| Author | Content |
revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
January 28, 2006
11:40 PM Post #2007745
| We've lived in our apartment going on 6 years, and the carpet looks pretty awful. So do the kitchen counters. The counters were resurfaced before we moved in, and the surface has started coming off. My husband doesn't want to experience the fumes another resurfacing would generate, so I feel stuck. They won't put new counters in. We have so much furniture that recarpeting would require movers to take all the furniture out so they could recarpet. We've had the living room carpeting shampooed, but we had to haul everything into the bedrooms for a couple of days so it could dry out. Does anybody have any ideas about how to cope after living in a place a long time? About the only thing I can think of is to move out, but we have a 20 foot balcony and a great view, so I'd rather not. Kinda sounds like we're stuck. |
red_princess_71
Lilesville, NC
(Zone 7b)
January 31, 2006
05:19 AM Post #2012331
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revaclaus,
Yeah i hate living in rentals as well, we still in the same house we rented when we moved from Ohio to NC and we love the house but cant do what we like to it...however this is not about my house...
Have you tried getting a area rug and maybe putting that over the troubled spots? I know some can be pricey. I have seen many of them at our local Goodwill stores and a couple thrift stores. So you might wanna check there before spending money on a new one.
Hope this helps,
Char |
meledward23
Germantown, TN
February 10, 2006
10:23 AM Post #2034913
| Would something like liquid nails help hold that counter top down ? I have never experienced the counter top issue, so I am not sure how to handle it.
Perhaps you should/could buy a steam cleaning carpet machine, you know the ones with a water resevoir, man do they do a job. And sinces they vacum the water up as they go, it isnt as damp a project as your shampoo experience.
Apartment living is rough, I had 7 years of it in Atlanta. I just never stayed put, till I found that one place, with a Sunroom that overlooked a garden, in the back corner of the complex, my own little oasis, (ended up being my bedroom, sleeping in a sunroom is great.
Oh back to your troubles, is it an apartment complex or a house? Perhaps there is an idnetical unit available, and you could do a great move in one weekend from one unit to another. A Hassle, but if the condition is borderline unbearable...
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revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
February 10, 2006
10:57 PM Post #2036621
| That's not a bad idea about moving to an identical unit somewhere else! I'll have to suggest it to DH. The liquid nails wouldn't work 'cause it's like the finish is coming off. And I'm thinking about the steam cleaning machine. I've thought of that before, but DH has something against it.
Your apartment with the sunroom sounds heavenly! |
JasperDale
Long Beach, CA
(Zone 10a)
February 19, 2006
05:37 AM Post #2055243
| I rented a steam cleaner once and it did a great job. I DID learn one valuable lesson from the experience though: It was not a warm day when I used it...only about 60 degrees out...so, to "speed up" the drying time, I turned the heat on and shut all the windows. BIG GIGANTIC MISTAKE !!!! I came home about two hours later and the place was like a giant sauna !!! Humid as all heck! Felt like I was in the tropics! There was no air circulation and the damp air just hung like a curtain.
If you rent a steam cleaner...OPEN ALL YOUR WINDOWS !!!!!!!
JD
p.s.: the house plants loved it though !!! lol |
City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
July 04, 2006
12:08 AM Post #2465036
| I have been living in my place for nine years and I dont see myself going anyplace at my age. Besides my garden is out there and I am not leaving it until I have to. Sometimes you have to sit back and assest what really going on in your place. I f you have too much stuff, you got to get rid of something, so you will have room to move around. I dont understand DH and the fumes, thats a problem that need to be addressed to the installers ... I am quite sure they dont want to get sued for a lack of a healthy enviroment. The counter has to be fixed! Deal with it ... The carpet has to be cleaned, you have to hire professionals to come in, they guarantee a dry carpet when they leave out of there. The carpet was so bad here I ripped it up from the floor and discovered some very pretty Terrazzo tile ... other wise I would have stained the floors. I live in a two story townhouse 2200 sq ft with a 800sq ft courtyard. I live in a nice part of town with the cheapest rent around. So a lot of the things need doing, I do myself especially if I want it done my way ... like painting the downstairs walls in a plum color! LOL
Sylvia
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revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
July 04, 2006
10:51 AM Post #2465800
| Sylvia, we still struggle with what to do, though I have written a letter to our management that we're going to trot out when comes time to renew our lease in September. It asks for everything I've mentioned. We'll take it to our building's manager and tell her that we don't want her having to bear the burden of having to defend our requests to the owner, so we've prepared a letter she can use to simply present. I know she'll argue our case, but we have to make the case first.
