Remodeling

5/27/2007 The journey begins.  Well sorta.  First off I need to tell what HAS to be done in our home.  When we first moved into the house I overlooked the wallpaper and the need for updates.  I loved the house and at the time it SEEMED updated since our previous home was over 60 years old and what was CHANGED were just inexpensive things I did myself.  The Master Bath in our home leaks.  Has leaked from day one and since we didn’t know any better we listened to a plumber who said he couldn’t find anything wrong yet it still leaked.  We realized later the pan under the shower is messed up and for no telling how long.  I’m sure there is some major damage under there.  We haven’t used this shower in almost three years.  This bathroom also has ugly wallpaper and a pretty outdated vanity.  So this bathroom at least needs a new tub (is just a shower now).  We plan on getting a tub then putting tile around it.  The hall bath and the one we both use has a leak as well but not as serious.  My husband claims if he tweeks one thing it won’t leak anymore but since the faucet is so old and parts are hard to find it’s probably best to replace.  Again we have ugly wallpaper and I will paint in there but not sure about about the vanity yet….because I also want my kitchen remodeled..Awh the kitchen…..We have a fairly small galley style kitchen.  It looked big to me considering what we had before was one wall of cabinets and a small wall at that.  The cabinets were dark wood when we moved in and I distressed/antiqued them.  The applicances are old and again wallpaper although not as ugly.  It extends into a small breakfast room.  The kitchen is my pet project and I can’t wait to start.We had two different contractors come look at our bathrooms and kitchen.  The first contractor said each bathroom would cost about $4200 and that’s a bathtub with tile walls, no new vanities or floors.  The kitchen would cost around $30K and that includes moving the backdoor (he estimated $3K on that) and I’m thinking floors were included.  These were with custom made cabinets.

The next contractor happened to be my brother-in-law. I trust him but at first I was worried he’d take advantage of family and maybe not do the job when I wanted it done.  I am impatient and fully admit that.  He gave a better estimate and gave us other options to think about.  If he did it he would just have us go pick out everything we needed, buy it and have it sitting in the garage.

Well if I had to go pick something out at Home Depot or Lowe’s why not check into how much they charge to install.  I then decided to check out Home Depot so I made an appt with their instore designer Teri. She suggested I let them install because she’ll want to make sure installed to her specifications and design plus if I just bought the cabinets and had my brother-in-law install…I would be paying tax on the cabinets but if they installed….no taxes.  I went away feeling like I could really get this done.  Even forgot about the bathrooms.  She also talked about financing and how I could use my home depot card to pay and get a whole year no interest…go a year without interest then maybe find other financing if I still owed. 

After my visit with the Home Depot Designer last week I was able to really think about the style and how much it will cost.  I had originally picked one style when I talked to the designer but then I changed my mind..twice…  This is the style I want although the finish will either me spice or mocha glaze.  I really liked these cabinets. They are different and real homey.

This is the style I want which is called Gettysburg and made by American Woodmark.  Here it is in Hickory.

This is maple wood in the same style

I’ve been thinking I like the Tuscan style so I may incorporate that into my re-decorating.  The thing is I collect House Cookie Jars and I kinda wanted to be able to display those.  That might work in the theme if I don’t go overboard.  In the design of the new kitchen I will be eliminating the breakfast room and extending out the cabinets.  We will have to move the back door down to accomplish this.  On the side of the kitchen that opens up into the family room we will add a bar area.  I have selected Corian countertops and so far unless I change my mind on that we are going with “Maui” which is a darker speckled pattern with bits of beige in it.

However I plan to decorate I want to paint the walls using the Bellagio Faux method and do it in a yellowish color. I will post it later along with some before pictures.

The Home Depot designer was not in today which was disappointing since all I dreamed about last night was remodeling but I will call her tomorrow and get the ball rolling.  First step will be a more accurate measurement and then she’ll do a computer-drafted design….The whole process could be 3- months as far as the kitchen.  The bathrooms, moving backdoor and maybe raising the ceiling in the kitchen will probably be done by brother-in-law and I’m sorta waiting on my husband to call him but I may end up doing that this week myself.  Nothing in kitchen as far as installation can be done until door is moved and we’ll be able to do more in the design if the ceiling is raised but at least we have time to get that done.  So that’s the start of my adventures in remodeling..stay tuned for more.

5/30/2007- Visited again with the designer at Home Depot and set up an appointment to get official measurements of my kitchen so she could start on the designs.  It cost me $85 for the measurement.  I meant to ask whether I’ll have to oay another $85 if I decide to get my floors during this process or can they use the same measurements.  Initially I was going to wait a little while on the floors but I’m thinking I’ll want it all done at once.  They are coming tomorrow to measure then it will take 1 1/2 weeks for her to come up with some designs.  While at Home Depot I bought some primer.  I’m really wanting to start a project.  This kitchen and bath project will be slow to get started.  I want to paint something!  My extra bedroom/craft room has ugly wallpaper too so I think I will paint it since I’ve been wanting to organize that space anyways.  I’m going to paint over the wallpaper although folks sometimes recommend you don’t.  I think in this room it will be okay.  This weekend I hope to start stripping wallpaper in the foyer.

5/31/2007  Minor set back in my personal plan of putting my kitchen renovation on my Home Depot Credit Card.  They increased by credit limit but not as much as I wanted therefore I will have to come up with the rest somewhere else.  I was really liking that “No interest for a year ” thing which is why I wanted to go that route.  So I go from there.  The Home Depot Designer and Measurer called and met me at the house  at approximately 2:00.  I was happy to see someone come when they say they’ll come.  The guy who will be installing the cabinets also came.  They were all loving on my dog Charlie who had to come help.  The measurer guy Randy said he thought we could raise the ceiling  a little bit but said to check with my brother-in-law who I told him was going to see what he could do and then get back to him.  There are so many wires and pipes in there though I’m just really not sure it cane be done.  The whole thing took less than ten minutes.  The designer lady Teri did say she’d call me in about a week with some design ideas.  I can’t wait! I didn’t go back to work I just stayed home and unloaded my craft table so I could start priming one of the walls in my craft room. 

6/1/2007  Nothing really much to report today and I won’t post everyday but I had to vent about something.  I did start priming my craft room last night but was afraid I was using wrong primer so today at lunch I stopped by Walmart to get some more plus look at paint.  I didn’t want to spend much on this room so Walmart was the place to start.  They’ve always been real good to have someone there to mix my paint etc…that’s before the rearranged the store and made that section smaller.  I waited around about 15 minutes trying to find someone then even after I went back to sports department and the guy paged someone….still nobody.  I was really pissed and will not go back there.  Hopefully the pretty color I found can be duplicated in another brand from Lowe’s or Home Depot.

6/7/2007  After 2 1/2 quarts of Jonquil Yellow paint and one broke antique mirror I am finished painting my craft room.  I will spend tomorrow organizing the space and probably going to Target to buy some storage units etc.  I’m hoping to have the craft room completely finished over the weekend.  Then it’s on to the foyer…just gotta decide on the paint color and get my husband to help strip the wallpaper.

6/11/2007 – Home Depot called and the designs are ready.  Will stop by tomorrow to review.  My brother-in-law came by tonight and he told us we could probably get cabinet installation done cheaper than what Home Depot will charge.  I’m suppose to ask for a cost breakdown on labor when I visit Home Depot tomorrow.  We also decided to go ahead and get the floors done and we’ll probably do everything in the Master Bath to include new toilet, vanity, replace shower with a tub then tile around and get a new floor.  Still going to just do bathtub in Hall Bath.  I promised my husband I would slow down and let’s get the bathrooms done first especially since some of the work ties in to each other.

6/12/2007- Met with Home Depot designer Teri today during lunch.  We were able to look at some designs but unfortunately the computer messed up and she had to add some things from stratch and could not print color pictures.  So far though I’m happy with how it’s looking and praying I don’t go over my budget when we start picking out the fancy stuff.  So far I’m at the lower end of the estimate or a little over.  She’s hoping there will some time of promotion going on so maybe I can get free hardware or a gift card or even a discount on something when it comes time to order.  She has almost talked me in to still letting them install and maybe us or us and my brother-in-law tear out the cabinets.  The cost to install the counter tops was included in the countertop estimate so that wasn’t a factor.  If I let Marty, my brother-in-law put in cabinets I would risk him not adhering to the design and measurements (not on purpose) and I would have to pay tax on the cabinets.  It might just be easier to let home depot do it and let Marty do the moving of the door, putting the floors, tearing out cabinets and doing the ceiling with new lights…not to mention all the bathroom work we are hiring him for. I feel a little better about my decisions now if I can just get my husband to help with the decision we have to make about the bathrooms then get Marty started on some of the work.  We have to do the ceiling in the kitchen before we can order cabinets but then we have to work on bathrooms before we can finalize the ceiling since all the pipes and vents are over the kitchen….all jobs are dependent on each other which I’ve said before adds to the frustration.  Teri is still working on my kitchen design so we’ll see what else is in store.

6/13/2007  I made a decision last night that if my husband does not become more active/helpful in this remodeling effort I will proceed with the kitchen and just tell Home Depot to act like the ceiling in the kitchen will not be moved up any and go from there.  I can still get my brother-in-law to move the door but as far as the bathrooms…..I’m tired of worrying about them.  Sure my bathtub needs to be replaced and I’ll probably do that but my kitchen is MY main priority right now since I’ve already got the ball rolling.  My husband STILL keeps saying I need to slow down but I’m like how many times do I have to tell you..the kitchen project henges on the bathroom projects because of the ceiling and since it takes 4-6 weeks for the cabinets to come in…that’s why I want to finalize the bathrooms…..I realize it will be a few months before I get my kitchen but why keep putting off ordering them since it takes so long.

