Post by: jepinto on July 09, 2003, 11:32:24 PM
)One fine May day, Sweet'ums innocently asked "How about we remodel the kitchen?" Now, ladies, take a bit of advice...if your Sweetie EVER says the first four words of that sentence to you, do NOT wait for him to finish the sentence. RUN don't walk!
Due to leave on June 6 for Reno, I, so, oh so, innocently answered, "Sure, why not?" Job started the first of June. Come home on June 5, last day, last minute pack, check, etc., I walk into the bathroom and notice that something was missing. There AIN'T no porcelain!! None, nada, zippo. "Honey, where's the *cough* cough* facilities?" "Oh, you can use the one across the street, no problem, it's open, paper, towels, soap, everything is there!"
The morning of June 6, trying to leave at 3:30 a.m. for the airport, fix the coffee, start the morning *ritual* and ......you guessed it, I suddenly remember. Without going into toooooo much detail, 'tis a GOOD thing no one was moving at that time (of course, thinking about it, I was more clothed than many beach goers). Well, than goodness I was leaving.
Went to Reno, had a great time, called home a couple of times, "Oh, sure, honey, everything is going JUST great!" (Ladies, another tell tale warning sign! Be careful, be very careful!) BTW, our team is in 62nd place in Divsion 4!
Home on June 12, 3:30 in the morning, noticed things don't look quite right, but hey, I'm tired, just me, right? WRONG! Well, at least there was one porcelain fixture!
What was estimated at 2 weeks and $8-10,000 (free labor!) is now in week 6, over budget, and on July 7, I got running water!!!!! I can cook, again, for the first time since before I left (wanna take a wild guess at what threats were used to accomplish that miracle?) There are dishes in the house! and in the yard, and in milk crates, and in the back of his truck, and and there are now cabinets-no counter tops, but there are electrical outlets-no covers, but hey, what's a minor thing like that in the scheme of things?
I have a coffeepot! And it was washed out, (and scrapped off!) after only three weeks of being plugged into an extension cord (he was sweet, though, he did make sure that he set up the cord every night before he went to bed-either that or he is getting very, VERY smart). The one coffee cup has been bleached, scrapped, degreased....
We had our first meal at home on Monday, this week. (Yes, you counted correctly, it's now week 4!) the tile is down, not grouted, but down, but only in the kitchen, let's not even talk about the bathroom....oh, did I mention that the job grew, and the bathroom was added to the list while I was in Reno? Oh, and did I mention the four foot addition?, because "since we're doing it, we might as well do it right."
And lest you think it's always this easy....NEVER add on a 4 foot addition to a 60 year old house with a 20 year old renovation that covered up a 40 year old addition that hid a 50 year old addition without checking floor joists, and hidden board and batten exterior siding, painted sea green, and plumbing that started at 1/2 inch iron, that went to 3/8 inch copper, that went to 1/4 inch PVC, that branched off into....(yes, I took pictures) and floors that were once porch grade plywood that had linoleum heat glued onto 'em.....
Three trailers of trash later, three very exhausted men, one half crazy woman...oops forgot about my ex who still owns half the house and his Sweetie, who "joined us" in the remodel and are doing their bathroom also,
and 60 miles to the nearest Lowes and/or HomeDepot, thank goodness the local hardware does carry lumber and plumbing supplies, and PVC glue and all those "little things" (but closes at noon on Saturday and doesn't open on Sunday) and 20 inches of rain in June.........Thank you, I feel much better now.
Post by: Dreambird on July 09, 2003, 11:46:44 PM
We don't have a "you made me dizzy" graemlin... but I know someone who'd probably "pay" for those plumbing pics!
Post by: sandbox on July 09, 2003, 11:47:51 PM
B)
Post by: chrisharjo on July 10, 2003, 12:37:17 AM
WOW! That makes me glad I am still a bachelor approaching 40!
Post by: CyberPet on July 10, 2003, 11:56:30 AM
Post by: Bill on July 10, 2003, 11:58:14 AM
QUOTE
The poor guy........... what men will do for 4 feet and a happy wife in her throne room.
Now 'how' close are 'you' to Jennies town?
Aren't remodels fun for the recipient.
Guy on the next street over ordered one of those pre-fabricated one story/two bedroom homes over a year ago.
The outfit came out,stripped part of his existing home to make room.
Poured a slab,plopped up some of the pre-fab walls and left town ... never-to-be-seen-again.
QUOTE
(wanna take a wild guess at what threats were used to accomplish that miracle?)
Post by: RHPConsult on July 10, 2003, 12:00:19 PM
May I suggest renting Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House or its more modern updating The Money Pit!
Believe me, they will make you feel better . . . 3 hours of helpless laughing will often do that
Have hope.
We've 'built" 3 houses in 49+ years of marriage . . . are still together and remain friends with the contractors who executed my beloved's carefully drawn plans with fine attention to detail.