As for getting rid of stuff to make room, not possible at our age. Everything we have is needed. But DH is coming around on things, and I'm trying to save enough money to pay for decent countertops just in case management won't do anything. The fumes involved in resurfacing are just not acceptable to us since they linger for some time, and my husband has a liver disease where fumes cause problems.
After putting in my garden this year, no way do I want to EVER move! It's just what I need to keep my mental health going. And our view is awesome. So we're not going anywhere.
Thanks for writing. It helps to know we're not the only ones out there with this problem!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
July 04, 2006
11:08 AM Post #2465849
| Here's one of my gardn. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
July 04, 2006
11:17 AM Post #2465886
| Oh my, that view is awsome! I dont blame you for not wanting to move. What floor are you on to get that view? ... and where is your garden? Hopefully you can find someone to install counter top without fumes. What do they do to create fumes? Let me know what you do to install counter tops, I need to replace mine too.
My big problem here is this 20 year old stove! Its a Jen-Air and the exhaust goes underground. She sure aint going to bear the expense of a new Jen-Air. So now to find another type stove that do the same thing with the underground exhaust! I even offered to buy my own ... but I dont know where to start looking ... and to even replace a part of this stove is astronomical! I dont even want to use it because it has my electric bill so high its pathetic. We got to come up with something.
Sylvia
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revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
July 05, 2006
10:47 PM Post #2472708
| Hi Slyvia,
My garden is our balcony. We live on the 6th floor, but we have an unobstructed view of Denver and the Rocky Mountains.
I know what you mean about the Jen-Air. We had an old GE that was the original one. We just kept calling them to come and fix it, and eventually they replaced it for us. Same with the dishwasher, refrigerator, garbage disposal.
I don't know what to suggest about your Jen-Air. Maybe a used one? E-bay or Craig's list? What a problem!
The fumes come from putting a coating on the counter tops. They wouldn't replace them last time, but they said they'd put this coating on them to make them look better. I don't know what the coating is, but that's where the fumes come from.
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City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
July 05, 2006
11:15 PM Post #2472826
| [q]Same with the dishwasher, refrigerator, garbage disposal.[/q]
LoL I got all that replaced finally! The refrigerator finally went out last year. She replaced it with her supposedly new one, because they refused to try and repair it. Garbage Disponsal been repaced twice because she bought cheap one, told me I should out my vegetable scraps in the trash, not down the Garbage disposal. Can you imagine. lol We are now fighting about the Dumpster station next to my unit on the end. I hate it, she says that the only place to put it. She is lying, just dont want it on her end. They use to share one with the building next door until that building was torn down for a new debelopment. and not just that, if I am off the day the trash people come, I have to get up and move my car. I always go downstairs cussing. I went to Italy and didnt tell her, I got back and it was overflowing! One Friday I had to go in for a procedure and could not drive myself, so a friend took me. She was livid when I got back that day! She thought I was inside all the time. LOL I told here dont try to make this my problem because its not! LOL
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revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
July 07, 2006
07:26 PM Post #2479978
| We got the same stuff from our management about vegetable scraps! It finally got too expensive for them to come and get it started again, that's when they caved and bought a new one. But I expect the same thing, 'cause it's a cheap one too.
That's too much about having to move your car because of trash pickup. I think we're entitled to be treated like human beings and not just money machines. You go girl! |
Tir_Na_Nog
Houston
United States
(Zone 9b)
November 07, 2006
11:32 AM Post #2890844
| bump =)
rev,
Ah it does me good to see the view of Denver! I was born in Colorado and think it's just gorgeous.
Do tell what changes have happened for you? |
revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
November 07, 2006
11:39 AM Post #2890867
| Believe it or not, we just had flooring and countertops replaced! And the carpeting was cleaned. It looks like a new place.