6/15/2007- My husband is trying to throw more curves into my home projects.  One minute he acts all helpful and tells me the bathtub store in town has a bunch of tiles to chose from then the next minute he tells me we should hold off in case he gets laid off within the next year.  Not that I’m holding off but these type comments make me mad.  The kitchen project will cost me around$17K total with floors and applicances.  If I budget I can get that paid off fairly quickly and don’t think it would make too big a difference if he got laid off.  It was just something else negative for him to say.  My mom actually email me and said he was being a butt….yep that about sums it up.  Anyways on a non-fussing note, I haven’t heard from the Home Depot designer since my appt on Tuesday.  She’ll probably call today or Monday.  I’m starting to rethink the whole built-in microwave over the stove.  I’m going to be gaining so much counter-space that maybe I don’t need to invest in a new microwave.  Will keep thinking on that.  Yesterday I made a spreadsheet of all the jobs that need to be done, a space for the labor costs and a place to list what materials we’ll need to buy.

6/19/2007 – So far I have still not heard from the Home Depot Designer so if I don’t hear anything tomorrow I’ll give her a call.  I’m ready to see what she has designed.  On the bathroom front my husband actually emailed me and asked if I wanted to meet him at the Bathtub showroom tomorrow at lunch.  I nearly fell out of my chair.  I guess he is really trying to be more proactive.

6/20/2007- I was not able to meet my husband at the bathtub place today at lunch because I had a meeting but I told him I was curious as to whether contractors got a cheaper price than the average citizen and that maybe we should ask before buying something anyways.  Afterwork, my brother in law stopped by and asked me whether I had order cabinets yet and I said no because the designer has still not called me and it’s been over a week.  He said well don’t order anything yet because he wanted to get this guy in touch with us that his other contractor friend recommended.  Supposedly I may be able to get custom build cabinets at a comparable price and better quality plus a Corian guy is in the building next to this guy.  I told my Brother-in-law sure and explained to him my confusion about the whole process and who to hire to do what and he assured me he’d help us out.  See the thing is with what I was going with with Home Depot, they’d measure and order the cabinets and put them in then have a Corian contractor but in counter tops.  There would still need to be someone to do rewiring of outlights and lights, re-hook up plumbing, put up sheet rock, tear out of old cabinets etc all at a probably jacked up cost.  Plus I’d have to make all the arrangements and find the folks to do these things and I’m so unsure about who to call and at what point in the game (before or after cabinets are in, while being put in etc).  Also, Marty said this guy can have us cabinets within 3-4 weeks while Home Depot takes 4-6 just in ordering.  I’m going to talk to the guy and see what kind of price he gives me and see what the better fit is.  My only hang up about sing someone other than Home Depot at this point is the financing.  I had it all set to use my Home Depot Charge Card which I could get no interest for a year on but if I use somebody else I will have to find the money elsewhere…..This is my dilema….we’ll see I guess.

6/24/2007 Nothing to report today other than husband and I went to Home Depot today and although I didn’t go back into the kitchen cabinet section…I could see the designer lady just sitting there twiddling her thumbs.  It’s been two weeks since I last heard from her.  If she doesn’t call me Monday I’m calling her. Although I have doubts whether I’ll use Home Depot if my brother-in-laws guy comes through I would still like to see a design of my kitchen.  I mean Home Depot doesn’t know I’m considering going elsewhere….of course the elsewhere hasn’t called either…..

6/26/2007 – It’s officially been two weeks since I have heard from Home Depot and I’m starting to get pissed.  I haven’t heard from the custom-made cabinet guy either but not even sure if my BIL has given the guy my name yet.  I’m seriously thinking about just calling this guy tomorrow and have him come over.

6/30/2007- I tried calling my BIL this evening to see if he’s given that cabinet guy my name and number yet because I ready to call him myself.  Monday will be three weeks since I’ve heard from the Home Depot designer and I’m fed up.  I just want to see if a custom cabinet guy can get me a comparable price to Home Depot.  For the amount of square footage I have Home Depot was estimating under $10K for cabinets and around $3600 for the Corian counter tops.  The labor for the counter tops was included in the quote but the labor for the cabinets might be another $1000 to 1500 I’m thinking. My BIL seems to thing I can get a better quality cabinet for the same or not cheaper from this guy so we’ll see.  My mom had suggested going to a custom place all along but I never thought it would be cheaper.  What was nice about going to Home Depot was the fact about the interest free for a year but I have since found alternate means of finance (interest free) so now I can look elsewhere.  I had actually ALMOST decided to just hold off on the kitchen but everytime I look at all the crap that piles up in there….I say…no I want more cabinet space NOW!  I just realized that it’s been a month and so far all I’ve gotten is my kitchen measured and a half design of the new layout….that is bad.  I should have had a design and cabinets ordered by now.

7/7/2007 My first order of business on Monday will be to call the custom cabinet maker my BIL recommended.  It’s been a month since I heard from the Home Depot designer and and now I’m even too mad to call her myself and find out the status.

7/12/2007  Why is it I can’t seem to get things done or what I want?  I didn’t get a chance to call the custum cabinet guy until today and it was one of the first things I did this morning. I got his machine and left a message with both my home and my work numbers.  I even left the names of the two contractors that my brother-in-law suggested I mention (himself and another guy who knows the cabinet guy well and has done a lot of business with)…..I never heard back.  Hopefully I will in the next couple of days otherwise I’m giving up on my kitchen for now.  My husband has been hinting he really wants my help in picking out stuff for the master bath after I’d been bugging him for a month now about giving his opinion.  It got to the point where I said “Fine if you want your bathroom done, pick out what you want”.  Maybe I can get him to go look this weekend.  All we gotta do is go buy what’s needed and the brother-in-law can put in but there are just too many choices and we truly don’t know what to buy.  Sometimes I think it might be worth it to just pay someone to do it all…pick it out and have it put in.

7/21/2007  Well I had about decided it wasn’t in the stars for me to get my kitchen remodeled.  After over a month, I have still not heard from the Home Depot Designer and after a little over a week I haven’t heard from the cabinet guy my Brother-in-law had me call.  With the possibility of my husband getting laid off (his company has been doing that lately) I figured maybe I SHOULD wait.  But today my brother-in-law stops by and asks if I heard from the cabinet guy or whether we’ve picked out a new bathtub and of course we had not done that.  I told him I called the cabinet guy over a week ago and have not heard from him.  My Brother-in-law’s buddy who has used these guys before on some jobs said he’d give them a call monday and see what’s up.  I had given both my BIL’s and his buddies names along with two phone numbers (I have caller ID so I know when people have called).  So we’ll see what happens.  I may still go ahead with it.

8/1/2007- After almost two weeks I finally got a message from the custom cabinet guys.  This might be the dad or one of the brothers but he called at home  and left a cell number.  Of course my husband accidently erased the message and I forgot to look on caller id and get the number so I can call today but I will tomorrow.  We are still going back and forth about whether to proceed with the kitchen.  I had almost decided to wait till next year but every tuesday night I watch “Spice Up Your Kitchen” on HGTV and I want my kitchen redone. (Wish I knew how I could apply to get them to do my kitchen!).  So I might go ahead and call the cabinet guy and at least get an estimate and then decide.  Our first priority is our master bath though so we need to really get started with that.  I also PLAN on stripping the wallapaper in the hall this friday since I’m off work and I can just send the baby to daycare so I’ll have all day to clean house and strip wallpaper.
I need to take some before pictures just in case I do do my kitchen soon. Here’s a small slice of my current kitchen concept

8/2/2007 I did call the cabinet guy and he’s suppose to call me friday and set up an exact time to come. I told him I had called the shop and no one returned the call and he said they’ve been switching phones and it may have fell through the cracks…yeah right. Oh well. We’ll see….

8/3/2007  I cleaned house today and started stripping the entryway and hall wallpaper.  I waited all morning for the cabinet guy to call so finally about 2:00pm I decided to just call him since I wanted to run out to Target and didn’t want to miss his call.  Got the machine and left a message.  Do you think I heard from him today….nope.

8/6/2007 – Cabinet guy is coming tomorrow to do  measurements. Yeah!

8/8/2007- I’m happy to report that the cabinet guy came by yesterday on time and did the measurements of my kitchen.  I showed him the layout/plan Home Depot did for me and showed him the style cabinets too.  They also do counter tops so I showed him the Corian sample I had too.  His wife called this morning and had a few questions about whether I wanted a back splash and something about the Bar Area.  He had told me yesterday they’d call my contractor by friday at the latest with a quote.  The only thing is my contractor is not really my contractor but a friend of my brother-in-law’s.  My brother in law’s friend has worked with these folks before and was the one who suggested them and even went up there and asked them to call me.  So Dean won’t actually be doing my contractor work, my brother-in-law will but if it helps me get a good price I don’t care who they call with the quote.

8/8/2007 – Cabinet guy called the contractor with a price estimate but I don’t know what it is yet.  I was suppose to call my brother in law and let him know what price Home Depot had quoted so he and his buddy could see if the custom estimate was higher or lower and if need be they would try and negotiate a lower price.  I called my brother-in-law and left a message but have not heard back yet.  I will call tomorrow. Home Depot gave me a range of 5K to 8K (42 LF)thereabouts on the cabinets, $3600 for the Corian (for 60 LF) and a range of 2 to 3K on labor for cabinets but could take $750 off that if we tear out old cabinets.  Corian labor and a corian sink was build into that quote.  Guess I’ll know tomorrow what they can do.  I know my brother in law is ready to start on something for us but so far the bathrooms which is first priority..we haven’t REALLy picked out or bought anything which we really need to do.  If it weren’t so hot outside I’d feel more like running to Home Depot or Lowes and buying stuff even if were just faucets or mirrors….but the weather is keeping me indoors…stripping wallpaper right now.

