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British Houses Vs America Houses

British Houses Vs America Houses

Old Jul 31st 2012, 11:52 pm
  #106  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

The last house I owned in England was built in 1850. According to the survey performed when I bought the place in 2000, it had the original slate roof, although the survey did say the roof was approaching the end of its serviceable life. It still had the same roof on when I sold the place in 2007.

I've got a toploading washing machine here and it works just fine.

Here in South Louisiana we are extremely likely to be in the track of a hurricane. The houses here are all timber construction, usually with stucco or wooden siding. A lot of modern houses have a combination siding and brick veneer (as in bricks that perform no structural purpose). There are lots of beam-and-pier construction houses, but all the modern places are on a slab. There is a preponderance of single-storey houses with just a few two-storey.
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 1:10 am
  #107  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
My bad...I meant top loader not front loader.
Makes sense now.
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 2:55 am
  #108  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by MostlyYank
Heck even I don't understand why a family of 4 needs a 500 sf refrigerator. And they're always full to the brim!

The central heat, it does come in handy when it hits -15 f The gas radiators in all the old fireplaces in my grandmothers house in the Headlands were very comfortable though, it's nice to have a point source when you're chilled.

I like the idea of a milkman. And a few have mentioned a clothesline, it drives me nuts, about the best thing you can do to save energy is a line vs a clothes dryer and Americans just won't do it.

When I drink an occasional cup of tea I boil it on the stovetop, but it sure takes longer than those electric pots you folks use!

Multiple switches are used to either confuse homeowners, or to slow them down and have less heart attacks



I agree, I hate them. It was a couple years ago I read that so maybe there was a popular outcry.

Pete
Many HOA and apt complexes do not allow clotheslines. It is silly to me that people are prohibited from hanging clothes outside in 90 degree weather.

I think it's nice to have a dryer available either at home or a close by laundromat for use during bad weather. That said I know large families with 14+ people that get by without a dryer.

Some families have an extra fridge or two in the garage. It's not uncommon to keep a chest style freezer in there.
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 3:04 am
  #109  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by tuxedocat
Many HOA and apt complexes do not allow clotheslines. It is silly to me that people are prohibited from hanging clothes outside in 90 degree weather.

I think it's nice to have a dryer available either at home or a close by laundromat for use during bad weather. That said I know large families with 14+ people that get by without a dryer.

Some families have an extra fridge or two in the garage. It's not uncommon to keep a chest style freezer in there.
I have an extra fridge/freezer in the garage...I also had one in my UK garage...plus a 15 cu ft chest freezer.
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 3:41 am
  #110  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
I have an extra fridge/freezer in the garage...I also had one in my UK garage...plus a 15 cu ft chest freezer.
See, if I did that I'd not be able to get into the garage anymore because I'd be so fat from the vast quantities of Bluebell Ice Cream I would keep in there and inevitably consume daily!

We did have a spare fridge in our laundry room (another difference - you don't get laundry rooms in the UK very often) but we gave it to my BIL. Do have a beverage centre upstairs though.

I must admit I love American houses. It's fantastic to have so much room.
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 3:43 am
  #111  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by Bink
..... a beverage centre
Is that just a fridge that can only take bottles and cans?
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 3:48 am
  #112  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by kimilseung
Is that just a fridge that can only take bottles and cans?
Well I mean you could put anything in it, but in essence yes, and with a glass door. They can get stupidly expensive and I'd given up and was just going to put in a fridge, but managed to find one that actually cools, looks good and wasn't much more than a standard fridge would have been.
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 12:22 pm
  #113  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Every garage needs an old fridge with the door drilled for a tap

Pete
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 7:15 pm
  #114  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by kimilseung
Is that just a fridge that can only take bottles and cans?
Ours is called a wine fridge. You can't get decent wine in cans.
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Old Aug 1st 2012, 7:39 pm
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by joto
Ours is called a wine fridge. You can't get decent wine in cans.
Ours is the beverage center variety. The wine coolers are great for wine (funny that) but don't really go cool enough for my taste for beer/soda. And since my priorities are beer and soda that's what I got!

Maybe in the future I'll put a wine cooler in too, when I get to convert the game room from a play room to a game room (many many years away!)

Another plus for American houses - man (or woman!) caves! There's not enough room in UK houses to dedicate a whole room to just one thing normally, but it seems the norm here. Gotta love it.
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Old Aug 8th 2012, 4:09 am
  #116  
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Originally Posted by Guindalf
A 'bedroom' in the US is defined by the room having a closet, usually built in. No closet, it's not a bedroom!
So, by that definition, does that mean that if there is a closet = bedroom? If so that must mean that my bedroom isn't really my bedroom, but my bathroom is my bedroom. Strange.
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Old Aug 8th 2012, 4:11 am
  #117  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing
Of the three buildings I have lived in out here (1 flat, 2 houses) both houses had wall switches that controlled a socket in at least one room (if it wasn't hooked up to a ceiling fan, that is). Sometimes seemingly arbitrarily assigned, I'll grant, but we still had 'em. We even have a few switches in our current gaff that aren't connected to anything. Either that or I'm always switching off our carbon monoxide detector when I hit the wrong switch for the hallway lights!
I've got a mystery switch in my house. Even the rental people don't know what it's for. So silly.
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Old Aug 8th 2012, 4:11 am
  #118  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by Holliver
I've got a mystery switch in my house. Even the rental people don't know what it's for. So silly.
I quite like it - one day I'll find out what it is. Gives me something to look forward to!
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Old Aug 8th 2012, 4:49 am
  #119  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
The washing cycle of a top loader is over in 15 mins or so. How can you possibly wash, rinse and spin in such a short space of time?

I fully agree...top loaders ruin clothes.
Mine is done in 15mins too. oh and you have to remember to add the softener at the right time - which I always miss.

Last edited by Holliver; Aug 8th 2012 at 4:54 am.
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Old Aug 8th 2012, 4:56 am
  #120  
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Default Re: British Houses Vs America Houses

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing
I quite like it - one day I'll find out what it is. Gives me something to look forward to!
Give me a hint when you find out, it might help me work out mine.
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