Hi All,
It's the first Wednesday of the month, and we ALL know what that means... It's time for another IWSG post!
Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh we get to vent our insecurities once a month. I must agree it's a great idea and it has helped me and SO many other bloggers get through their "stressful" time.
So please drop by and lend a "helping hand" with a soothing comment to your fellow blogger who are feeing a bit "OVERWHELMED" this month....
My title "hints" at my anxiety this mont. As most of you know, I am currently rehabbing an 1880's timber loft. WELL, I am down to the wire, guys, I move in less than two weeks and I am starting to FREAK.... there is still so much to do, and it seems that the guys working are moving at a snail's pace. I had hired this AMAZING tile person. I let my guard down for a second and found out that HE was not doing the actual work. ANOTHER CONTRACTOR.... NOOOOOO.... contractors in this city are out for blood. They charge THREE times what the union scale is and they pay their workers a fraction of that. So the guys doing my work are moving sooooooo slowly. The bathroom was supposed to be finished today, and they only installed the floor.... and it's not even grouted yet. Which, is holding up the installation of my hot water heater and washer/dryer. They are also holding up the finishing of the painted walls, which can't be done while they are still working in the space.
UGH! And, sadly, my amazing carpenter can't work the rest of this week. So I had to hire another drywall person to finish up at TWICE the cost of my guy. UGH, again!
At this point I have everything second planned, so if even one minute is off, it throws all the other work off.
For those of you that have had remodeling or rehabbing done, you know the nightmare of this situation.
BUT....as you know I do like to see the positive in most things, I still have a bit of wiggle room. I may not have all the work done when I move in on the 16th, but the bath, kitchen, and floors should should be all done. I can do the FINE TUNING after I move in. It is not the best case scenario, especially with Christmas just around the corner, but it what it IS....
So, friends, please send me all the positive vibes you can... I'd really appreciate it!
Have a GREAT day, and I am OFF for another INSANE DAY of letting worker into the loft and baby sitting the tile guys.... FUN....
I hope to say HI to you guys when I get a free moment....
It's the first Wednesday of the month, and we ALL know what that means... It's time for another IWSG post!
Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh we get to vent our insecurities once a month. I must agree it's a great idea and it has helped me and SO many other bloggers get through their "stressful" time.
So please drop by and lend a "helping hand" with a soothing comment to your fellow blogger who are feeing a bit "OVERWHELMED" this month....
My title "hints" at my anxiety this mont. As most of you know, I am currently rehabbing an 1880's timber loft. WELL, I am down to the wire, guys, I move in less than two weeks and I am starting to FREAK.... there is still so much to do, and it seems that the guys working are moving at a snail's pace. I had hired this AMAZING tile person. I let my guard down for a second and found out that HE was not doing the actual work. ANOTHER CONTRACTOR.... NOOOOOO.... contractors in this city are out for blood. They charge THREE times what the union scale is and they pay their workers a fraction of that. So the guys doing my work are moving sooooooo slowly. The bathroom was supposed to be finished today, and they only installed the floor.... and it's not even grouted yet. Which, is holding up the installation of my hot water heater and washer/dryer. They are also holding up the finishing of the painted walls, which can't be done while they are still working in the space.
UGH! And, sadly, my amazing carpenter can't work the rest of this week. So I had to hire another drywall person to finish up at TWICE the cost of my guy. UGH, again!
At this point I have everything second planned, so if even one minute is off, it throws all the other work off.
For those of you that have had remodeling or rehabbing done, you know the nightmare of this situation.
BUT....as you know I do like to see the positive in most things, I still have a bit of wiggle room. I may not have all the work done when I move in on the 16th, but the bath, kitchen, and floors should should be all done. I can do the FINE TUNING after I move in. It is not the best case scenario, especially with Christmas just around the corner, but it what it IS....
So, friends, please send me all the positive vibes you can... I'd really appreciate it!
Have a GREAT day, and I am OFF for another INSANE DAY of letting worker into the loft and baby sitting the tile guys.... FUN....
I hope to say HI to you guys when I get a free moment....
33 comments:
It will all come together! Maybe not pretty at first, but it will happen.
The carpenter who can't work better not be charging you for drywall now.
it always takes longer than we expect. Just believe it will be done in time.
That was sneaky of him to subcontract it out. And somehow wrong.
I don't envy you going through all that. What a Maalox moment!
Good luck!
IWSG #115 until Alex culls the list again
Yikes! Talk about crooked contractors! Sounds like your city is where the stereotype comes from!
As crazy as that sounds, I'm still envious! I would love to buy an old house or a loft and renovate. Of course, my hubby would have to do all the work;-) So, I guess your writing is on hold while the mayhem is underway? Hopefully you'll be writing soon. And post pics of your new place!
Hi Michael - it will all happen - but these crazy days and inconsiderate people are what make the world go round - or so we're led to think. Good luck with it all - glad you've a few plan A, B and Cs around. Nearly there ... all the best Hilary
Definitely sending positive vibes! When there's a remodeling project in my family, everyone comes together and helps. They've become pros... except for me because I live on the other side of the country. Moving is so stressful.