8/10/07 – What to do what to do….my custom cabinet folks came in with a quote for $14500 which is actually pretty good but isn’t going to leave me with much to get floors and other things that need to be done to finish off kitchen.  But of course it’s also comparable to Home Depot’s quote except Home Depot has never called me back and I’m not sure I trust them any more.  I’ll have to think on it.  My brother in law is going to check out a place today that supposedly has a good selection of cabinets and very affordable so he said he’d let me know.  Also, the cabinet folks say it could take a couple of months which is fine except it may fall in a timeframe where I can’t get off work… 

8/12/2007I have come to a conclusion about my kitchen and although it’s not exactly what I had planned this is what I’m doing.  I am going to get the custom cabinet folks to do my cabinets but plan on waiting till say Jan.  Within the next two weeks (since we are going out of town) we will purchase a bathtub and tiles for the master bath and before years end get the master bath tub done, the back door moved (to accomodate the new kitchen cabinets) and the ceiling raised or at least new lighting in kitchen.  A few other smaller do it yourself projects like painting hall and dining room as well as maybe even the kitchen will also be done before years end then after the first of the year start on cabinets (maybe ordering in Dec).  That way maybe more money will have come in plus I also plan on just going ahead and buying the new appliances and maybe the floors now so they can be paid for maybe by the time the kitchen goes in..that was the costs doesn’t seem to outrageous.  I think I can live with that plan.  Now I just need to finish stripping wallpaper!

8/23/2007 - I want you to know that after 2 months……when we returned from our vacation I had a message on my machine from the Home Depot designer asking me how I was coming on my project and when should we proceed more or less…..Is she freakin kidding me?  It’s been 2months!  And not once have I heard from her and she thinks I want to proceed with Home Depot?  Give me a break.  If this is the service I’d get if I used home Depot for my kitchen I’d never get it done!

On a brighter note, the wallpaper in the hall is down.  This afternoon I will wash down the walls with TSP and then tomorrow morning go buy some paint…..Yeah!

10/2/2007 – I’m tired of the mess.  The hallway is painted, the dining room is a mess where I’ve been removing wallpaper in there and the kitchen is junked up.  I told my husband last night to help me figure out how much tile we’ll need this weekend so I can go get everything and then get these jobs started.  My goal is to have kitchen done by the end of March so that means the other projects need to start happened like…NOW.

10/8/2007 – Problem encountered in Dining Room and not sure what to do.  I managed to get all the wallpaper down in there but under the wallpaper was some other type of board instead of drywall.  Looks like at some point they may have planned on painting a mural in the dining room because the word Mural is written on one wall.  We don’t know if there is drywall underneath or did they just replace the walls with these panels for some reason.  I’m afraid to tear it out now.  Also not all panels are in good condition either so I couldn’t just paint on them like I orginally planned.  May look into getting a nice panel to replace or wallpaper over existing panels.  There is also the issue with mold which I think has an easy fix.  For some reason there was mold formed in one corner after I removed the wallpaper.  Maybe I sprayed too much water to remove the wallpaper but either way….there is mold growing.  Tilex or Bleach will surely remedy that.
10/22/2007 I’m wallpapering my dining room. The sheet rock is smooth and damaged so instead of waiting for husband to replace I opted for wallpaper. I am not a fan of wallpaper but oh well. Here is the dining room wall before.
Here is it with the new paper on. The color is not as red and is fairly muted. I think when I replace the light overhead in there it will look nice.

10/28/2007- Just a quick blurb to say I’m lacking 1/2 of a wall before I’m finished with the dining room wallpaper.  I’m not sure how to do the part around the light switch and frankly I just didn’t get the time this weekend.  I’m hoping I can finalize before the NEXT weekend.  I’ve been pondering on whether to just hire an electrician to change out the light in there as well as get some other lighting issues resolved instead of getting my brother-in-law and his electrician.  This way I can know exectly what it’s gong to cost before the work is done.  Still pondering this and maybe next week if I have some free time at work I will look into electricians.  Now on to the bathrooms……..11/26/2007 – There is nothing like visiting someone’s newer home to get you motivated again to do something to your own.  Call it inspiration…call it being jealous…..just call it!  I made an ulitmatum to my husband that we are going to get the bathroom started within the next two weeks.  I’m calling my contractor and find out when he can come, set a date, get the materials and get it done.

12/1/2007 – I bought a chandalier for my dining room!  Yeah me!  My orginal goal for this past friday was to go to Lowe’s and just start buying the stuff we’ll need for all our projects but that got messed up because we had to start working on a dog fence.  But while we were at Lowe’s getting fence posts I stopped by the lightening and grabbed a light I liked.  No it’s not put up yet but when I get the contractor here I will have him put it up.  Husband is making me doubt myself about starting a major job (master bath) right here before the holidays because he thinks maybe the contractor (who our brother-in-law) might rush the job to get money for the holidays.  Husband has know him longer than me so the fact that he thought this makes me worry and think twice.  But that’s not to say I can’t get him here to move the door.  I don’t think he could “Rush” that one and frankly I can’t do anything about kitchen until door is moved.  I’ve been fantisizing about my new kitchen so the sooner I can start that the better.

12/28/2007 – As soon as I go order a backdoor the home improvement jobs will begin.  My BIL stopped by and they are suggesting doing everything at once since the bathrooms really need to be done before they can redo the kitchen ceiling.  We are talking replacing all pipes too.  I was really overwhelmed but am okay with it.  Depending on the cabinet people we could have all this done in a month. First I’ll order my door and they’ll go ahead and move the backdoor.  Then I’ll contact the cabinet folks and get those ordered and when we know when those will be here they’ll start on the bathrooms. I know I’ll be happier once done but it’s still overwhelming and COSTLY!

1/3/2008 – Today I had planned on driving to the cabinet design place and finding out how long it would take to order my cabinets but since I wasn’t exactly sure where they were and I only have an hour for lunch I decided to go to Lowe’s instead.  I walked around the store and wrote down the model numbers of the appliances I need as well as snap photos with my cell phone.  I also went ahead and purchased the fixtures for the master shower for both tub and sink, the faucet for the new kitchen and two pendalum lamps that I plan on hanging above the new bar area.  When I got back to the office I made up an Excel spreadsheet listing all items I’ll need for my projects, model numbers, costs and whether they’ve been purchased.  This will help me keep track of all I need to buy.  This is going to be very costly.  Just those items cost about $450!  I also went online and found the model numbers of the appliances I picked out so I can just order online.  My plan is to visit the cabinet shop tomorrow then start cleaning out garage so I can go ahead and order appliances and store them in garage until work starts.

Paint and tiles was also on my mind today.  I’m sorta changing my mind about the wall color but won’t know for sure until I look at cabinet colors.  I got some good ideas about the tiles too for both kitchen and bath.  I think I want to go with the smaller tiles in neutral colors for my backsplash but am still not sure about the floors. 

1/4/2008 – I took a drive out to the Cabinet place today to ask them to go ahead and proceed with my cabinets.  The guy wrote up the order, said they’d probably be out next week (Mon or Tues) for more measurements and told me what the deposit would be to proceed.  I’ll have to say I was a little shocked they asked for a deposit because I don’t like to pay for things before I get them but I understand why they would need one so they won’t be out anything.  I told him I would put a check in the mail on Monday (or I may just wait till they come out to the house).  I’m really nervous about starting this especially because it exhausts my ready cash but oh well……

I stopped by Home Depot and looked at tiles and sorta have an idea of what I want for my floors and backsplash.  I have an idea of what I want it to look like but not sure if the cabinets I picked out would go with a Tuscan theme.  And is the Tuscan look overdone?  Seems like that’s all you hear about and even when someone says they decorated their Tuscan kitchen etc it doesn’t really look Tuscan to me.  And if I go with pure Tuscan I won’t be able to use my Cookie Jars that look like Houses (I may not anyways).  House Cookie Jars and Tuscany just don’t mix.  I’d almost rather the cabinets be in place before I pick out tiles.

1/7/2008 – Mailing the deposit check for my new kitchen cabinets!  Can’t believe we are finally getting somewhere.

1/9/2008 – Have not heard from the cabinet guy who said he’d call to come back and measure the kitchen again but I’m not worried about it.  I still haven’t called my brother-in-law/contractor to tell him what the cabinet guy said so I better do that soon.  Last night I pulled together all my plans and receipts I have so far and try and better organize these projects.

1/15/2008 – Got a call from the cabinet guy today and I think he was waiting on me and I was waiting on him but I think we are straight now.  I had forgotten I was suppose to ask my contractor about this big vent we have that comes down in the kitchen and whether the vent could be removed.  That will effect the measurements of the cabinets.  So I called my Brother-in-law and he said the cost to remove the vent was probably not worth it just to get one more cabinet in so I’m going to just see if cabinet guy can just put the same type cabintry around it.  I called and left a message with cabinet contractor and they will come friday for final measurements.  Next step will be for them to come up with a drawing and design for approval then they’ll order the cabinets.

I told my brother in law that I would like him to either come with me to get a door or just let me give him money to get one.  The “moving” of the back door can be done any time before the actual start of the rest of the renovation work but I’d like to go ahead and get the door.  I’d kinda like to hold off on the door so I can save up some vacation time at work.  I totally used up my time during the holidays and considering I’ll need at least a week during the kitchen/bathroom remodel…I need to save up!.

