Flip or Flop Fort Worth and the Four-Week Fabulous Rehab

I have to say that one of my favorite things about doing these “Flip or Flop Fort Worth” recaps has been getting all this great feedback from readers — especially the requests to help suss out what finishes were used in specific projects.

Last week, we switched gears and recapped the first episode of the last season of “Fixer Upper,” and we got some great questions (we’ll be circling back at the end of the season to recap the finale).

I’m still running down a couple of questions from last week — I’m working on that wallpaper, Jennifer — but I’ve been able to find either the exact item or something that can help duplicate the look (although I’ll keep looking, of course).

Mariah asks, “I love the fireplace tile. Any idea where that can be sourced?”

That was tough. According to the image captions from HGTV, it was hand-made tile. After paging through several sites, I believe the tile you’re looking for is either encaustic cement or ceramic.

While I haven’t been able to find the exact tile, I have found some places you can get a similar look. Clay Imports has several terrazzo-style polished cement tile options, and Walker Zanger offers the Duquesa line of ceramic tile, which could also give you a similar look. I’ll keep digging, too.

Laura writes, “Would love to know where the window shades can be purchased.”

That one was a little easier. Design Superstore has actually been on a few episodes of “Fixer Upper”, and they have a whole slate of recognizable projects they’ve worked with Magnolia Homes on.  I don’t have a name for the blinds, but it appears that they are sold at this store.

And now, this week’s “Flip or Flop Fort Worth” episode, which finds Ashley and Andy Williams heading to a house in Hurst.

“I love Hurst, it’s great for starter families, and established families,” Ashley says on the drive over.  Andy agrees and adds that he likes this neighborhood because it’s still transitional, and they have the opportunity to start a trend in a new neighborhood.

The home they’re looking at was built in 1956 and has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

And it’s a hot mess. In fact, I think that may be an insult to hot messes everywhere to say that this house is one. My notes say: “I’m pretty sure this is a murder house.”

“This is a bit of a dump,” Andy says, charitably.

“You always find a doozy,” Ashley says, but not complaining. “Is it condemned?”

My notes: “IT HAS HOLES IN IT. HOLES. ACTUAL HOLES.”

The two are clearly braver than me because again, I would’ve noped straight out of there, and they just walk inside like it’s Buckingham Palace.

It smells. I mean, I know I’m watching this on TV but even I can psychosomatically smell the funk of a thousand animals whizzing and pooping in that house.

“The smell is like every dog in the neighborhood has marked territory,” Ashley says. She’s not wrong.

@AshleyandAndyFW I think you have a better shot at finding #Bigfoot riding a #Unicorn than finding a flip house that doesn’t smell. #FliporFlopFortWorth

— MAC (@the_ag_fox_1971) December 1, 2017

There is some uh, interesting artwork on the wall. And whoever was in that house before painted over the hardwood floors. I’m having palpitations, but those two just look around like butter doesn’t melt in their mouths, shrugged, and agreed they could easily refinish the floors.

They walk into the kitchen, which is a gut job. The countertops have rat droppings everywhere. Andy looks almost giddy, and Ashley says, “He gets some sick joy from doing this kind of stuff to me.”

They head to the main bathroom. My notes: Bathroom has syphilis. I promise.Gut gut gut gut gut gut gut gut gut gut.”

The rest of the bedrooms need some cleaning or burning or cleaning and burning but are fixable. The master has a half bath. Like in prison. It’s a bedroom with a toilet and a sink. Ashley proposes making it a full bathroom by stealing some room from one of the closets in the room to add a shower.

Before they head out to the backyard, they check out a good sized laundry/mud room, and then HOLY FARKING TREE.

There’s a tree on the house. Huge tree. Andy says that tree is what probably let the rats into the house. Clean up the laundry room.

“That’s a rat highway,” he says.

While watching @AshleyandAndyFW on #FliporFlopFortWorth…. husband: “this guy knows all about rat migration” 😂😂

— Tori Perez Shires (@cusegirl2004) December 1, 2017

The fastest ‘freeway’ construction you’ve ever seen 😂 #ratfreeway

— Ashley and Andy (@AshleyandAndyFW) December 1, 2017

But large dead tree aside, the backyard is huge. That backyard and the three bedrooms and two baths will make some family a great home, once it’s fixed up.

The owners are asking $99,000, which the Williamses say is overpriced. They offer $50,000, and the sellers counter with $58,000.

Andy figures there will be $50,000 in reno, and I hurt myself laughing.

Next up is demo day, which is pretty much errrthang here.

“This should be a pretty quick and simple demo, get it done in one day,” Andy explains.

Quick and simple demo = famous last words…#FlipOrFlopFortWorth Tonight 9|8c! pic.twitter.com/iEUfmg579t

— HGTV (@hgtv) December 1, 2017

Blake the contractor meets up with the two to walk the house. He eventually points out a problem with Ashley’s plan for the master bath — if they move the wall like she wants, it moves the bathtub in the other bathroom into the hallway.

Ashley doesn’t like it, but she reconfigures a bit and manages to create a new bathroom within the smaller footprint.

With that handled, the interior is chugging along. Andy meets with a Marine buddy, Joe, who has a tree-trimming business. They gotta move a tree. It takes them an entire day to painstakingly remove the parts that are laying on the house, and then they remove the entire tree and grind down the stump. With the tree gone, the roof goes up next.

But then there’s another problem. Blake proceeds to demonstrate how he can put his foot through the subfloor in the laundry room. I’m pretty sure that’s not supposed to happen,  but it’s an easy(ish) fix, they say.

But then there’s another problem — apparently, the painters mixed up the paint placement on the exterior of the house, and instead of it being gray with white trim, it was white with gray trim.

“Don’t just leave your project,” Ashley says. “Number one tip, you need to mind the store.”

#FlipOrFlopFortWorth pic.twitter.com/xp68b69MDX

— BOB (@NotUncleBen) December 1, 2017

Now that the inside is starting to look cute, they turn their attention to the curb appeal, which isn’t a thing for this house when they first buy it unless you find a Grey Gardens rave appealing. Pretty, colorful landscaping helps, as does the addition of a railing on the porch.

And with that, it’s staging time. And once again, I want to go tile shopping with Ashley. She’s picked finishes that are light and airy and designed to make the house look larger. And the kitchen backsplash is swoony. I am swooning.

They also managed to save the hardwood floors. This house literally doesn’t look the same at all.

“I’m proud of this little Hurst flip,” Andy says as they sit down to do the math. They spent $112,000 total – with the rehab and the purchase of the home. Comps in the neighborhood are $160,000, but since it’s the nicest house on the street now, they list it for $169,000. All told, the home took them four weeks to flip, and they sold the house for $171,000 five days after their open house.

So what did you think of this week’s episode? Any finishes you’re dying to find? How does the Fort Worth version compare to the other Flip or Flop offerings? Sound off in the comments!

Bethany Erickson is the education, consumer affairs, and public policy columnist for CandysDirt.com. She also has opinions about TV shows, lima beans, orders that are appropriate for the drive-through, driving to Kansas, rats, and wine. Contact her at [email protected].