If you have ever experienced a home remodeling project, you will quickly discover, as I have, that one project will invariably lead to the next unexpected project to the next project and so forth, and your original project undergoes many revisions and many unexpected costs. Here is a synopsis of my first venture into my now completed home remodeling projects and the many unexpected ramifications.
Back Porch and Patio Project
Scope: Replace badly rotted and deteriorated back porch and stairs with composite decking material. Use donated flagstone to create a small patio under my shady walnut tree by the back door.
Unexpected outcomes: Sprinklers needed to be moved, porch foundation needed to be painted, improperly buried electrical wires needed to be brought to code, ran out of flagstone and had to buy more to complete the project.
Unexpected costs: Under $1000?
Project Status: Complete
Irrigation Repairs:
Scope: Repair and replace leaking, broken, sprinkler heads.
Unexpected Outcomes: Pump died, and irrigation water filtering system broke, problem with keeping pump primed.
Unexpected costs: Better not say
Project Status: Water commissioners notify us that senior down river water rights necessitate the cutting off of our irrigation water as of August 6. Even though it hasn't been a dry year, this is the first time our ditch has been turned off in over 50 years or anyone's memory. Project is not complete.
Whole House Dejunking
Scope: Dejunk all rooms, closets, storage areas and garage.
Unexpected Outcomes: Countless trips to the trash and thrift store.
Project Status: My house feels lighter, cleaner more orderly, but the job isn't done yet. I'm out of time and energy for the moment while I complete other projects.
What kind of projects (home remodeling or otherwise) have you and your family worked on this summer? Let us know about your adventures!
I feel your pain, Marilyn. Most projects become much larger than anticipated, especially if you are inexperienced at it, and especially if you have an older home with lots of invisible defects. I have developed my expertise through the experience of dozens of projects on several homes over the past 17 years. I share tips & advice on all sorts of home remodeling & makeover projects on my blog & web site. TransformYourHouse.com/blog
ResponderEliminarWe started out this summer wanting to replace the living room carpet. It was old and badly stained and needed to come up. We have wanted wood floors and decided to do wood in that room which led to the front hall and the dining room. The front hall and dining room were not carpet but uneven brick flooring. I have wanted to brick gone for 4 years because it hurts my feet and legs to stand on it. The kids had a lot of fun chiseling up the brick and this demolition traveled on into the kitchen, hall, laundry room and bathroom. The wood floors are completely finished and are beautiful. We bought large flat 12" tiles for the kitchen, laundry, and bathroom. The kitchen and laundry room are done except for some grout work and putting the moulding back. We have the bathroom to still finish. It looks great but the project really grew from the dirty carpet in the living room!
ResponderEliminarWe have an older home which had very low (only 7 foot high) ceilings in the livingroom and kitchen area. We decided to rip out everything to the studs, take out the wall between the kitchen and livingroom making an open concept and raise the ceiling into a cathedral type ceiling. When we got everything ripped out, we realized that there was no support for the roof up there except some 3 inch half logs. We had to put in a large beam and other support rafters in first, and the beam we left exposed for a northwoods look. Besides the help with this part and hiring a man to do the mudding part of the drywall, we did the rest ourselves. We also moved our woodstove from one end of the room to the opposite so that it could now be seen from the kitchen, and put up a fieldstone surround around it. We decided on laminate wood flooring with ceramic tile insets at the doorways. It was a big and dirty job and I am so glad it is done, but it looks beautiful if I do say so myself.
ResponderEliminarInstant frustration!! We are at the beginning of a few "remodeling projects", actually things that must be done and fixed now. I can already see that many of the things are going to require unexpected "side jobs" to complete. So our projects will take longer than hoped, because of time and money constraints, but I am excited about the finished projects!
ResponderEliminar