1/19/2008- The cabinet guy came by friday and did some more measurements and says he’ll have a drawing to me by next week.  Today I decided to start stripping wallpaper in the hall bathroom.  I figured since I work full time and we have a small child…finding time to strip wallpaper in two bathrooms and a kitchen will be hard so might as well start now.  I must have inspired husband to help because he got out the steamer and started stripping wallpaper in the master bath as well..  Neither of us got very far but it’s a start.

1/20/2008 – Bought an empty binder today to house all my home project records and ideas.  I’ve been looking for a way to organize them but when I saw that show called “Moving Up” on TLC (I think) and this very anal girl had one….I knew that was my answer (being that I can be anal and organized).  We are still working on striping wallpaper in the bathrooms and tomorrow I plan on going shopping for shower curtains.  I think by picking a shower curtain…it will inspire me on wall colors etc for the bathrooms.

I was very disturbed to see my next door neighbor has put their house up for sale.  That makes two houses on my street for sale and at least 5 in the neighborhood.  What disturbs me is here we are about to spend a bunch of money to remodel and I’m afraid the neighborhood wil go down if people start moving away and no telling who moves in.  I really don’t want to move any time soon which is why I decided to proceed with remodeling.  I had about decided I did not want a new house because frankly they are over-priced and most of them have small yards.   I figure if I remodel and update this one…it will feel like a new house.  I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what kind of new neighbors we’ll get…..
1/21/2008
Here’s a peek of what we are working with here as far as the bathroom remodel. Don’t you love BEFORE pics……
Here is the wallpaper in the Hall Bathroom….truly ugly.  It’s been really hard to remove.  Lord knows how long it’s been up there and I can’t believe I’ve lived with it for 3 years.

Here is the equally ugly Master Bathroom wallpaper.  Actually I think it’s uglier…….

2/2/2008 – I bought the tile for the hall bathroom today as well as a faucet for the sink in there.  We spend almost 3 hours and Lowes and Home Depot trying to decide what tiles we liked.  What made it harder is everytime we found some we couldn’t find the Bullnose pieces to match to finish it off the edges….I did finally find something very neutral I liked at Lowe’s and it was even on sale.  It’s a very beige marbly 8 x 8 tile.  I thought about just going traditional with white poreclein tiles then making it edgey with a row of something else but then thought that was too much trouble.  My husband is still debating the tiles for the master.  He likes the brushed marble…looks real old world tuscan.  It’s pretty but more expensive.  I think he wants to go to another Lowe’s, the one we were told has a better variety.  We also looked at Tubs and vanities and I think I know what we want.  If he goes with the brushed marble we’ll do a darker finish on the vanity….The problem with buying stuff like that is you just can’t load it up in your buggy and head to the register and of course found no one to help us.  Then there is the problem of getting it home…..with no truck.  I think I’ll look and see if I can get the vanity online and have it delivered.  Hey I online shop everything else.

2/5/2008 – I bought more tiles today because I’m afraid we didn’t buy enough.  Since these tiles were on sale I was afraid once they started…and if we ran out…..we might be SOL.  We will probably go buy the tubs this weekend.  I go friday to the cabinet shop to approve the design so hopefully they can order what they need to order then….yeah!

2/11/2008 – Just so I can remember I called my brother-in-law today and told him that he and his pal need to get with the cabinet guy and coordinate when to start the bathroom which will be right before the kitchen.  He’ll still have to come over and get the back door moved but we have a few weeks for that.  I tried to remove more wallpaper from the hall bath……….HARD WORK.  That wallpaper must have been there from the dawn of time.

2/22/2008 – I had a message on my phone when I arrived home from work.  It was the cabinet place and he was trying to get together that day of course it was too late by the time I got the message. It was the cabinet guys wife actually that called and she is the designer person in charge of the counter tops.  In the message she said that the counter top fabrication place called and had mis-quoted and my counter tops would be $4K something instead of the original……*didn’t catch it the first time* but thought she said $3K something.  Okay not remembering what I was quoted right off the top of my head I started to panic and get pissed.  But then I listened to the message again and it was that I was orginally quoted $5K something and now its $4K something and that includes the sink.  Now since I haven’t talked to the cabinet folks yet I don’t know if this new price reflects our last dicussion regarding a hang over part at the bar and making the cabinet underneath a regular size cabinet but if it doesn’t it shouldn’t be that much more.  So a little good news.  I’m sure they’ll want me to pay a deposit for the counter tops next time I see them and I’m sure SOMETHING will be more than I originally expected but as long as they tell me here soon it’s time to get started…..I’ll be better.

2/25/2008 – The Cabinet guy and his wife came by the house tonight to verify a measurement and to get a deposit for the Corian countertop.  His wife also wanted me to pick out my sink color.  I could have chosen white or bone but the white just seemed too white with the darker counter top.  As we were all standing there my husband asked didn’t I say I wanted a stainless sink and I asked what kind of price difference that might make and they said not much.  What would determine the price would be whether I got an under mounted sink or over mounted.  I would prefer under mount because I think that looks neater.  So now I’m waivering on the sink but he said just talk to the counter top fabricator once he calls which should be this week.  I think I would like stainless though now that I think about it.  I’m still looking at another 4-6 weeks it seems since that’s how long for counter tops…oh well.  I had already decided not to get impatient.

2/26/2007 – My cabinet guy called and said he spoke to the countertop fabricator about getting a stainless sink instead and the guy said he wouldn’t recommend getting an under-mounted one because of all the grime and buildup around the edges…….and I don’t want that so I may stick with the Corian sink.  I’m just not sure I like that it’s so much light than the countertops…….still have time to think on that.

3/12/2008 -Since there seem to be more delays (countertop on vacation until 20 Mar)…I changed my mind about the type countertop I want.  After reading both the good and bad about Corian and since I decided I wanted to go with a stainless under-mount sink….I decided to go with granite instead.  I’ve been watching several decorating shows and I just like the look of granite better.  My decision on Corian was an early/un-educated one and since one of the benefits of Corian is their sink…and I don’t want that….go with what I like better.  I like the shininess of granite and unless you pick the fancy granite, it’s in the same price range as the Corian.  Based on the designers suggestion (she’s the wife of the cabinet guy) I went with New Venetian Gold granite, with  either a 1/4 or 1/8 Bevel edge and a double stainless under-mounted sink.  She told me about that color on the phone yesterday and today I went to Lowe’s to see it in person since it is hard to tell online how it will look.  She is going to call the Granite place up in nashville and have them pick out a slab and send us a picture and then call the countertop guy and let him know the change.  There may be a problem since that particular guy doesn’t do granite and she’s already given him the deposit…but she said not to worry that he has a granite fabricator.  She said she usually goes with another guy for granite.   Hopefully it will all work out. 

I guess I now know my kitchen and bathroom projects will not be completed by my son’s birthday at the end of the month (was planning on a party) but there is headway so I guess I can be patient.

3/23/2008 – Well because I changed my mind about my countertops material, it’s gonna cost me $1000 more.  My designer called me friday and first apologized because the person she originally hired and gave the deposit to does not do granite but has a fabricator he uses…..and because of this…..the orginal guys gets a cut AND his fabricator so basically I have to pay for both of them…not to mention the designer.  The designer did take $250 off which would have been part of her commission because she felt bad but still it’s $1000 more.  I told her I guess that wasn’t too bad since they orginally quoted me one price then came down and now I’m back up just a little more than orginally quoted which was a little over $5K.  I asked if there was another granite that would be cheaper and my designer said what I’m getting is the most economical and still nice.  Anyways, she is calling the granite place and they will pick out a slab and send us a picture and sample so I can use it to pick out paint.

3/28/2008 -Received in the mail today a sample of the granite slab they will be using for my counter tops.  Not as yellow as I expected but looks very nice.  I’m starting to get impatient about everything and may just tell my contractor to get started on the bathrooms now.

4/19/2008 – I am about fed up with my home improvement projects.  I’m tired of hearing 6-8 weeks or 8-12 weeks….it’s way past that.  I asked my husband today to call my brother in law who is the sub contractor and tell him they need to contact the kitchen cabinet guy and get me a date.  We need a date to start so the others can get in there and tear out the kitchen so they can replace all the pipes and work on the bathrooms.  It’s TIME DAMN IT!

4/23/2008 – After a total melt down at work because I couldn’t get my husband to help ….I finally called my brother-in-law myself and asked him to contact the cabinet place to see what’s going on.  Of course there was a whole lot of lying and a whole lot of miscommunications but either way…..My brother in law will come over friday and move the back door then monday get started on the bathrooms.  Then he’ll get with the cabinet place to set up getting those installed.  They’ve BEEN ready and the guy that makes the cabinets was supposedly waiting on my contractor but the elder cabinet guy kept telling me they were talking to my contractor and he’d have the younger one (his son) get with my guys to find out when everything would be ready.  It’s a whole mess but I feel better that something has been scheduled.  I insisted my husband make the call this evening to schedule friday.  I needed his help before and he didn’t come through so I was determined he’d help with this.  Now I just have to keep on them to get everything when they are suppose to.

4/25/2008 – I have a new back door anda hole cut out where the window was so we are making some headway.  Brother-in-law showed up this morning and later met me at Lowe’s where we purchased a door and a bathroom vanity, hauled it to my house then even later came back and took out the window and cut it out for the door. He sat the door in there but it’s not secure yet.  He’s coming back tomorrow with a mason guy and another contractor to get it in there, board up the exising door and move an outlet.  Monday will start the pipes and master bathroom. Since we still need a few things he recommended going to Hobby Lobby for a vanity mirror since right now all mirrors are 50% off and they have a huge selection of some very nice and very large mirrors that would look perfect over the vanity.

