I think how you approach this really depends on whether you plan to rent it out or not. We're designing a home and need a mother-in-law apartment with a full kitchen for when my mother-in-law (unfortunately) will live with us. We don't plan at any point to rent it out though. Our HOA doesn't allow multidwelling units though so we're designing it as an attached pool cabana with a kitchenette which is allowed. It will be decorated as a cabana but once the inspector leaves we'll add a cooktop (my mother-in-law doesn't use an oven which is what makes this plan work) and furnishings which will make this work as a mother-in-law apartment. To turn it back into a cabana to sell the house we'll just need to change out the furnishings, remove the cooktop and replace the counters.

the difference between topping.. and pollarding .... is the pruners understanding that he is creating a situation of long term maintenance ... if you think you will cut once.. and be done with it... or worse.. leave it for the next owner.... you are mistaken ... it will rot .. in tree years... which would be decades ... it will collapse ... and it will need annual pruning to repair those part which fall off.. in wind storms.. ice/snow.... etc ... i am not sure you are answering any questions asked ... and keep introducing new variables and personal opinions .... you remind me of my engineer friends.. lol ... can we see a pic of the situation .... can you do this yourself ... why cant the tree be replaced .... are you prepared to replace or remove if and when it becomes a problem ...??? imho ... bleeding is a natural cleansing response to pruning ... its usually not a big deal ... i agree with campy ... a great experiment... if you have the budget ... just dont leave it for someone else ... ken

I like the idea of the covered deck. Especially if you plan to use the outdoor space a lot. With those views I can imagine sitting on the covered deck listening to the pitter patter of rain! Or in the summer evenings you could have it decorated with pretty lighting. It just depends on what you would use the space for. If you don’t plan to use your deck a lot maybe you should remove the covered portion so more light can get into the living room. Not to be picky but one of your windows is behind a porch post not sure why it isn’t joined with the other two?

Ben, I remember when I first moved here, I planted tomatoes like I did in California. I spent $70 on soil amendment, tomato cages, plants, mulch. Half of the plants got wilt in the middle of the season and collapsed. It wouldn't have mattered anyway. The other half didn't bloom until a couple of weeks before the first frost. I think I harvested 2 or 3 green tomatoes at the end of the season. Now my doctors say no tomatoes. I planted an apple allee, peaches, plums. Now about 5 or six years later, they are all full bearing size, and I'm not supposed to have any of them. No apples, no peaches, no plums (and no strawberries, no alcohol, no citrus of any kind, no peppers, it goes on and on). Sigh. To take out all the trees? At least kale is still okay, whoopee. lol!