Remodeling Project

[McFly41]

Contractors will start work on our new kitchen in the morning...which means NO sleep for me this week with all the commotion. Maybe I can sleep at work?

My dad and I tore out the upper cabinets Sat, he is going to put them in his new garage. The wife packed up everything in the lower cabinets yesterday afternoon, so I have to hump all that shit to the basement when I get home...plus I still have to tear out the rest of the base and door trim before they get there.

What is really going to suck is all the money we are going to have to spend eating out this week. Major inconvenience, I really hope these guys are worth a shit and we don't end up regretting not doing this ourselves. I was just tired of doing all this shit and wanted to hire someone else this time.

I let the wife make all the decisions on this so she'd stay the fuck out of my business when it comes time to build a new garage. You gotta play the game to win, you know! :xyzthumbs

[Derbygal]

I let the wife make all the decisions on this so she'd stay the fuck out of my business when it comes time to build a new garage. You gotta play the game to win, you know! :xyzthumbs


Oooohhh...trust me - you are SO not on your own when it comes to the garage. You may have partial say in how it's arranged and what goes in it, but you are NOT alone!!! Mark my words. :xyzthumbs

[McFly41]

Oooohhh...trust me - you are SO not on your own when it comes to the garage. You may have partial say in how it's arranged and what goes in it, but you are NOT alone!!! Mark my words. :xyzthumbs

I have planned for this line of thinking, thus the 15X15 all seasons porch off the kitchen and first floor laundry room. Basically, a greenroom for her plants. That's the distraction, so that I may get my 26 X 32 heated garage space with a floor drain and vinyl wall covering.
I understand that inorder to get what I want she'll have to gain something more than just cover for her car and a place to banish me to.

GAME ON!

What's really sad about this...I have to redo the basement, convert two bedrooms into one master bedroom, and reroof the house before I can even sniff the garage project. She may have already won? :teeth:

[hasbeen99]

Oooohhh...trust me - you are SO not on your own when it comes to the garage. You may have partial say in how it's arranged and what goes in it, but you are NOT alone!!! Mark my words. :xyzthumbs


If/when I ever finish my garage, I guarantee you, it WILL be all mine.

[McFly41]

Day 1: Contractors showed up earlier than I expected @ 8:30. They got the Kitchen window and rest of the cabinets removed and pulled some drywall to allow the electrician access. The Electrician showed up this afternoon for a walk through. They wrapped up by getting the sliding glass doors installed so everything is secured.
I managed to get about 3 hrs of interrupted sleep. My eye lids currently feel like fucking sandpaper!
Both the general and electrician said they have to go to "other jobs in the morning". Which tells me they won't be there at all tomorrow...that won't piss me off or anything :teeth: !

[McFly41]

Day 2: The Electrician actually showed up, but no sight of the general.
This electrical shit has blown up big time. I have a bad feeling the electrical shit is going to put us over budget. Stupid fucking code changes...he had to remove all the existing outlets and put new ones in, what a scam! Then he tells me that I need to cover up all the romex wire in the utility room with ceiling tiles or insulation...um FUCK OFF, the house passed inspection when we bought it and when the furnace was installed.
I aint doing shit to it unless the inspector says something, in which case, I'll cover it myself.
It's supposed to rain on Thursday, so the general better get his ass in gear on the footings for the patio steps...2 days in and I am getting pissed already.
Nearly fell asleep at the wheel on the way home this morning, but managed to get 2 hr's of sleep before the electrician came and another 3 hrs later. Still tired as hell though!

Lets see what tomorrow brings...

[Honeygirl]

Uuugh - night shift - this brings back memories! I hope you've got some good earplugs McFly. I slept the roof being taken off, the bathroom next door being redone and a deck being built outside my bedroom window, by kick arse earplugs and a fan in the room. I woke up when the builders had a cuppa tea and a chat outside my window. Odd how that works aye. Good luck - I'm sure it will be worth it when it's finished :).

[McFly41]

Day 3: I was worried about the electrical inspection so I waited up for the inspector to come thinking I'd have to go to the supply store and do a bunch of BS. So I sat in the basement all morning waiting. At noon, I went out and talk to the general contractor and he said the inspector had come and gone, giving the thumbs up??? He didn't even look at the main panel???
Oh well, at least that worry is over.
However, the general didn't do a god damn thing today. He was there all day and managed to dig the holes for the footings for the steps and mounted the main brace...about 3 hours worth of work. I should have taken vacation and done this shit myself!
He was saying he couldn't get rid of his head ache, then I find an empty beer can next to my garage. Hair of the fucking dog!
This project is going to land me in prison if somebody doesn't start moving thier ass!!!