4/27/2008 – The master bath is torn out and the paneling in the breakfast room is down as well as the ceiling in the kitchen.  Not sure what’s going to happen today.  The back door is not taken out yet nor is the new door finished in.  My contractor/BIL had the plumber over here yesterday taking a look at the pipes to see about replacing them with PVC pipe and bringing the whole shabang up some so we can raise the kitchen ceiling some.  That’s going to cost a pretty penny.  We don’t know how many pennies yet but hopefully I’ll know today.  It’s all coming along.  I’m a little frustrated that it is not coming along any faster and the fact that they don’t get here till like 10am so I’m stuck here.  Monday was really bad because I had no idea when they’d be here and I was starting to get pissed when they pulled up.  At least now I know (this being day two and they aren’t here yet and it’s 9:55).  Tomorrow I will probably run errands in the morning since they’ll probably be late again.  But I can’t complain too much since they did get alot done and cleaned up good after themselves.

4/30/2008 – Yesterday they put up sheet rock where the bath tiles and tub will go and tore out one wall of the kitchen so they could see the pipes….and that was it.  My contractor/BIL is still trying to find someone to replace the pipes for a reasonable price so he doesn’t have to….so pretty much not much was done and I lost a whole day of work.  This morning my sister in law calls and says he has to run out and meet a structural engineer at another job and would be at my house at 11.  It’s almost one now and there goes another wasted morning.  I guess I won’t say wasted totally since I was able to go get my oil changed and run a couple of errands but I was home by 11…..way before 11.  I did get my new kitchen appliances delivered so I was home for that…and now here I sit.  Can’t go anywhere…….just have to wait.  I’m trying my hardest not to get impatient.  My Brother-in-law is doing several jobs around town and I know is going to treat us well in the end.  He also is used to working where he can come and go throughout the day and the people not be home.  I was not comfortable with that and neither was my husband.  It’s not that I don’t trust my BIL but frankly who knows who’ll he have with him and I just don’t like people in my home when I am not there.  So I wait.  He’s probably off taking his wife to lunch like he did yesterday meanwhile leaving his helper here till almost 1:30 without a vehicle and running out of stuff he could do.  TRY TO REMEMBER IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY AND GET DONE….TRY AND REMEMBER THAT. 
5/9/2008 – You can read my main page to see all the drama we’ve ben through in the last couple of weeks but between leaks, brown recluse spider bites which knocked out one plumber only to leave us with another plumber who wasn’t too neat…..I THINK our plumbing is done. Now I have to wait and see what starts next but believe me I’m not taking off a full week of work AGAIN. I also got a call today from the cabinet guy and he’s ready for me to come pick out stain and handles. Got an email that the granite guy is staying ontop of everything too so now….sit back and wait some more.

5/14/2008 – Plumbing is done.  Today much to my dismay because they didn’t even start working until 4, the contractors had to replace the sheet rock on one wall around one side of the shower because what was there before would not have supported tiles.  So several hours of my time was spent while they did that.  Hopefully they will be able to start the tile work tomorrow since it will be raining and all their outside jobs at other sights have been cancelled.  Monday I went to the cabinet shop and picked out my handles and my stain.  The first sample of stain they showed me seemed too dark and the cabinet guy said he must have told the stainer he wrong color.  They did up another sample based on a picture I showed him and it seemed too honey colored to me.  He assured me it would be darker on a bigger canvass and gave me a sample.  The more I looked at it, the more I decided that was the color I had originally chosen.  Went to Lowe’s yesterday and started buying tiles for the backsplash along with more tiles for the master bath since we were short there. Saw some outlet covers there too that matched the knobs and handles I picked out.  I’ll have to admit I can’t stand workmen being in my home.  I feel so violated especially when we are there and trying to get on with our evening routines (feeding little boy, bathing him, eating our own dinner etc).

5/18/2008 – Master shower tile is done except for grout. Floor is close to being finished.  Monday they should start putting that bath together finally then on to the next one.  Luckily it is only having tub replaced then tile.  Looks like I won’t get everything completed in a year’s time….geez.

5/19/2008 – I am no longer leaving my house available for the contractor to come and go.  He had promised me that only he and his partner would be in my house and he broke that promise.  Not only did they have a helper over there but the first day the original plumbers came by to drop off their bill and get paid and they were let in to go into the backyard and go under the house to get their light which I had also specifically ask that no one go into the backyard.  Also, they were no showing up till late afternoon anyways so I’m just going to leave early every day and be home. 

5/21/2008 – After my brother-in-law calling me at 10am to come open the house so he and/or the sheetrock guy could come in and do something, and me coming home and telling him I’ll have to stay here because I’m not leaving my house unlocked…..my BIL did a little more tile work and told me he’d be back and that the sheet rock guy or his wife would be by to do something……So I waited and I waited…no sheet rock guy…..When my husband came home that evening I was livid.  I told him I’d been waiting here all day for the sheet rock guy and/or my BIL.  I was so pissed I told my husband to close the garage so I could let my cats back inside.  Around 6:30pm when we were contemplating going out to eat….my brother-in-law pulls up to finish the grouting in the master bath.  This pissed me off because I’d been here all day and now he was going to be here during our evening wind-down time and someone being here would also upset my two-year old son’s schedule.  He could tell I was pissed but never said anything.  Anyways, he got it grouted and was suppose to call us today to get the sheet rock over (he didn’t know what had happened to him yesterday).  I have yet to hear anything today but I told him I’d be home today at 4.

6/5/2008 – I’m sitting here at home while a guy is riping out my hall bath tub.  I know it’s hard to believe but after 4 weeks of work…the master bath is 99.2% done so they are now going to start on the hall bath.  Thankfully only the tub is being replaced in there.  I have not picked out a paint color yet  for the master but they did prime it for us so it’s okay to take a shower in there.  Yesterday, I bought one of those shower rods that is rounded out so you feel like you have more room in the shower.  Hubby  is waiting for me to paint before we put the permanent rod up.  I’m not getting my hopes up but brother-in-law/contractor has showed up two days in a row fairly close to on time so maybe we will get this done before xmas!  LOL

6/09/08 – After ripping out the bathtub and toilet in the hall bathroom….I have not seen my brother-in-law since Thursday.  We told him then that I’d be home all day friday and he said he’d be there…never showed.  Today is Monday and he never showed.  I’m wondering how he’ll feel when it takes me weeks to pay him once he completes the job?  Even my mother-in-law said this week end…”now you know not to hire family”…ain’t that the truth.  Here is a sneak peek of my Master Bath.  I can’t paint it until he does some touch-up on the sheet rock.  That needs to be done plus some patching of the mortar around the shower as well as the tub, putting down the threshold at the door and another coat of sealer on the granite…

6/11/2008 – My husband called me at the office first thing this morning and said the contractors will be at the house at noon if I could come to the house and wait for them until he gets there.  I was hoping we’d hear form them today since I haven’t seen or heard from him 5 days…..hopefully he can make some headway on the hall bath.  I told my husband that we need to tell him to PLEASE don’t do this to us when they get ready to do the kitchen.  Don’t tear it out then disappear for several days.  I we survive with one bathroom but when the kitchen is gone….it’s gone and we still have a toddler to get fed each day…..More later

6/11/2008…..9:38 pm……Well the tub is in in the hall bathroom as well as the sheet rock.  The young guys who were doing this were leaving as my and little boy pulled in.  My brother-in-law stayed…and stayed…and stayed…shooting the bull with my husband.  He mentioned he was on his way to get money from a guy whose roof he did.  Then when he came back instead (and although my husband didn’t hear this) he said something about needing money from me.  I said for what? And he said for the work we’ve done.  I said to him….”well you are not finished yet”  then I left the room and went upstairs.  Okay number one what makes him think I’m paying for this work….it’s husband’s bathroom and number two…..it’s not finished.  My husband mentioned to him the very things he told us Thursday that still needed to be done and he said he’d have to look…………..he didn’t even go upstairs while he was here today.  I mean they are little things but make the bathroom unfinished…..I don’t mind paying for the work that has been done.  I mean I know he has people to pay but he told me they don’t ask for money until the job is done….and it is not.  If we paid now…those little things may or may not get done especially since he forgets.  I told my husband that he needs to take him upstairs and SHOW him these things and stay on him till he does them…There is not even a threshold in the doorway AND he told me Thursday he needed to sand the sheetrock a little more before I should paint….and I wanted to paint this past weekend but didn’t because of that….and then we don’t see him for 5 days…..

They are suppose to come tomorrow and husand is taking off the afternoon.  They are going to end up tiling the floor in the hall bathroom because the tub is not as wide as we first thought and the floor covering has a big gape in front of the tub….Luckily I bought enough of the same tile that they can use in both shower and floor.

6/12/2008 – My husand told my brother-in-law I’d be home at one on friday.  He showed at 3 something and put tile on one wall of the hall shower (one was already tiled) and then left. No telling when I’ll see him again.  I had a melt down again about the stained carpet and the mess the contractors are leaving.  We vacuumed the hall and stairs then I put carpet cleaner on the stairs.  Even though they’ll just mess it up again…we have to live here when they are not here.  I especially don’t want my child walking through such a mess.  I am almost done painting the master bath.  I ran out of paint since I only bought a quart.  I thought it would be enough and it almost was.  Hopefully I can get more tomorrow plus so to Bed Bath and Beyond and look at shower curtains.

