INTRODUCTION
First I hate to write a second Diary so close to my last. But I wanted this as a standalone.
You can read back through my last few diaries, but my house after a fire is getting gutted to the studs. New everything.
I have a contractor I've hired I have total faith in. Three people I trust 110% (including my brother) have used this person's firm and trust him. Done stellar work from small projects to huge, huge remodels. Total rebuilds. I am somewhat anal, these three people are more anal them myself. So again I got faith.
From our first conversations I know he will take direction from me on what I want. Give me ideas based off that. Tell me where I can save money and reinvest it. Bring up topics I had not even considered, like burying my power line into the house. Point me in the "right" direction if I ask for something stupid (I am sure I will BTW). But I have made a very good living knowing what I don’t know and admitting it. I know nothing of this.
THE HOUSE
Built in 1973. Five bedroom, split level, popular here in the Midwest. You walk in the front door to a platform. Stairs up to the second floor. Stairs down to a basement, well half above and half below ground. Fully furnished.
I joke it takes me a 5 page PDF to hang a picture, but I can build you a computer or website. I just don't know anything about this stuff, even though I geek out on the home improvement shows on HGN (well I used to, years ago). I head to Google, and I am good on the Google machine, but it is like falling down a rabbit hole with all the info. Too much IMHO.
Stunned to find because I've never heard my upstairs is doubled plastered. Nobody does that anymore I am told. Save money not doing that and better insulation being told.
But downstairs, panneling in every room but the master bedroom, doesn't have installtion behind it. Not sure how that happened or I didn't know it. Clearly that needs to be fixed. No wonder I can't regulate temp in my household from floor to floor.
MY QUESTIONS
I have many but just a few, and PLEASE ADD IN ANYTHING YOU MIGHT THINK IS IMPORTANT outside of these!
1. What is the best insulation? I got that stuff from roll of it I assume. Spray? What will keep the heat and/or cool air in my house the best to save on energy?
2. I assume a given sheetrock and insulation downstairs.
3. Do the Wink/Nest smart tech thermostats really work? Tech geek here, I keep thinking of tech to solve problems. But I also know tech isn't a solution to every problem.
4. Solar. Before the fire if there was one thing in my house I needed fix it was the roof. Not sure how long shingles should last, I've owned the house for 13 years, but it needed to be redone. I also live across from a huge 5,000 acre field. Had to put out blackout curtains on the front of my house. For half the day, in the morning, before the sun passes over the top of my household I get a shit load of sun.
I priced out solar panels like 9 years ago and I almost passed out at the cost. I've read and know the cost has come down. I also think of the batteries you can buy to back up the power and not sell it back (I would not be able to BTW — sell it back). I'd love options here.
5. A mini-green house outside of said house. I know options, but so many it hurt my head. Like 10 foot by 10 foot.
Please help if you can and know this stuff. Have links. You name it. I am blessed in many, many ways. I have what I believe is stellar insurance. I have some financial means and I plan to rebuild in a better, more soulful, environmental manner. But I feel like there are like 1,000 things I need to know moving into this and I might not know 999 of them :).