[two-six]

:rofl:

[Derbygal]

Hair of the fucking dog!
:rofl: You really didn't expect to have clean and sober contractors working on your house now did you?

Hmmmm...these three words are out of place in the same sentence "clean, sober, & contractors"

[McFly41]

:rofl: You really didn't expect to have clean and sober contractors working on your house now did you?

Hmmmm...these three words are out of place in the same sentence "clean, sober, & contractors"

The bastard hit the booze before noon...then again, he seems like a somewhat functional achly.

Just pisses me off that we paid 8 hrs labor for a hangover! Well, about 5 hrs was hangover, he did do about 3 hrs worth of work.

He might have thought I was serious when I said I was going to bed and to keep it the fuck down? :thinking:

[Derbygal]

He might have thought I was serious when I said I was going to bed and to keep it the fuck down? :thinking:
LOL, don't bet on it. That was his queue that he could quit working half as much and start drinking more heavily without wondering if you were hiding behind the curtains watching. Probably the only reason you got 3 hours work out of him was that you stayed up longer than he would've liked!

Sad, but true...

[McFly41]

I better see some serious progress today or I am going to loose a foot in an ass. Whats worse, it's supposed to rain today. :teeth:

[two-six]

:rofl: You really didn't expect to have clean and sober contractors working on your house now did you?

Hmmmm...these three words are out of place in the same sentence "clean, sober, & contractors"
yep, all are just like that. :handjob:

[hasbeen99]

Report him, McFly. Seriously. There are agencies that very much want to know when this kind of crap is happening -- especially the alcohol.

[slydevl]

Day 2: The Electrician actually showed up, but no sight of the general.
This electrical shit has blown up big time. I have a bad feeling the electrical shit is going to put us over budget. Stupid fucking code changes...he had to remove all the existing outlets and put new ones in, what a scam! Then he tells me that I need to cover up all the romex wire in the utility room with ceiling tiles or insulation...um FUCK OFF, the house passed inspection when we bought it and when the furnace was installed.
I aint doing shit to it unless the inspector says something, in which case, I'll cover it myself.
It's supposed to rain on Thursday, so the general better get his ass in gear on the footings for the patio steps...2 days in and I am getting pissed already.
Nearly fell asleep at the wheel on the way home this morning, but managed to get 2 hr's of sleep before the electrician came and another 3 hrs later. Still tired as hell though!

Lets see what tomorrow brings...
Did you pull a permit? If so, DUMBASS! If not, tell the electrician to fuck the codes.

Just redid my kitchen and I still have that old fabric wrapped wire in my house.

[McFly41]

Day 4: Not much progress, but progress none-the-less. They got the stoop and steps in today and hung and taped the drywall.
I talked to my dad, and this guy normally doesn't do remodels. In fact, ours and my Dads are the only remodels he has done in 2 years. The guy is normally building new homes and Pop says he's one of the better contractors around.
I'll give him credit, he does do good work and on Day 3 he was there by himself so he was limited in what he could get done.
Now, I am still a little peeved that he originally said the cabinets would be in by Friday, but in contractor speak that means next Tuesday.

Hasbeens...I'd confront him myself before I'd go the route of reporting anything. Honestly, I am not concerned with what he does as long as the work is good and so far I really can't complain. In fact, I'll probably buy them some beers tomorrow afternoon.:xyzthumbs


Sly...Cedar Rapids is especailly sticky about permits and building codes (generally speaking), we just got lucky that our inspector is closer to death than mid-life crisis. Plus, my bitch ass neighbor stated on Monday that she could not see my permit...I told her to mind her own damn business, but if she really wanted to see it, it is hung in the front window. That fuckin snag reported one neighbor for roofing his house w/o a permit and has reported another neighbor numerous times for barking dogs. SHe needs to die, SOON! :teeth:

[Derbygal]

That fuckin snag reported one neighbor for roofing his house w/o a permit
No shit!?!?!?!?
Can you really get in trouble for re-roofing a house without a permit? I remember my moms house being redone twice (it was an old house and I grew up there), and neither time do I remember needing a permit - and that was in a good sized city!