(Note: She wouldn't let them not do so!
)
Post by: Mrious_be on July 10, 2003, 12:00:36 PM
Post by: Gregg on July 10, 2003, 08:54:57 PM
Post by: jepinto on July 11, 2003, 05:05:02 AM
Colors, tiles, bathtub, glass blocks, windows, etc. were all his choices. (Why, oh why, do I think this "gift" is for him
)Keep your fingers crossed, I think we'll have a shower by Sunday.
Shower tile was on Thursday's list. Left for the 60 mile trip to Lowe's at 9 a.m., got home at 3 p.m., opened the bull nose box, everything is fine....opened the tile box and......
wrong color. He left for Lowes at 5 a.m.
Post by: Bill on July 12, 2003, 09:59:02 PM
Spam at the door!
What's next?
A couple of ladies I know came to my gate.
"Bill. {low snicker} Are you tired of getting those emails -How to enlarge your ....-?
((What?)) "Well? <laugh> Are you?" OK. What are you girls walking about ringing gate bells for? And what's this about the lead in the pencil subject anyhoo?
"OH Hubbies doing some painting at the house and we're going over to her place till ...
well maybe for a day or two! Besides, we haven't seen ya out and about for some time."
~~~ idle chit-chat ~~~
Off they go down the road.
Loud laugh as they turn ... "Bill! Careful with those pencil sharpeners."
Huh?
"Bye Bill.
"
Post by: jepinto on July 12, 2003, 11:01:59 PM
Post by: RHPConsult on July 12, 2003, 11:32:37 PM
Post by: Dreambird on July 12, 2003, 11:45:26 PM
Post by: Gary S on July 13, 2003, 12:58:21 AM
Think i'll just buy a new house.
$6,000-10,000.....how much over?
Had a friend out to get an estimate on putting a simple room in the basement. 4 walls, insulation and
electric....nothin fancy....$10,000.
Post by: jepinto on July 13, 2003, 07:03:58 AM
QUOTE(Gary S @ Jul 13 2003, 1:58 AM)
Thanks jennie. I was thinking of having a little remudling done.
Think i'll just buy a new house.
$6,000-10,000.....how much over?
Had a friend out to get an estimate on putting a simple room in the basement. 4 walls, insulation and
electric....nothin fancy....$10,000.
Think i'll just buy a new house.
$6,000-10,000.....how much over?
Had a friend out to get an estimate on putting a simple room in the basement. 4 walls, insulation and
electric....nothin fancy....$10,000.
'Bout 20%. Which I should've expected, but I really wanted it to come in under. (And pigs fly, the check is in the mail, and "I'll still love ya in the morning".)
Kitchen and bath are the two most expensive remodels. Being in the business, I know this....but.... And remodel is more expensive than new construction, per sq. ft. Cost here for new construction starts at $125. (Yep, that's what wind ratings and flood plain elevation does)
If we knew then what we know now, we'd torn off, and rebuilt. Check out the condition of your base FIRST.
- Are there weak spots in the floor? Might be time to check joists.
- Is the electricity really sufficent? Does the panel have unused breakers, or are you looking at upgrading service?
- How's the water pressure? At the main? At the sink?
- What age is the original plumbing? Materials?
- How high is the ceiling now? Can the add on be in line? "Shed" roof? (NO, NO, NO! Looks easier now, but you'll regret it!)
- Can the family "camp out" for the two weeks (and plan for double the original estimate!) or is a motel in order? (Makes it much easier on the workers if there are no people to trip over, and the job goes faster.)
Marble windowsills are nice, and very much in keeping, costwise, as wood sills (and last longer and look better!), but cutting marble creates a "hovering dust" that takes two days to settle and three to clean.
Outside! If you add on, the kitchen cabinets you have are NOT going to fit; you'll need new ones to "fill in" or replace and what will you do with the old ones? A new 30" mid range base cabinet is $150±, and don't forget countertops ($22 and up! a linear foot) are not included in the price.
Check surplus stores and check often, the stock changes daily, prices are much less, but! you must live with the available choices and sizes.
More thoughts later.
Post by: Bill on July 13, 2003, 02:06:16 PM
) Excepting an exceptionally low bit [lowball contractor] which isn't anywhere near in the ball park as the other contractors bid.
) As Jennie mentioned most already. So I won't go there. Though I'm not sure she mentioned added 'add ons during-after demolition-reconstruction'.
Prime example: A complete re-due of a two story water front home by a guy {who is by no means a dummy} who I've done business with on and off for years.
His new bride wanted a new place for them to start out with. As did he.
Anyway. He got all the contractors in place and they went-to-town. Practically from the slab up.
The newly weds went to Europe for a few months.
The new bride found some Italian floor tile she had to have for the kitchen.
That's fine. Kitchen boys haven't gotten that far.
Later stopped that part of construction when the shipping of said tile got held up with a ton of 'red-tape' from Europe-Italy. Finely arrived BUT countertop tile and floor tile in separate ((UGLY)) flavours. Still fine. They can work around it.