6/16/2008 – Remodel Update…..to date two walls of the hall bathtub tilework is up (just up not caulked yet).  My brother-in-law/contractor showed up friday around 3:30 even though we told him thursday I’d be home at 1:00 (and I made sure I was too).  He tiled one wall and left.  I did buy some paint and started painting the master bath.  I got it done buut my husband wants to go over it with another coat plus I had some trouble painting around the vanity light.  The trim also needs to be painted but I told my husband he can do the rest (finish painting, put up shower rod and towel racks) since this is mostly his bathroom and I still have to paint the hall bath, our bedroom and little boy’s room and the kitchen before this whole thing is through.  This weekend I also got some carpet cleaner out and cleaned the steps at least and vacuumed.  I’m truly tired of living in this mess.  We have a small child and he doesn’t need to walk on this mess…..Most of the stains came out and after vacuuming up the mess my contractor made while working on the hall bath I was able to enjoy the rest of the evening and weekend.  I also got the mattress moved out of my craft room this week and other than the crap I’ve had to put in there from other rooms being worked on, the craft room is almost organized like I wanted it.  We moved the mattress into the computer room and I plan on setting it up in there.  Eventually (and maybe sooner than expected) we plan on getting new bedroom furniture and since we don’t really want it ruined, putting our existing furniture into the computer room.  We are currently using my husband’s set he had as a teenager so obviously not good for a master bedroom.  New furniture might mean new carpet sooner AND a new mattress..YES!  We are sure stimulating the economy this year! 

6/17/2008 – It’s funny how the fact that I’m documenting/journaling this home improvement experience…helps me some days and pisses me off more others…..Today I’m indifferent though….I mean obviously me getting pissed doesn’t help.  Either way…..we never heard from or saw our contractor yesterday.  I only hope this whole thing does not cause me to feel uncomfortable at family gatherings.  Sunday, my sister-in-law invited us over to swim.  I didn’t commit and told her I’d tell my husband.  I told him but secretly hoped we would not go because frankly I’m so mad at my brother-in-law I didn’t want to see him unless he was working on my bathroom!  We didn’t go but only because we had other plans.  Again..think twice before hiring a family member even if it is his job.

6/17/2008 at 9:33pm.  Did not see my brother-in-law or any of his workers.  After I walked around my house fuming for awhile I started to think about “who else can I hire?”  This is ridiculous.

6/19/2008 – Didn’t see my contractor/brother-in-law again yesterday.  My husband tried calling but only got voice mail.  It would not surprise me a bit if he and his family headed off to Florida…..I threw a big fit when husband got home from work and told him that’s it that I’m going to find someone else to finish our jobs…..I’m frustrated to tears again at this point.  Only thing is I have no idea who to get…would they do us any differently.  Everyone I’ve talked to has not particularly had great experiences with contractors but yet these contractors keep getting business.  I don’t understand it.  We are at their mercy actually.  I’m at the point now though that if I do say something that pisses my brother in law off where he won’t ever come back….I don’t care.  I actually trusted him because he is family (by marriage) and the fact that he has done us this way hurts me.  Husband is going to try and call again today.  I can’t get off work that early today and tomorrow we have plans in the late afternoon.  The weekend is right there and even if he got in, finished tiling the tub and tiled the floor I truly don’t think it would get done this week.  Still have to grout after tiles set up and the sheet rock work.  If I don’t get at least the bathrooms done soon my head is going to explode.  Another thing is seeing how he’s done us with the bathrooms….what about when they tear out the kitchen!? 

6/19/2008…9.26pm:  My husband got ahold of my brother-in-law and although was not stern with him like I wanted him to be he did make arrangements for them to be here tomorrow around 9am.  I would bet money that they won’t show up anywhere near then but we’ll see.  This is definitely effecting my mood and not in a good way.  I was upset this evening just contemplating being around him and the fact that he will probably show up late.  What sorta makes me mad too is when husband talked to him it was like “When do you want me to come?” Like he was waiting on us…..We shouldn’t have to call him everyday and say he can you come so and so.  He should let us know when he can come.  I mean any other time he would just show up in the evenings and if we let on that one of us could take off then we’d make arranagements (although he would rarely show up when he said he would).  I forgot to mention that last night my son poured a cup of water on the floor in the master bath and it leaked down through either the spots were the tub meets the tile or through the hole around the toilet.  Either way….it shouldn’t leak like that and it did all in my kitchen.  Now what if the new ceiling was in and the new kitchen…I would be pissed.

6/20/2008 -Even after waiting two hours past the time he told my husband he’d be at the house…I was nice to my brother-in-law.  Lord knows I have every right to be very bitchy but I contained myself and very politely asked for a timeline for them to commit to to get these jobs done and even even threw in “For the sake of your brother-in-law (my husband), please get my kitchen done.”  I told him I’m not happy and that my husband is getting the wrath (which he is and I hate that). Today they came (two hours late did I mention) and finished tiling the hall bath except for two small bullnose tiles because they ran out, sheetrocked the big hole in the wall and sheet rocked a big hole downstairs in the kitchen.  They would have started the floor I think but they told me the tile wasn’t thick enough and that I should get a different kind.  He told me that were about the finish up this big job (should be by Monday) and that it was a big payday job and they really wanted to finish that one then they should be able to come tuesday and dedicate the week to us plus call the cabinet guy and get them started on the cabinets.  Of course I know deep inside they are probably just appeasing me so I won’t bitch anymore but I’m going to give them another chance AGAIN.  I mean what can I do..he’s my brother-in-law.  I’m sure I will be back to bitching again next week when I take off work and they don’t show up but I’ll enjoy my weekend and worry about that then.

6/23/2008 – I called my contractor and they’ll be coming on Wednesday to get some work done.  He claims he has a call into the Cabinet guy but I will call him myself in the morning.

6/25/2008 – Possibly some progress.  After me sitting here this morning till 10:00am or so thinking I’ve been screwed again…we may actually be making some progress here.  Today so far they’ve mudded the walls for sheetrock in the hall bath and breakfast area and put the boards down for the tile floor. He called the cabinet guy while I was listening and we are looking at next wednesday for cabinet installation. One thing I was kinda concerned about and who knows who to believe was my brother in law said they had two calls into the cabinet guy (this was sunday or monday).  When I inquired they both (contractors) played dumb like they had not even tried.  So I kinda put the pressure on them to try again right then and they got the guy right away.  There is still a lot to be done and many people to schedule but I feel a little better with a date for the cabinets.  My husband also paid them for what has been done so far and I have all the receipts etc.  I will probably have to remind them about the little things in the Master Bath too but that’s okay…I can nag with the best of them if it gets results.

6/26/2008 – Scheduled today grouting the hall bath shower and floor and framing out the ceiling in the kitchen.  Of course the contractors have not made it yet today but I didn’t expect them till after lunch anyways. This time though they called around 1230 and said they’d be a little late since they were in the next town.  Hopefully today they’ll clean up their mess better.  They left a box of 12×12 tiles in the hallway with tiles in it and some garbage (scraps of wood) and my son tripped over it and hurt himself.  Us adults know how to walk around but it was dark and he wasn’t paying attention.  I’ll have to have him show his uncle (the contractor) the boo boo he got from tripping over the mess.

6/26/2008 Updated – This is actually becoming a saga isn’t it?  Well again we seem to be making headway.  I think they are realizing my frustration.  My brother-in-law came in and they tore out my kitchen.  It’s gone..well except for the sink which we are trying to keep as long as possible.  We are going to have to set up some area in the dining room or living room for food prep especially with a toddler in the house.  They started framing up the new ceiling but it was getting late by the time the other guy got there with the lumber.  They actually SAY they’ll be back in the morning and they’ll bring the electrician.  I actually have no lights in the kitchen right now.  he never got around to grouting the bath and floor upstairs though which I was disappointed in.  Tomorrow is husband and I’s anniversary and we had talked about a quick little weekend trip and leaving tomorrow afternoon but that might not happen if we are having work done.  As long as it has taken we sure don’t want to sent them away.

6/28/2008 – We have light! They framed out the new ceiling yesterday and the electrician put in the can lights, cut holes for the lights over the bar AND put in the light in the breakfast area.  I’m going to finally be able to see what i’m cooking!  Only thing is when they were taking down sheet rock it must have messed up our phones lines.  Supposedly they’ll be back Monday to sheet rock and maybe tear out rest of kitchen.  They are going to tile before the kitchen goes in which is stressing me because I’m not 100% on the floor yet.  I REALLY NEED HELP!

6/30/2008 – I went to Home Depot on Saturday and after consulting two designers, 3 HD employees and one customer, I picked up about four tiles and brought them home to lay them out on my floor to see how they looked in that light.  Still stressing and not 100% sure they went with my countertop I also consulted RATEMYSPACE with no luck on my decision.  Sunday I loaded up my husband and son and we went back to Home Depot and they loaded up the dolly with 15 boxes of that particular tile.  I looked for the designer but she wasn’t back there.  We headed up front to pay and low and behold  at the front of the store I see the tile I wanted.  It looked great with the countertop sample and cabinet sample I had.  I went back to the Design Area with that tile and my samples to see if the designer was there this time and she was.  She liked that tile too as did the customer she was helping…so I trek back up front to tell husband I changed my mind.  Then we start looking for the boxes for this tile and there were none!  All they had left of that particular tile was maybe 10 13×13 tiles!  So I said forget it I’m not driving all over town in hopes of finding this tile again (was a discontinued tile) so I am sticking with the original tile and PRAY I like it with my cabinets.  My husband stayed home today and the plan today is to rip out the rest of the kitchen and the laminate floor and not sure what else.  I know my husband is starting the ripping out of the floor and is cleaning out the frig so it will be easier moved.  Our phone lines are still messed up and the phone company can’t come till 3 Jul.  Luckily we have one line that works.

