminium single pane to triple pane. My floors were better off and my windows were bad.

Your case is the opposite. Floors first since they are worse, then windows later.

[h]

Oct 23, 2013 23:04:13 GMT -5 Marmee said:

Clear the room, scrape the ceiling (if no asbestos this is easy & cheap), paint ceiling, roll up the carpet (which is full of the popcorn) toss it & install new floors. I'd do ceilings first & together with floors if possible. This is what we did in our first 1942 house.

I would do this. I've removed popcorn ceiling myself before, and it wasn't hard--just annoying and messy.

Replacing old carpet with hardwood makes a huge impact. Plus carpet gets grosser fast with kids.

[mskitkat]

Floors first, windows then ceiling. I'm the worst at DIY, but I think I'd do the ceiling myself. It doesn't take skill, just time.

[zarapipe]

Oct 23, 2013 23:04:13 GMT -5 Marmee said:

Clear the room, scrape the ceiling (if no asbestos this is easy & cheap), paint ceiling, roll up the carpet (which is full of the popcorn) toss it & install new floors. I'd do ceilings first & together with floors if possible. This is what we did in our first 1942 house.

This sounds like a good idea. Could you do the windows now and then wait until you have enough money for the other two projects?

[Deleted]

I would DIY the ceiling and put my money towards the windows - like PPs said, scraping popcorn is ABSOLUTELY something you can DIY....and replacing the windows (which are a decent focal point in this room) will both look good AND save you money.

The floors I'd wait for. Just rent a carpet cleaner if you are freaking out about what's on them...but you could buy a throw rug or something if you wanted to serve as a "fix" until you are ready to replace.

I really like that room, though! It's a neat space! And good on you for not just doing EVERYTHING and taking out loans to cover it all. Very MM, I am proud!

[Deleted]

I like Marmee's suggestion to scrape the ceiling then roll up the old carpet with the popcorn and replace with hardwoods.  Have you gotten quotes for replacing your windows?  I'm curious how much they are since we've gotten initial quotes around $25K.  We have crappy single pane windows.  

[lizrd7579]

Where do you live? If you are in a colder climate, I'd be inclined to do the windows first. Heading into winter, I'm sure those windows aren't energy efficient at all and are letting in/out more air than you think. Since they are so large, it could be a pretty good MM savings.

I agree with doing the ceiling/floors at the same time. You'll have to move furniture for both projects, might as well do it all at the same time and save yourself some annoyance!

[barefootcontessa]

Oct 24, 2013 4:41:33 GMT -5 h said:

Oct 23, 2013 23:04:13 GMT -5 Marmee said:

Clear the room, scrape the ceiling (if no asbestos this is easy & cheap), paint ceiling, roll up the carpet (which is full of the popcorn) toss it & install new floors. I'd do ceilings first & together with floors if possible. This is what we did in our first 1942 house.

I would do this. I've removed popcorn ceiling myself before, and it wasn't hard--just annoying and messy.

Replacing old carpet with hardwood makes a huge impact. Plus carpet gets grosser fast with kids.

agree.  hardwoods are so much better with kids.  I put it in my whole house except our master BR. 

[auntie]

I'd probably start with the windows. You might get an energy cost saving return that will make the floors happen sooner.

[morgie44]

Oct 23, 2013 23:04:13 GMT -5 Marmee said:

Clear the room, scrape the ceiling (if no asbestos this is easy & cheap), paint ceiling, roll up the carpet (which is full of the popcorn) toss it & install new floors. I'd do ceilings first & together with floors if possible. This is what we did in our first 1942 house.

This.

[lurkergirl123]

I'd do the windows first. We replaced all of our windows and our electric bill went way down almost immediately.

[midwest07]

You may have mentioned this - but are you replacing all the windows in your house or just these?

If it's all the windows, maybe I would lean that direction....but since your actual question is which will make the most impact (which I take to mean visual, not energy savings), I think that's definitely the floors. I like the idea of DIY the ceilings yourself at the same time.

[dirtyred]

Oct 23, 2013 22:10:47 GMT -5 @rennido said:

See, I think ceilings because of the mess it would cause...better to do that on old stuff you don't care about/are replacing.

Exactly!  You work from the top of the room down.  I wouldn't want to redo the ceilings after having hardwood installed.

[simpsongal]

Oct 23, 2013 22:12:16 GMT -5 7costanza said:

Oct 23, 2013 22:06:02 GMT -5 MadamePresident said:

Do your windows not insulate well or do you just not like them. In the picture your carpet doesn't look bad and I feel like windows have a huge impact on your everyday comfort level in the house. If the windows insulate well then floors always make the biggest visual impact.

Mostly we just don't like them, but they do let in a bit of cold air.  

I think a lot of window replacement is a rip off.  Unless your windows are realy lousy and you're getting lots of drafts w/high heating bills, I'd keep them.  Vinyl windows probably wouldn't be super pricey, but anything more is seriously going to cost you.  Unless the house is uncomfortable, you're not going to see that money back in your heating bills (I don't care what the salesmen say).

Honestly, I would probably tackle the popcorn ceilngs (a messy, surprisingly expensive job), then the floors, and not touch the windows.  I have an absolute hatred of popcorn ceilings though, most people would probably do the floors first.

[hski2349]

Go with the floors, especially with a little one. DD is 15 months and the amount of stuff that gets spilled is amazing. You will be so thankful you have easy to clean floor and don't have to try to clean up milk, spit up, crumbs, etc. out of the carpet. I know we have carpet in our family room and I want to change it SOOO badly!

[7costanza]

Oct 24, 2013 7:16:13 GMT -5 @choco said:

I like Marmee's suggestion to scrape the ceiling then roll up the old carpet with the popcorn and replace with hardwoods.  Have you gotten quotes for replacing your windows?  I'm curious how much they are since we've gotten initial quotes around $25K.  We have crappy single pane windows.  

The quotes we have range from $7500 to $17,000 for the windows, but we already have three new windows plus two newish sliding glass doors. I think there are still 9 windows to be replaced.

[theintended]

If energy efficiency is a concern, I'd do the windows first. Then I'd save up and go with quattro's joint ceiling/floor plan.

[kermit]

I'd do floors first. Popcorn ceilings don't bother me so I wouldn't even worry about that.

[glynn]

Windows then floor and ceiling at the same time.

[kateross]

Oct 24, 2013 12:34:28 GMT -5 glynn said:

Windows then floor and ceiling at the same time.

This.