Posted on 08/14/2026 8:16:37 PM PDT by Lazamataz
I am a Marvel Comic Universe SUPERHERO.
Here is my Marvel Comic Universe picture. BTW, the face actually looks a lot like mine, without glasses and if I let my facial hair grow:
So, why am I Captain Free-Stuff? Well, I will tell you! After purchasing my new home, I have, in addition to the 1620 sq ft upstairs, another 1620 sq ft of semi-finished basement. I plan to cut out about 7-800 sq ft and make it an elegant downstairs apartment. It has double-glass doors that allow entry from the deck (and has a very nice view, too!), and I'm putting a full bathroom in, as well as a nice kitchenette. There is a gas-powered fireplace they can enjoy.
And here's where things get interesting.
I have secured, FREE, over 10,000 dollars of building materials to do this with. Here's a partial list:
| Building Material | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eleganza wood-look ceramic tile | ~61 boxes/equivalent | Main apartment flooring |
| Maravilla rectangular basalt tile | 107 tiles (~46 sq. ft.) + later haul | Natural stone tile |
| Maravilla 3" basalt hex tile | 2 boxes | Natural stone hex tile |
| 2×4×8 framing lumber — original haul | 41 boards | Free |
| 2×4×8 framing lumber — Roswell haul | 35 boards | Free |
| Total 2×4×8 framing lumber | 76 boards | Enough to frame most/all planned basement partition walls |
| Mahogany full-height trim | 72 linear feet | Free |
| Mahogany half-height trim | 104 linear feet | Free |
| Oak quarter-round | 192 linear feet | Free |
| Solid-core door | 80" × 36" | Pristine condition; free |
| Hollow-core door | 80" × 36" | Acquired for $10 |
| Hollow-core door | 96" × 36" | Acquired for $30 |
| Acoustic ceiling tile — earlier haul | 2 boxes + partial box | Acquired for $34.97 |
| Acoustic ceiling tile — Lawrenceville haul | 25 pristine tiles + numerous remnants | Free |
| Bricks | 812 | Free |
| Heavy pavers | ~50–54 | Acquired for $50 |
| Composite stair pieces | Multiple | Steps/components |
| Samsung 12,000 BTU mini-split heat pump | 1 complete system | New in box with line set; acquired for $500 |
| Mineral wool insulation | ~½–¾ pallet | Building insulation |
| Madison Pearl backsplash tile | 49 boxes | Backsplash / wall tile |
| Tile-installation supplies | Assorted | Installation materials |
| Drywall | 1 usable sheet | Free |
| Plywood / OSB | 3 pieces | Free |
| Bathroom vanity | 1 | White vanity with black stone top and sink |
| Black granite slab | 1 | Free |
| Granite bar-top piece | 1 | Free |
| "Big Bertha" granite countertop | ~24" × 68" | Free; salvaged and trimmed for transport |
| Kitchenette cabinets | 4 | White glass-front cabinets, including corner cabinet; free |
|
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I did all of the framing, dropped ceiling, AC/ heating ducts, plumbing, and electrical...
I hired out wallboard, tile work, and flooring.
And I also installed all of the doors, door trim, window trim, baseboards, and quarter rounds, etc.
“But they need not, since I am under the annual limit.”
I’m not positive, but IIRC you can gift more; the limit is so you don’t need to declare the gift. If it is over the limit (~$16k per person receiving a gift), then the giver needs to declare it. But no tax on the gift until the giver gives away a large amount of money ($2 to 3 million or something) over their life time. I’m not positive if that is true or not. It sadly is something I don’t need to worry about!
BKMK
Is your basement below street grade?
Will you need a sump pump for your plumbing?
I was at a former Pennzoil refinery tear-dowm. While salvaging regular red bricks, I happened upon two full pallets of fire brick - perfect condition. Do I win a prize?
Congratulations on Your House acquisition(s) and elevation to Super Hero(s) at Marvel. Always something to do when one owns a Home.
You DO win a prize!
First prize is two full pallets of fire brick - perfect condition.
😁
Luckily, no. My place is actually on a ridge, and the backyard is inaccessible until I build my deck stairs down to it. We're on septic, even though we are inside city limits. They have sewer, just not out this way. Probably because of all the elevation changes around here.
Wow, you're covering areas I don't, and I'm covering areas you don't. We coulda been a hell of a team!
Now you will have to move in a GF carpenter, Jennie Hashimoto, from Japan ,who can lay your bricks for free !
LAZ,GOOD TO SEE YOU.WHERE DO FIND THE TIME.:)
My pop built a six car garage this way.
I spent a summer chipping morter off cinder blocks and the fall building trusses. Dad laid out a pattern on the floor and me and sis built them all with salvaged nail gun nails.
The worst part of that was separating the nails from the plastic strip.
Uncle Wedge poured the footer.
You da king!
Well, no free stuff here! I will have to pay for (no insurance) a new roof on my house.
“That stuff was delicious!”
Yes. Free government cheese was yummy. Some people in our church got “commodities” in the ‘60s and would share if the got too much. Butter, too, IIRC.
Homeowner AND landlord?
You rock.
It’s not bad. Especially for grilled cheese sandwiches & macaroni with cheese. 🧀
AND I serve as an AI Solutions Architect at a Fortune 50 company. AND I am a writer with one published book. AND I am starting a Graduate Program at LSU in Machine Learning and Cloud 3.0. (I just got admitted to their Masters program) AND I keep a fiancée happy (luckily she is low-maintenance).
Where do I find the time, indeed!
oldtech, I normally would wave you away from Home Warranty companies, but Old Republic replaced my heater only 3 months into my moving here with zero fuss, no objections, and cut about 4000 off my replacement total. Highly recommended.
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