7/1/2008 – The back door has been boarded up and today after the electrician moves the outlet that was were the new door is going we should have a new backdoor today.  Yesterday, the kitchen floor was tore out and a backer board put in and the hall bath shower was grouted.  There was a problem with putting the toilet back in but they’ll fix that today.  Cabinet installation is scheduled for tomorrow!  YES!  I can’t believe it…..of course I know it will be a little longer to get my kitchen finalized with the floors and countertop (especially with the holiday weekend coming up) but I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

7/3/2008 – I have cabinets. I waited all day and as of right now there are no doors but I have cabinets! UPDATE:  The light at the end of my tunnel has been dimmed.  Again I waited all day because the guys who came yesterday and put in the cabinets said the guy would come and make a template for the countertop and the cabinet guy would come and put the trim and doors on.  I didn’t know what time so I waited.  Then about a little after lunch I called and left a message to PLEASE call me…never heard from him.  Then about 4:30 I called again and his Daddy answered (and frankly I don’t believe anything he says anyways) and as far as he knew they were not coming today and the countertop guy was put on hold until he builds some piece to support the counter……I told him I wish someone had called because I’ve been sitting here all day!  Now it looks like MAYBE tuesday.  Another snag today was when they came to bring the new stove and dishwasher into the house they notice a big ole dent in the side of my very expensive MayTag double oven!  I called Home Depot and they were like…”well how damaged is it?”  I’m like it has a dent on the side.  Sure the dent can’t be seen (we found out later) but I didn’t buy a dented stove!  They asked if I would take $300  and if not he would have to speak to the manager again to see what they could do.  They truly didn’t want it back if it THAT damaged but would work with me.  At first I was really upset and afraid I’d be stuck with a dented stove but my brother-in-law said he’d go down there and talk to them. He had to run and errand then he’d go there.  He came back later and said he talked to a friend who use to be a manager there and what they offered was standard and if the dent can’t be seen…..take the money.  We double checked and we don’t believe it can be seen and there seems to be no other damage. So I accepted the $300 and will go pick it up tomorrow. 

We are still undecided about the floors in the kitchen even though husband loaded up and we bought 15 boxes of some.   Some work did get done today.  The electrician came and wired up the cabinets for under cabinet lights and put a plug in for the stove.  The hall bath got painted as well and I am very pleased with the colors I chose.  The aloe colored walls and the brown floor go perfect with the paisley shower curtain I bought.  I can’t wait to get the mirror in there and finish painting the cabinets.  But I guess most of that will have to wait till next week.

So we are without a kitchen (and no sink) for the weekend……….Crap.

7/5/2008 – I should have called this page “nightmares in Remodeling”! I am literally at my wits end.  Today after going to Home Depot to get my $324 they are refunding me for the dented stove I’m standing in my cabinet doorless kitchen imaging how it will look when I look down at the dishwasher that is sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor and damned if it does have a big ole crack in the control console.  This is not a factory defect or a defect from delivery but seems pretty obvious a crack from bringing it into the house!  I thought I would scream…maybe I did scream…..it’s all a hazy memory right now as I stare into space in disbelief……What the hell am I suppose to do now!  I mean it was my brother in law and one of their workers who brought it in.  Do you think he’ll own up to the damage?  I doubt it.  And should I hold him responsible for my $500 dishwasher..?  WILL THIS NIGHTMARE EVER END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m locked here in my computer room because frankly I’m so pissed and upset that I can’t be around my husband or child. What else can go wrong with this remodelling experience……….is there anything left?

7/7/08 – I’ve calmed down from the dishwasher drama and I only pray we can replace the control console and it won’t cost too much.  I took pictures of the damage and will download tonight.  My husband called my brother-in-law last night but did not mention the damage yet.  Supposedly he’s going to call cabinet guy and coordinate with him to get cabinet doors.  There is electrical that still needs to be done so he’s trying to get everyone there at same time.  Of course I had to come back to work today and can only do half day at home tomorrow and/or thursday but hopefully we can work around that.  I’m praying for countertops by friday so I can pick up floor tiles over the weekend and get floors done next monday….

7/8/2008 – Talked to my brother-in-law this morning and they are still trying to get the cabinet guy.  We’ve been calling the father which may be why the calls aren’t returned.  I told him to call the cabinet guy and that’s a different number so maybe we’ll hear something soon.  The dust in my house is terrible.  My husband coughes all night and I have lots of sinsus pressure.  Won’t end till all the work stops I suspect.

7/8/08 – Update:  I finally just called the cabinet guy myself.  I left a really good message and was really nice.  He called me back an hour or so later and apologized.  He claimed he thought the granite guy had done the template or had contacted me.  He was currently working on the doors and trim and thought maybe be able to get that thursday or friday.  He said he would call the granite guy and see what’s going on.  He called back after talking to his Dad and they claim (I use claim very loosely) that the granite guy showed up and couldn’t get into the house…duh?  If someone had called!  So anyways I’m NOW waiting on the granite guy to call me.  My brother-in-law is suppose to stop by the house tonight  to finish up the hall bath.  I don’t understand why there has been such a communication problem here and why people feel like they have to lie…..

7/9/2008 – Brother-in-law never stopped by to finish the hall bath but I was kinda glad.  It had been a long day and he tends to hang around longer than I’d like.  I did talk to the granite guy yesterday too and he is scheduled to come to the house at 1:00 today to make the template for the countertops.  Not sure how long it will take to make the counter but I’m PRAYING maybe I’ll have a counter by early next week (I won’t hold my breath though).  We have not discussed with the brother-in-law about the dishwasher and the fact that the electrician needs to change the outlet for the stove so it will sit flush inside the cabinets and not show the DENT.  I’m going to let husband do that

7/10/08 – The granite guy came yesterday and made the template for the countertop.  He told my husband it would take a week to a week and a half which was a disappointment to me but I’ve waited this long……Did not hear from my contractor nor the cabinet guy but I will call them today and see about getting them to the house tomorrow.  We still need the outlet checked out for the stove to make sure the stove will fit.  Also, the hall bath is not done.  I hope my brother-in-law hasn’t got off on another job again and going to ignore ours…..He won’t get paid till it’s done.  UPDATE:  The cabinet guy says he’ll do his best to come finish up and my BIL says they’ll be there as well tomorrow.  One problem the countertop.  I understood that the quote included a sink and they are telling me now…no.  The Corian estimate included a sink but not the granite quote.  My desginer called me and said she’d try and get a sink from her other fabricator at cost.  I told her as much more as I’m paying for this granite you think it would include a sink (since I’m paying her, the countertop guy and the fabricator).  See originally I was getting Corian and the guy she uses for that was given a deposit.  Several weeks later I decided I wanted granite and she doesn’t use this same guy for that and he doesn’t even do it so instead of asking for the money back, he just sub-contracted the job which raised my price…….whatever…Just get my countertops.

7/11/2008 – Contractors are here “mudding” the walls in the kitchen and working on putting up the trim etc.  They’ll finish up that hall bath today as well I hope.  They want to tile the floor before the countertops come in so I agreed on the Travertine beige so I hope I like it.  I told my brother-in-law about the dishwasher and although I knew he would deny the damage (and it cannot be proved either way) they said they would take the thing back and get me a new one so I’m fine with that as long as they can do it.  Hopefully electrician will come today as well and move the stove outlet inside the wall so the stove will sit flush.

7/11/2008 9:42pm:  The hall bath is pretty much done except for the door threshold which will be added tomorrow.  They will put a new threshold in the masterbath as well.  The cabinet guy showed up around 3:45 but did not bring the doors or shelves like I thought he would.  He mostly showed to measure for the trim and see what he needed to do for the area that covers a vent.  He believes he might have everything by Monday since he planned on working the weekend.  I can always call in sick or have husband be off since I assume we’ll have other workers there as well.  Not sure if the electrician will be here but my other contractors said they’d be here tomorrow.  I don’t particularly want workers here on saturday (my day to relax) but if they are willing to come and get stuff done I will let them.  I did have to pay them some money today.  $1500 I knew was for the labor on the hall bath but he wanted $500 more and I didn’t get a receipt for what that was for but will get that soon.  I don’t think he’ll cheat me but still I’d like to know what I’ve already paid for.

7/12/2008 – Of course no one came today…how silly of me to think that when my BIL says they’ll come..that they actually will.  Take that back.  He did stop by around 3:30 to get some tools he’d left in the garage.  I got so mad at him and my husband I could have screamed.  Since I didn’t think he was coming I let my kittens back in the house and husband goes out there and opens the garage door so he could get his tools.  I think one kitten was actually in the garage and my husband is lucky he didn’t try and run out.  All he had to do was tell me they were opening up the garage and I would have done something with the kittens.  I’m still fuming over that one.  If I don’t hear from the cabinet guy by 6 on Sunday I’m suppose to call him to make sure he is coming Monday.  Maybe I can get the others there too.  There is still lots to be done before the countertops go in …..

7/14/2008 – Nothing new.  Again I wait……

7/16/2008 – After 4 calls and the last one sounding like I was very upset (cuz I was) I finally heard back from the cabinet guy last night around nine.  They are coming this morning and everything is ready for install.  If they come when they are suppose to and get done I’m going to have husband call the other contractors and maybe get some work done since I stayed home today.  It kinda pisses me off that I have to CALL the general contractor for them to come work.  They should be checking in.  Again I believe I am being put on back burner. UPDATE:  STOOD UP AGAIN.  I get a call about 1:00 saying he’d messed up a piece and had to re-do it then spray it so it would be in the morning before he could come.  After I called my husband to fuss about it I called my brother-in-law/contractor to get them over here tomorrow as well.  I really shouldn’t have to call…he should have been checking in.