Custom built cabinets for kitchen,bathrooms,game room were finished and installed.
Special ordered appliances for kitchen arrived and fit perfectly.
Call From Europe. Bride found some appliances she had to have from Germany.
~~~ Did I mention that he was no dummy? ~~~
Contractors: What the h*ll. It's his money.
Delay with customs plus anything else that could go wrong including weather.
Would NOT do any demo till new appliances' showed up.
Arrived. Practically start from scratch.
Btw. Ever see a four door stainless steel oversized refrigerator before .. other than in a restaurant?
Kitchen finished.
Shorten this up some ....
Entire home very close to done. Exterior landscaping done. Including a custom pool and spa. Lighting everywhere.
Everything looked and worked great!
After six months in Europe, newlyweds come home.
They (she was anyways) were happy with the lake front home.
Contractors finished all the fine tuning. Was paid.
End of story? Nope!
Six/seven months later she didn't like the city, home, car, color of her fingernails.
Separated .. then divorced. Court battles up the gazzo still going on because he owns or lets say he has a piece of the pie of anything that doesn't move and some that do and she's trying to get it all. Never ever gonna happen but .....
QUOTE
{who is by no means a dummy}
Well. Business yes. /sigh\
Moral of this: Material items are just that Material!
What really, really counts is your loved ones.
Don't ever, ever let anything get between that.
My friend is in his sixties.
His wife of thirty plus years passed away a few years back.
All their kids have their own lives and families now.
Guess my friend was trying to fill an empty/missed void in his life...
Post by: beacher on July 13, 2003, 03:32:27 PM
So, keep that in mind when you're reaching the end of your rope, and feel like it's taking too long. . .
Post by: Paddy on July 13, 2003, 04:40:41 PM
This time...she had it professionally done.We had the house fully painted, floors finished/refinished, new kitchen cabinets & appliances and one room re-drywalled (it had funky heavy plaster work, horizontal barnboard wainscotting and dark beams...not my style!) etc. all before we moved in, in June '97. Everything pretty much on-time and not too much over budget (a small miracle!) and I was the general contractor - hiring all the subs. Of course, found a few things long after moving in...including one 1' long section of baseboard that didn't get painted...which I can now proudly declare has been painted. Last week. It only took me 6 years. There's still the odd circle around the light in the hall (that one took me three years to notice - the ceiling color is only slightly different from the original) and the bit of wall where hubby installed the new thermostat...and the bit of wall in the bathroom where the new hotwater baseboard went in...and...and...
The bathrooms are still 1970's/early 80's taupe (who invented that color anyway?) but since hubby has delusions of doing them ourselves, nothing has happened. (this is a man who spends 5 days a week at work and another day there writing a book on circuit design) They're still quite functional - ambience is another matter. I've seen worse though - much worse. I think this nation was collectively color-blind/severely deluded during the 70's and 80's. Why did we let anyone convince us that harvest gold, avocado green, rust, brown and orange were colors suitable for appliances, wallpaper or heaven forbid...bathroom fixtures???? Our last house had a bathroom we referred to as the "brown room". It had brown and silver tulip foil wallpaper.
Thankfully, they hadn't installed brown fixtures (though a friend of mine did, in 1979, and regretted it soon after)Somehow I can't see us reacting quite the same way 20 years from now as we survey our tidy white fixtures...but, ya never know.
Houses...time-sinks/moneypits you live in!
Post by: Bill on July 14, 2003, 01:27:09 AM
the limo while he spruces up the place.
Post by: jepinto on July 14, 2003, 05:35:08 AM
Post by: pendragon on July 14, 2003, 06:02:01 AM
Harv
Post by: jepinto on July 14, 2003, 06:02:06 AM
QUOTE(Paddy @ Jul 13 2003, 5:40 PM)
I've seen worse though - much worse. I think this nation was collectively color-blind/severely deluded during the 70's and 80's. Why did we let anyone convince us that harvest gold, avocado green, rust, brown and orange were colors suitable for appliances, wallpaper or heaven forbid...bathroom fixtures????
Somehow I can't see us reacting quite the same way 20 years from now as we survey our tidy white fixtures...but, ya never know.
Houses...time-sinks/moneypits you live in!
Somehow I can't see us reacting quite the same way 20 years from now as we survey our tidy white fixtures...but, ya never know.
Houses...time-sinks/moneypits you live in!
Remember pink? I've sold a house with a pink stove. (I wanted it, but strangely enough, it was what sold the house!
Green and pink bathrooms, I've seen a few. Hw about a black kitchen with blue contrast?
One of the criteria has been, "Will I still like it in 20 years?" Kept me from a really funky ceiling fan...
Post by: Paddy on July 14, 2003, 01:47:41 PM
Is that what Mary Kay reps get if they don't quite make it to the Cadillac level?