In April 2013 we realized a dream we didn’t even know we had and bought a house in Key West, FL. Holla!!! 🙂
She’s a total fixer upper inside and out. (check out the house tour video – before here) Â And while we have big dreams for how beautiful she will be one day, we have a real world budget to make it all happen. And I thought this would be the perfect spot to keep it all in check. It’s hard to keep track of expenses by project.
We bought a table saw when we decided we wanted to make our board & batten wall out of MDF, but that tool will also be used to cut our molding we’re also making on our own and maybe even to make some built ins. I bought a gallon tub of spackle to fill in some cracks in the living room ceiling and she’s already been used on trim work and a few walls and we’re only one room into the full house renovation.
In addition to everything below we did also buy all of our kitchen appliances and a new washer and dryer during a killer sale. All of those details are here. It was about $4000 for a new stainless steel fridge, range, microwave, dishwasher and white front loader washer and dryer!
So hopefully you find this budget breakdown organized in an intuitive way. If not … then you’ve got a little insight into how my brain works. 🙂
I’ll do my best to keep the list updated with links to the projects where I used the items, too.
*all prices are rounded up a bit to account for some tax (that’s very, very particular math)  😉
Professional Help
Electrical upgrades $5580 (updating service to the house from the street)
Electrical work for new HVAC $1627
Installation of central air and heat $5868
Architect $1216.25 (professional drawings required for permit approval for changing roof line)
Food and drink for contractor and workers $133 – bribery during the roof raising project  🙂
Roof work $6037
Impact Glass Windows and Doors installation $1400
Exterior Painting (labor and materials) $1349.52
Professional Help Total $23,210.77
Permits – we only pull our own permits for our own work, permit costs are included in the totals above for the work that is professionally done
Interior work $76
Historic Society Approval for exterior work $50
Fence Permit $91
HARC Approval $100
Permits Total $317
Materials/Supplies
2 x 6 and trim $17Â – used to widen and head out attic accessÂ
Bagsters (4 bags, 3 pick ups) $131 plus $495 pick up
Sample paint $19
Polyurethane $22
Paint $52 – 2 gallons for the living and dining room, Sherwin Williams Rainwashed mixed 50% lighter
Spackle/Joint Compound $70 – used to smooth out the ceiling and cover seams in the trim and molding
Paint stripper $162 – used to strip our wood slat walls
220 grit sanding block $4 – used to make our wood slat walls soft as a baby’s bottom
3 1/4 nails for the framing nail gun $25 – used to head out the attic access
2 gallon jug of ceiling paint $35
Wood glue $6
Multi pack of 60 grit sand paper $11 – used on the board and batten and the wood slat walls
2 Multi packs of 100 grit sand paper $42 – used on the board and batten, the wood slat walls and drywall
Multi pack of 150 grit sand paper $21 – used on the board and batten, the wood slat walls and drywall
1/2 inch drywall $358 – used for the board and batten wall, guest bedroom ceiling, guest bedroom walls, new walls in the entry
11 feet of base cap molding $12 – used for the board and batten wall
Quarter round $162 – used as base molding around our trim and molding
3/4 inch MDF $425 – used for the board and batten wall and trim and molding
1/2 inch MDF $27 – used for the board and batten wall
1×4 – 12 foot pine board $11 – used for the board and batten wall
5 gallon jug of semi gloss white trim paint $140 – used on board and batten wall and trim and molding
Electrical supplies (boxes, switches, plate covers, wire) $202
Framing nail gun nails $24 – used to frame out a doorway, make the attic access larger and frame out the guest bedroom closet
Extra filter for shop vac $18
Light for attic $4 – we ended up needing a different kind but had already thrown the box away so couldn’t return this one
Globe light and GFI outlet and boxes for attic $14
2 x 4s $146 – used to frame a larger doorway into the kitchen, frame a partial wall in the guest room, frame a new beam and frame a new closet
Tub and tile caulk $5
Trim caulk $21
Joint tape $6
25′ polyethylene tube $3 – only used one foot of it for an easy well pump repair
Drywall screws $59
Bolts, washers and nuts for exposed beam header $31
Insulation $438
Toilet repair kit $11
Adjustable cross-bar to make our old light boxes compatible with modern light fixtures $9 – used for ceiling fan installation
1×4 strips $23 – used for the Z supports on the back of the closet doors and center supports in the closet
Edge Banding $20 – used on the shelves in the new guest bedroom closet
Decorative Trim $21 – used in the doorways of the new guest bedroom closet
Knotty Pine Planks $84 – used to make the guest bedroom closet doors
Finish nails of varying sizes $20
2x8x8 $11 – used to head out new door in the guest bedroom
1×6 White wood $16 – used to make the saddle in the guest bedroom
Multi pack of 150 grit sandpaper $16 – used on the drywall joints
Sanding sheets for square buff sander $87 Â – used to buff the guest bedroom floor
Stain and Poly $243Â – used to refinish guest bedroom floor and living/dining room floors
Sanding belts for drum sander $60 – used to refinish the guest bedroom floor
Mineral spirits $32 – used when polying the guest bedroom floor and to clean out the poly pad and to wipe clean the guest bedroom shelves before staining and when refinishing the living/dining room floors
2 gallons paint $40 – ($10 rebate included) used in the guest bedroom
3/4″ Manila rope $82 – used on rope and wood accent wall in the guest bedroom