[McFly41]

No shit!?!?!?!?
Can you really get in trouble for re-roofing a house without a permit? I remember my moms house being redone twice (it was an old house and I grew up there), and neither time do I remember needing a permit - and that was in a good sized city!

Permits and fines are big money. My wifes X reported her for putting an HVAC w/o a permit and she had to pay a fine as did the contractor who did the work.

[Derbygal]

Permits and fines are big money. My wifes X reported her for putting an HVAC w/o a permit and she had to pay a fine as did the contractor who did the work.
Ouch! Thank Gawd all my ex's live in other states and are still friendly.
I think when my baby puts the deck and hot-tub on the house I'll bake cakes for all the neighbors to focus them more on the fact that they enjoyed the (LSD based) cakes, and don't so much mind the racket being made over here! :xyzthumbs

[slydevl]

My house is 60 years old. If I pulled a permit my 30K kitchen renovation would have turned into 50K easy.

[McFly41]

Day 5:
Drywall taped, mudded, sanded & textured. Ready for paint.
This actually works out OK. The wife can get it painted before the cabinets go in...it's much easier to paint in an open room. Less prep, less clean-up.

Cabinets should go in on Monday, then they have to order the counter tops to fit.

This might actually be done by Wednesday.

[Southern_Yankee]

Day 5:
Drywall taped, mudded, sanded & textured. Ready for paint.
This actually works out OK. The wife can get it painted before the cabinets go in...it's much easier to paint in an open room. Less prep, less clean-up.

Cabinets should go in on Monday, then they have to order the counter tops to fit.

This might actually be done by Wednesday.
I wish you all the luck in the world, my friend :xyzthumbs

[McFly41]

Day 6/7: The wife got the painting done. 11 hrs of working her ass off and it looks pretty damn good, god bless her!

[Derbygal]

Day 6/7: The wife got the painting done. 11 hrs of working her ass off and it looks pretty damn good, god bless her!
If you guys lived closer I'd ask that she come help me paint! I (rather suddenly) decided to paint my entire house - not outside - EVERY damned room INSIDE. Thus far I've done part of the great room, part of the kitchen, all of the foyer, half of one hallway, and started outlining the guest bedroom now that the rooomie has moved out. Besides finishing the parts of rooms still not completed, I have 2 bathrooms, the laundry room, and the master bedroom to do yet. The only room done is the office/den which I did back in April - also on a whim. I must be nuts. :help:

[McFly41]

If you guys lived closer I'd ask that she come help me paint! I (rather suddenly) decided to paint my entire house - not outside - EVERY damned room INSIDE. Thus far I've done part of the great room, part of the kitchen, all of the foyer, half of one hallway, and started outlining the guest bedroom now that the rooomie has moved out. Besides finishing the parts of rooms still not completed, I have 2 bathrooms, the laundry room, and the master bedroom to do yet. The only room done is the office/den which I did back in April - also on a whim. I must be nuts. :help:

Sometimes it's better to just be lazy.

I have about 4 unfinished projects to date and am looking to start 2 more without finishing what is already started. The wife really needs to drop the hammer on me one of these days!

[McFly41]

Day 8: Most of the cabinets are in...the most important stuff anyway. The problem is they ordered off the wrong design, so the set up that goes around the fridge would have been all wrong. Luckily the contractor noticed a light switch that was in the way...otherwise we would have been screwed. He called me up to ask me about it and I looked at his paper work and noticed there was no pantry to the right of the fridge and no cabinet to the left.
We checked the remaining boxes and these pieces were not included.
The drawing he had did have the pantry set-up on it, however it had been crossed out.

What this means is that it will take 3-4 weeks to get the correct pieces and the contractor tells me he can not order the counter tops due to this. I immediately called bullshit because there is no reason they can't install the countertops on the other section since these are on opposite walls and do not connect. The only counter space on the interior wall covers a small 15" cabinet next to the fridge...it's a stand alone, so there is no reason that that can't be ordered now as well.

I don't expect to see any progress tomorrow since we'll be trying to get this straightened out. :smash:

[Derbygal]

There went the idea that this project could possibly be completed by Wednesday!

[McFly41]

Day 9: {que crickets}

Counter tops won't be in til next Monday and we'll have to wait 2-3 weeks for the correct peices to be sent for the pantry.

