Would you rather......?
- Thread starter Chaznsc
- Start date
While it's neat to refurbish something, it comes along with one other thing. . . . . the work of a previous owner, which can really mean some screwed up ****.
deaddawg58
Well-known member
Build something new from the ground up. Much more rewarding.
I agree with you on this point. Having to try to work with stuff that isn't square or plumb can be a real PITA!
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Build it new.
Over the years I've had more than my fair share of working on other peoples screwups. Even remodeling homes, I don't think I would ever live in a plaster and lath house again. My mom always said when it came to houses that "they don't build 'em like they used to". Thank goodness for that.
Over the years I've had more than my fair share of working on other peoples screwups. Even remodeling homes, I don't think I would ever live in a plaster and lath house again. My mom always said when it came to houses that "they don't build 'em like they used to". Thank goodness for that.
rieferman
Well-known member
I've been through some MAJOR "fix someone else's mistakes" work over the years, and can definitively say that building new would be my preference if everything else was equal.
Ben7203
Well-known member
Build it. When you refurbish, you're limited on what you can do and make compromises
Cougar
Well-known member
New.
Did a refurbish once, it was fun and I was a lot younger.
Now I''ll go the new route.
Did a refurbish once, it was fun and I was a lot younger.
Now I''ll go the new route.
BigAl62
Well-known member
To what is this question referring to? If it's cars, I would rather build it myself than try to figure out what the previous owner did. If it's a garage/shop/house, it depends on what you have to start with. As for my car, it's unmodified at this point, but in the future I have plans for it. As for my house and garage/"shop", it's a disaster - the house needs work that I can't afford right now and the garage/"shop" is only a 1 car attached that even if I fix up, it's still going to be too small so I'd rather build a new 2 car unit behind the house.
Dennis93
Well-known member
There's nothing better than starting from a blank slate. You might think demolition is fun, but once you do enough it starts being more of a hassle. Making sure dust doesn't get there, cutting everything carefully, not knowing what is behind that wall you plan to take down, making sure trim matches, that you're not raising the floor too high so doors can still swing open, too many variables that make it too time consuming. If you were building something new, you wouldn't have to worry about any of that. Plus everything would flow together nicely, not like renovation where you have new light fixtures mixed with old wooden windows with brass doorknobs and just a giant cluster f^$% with stuff going on all over the place.
nolimits76
Well-known member
It's never that easy. There are always variables that can make us go the opposite of what we prefer. Money is the #1 reason, lol.
All things being equal, I would prefer to build it right from new. If only it were that easy.
All things being equal, I would prefer to build it right from new. If only it were that easy.
M17715
Banned
I like repairing things. There is a certain pride in taking something that is broken down and worthless and fixing it up.......something that other people have tossed out because they felt it was useless. It kind of reminds me of myself. 
woodrail
Well-known member
For structures, if its historic or architecturally significant, rebuild. If not, new.
Boats and furniture: rebuild.
Boats and furniture: rebuild.
Steevo
Well-known member
For me, it depends on the object.
I enjoy making things from scratch, but I wouldn't build a motorcycle frame.
I would tackle a refurb/rebuild on a vehicle, and an engine/trans swap, etc, but wouldn't build a vehicle from the ground up.
I enjoy making things from scratch, but I wouldn't build a motorcycle frame.
I would tackle a refurb/rebuild on a vehicle, and an engine/trans swap, etc, but wouldn't build a vehicle from the ground up.
JimVonBaden
Well-known member
Money no object? Build from scratch! I would love a replica Speedster!
Jim
Jim
Money no object? Build from scratch! I would love a replica Speedster!
Jim
If money is no object, why not a real one ?
hippie2cams
Well-known member
In the distant past I refurbished, Now that I'm in my upper years I would have to go with new, but it still takes a while. I have been working on my 30x40 pole barn style garage for almost 4 years now and I'm still not finished. I probably would have a thread going on the progress but I'm not really a camera kind of guy so I don't have any proof. 
JimVonBaden
Well-known member
If money is no object, why not a real one ?
Because I can't build it from scratch, and I would spend a LOT of time trying to fix rust and old issues that would likely come back. Besides, I wouldn't feel obligated to make it correct and could do lots of fun performance and appearance upgrades.
I'm a bit of a purist for old cars.
Jim
Because I can't build it from scratch, and I would spend a LOT of time trying to fix rust and old issues that would likely come back. Besides, I wouldn't feel obligated to make it correct and could do lots of fun performance and appearance upgrades.
I'm a bit of a purist for old cars.
Jim
That's why you have two, an original one and one that you hot rod, remember, money isn't an object.
Playwme
Well-known member
Rebuild. If you want a new one, just go buy it. Costs less that way.
JimVonBaden
Well-known member
That's why you have two, an original one and one that you hot rod, remember, money isn't an object.
Good point! I can pay someone else to do the real one for me!
Jim