A rough week....
October 15th - 20th -- Whoever said "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" must have said that while in the throes of a home renovation project. This was not an easy week, but in the end, all is well even though this was the closest I've been since the double refrigerator debacle to defaulting on my vow to remain in the "uber zen mode."The week started with the expectation that I would lose my bathroom for 4 days as the plumbers needed to move the toilet and the sink. No problem...I would take a shower Monday morning, pack up everything I didn't need and plan to spend Monday through Thursday nights at a very lovely home of some friends who were out of the country -- I was also looking after their home, so it was a win-win situation -- they were relieved their home was being looked after, and I had a nice place to spend a few nights. Well, not exactly as the week brought several unexpected challenges that violated the expectations of how I thought this week would go.
It was a little weird to see my toilet in a plastic bag, and the vanity and wall cabinet moved closer to my remaining living space, but that was OK.
I was even OK when I saw the hole in the bathroom floor where the toilet used to be and the holes where the vanity faucets used to be.
Then things slowly started to unravel....On Monday early afternoon the architect and I had scheduled the "electrical walk through" which was a sign that I would need to make more decisions about wiring and lighting, including the process to select lighting fixtures -- almost as bad as having to select plumbing fixtures. The location of electrical outlets, especially in the master bathroom is related to the location of the medicine cabinets, so the contractor told me to go buy the medicine cabinets. There is so much wiring going on in the house that other decisions started to pop up -- do I want speakers in the gathering room and do I want a surround sound system? Do I want speakers in the master bedroom? Given that both the gathering room and the master bedroom face west, where the sun is the most brutal in the summer, I also knew that I needed ceiling fans -- more decisions -- the apex of the gable in the master bedroom is 13 feet, but then I needed to figure out what size blades the fan should have, 36, 42 or 54 inches? What length mounting extender do I need for the master bedroom ceiling fan? Do I find ceiling fans with a remote control, but then should I also install a wall switch that controls the fan speed? And, we haven't even gotten started on the rest of the decisions this week brought....
After the electrical walk through I realized that there were a bunch of lighting fixtures on the plan that were not included in the contractor's specifications list. Or, let's put it this way, the only light fixtures on the specifications list were the recessed canister lights and the kitchen under-cabinet lights. This meant a double-whammy: more lighting decisions and then the realization that this was an item on the contract that was a budgetary exclusion. I haven't looked at the contract for over 6 months and then it hit me that the target figure I thought this project was going to cost, and the amount I thought it would go over that amount was wrong. I suddenly flashed to an image of a beautiful house with no furniture...
If that wasn't enough to get things to unravel for me, as they say in the infomercials, but wait there is more. I had no expectation, nor did the contractor, that the electricians would be working in my living space. We knew that eventually they would need to get in there as the plans called for quite a bit of wiring of new electrical outlets. As when the windows were replaced, all I needed to have was some advanced notice and I could move things to provide access. At the same time the bathroom was off-limits, I was not informed that the electricians needed to cut power to my living space, which was where I've kept almost all of my electronics (e.g., computer, TV, stereo, etc). Not only did I not expect the power outage and lack of access to my computer, but in order to do the new outlets the electricians moved stuff around in my living space. To their credit, the electricians are really sweet guys who mean well and then tried to tread as lightly as they could, but all of this was a huge surprise. Perhaps it was the look of horror on my face Tuesday when I stopped by to get some clothes only to find my living area invaded, when one of the electricians said to me, "I guess this project is getting closer and closer to your last living space."
So, my living space was unexpectedly invaded, I have to make a zillion more decisions about outlet locations, types of switches, light fixtures, speakers, ceiling fans, I also have to think about the growing budget of this project, how I had unexpectedly lost access to my electronics (and my ability to blog), I also needed to plan what clothes to take with me, along with food, to my temporary location, but most of my warmer weather clothes are still located in boxes in the garage I was not successful at finding last week. And, my neighborhood is beginning to look like dumpsterville -- in the span of three city blocks around my house I counted, including mine, six construction dumpsters. There is a lot of building going on (new houses as well as renovations), not only on houses like mine, but adding to the chaos in the area are constant driving detours as the city has been replacing sewer drainage pipes since June and they are racing to complete this project as the cold weather approaches. I never know when my street will be closed or when a major street will turn into a one-lane traffic delay. Oh, and did I mention that we had our first snowfall this week, that I was freezing cold because I couldn't find my wool sweaters, and I have been without my beloved expresso machine the entire week? I could add a few more things to the list, but I won't, because I think the general idea of how I was totally overwhelmed this week should be clear.
Now, on to how I actually survived this week -- several good things also happened. First, my contractor is truly an amazing man, and yet again I am thankful that he is my contractor. We met on Friday and he very patiently listened to all my concerns and we went through the process, the budget, and he very keenly pointed out to me that this was a difficult week for me because of my utter loss of control about my house, this stage of the project, and my "lifestyle" could not have been greater. He is one smart man. He took the time to help me figure out the specs for the ceiling fans, light fixtures, the budget (which is not as much of the "runaway train" I was thinking it was) and also told me that he did not know the electricians were going to work in my living area. While the bathroom plumbing was operational by Friday, the electricity was not, so I have not moved back in. The electricians, however, told me that they want to work on both Saturday and Sunday, which I said was fine with me. I cannot say enough how impressed I am by these electricians...they are young guys who are trying to grow a business and they are exceptionally hard workers. Even though they often yell at each other, they always are quick to smile, are as sensitive as they can be, they put in long hours. Last weekend and this morning, I brought muffins and donuts for them because they often don't even stop to eat.