Eating out all the time is breaking us!

The positive...I got some friggin sleep for a change!

I am expecting to have this project done-done, sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. :teeth:

[Derbygal]

:bump:
I want to know what's going on damnit!
You're the only one that stays up as late as I do!

[McFly41]

Day 10/11/12: {Crickets, LOTS O FUCKING CRICKETS}

I talked to the General Contractor on Tueday and told him the carpenter tried to tell me we could not order counter tops yet. Told him that was BS and they better get them ordered NOW. Everything that is in is the main counter top space. The one stand alone piece with a counter top is a 15" cabinet, if the guy can't figure out the measurement for that...I am concerned for his well being.

So we are on hold til Monday when the counter tops supposedly will be in. And then we're looking at another two weeks til the other pieces arrive, but at least we'll have a functional kitchen...I long for a home cooked meal!

You know, you'd think my fucking in-laws would have us over for dinner or something?

The wife is waffling on the flooring. She wanted ceramic tile, but it would raise the floor up too high, so she picked out a lamanent tile...that too is a little taller than what she'd like, so now she is considering lenolium (sp) tile. My dad and I did the ceramic tile in the bathroom and that wasn't all that hard...never done lenolium though...should be easy enough doing tiles over rolled, one would think? :huh:

[McFly41]

Day 12 thru 25:

Sorry Derby, I know your consumed by this thread...

Counter tops were in last Mon and the plumbing was done on Tues and Wed. The Electrician showed up on Sat and got us a functional kitchen now.

It will be another week or 2 until the pantry and other cabinet are in and we'll get the new microwave mounted at that time. The wife FINALLY decided on the floor and someone is coming next Thursday to do an estimate.

Hopefully, it will be done-done no later than Thanksgiving!?

I am going to go out and get some new interior doors and get them ready, plus I'll have to get the new base and molding trim and head over to my buddy's shop to get that stuff sealed and finished so I can get all that up as soon as the floor goes in.

It's taking MUCH longer than I would have liked...but it's lookin DAMN good!

[McFly41]

Per Derby's request...

After much frustration and many sleepless days...this project is mostly done.

Everything LOOKS pretty good. Naturally, nothing is plum in this fucking house...so there are some flaws in the final product.

Problem#1: I told the contractor that I was going to be putting a pine molding around the top of the upper cabinets. However, the gap varies from about 1/8" to 5/8". I'd have to use 2 different sizes of quarter round to cover that.
Any suggestions are welcome!

Problem#2: The design had no cabinets above the sink, instead we had them put two shelves in. Well, they made the shelves out of closet shelves and they just don't look right. So, I am going to have to rip them out and customize something a little nicer. Plus, we wanted a galley rail which they never installed and I can't seem to find one small enough that would look right, so I may have to pony up and have my buddy customize something there as well.

Problem#3: The final bill...what the fuck did this guy take me for? The bid was for $8900 or so and we had paid that much, just a little over in fact. Then two weeks ago we get another "final bill" for $2200 for labor, when the bid was estimated at $1000.
This resulted in a rather curt phone call, in which I did most of the talking. Basically, I told him he needed to audit his own records or I would have a lawyer do it for him. I reviewed the bills and compared them to the work that was done. There is no way that they had an additional $1200 in labor done.
He called my wife back (didn't want to talk to me cuz he called her at work) and said that he had over billed us a few days/confused it with another job where he had two guys...there was only one day were there was more than one guy there. Also, he cut the price for installing the hardware from $300 to $50, which from my calculations put things right.
I've done bid work, and I know what you bid and what the actual cost is rarely mesh, but you have to communicate that to the customer when the budget is wearing thin. When I was freelancing doing landscaping, I told people where I was on a daily basis in comparison to the bid. I also, rarely billed for more than I bid unless there was a written agreement and my bids always contained verbiage that stated this amount may vary...I could go on and on about my position on this, but I'll cut it off there.

SO, we have a nice, fully functional kitchen...but no money to do the floor. My dad and I are going to be installing a lamanent tile floor after the first of the year, much like the lamanent wood floors. The trim will have to be a nickle and dime thing for now. I'll probably start with the crown molding and once the floor is done work my way down.
I'll probably leave the shelves as is for now, but next spring I'll tackle that.

Looks like the basement is on the back burner for another six months at least...damn I really want to dig into that project. I want my bar done and fully stocked!