Pine floor board $6 – used to repair the guest bedroom floor
Stain (driftwood color) $7 – used on the DIY wall to wall closet shelves and the DIY wood frame bed
3/4″ Birch Plywood $190 – used for wall-to-wall closet shelves and DIY wood bed frame
Pine Trim $21 – used on the wood bed frame
Dock Cleats $13 – used as handled on the DIY wood slat closet doors
1x2x8 $4 – used for supports in the guest bedroom closet
4″ Galvanized hinges $90 – used to hang the DIY wood slat closet doors
Screws and hardware $38 – used to assemble DIY wood bed frame
16′ x 24′ Tarp $59 – used to cover house during roof raising project
Building supplies for contractor $1084 – used during roof raising project
Lambswool pad refill $7 – used to polyurethane the living and dining room floors
Vinyl gloves $3 – used when staining living and dining room floors
Hammer drill carbide bits $19Â – used when we updated our patio posts and to install our DIY wood mailbox
Vinyl cornerbead $5 – used when drywalling the living room
2″ 18 gauge finish nails $21 – used to attach trim in the guest bedroom, living room and dining room and probably every other room to come  🙂
Insulation $223 – blown into the attic
T-Bevel $12 – used to determine angles for our guest bedroom molding
LED recessed lights and brackets $168 – for vaulted ceiling
18″ Wall Straps (code requirement) $22 – used when we raised the roof height in the front of the house
Joist Hangers $22 – used when we found out our porch roof wasn’t attached to the front of our house
Eye Lag Bolt $11 – used to support the porch roof to the house while we installed the joist hangers, and to hang a reclaimed wood sign
2 1/2 16 gauge finish nails $21 – used to attach exterior trim
Cement Board Blades $70Â – used to cut the hardiboard board siding
Pressure Treated 2 x 4’s $124 – used to build-out the exterior and trim exterior windows
Post base supports $180 – used when we updated our patio posts
Impact Glass Windows and Doors $9013
Roof nails $99 – used to install the hardiboard siding
Door knobs $100 – installed on the two new doors
Electric supplies (boxes, switches, outlets and wire) $106 – used in the new vaulted ceiling
Fireblock $15 – used while framing out the new vaulted ceiling (Tip! This was required by our inspector to prevent fire from spreading.)|
1/4″ lauan $16 – used to shim out the walls in the guest bedroom
Pine Flooring $157 – to patch the entry floor
Pressure Treated 2 x 4s $83 – exterior window and door trim
Cabinet Magnets $4 – used with the guest bedroom closet doors
Trim boards to finish off living room ceiling $19
1 x 6s $28 – I honestly can’t remember what for  :/
Pine Flooring $462 – used on the new vaulted ceiling
Finish Nails for Nail Gun $15
Supplies for Outdoor Uplighting $200
3/8″ beadboard $174 – beadboard on the ceiling of our front porch
Paint $31 – guest bedroom
Beveled Glass $375 – to update the front door and the back door off of the master bedroom
Door Hinges $10 – to update the front door
Mulch by the Yard $57
Mini Pry Bar $6 – used when installing glass door panels in the front door
Plastic Drop Cloths $11 – used when we used the paint sprayer on the exterior of the house
1 x 4s $120 – living and dining room window and door trim
Spindle Palm Tree $109
Hinges $4 – for attic access door
Keyless entry and door knob $122 – installation details here
Plumbing supplies (PVC, CPVC, connectors, glue, etc) $265
Pewter curtain rod and clip rings $61Â – used to hang the DIY blackout curtains in the guest bedroom
2 x 4s and 2 x 6s $210Â – used to frame in walls around the master bathroom and closet
Vent $100 – installed in the master bathroom
Electrical supplies (boxes, switches, CGFI outlets, etc) $129Â – used in the master bathroom
LED recessed lights $80 – installed in the master bathroom
1 x 4s $73 – to build master bathroom vanity
mortar, sand mix, PVC liner and adhesive $138 – to DIY a shower pan in the master bathroom (it shouldn’t cost you as much, I messed it up twice!)
silicone and redgaurd $62 – to make the shower water tight
cement backer board, mesh tape and thinset $144Â – used on the floor of the master bathroom and closet
hinges $3 – used on storage door in master bathroom
drywall and greenboard $36 – many bought at a discount and used in the master bathroom, closet and bedroom
valves, flex duct and wall box $32 – to move the washer and dryer into the bathroom
Materials/Supplies Total $19,065
Tools
Shop Vac $65
Double ended nail puller (cat’s paw) $15
Pole extension for paint roller $8
Paint roller frame $6
Paint brushes and rollers $82
Leather gloves, 2 pack $3
Framing nail gun $210 – used to head out the attic access
Mold and lead respirator $26 – used when preparing walls to paint over cracked paint and while stripping the wood slat walls
Table saw $210 – used for the board and batten wall and the trim and molding
Bent handle scraper $8 – used to scrape up glued carpet pad and vinyl flooring tile
Hole Saw $7 – used to create support for hanging rod in new guest bedroom closet
Stud Finder $21 – used when we built the guest bedroom closet
Electrical Tester Kit $21
Floor scraper and extra blades $41
Sheet sander $93 – used on drywall, trim and the guest bedroom closet (I killed the first one so had to buy two.)
Floor finish pad $10 – used to poly guest bedroom floor
Square buff sander rental $38 – first attempt at refinishing the guest bedroom floors
Drum sander rental $42 – used to refinish the guest bedroom floor
Corded Drill Driver $65 – used everyday  🙂
Cable stripper $18 – used when reworking electrical wiring
4 foot level $19 – used when making new window openings and updating our patio posts
Various Drill Bits found on clearance $19
Tape Measure $10
Miter Saw Blade $6
Paint $13 – one quart for the front door
2 1/8″ hole saw $16
PVC cutting tool $12
Tool total $1084