After talking with all of you I decided to go on a campaign. I constructed a letter to the management telling them that we knew they'd have to spend money on our apartment if we were to move. I said they could replace the flooring and the countertops and we would stay for several more years, or they could refuse and we'd move. We took it to our local building manager and told her that it wasn't addressed to her, that she didn't have to fight our battles for us. If she would just get our letter to the management, then they could decide. We let her know we really liked living here and thought the maintenance and management of the building was exceptional, but that if they didn't think any more of us than to refuse our legitimate requests we would no longer consider it a desireable place to live. It worked, and we even got to pick out our own flooring and countertop package. We were truly amazed. :-) |
Keyring
DC metro, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 20, 2007
12:57 PM Post #3103504
| Hi Revvie! I was just checking out the hometalk side for the first time and look what I found!
Glad your countertop and flooring got replaced. I'm having the same issues now - about 7 years in this apartment. The fridge is making sounds, I'm concerned about the kitchen plumbing - never used the disposal really and stopped using the dishwasher a couple of years ago. Carpet is the pits...
It's time to really decide what to do. I know I could use a sunnier balcony than the pitiful exposure I have, and definitely more space, so I may opt to move. We'll see... |
City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
January 25, 2007
01:42 AM Post #3120052
| Revclaus, I am so glad to see this thread come up again. I move from the old place two months ago. My Landlord informed me of the avaulability of this duplex, said she would love for to take it because she didnt want just any one to in here ... and everything is brand new ... yeah! sure! Do I have a lot of work ahead of me. Essentially its OK, but its so dated! Its 2/B 2/B and a Den with a huge fireplace. A huge kitchen, big front yard and back yard to grow my Hostas. I am looking foreward to the challenge... think I will start with counter tops and floors. will keep you posted.
Sylvia |
revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
January 25, 2007
11:47 PM Post #3123575
| Sylvia, LOL! I know you can make it look like home. And lucky you, a yard with room for a lot of hostas. I can only have two or three on my balcony. I know what you mean about dated.
Judith |
City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
January 31, 2007
07:32 PM Post #3143459
| Judith Hostas are just as pretty in pots, they just dont get as big. you should see my backyard ... pots everywhere. I need someone to come over and amend the soil, but I got to clean it up first.
I just had a hip replacement two weeks ago ... so I wont be getting out there very soon. |
revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
February 01, 2007
09:14 PM Post #3147440
| Here's my hosta before it took over the balcony the following year. I had to give it away. Now I'd like one that won't get quite that big, but so far I haven't done it. This year I will!
I had shoulder replacement about a year and a half ago. You have my sympathy. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
February 06, 2007
08:43 PM Post #3164874
| Judith , why would you want to give away "Francee"? All you need to do was give them a part it. I just broke mine in three pieces and shared it with some buddies. The rest I will put in the ground as it is one of my older Hosta. |
revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
February 07, 2007
01:16 AM Post #3165531
| I don't have any ground to put my in, and I would have just had to divide it again within three or four years. Too little time and too many hostas to do that! LOL
I ordered three more this year. |
City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
February 10, 2007
08:53 PM Post #3176387
| ...you could always trade. Let me know which one you buy. :) |
revclaus
Denver, CO
(Zone 5b)
February 11, 2007
01:29 AM Post #3177087
| I bought Avacado, Deja Blu, and Hampshire County. Do you really think the one I had was "Francee?" I didn't know it's name.
The new ones ought to fit better, don't you think?
This message was edited Feb 10, 2007 11:30 PM |
City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
February 13, 2007
08:23 AM Post #3184156
| It definitely is, I have one. |
UNLVREBEL
Las Vegas, NV
May 28, 2008
04:06 AM Post #5013951
| I am posting these link for anyone who is looking for an apartment or condo. I only want to prevent anyone else from making the same mistake I did.
If you would like to view my blog then feel free to, if not that's fine.
PLEASE READ AND SPREAD THE WORD, SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT MAKE MY MISTAKE.
NOTE: You will be leaving this website and entering blogger.com
http://valenciacondosucks.blogspot.com/
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City_Sylvia
Dallas, TX
May 28, 2008
08:36 PM Post #5017623
| omg, you bought a place with renters .. and ... children! Bless your heart!
You got my sympathy. |