On Saturday I was able to get access to my computer and spent a few hours trying to clean up the construction dust from my living space. I had been to a lighting place that was pretty cool and have narrowed down lighting choices -- I now know the difference between "wall washers" and "pin holes" as well as what is meant by flush mount, sconces, pendants, hugger fans, and so on. I also spent about 3 hours in the garage and was more successful in locating colder weather clothes, those boots I was looking for, and came to the realization that I don't really remember which articles of clothing I gave away and which I packed up that I can't find yet. Whatever. The unpacking process will be a trip.
I am also over the moon excited for the first time in several years by the upcoming World Series. The St. Louis Cardinals blew out the Dodgers, and last night the Boston Red Sox won an emotional game at Fenway. The last time these two teams met in the series was in 2004 when the Sox swept the Cards in four games. I've become a Cards fan over the last few years, but still have a soft spot in my heart for the Red Sox as I remember how my first week after moving to Massachusetts to attend grad school some fellow students and I figured out how to sneak into Fenway and we watched a rivalry for the ages as the Sox were playing the Yankees and my pilfered seat was so great I could read the tag on Reggie Jackson's undershirt! This was the perfect antidote to a ridiculous week of the Congress ending the government shut down, but stupidly setting themselves up for the budget and debt ceiling debate all over again in a few months. Did they not learn anything when they shut down the government 17 years ago over a similar budget battle? I think not.
So, things are better. I am fortunate to have another place to live for a while, and soon the plumbers and the electricians will yield to the crew who will put up the dry wall. I will have soon made all the lighting fixture decisions, but am still reading way too much about ceiling-mounted speakers. This week I will sign the contract for the kitchen cabinets (here come a significant amount of frequent flier miles on my credit card!), I will order the new kitchen appliances (more frequent filer miles), and I will probably drink a bit more red wine.
On to the photographic progress from this week....
The closet for the master bedroom is taking shape as the two built-ins from my old bedroom have been mounted in the back of the closet (one unit has a hanging bar, and the other is a series of three drawers; I will eventually take the doors off of these units).
The bench in the new shower has been framed in and the electrical wiring for the double vanity has started.
All the existing light fixtures, mostly from ceilings have been removed, rewired, and then replaced (for now as I select new ones), although most are not currently powered. The following photos speak for themselves to show the current state of "mess" with holes in walls and the ceilings, and construction detritus EVERYWHERE.
These images of the wiring in the gathering room, kitchen, and master bedroom also give a good sense of the "mile of wire" that will eventually travel throughout the house. The wires are not only electrical, but computer (CAT 5), cable, phone, and there will be both smoke and CO 2 detectors hard-wired in.
Here is a photo of the 13' high gable in the master bedroom, with recessed lighting, and the future location of ceiling-mounted speakers -- maybe now you can understand why installing a ceiling fan in this space is not as simple as it might seem. I don't even want to think about what I will have to do when it comes time to change a light bulb, although the contractor and architect have both told me there is an extension pole tool for that!
The progress on the plumbing has been very interesting to watch as the framers wait to "box in" the fixtures as soon as the plumbing lines are done. Below you can see the new sewer drains (in white) with the framing around these lines that will eventually be covered with drywall. If there was any worry that the new construction would take away the character of an old house by making all the walls aligned and straight, these boxed in plumbing chases dispel those worries.
This is photo is also interesting because the blue lines are now what plumbers prefer to use over copper pipes (which in the above photo were the old plumbing lines to the upper level, that will be removed). Copper has become prohibitively expensive, and it turns out that this high density, yet highly flexible blue plastic plumbing line is preferred because it is easier to install, connect, and is less susceptible to freezing in cold weather. Below are a few more photos of the new blue plumbing lines as well as the framing for the plumbing and heating vents, all in the guest suite bedroom and bathroom.
The plumbing in the upstairs bathroom, which I am awaiting completion so I can move back in, has given this space a new look.
It has been interesting to understand how the plumbing and wiring has to be married in the house...
Here are some photos of the south wall of the galley-style kitchen. The mason still needs to come back to lay brick below the new window, where a piece of wood has been temporarily placed to keep the weather out. In the old kitchen the bottom of the original window was below the counter top, so that has been corrected with a new shorter window.
The sink will be located in front of this window and to the right in the photo below, the new dishwasher will sit. So, there needs to be plumbing for the kitchen faucet and drain as well as the dishwasher, but also the electrical outlets and switches to control this stuff. This photo shows how the electricians also have to hang outlets and switches on the brick exterior wall of the house.
Finally, this cathartic and very long post will end with one more example of the challenges of this week. Here is the view of the covered deck, where I am looking back at the doorway to the master bedroom. Way too cool, right, but you'll see right below the cedar shingles, in between the window and the door, there are wires for a light fixture that awaits my decision, and there are three other exterior lights that await my choice. As a wise friend told me, pick out one fixture that you really love, and just order four of them!
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