Good luck with corralling those workers. I just had a friend of a friend do a small job and most of it is fine, but the glue didn't stick on a shower stall slider bar. . .he's coming back though. I need help from friends since hubs has taken a turn for the worse. . .
Hope the contractors work more quickly--as long as they don't sacrifice quality work. And you're right, you have options like moving in before it's done if it can't be completed on schedule.
Sending positive vibes. Your place will look amazing and be completely put together soon enough!
We remodeled our bathroom earlier this year, and we hired a tile guy that had done our kitchen 8-10 years ago and had done an excellent job. However, instead of him showing up, he sent someone else, which disappointed us greatly. The new guy made some mistakes and the original guy had to come in and fix up the problems. Needless to say, we're not using him again.
Hope you get your situation straightened out soon.
Oh dear, I hope it all works out. That's tough having a time table like that. Just think, in six months this will all be over. That's what I tell myself when stuff like this happens. Sometimes it helps.
I'll be thinking of you AND looking forward to more pics :)
Positive vibes on the way! When we moved into our place we had 1 working plug socket that we had to switch between the fridge, the kettle and anything else as required. It's the sort of thing that gives you stuff to talk about in years to come ;)
When you feel insecure, and all else seems to fail you, remember one fact that cannot be changed - you're MR. BLURB KING!
Hold onto that!
SENDING POSITIVE VIBES YOUR WAY--------------------------------------------WHOOSH------------------
I have positive vibes whenever I hear about your loft project and so I am sending them all your way!
Oh my goodness, Michael . . . I'm sending you ALL the positive energy I can gather right now! I've lived the remodeling nightmare before, but like you, I try to look at the upside of things . . . I mean, we all know things can always be worse O_O
Things will start progressing soon. Yes, they will! Hugs!!
How sad you have to watch them work to make sure they actually work. I'm sending lots of good vibes your way.
*Positive vibes* sent your way, Michael! When we moved to our new place last year, my husband and I too hired contractors to do work for us, and we were let down quite a bit. It felt that we got the red carpet treatment before we put down our deposit, and once we handed over our money, the red carpet magically vanished. It got extremely frustrating at times. Find out if you can get a discount of any sort for your troubles. It wouldn't hurt to ask.
I hope all is finished on time for you Michael. Does sound frustrating. I know you though, you will make it the perfect home, and still get all your Christmas creativity accomplished. I'll keep positive thoughts for your successes.
Living through construction is hard stuff, but how beautiful it will be when you are done and living there!
Construction seems to take longer than estimated. I know it must be maddening. Whether it works as you wanted, you will make a wonder of it because that is who you are. Diane is right -- that subcontracting bit does seem underhanded!
I kid you not, remodeling nearly makes me pull my hair out from the minute it starts to the last second of completion.
You have cute hair, Michael. Try to keep it all and don't let the piranha-contractors get you down.
Oh Michael, I feel your pain. Renovating and remodeling can be some of life's most stressful times. But like you said, it is what it is and so long as you can keep repeating that mantra, then all will be well. Not ideal but look at all you're doing. It will be fabulous when it's all finished and you will be so darn happy! That will be worth the headaches. Sending you good vibes for a seamless completion. Can't wait to see the final product!
Michele at Angels Bark
Ugh, is right. I had an addition put on my house a few years back that had its share of headaches. Good luck with it! It'll be truly beautiful in the end.
We haven't even started the actual building yet and I'm ready to go screaming into the woods. So jealous you're so far along.
Construction means nothing is on time, but you know that. Still with so many things changing it's must be hard to see it all start tumbling like dominoes. Wishing you all the best!
The world of tradesmen is another world altogether! Thankfully Geo is a pretty nifty carpenter so as I type this I hear the hum of the saw as he begins work on my very-own-don't-you-dare-enter writing space. It only means a wall, which he can easily do, but we're going to install leadlight glass above so I don't feel too hemmed in. But with views of the Pacific Ocean, what more could I want?
So the tradies don't start arriving for a few weeks--getting close to the Christmas deadline, but we trust these guys, so here's hoping!
I'm sure if you have the wet areas done, Michael, you can move in and occupy! But I hate work going on around me, but at least you can keep an eagle eye on things. Those Chicago dudes sound like gangsters!
Denise :-)
Good luck with your construction project! I can't begin to imagine how challenging that must be, though I've long dreamt of living in an old house of my own.
Just think how glorious it will be when it's all Done!!!!
Sorry things have been moving slowly. I am sending out positive vibes. I hope the rest of the renovations go smoothly.
~Jess
Eek! That sounds really stressful. I hope things work out for you.
Argh, and more argh!!! I hope you'll have smoother times ahead in the next couple of weeks. Can you stay with a friend for a week or something if stuff isn't quite ready? Hang in there!!!!!
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