BTW this is my dishwasher.  The damage is still obvious to me as something that was done when the dishwasher was moved inside.  I mean when you have a big ding out of a white doorfacing, a big crack in the dishwasher and an obvious hint of white paint scrap/dust…..

7/17/08 – The cabinet guy finally showed up at 11 after I called twice and the last time flat out said I’m angry.  I mean when someone says they’ll be there first thing in the morning…..that doesn’t mean 11 in my world (maybe I’m wrong)  My husband stayed home today with contractors.  Will know more about what’s going when I arrive home.

UPDATE:  I have cabinet doors and shelves and the whole thing looks awesome!  I’ve already started loading up the cabinets!  LOL.  When I left work I had planned on stopping by the house before picking up my son at daycare.  I kept on driving because I saw that the cabinet guy was still there.  I was so mad I wasn’t sure I could face him.  I did a little shopping then picked up my son. They were still there.  He said he gave the bill to my husband but he wanted us to discuss it since he wanted us to take off some for staying home and waiting and him not showing up.  He also said he could come by and get the check tomorrow.  I went upstairs and saw the bill and he’d already taken off $100 for some mis-drilling of holes but overall it was the price quoted (which I didn’t expect) and still a reasonable bill.  Even though he pissed me off, the fact that he offered that made me decide not to.  So I wrote him a check tonight so he can pick up tomorrow.  We got a good price on the cabinets I thought.  Now if my damn brother-in-law would do something like that it would be a nice gesture as well.  He did make an appearance today and got a check from my husband so he could go to Home Depot and get my Travertine flooring….only to come back with some excuse about them not having any on the floor just up high on a palet and no one could find a forklift.  The dishwasher is still sitting in the garage and there are still no thresholds in either bathroom.  The cabinet guy couldn’t even put up all his trim because we haven’t seen BIL in a week other than to pick up some of his tools from our garage.  Supposedly the countertops are coming in tomorrow so at least I can finish loading up the kitchen then hopefully BIL can get the flooring and maybe start that as well as the electrician finish what he has to do…..I still have hope believe it or not….just less money

7/18/2008 – The countertop guys came this morning about 9 which took me completely off guard but happily.  It took them about 3 hours and the house smells like Epoxsy but I have countertops!!!!  They are very pretty and I’m tickled over them.  Just wish I could get to enjoy my new kitchen now….I have not seen or heard from my brother-in-law even though my husband told him yesterday that I would be home all day.  I really should not have to keep calling him.

7/21/2008 – I stayed home from work today because I didn’t feel good…..a good opportunity to get some work done here.  They are currently laying the travertine tiles which I am not sure I like yet, the microwave has been installed and my brother in law took my dishwasher back to Home Depot and after a good while of arguing with them..brought the damaged one back and said the Maytag people will be contacting me to replace the door of the dishwasher for free.  At first Home Depot claimed it was a Maytag problem and that I should contact Maytag but then my BIL said he told them….she bought it at Home Depot with a Home Depot charge card so he believed it was a Home Depot problem.  Home Depot then contacted Maytag.  My BIL was here till after 8pm and frankly I was really ready for them to leave.  I just wanted to go to bed…..LOL….but I also want my kitchen done.  Not sure if my husband asked for the receipt for the tiles.  He’d given them a blank check made out to Home Depot for the tiles.  He better ask for it before it gets lost.  It’s not that we don’t trust BIL……we don’t really trust anybody

7/22/08 – All tiles are down in the kitchen as of today but not grouted.  My contractors just left and I have no idea if they are coming back today.  There is still plenty to do besides the grout.  The electricial never showed even though I went to Lowe’s first thing to exchange two undercounter lights that were too long.  I did ask foe my husband’s receipt from Home Depot.  I got that from my BIL’s partner who seems to be the more responsible one when it comes to money and things like that.  Also, today even though I had a terrible headache I decided to start priming and painting the master bedroom.  I was rather limited by big furniture but still managed to get one wall done before I was wore out.  Tomorrow I will go to the building wholesaler and get some tumbled marble for my backsplash and hopefully husband can stay home with contractors.  I have to return to work tomorrow.

7/23/08 – Due to me having to go back to work today and husband having a problem at work and not being able to leave, the only thing we got done today was some sanding of the sheetrock.  He did turn the water on so I could use the sink but after washing my son’s sippy cups then dumping a bowl of hot water down the drain……..swish…a big bunch of water poured into the cabinet down below.  Guess they’ll be fixing that tomorrow! Husband is staying home tomorrow morning then at lunch I’m going to buy the tumbled marble for the backsplash that will be installed friday we hope.

7/24/08 – Floor is grouted and sink drain is fixed.  Evidently seak on the garbage disposal was put on wrong end.  They are coming back tomorrow to install the backsplash, seal the floors, trim, prime etc…yeah!  The light at the end of the tunnel is a slight bit brighter.  There are just so many little things that still need to be done.

7/27/2008 – Friday my BIL came along with his partner and they got the backsplash up.  I opted to have the tumbled marble put like a diamond pattern instead of running bond and I’m glad I did.  It looks great.  Only thing is that is all that was done friday.  Never saw the electrician.  Will probably call BIL tonight and get them here tomorrow to get more done.

- Grout backsplash

-finish electrical

- sand and put a sealer on floor

- finish sheetrocking/mudding walls, sand and then prime and paint

- put up trim and finishing touches

-Hook up dishwasher and put frig back in place

I did call Maytag friday and set up an appt for them to come replace the door on the dishwasher.  Hoepfully they won’t give me a problem about replacing it for free.  Bad part is…they gave me a window of between 8am and 5 pm…………geezz…….

7/27/2008 UPDATED:  BIL’s phone has been disconnected so my husband called the other contractor.  Thankfully they’ll be here tomorrow after lunch but for awhile there I was afraid nothing was going to get done tomorrow since he said all his crew is working on another job.  I forgot to mention that friday my BIL asked for $500.  I told him I did not have it and he did not press it other than asking if my husband did.  He told me upfront that I would not have to pay until the job is finished. It’s no where near done and there was no way I was going to pay him bits and pieces especially after what his partner had told me about him doing that to other clients and being overpaid and blowing through thousands of dollars in a matter of weeks.  Hey it’s not my problem if you can’t manage your money any better than that…family or no.  He’ll get paid when my f**** kitchen is done to my satisfication.  I’m tired of bitching at MY husband for things my BIL is or is not doing.  But I’m afraid if I bitch to BIL he won’t get ANYTHING done or do it badly.  NEVER hire family!  My BIL’s wives bestfriend had also hired BIL to do some work and it wasn’t getting done so she supposedly fired him.  I’m afraid I don’t have that luxury…without a problem being caused or I would have done it a long time ago.

7/28/2008 – Left work about 11 so I could get home and get everything out of the kitchen.  Around 12:30 my BIL’s partner called to say that my phoneless BIL will be there after he stops at his house.  He gets there and starts working on grouting the backsplash then muds and sands the walls then primes them.  The dust from the shetrock really screwed me up and I had to look for my inhaler.  I’ve been wondering why I have felt funny and now I think it’s from all the dust and fumes in our house right now.  The kitchen is really starting to look like a kitchen.  I asked if he thought the kitchen will be done this week and he said “Oh yeah” but I’m sure that doesn’t mean the outside part where they have to finish out the door on the outside but I’m thinking the inside just might get done if the electrician shows up tomorrow.  My husband is staying home to meet the Maytag repairman who will come replace the door on the brand new dishwasher.  BIL and them will also be a the house and will hopefully finish most everything else.  I told husband if they start asking for money to tell them we need an invoice and a chance to look at it first and not to give them money.  I want to make sure EVERYTHING is done before we pay or it will never get done.

7/29/2008 – My husband stayed home from work today because #1 the Maytag repairman was suppose to come to replace the door on the dishwasher and #2 my BIL said they’d be there to work on the kitchen.  BIL came first thing, did a little mudding on the sheetrock and has not been seen since.  Maytag guy called late afternoon (we had a window of between 8 and 4:30 pm for them to come) and told my husband that he did not carry our particular control console on his truck and that he’d order it and be there next week….argh.  My BIL’s partner did show up a couple of times and brought the electrician.  The first time he came he was looking for my BIL because he got him a phone (BIL did not pay is cell phone bill) so we are not sure if he ever found BIL.  When I talked to my husband a little while ago I told him how frustrated I was and that I had hoped to come home this evening to find more done AND not have to see the contractors in my house.  I guess beggers can’t be choicers….ARGH!

7/30/2008 – I cried again yesterday.  This whole experience has been a nightmare that won’t end.  I walk in the door between 4:30pm and 5 and there are workers in the house.  It doesn’t look like the electrician has done much because I didn’t see my new hanging bar lights up, my BIL was there just starting to paint the breakfast area.  A little after 5 the electrician asks me if I’ll be home tomorrow because he can’t finish what he was doing because he needed to cut off the power but couldn’t because BIL was in there painting…..I said I’d try and leave work early.  BIL still there…..I wouldn’t go downstairs.  I asked husband how long any of them had been there and it was not very long.  It bothers me to no end that we take off work and are home all day and they come late afternoon and it also bothers me that on these days…they stay long and disrupt our family evening time.  It really screws with my two year old son’s schedule (eating and bedtime).  So after a melt down I stayed upstairs.  My husband came up and asked what was wrong and I broke down again.   I have no more vacation and even though there wasn’t THAT much to be finished….another couple of days they MIGHT get done (and we aren’t even talking about finishing out the back door on the outside) He said it didn’t appear as bad as I made it out.  All the under cabinet lights are up and two outlets have been replaced.  The kitchen was painted by then and moulding was up on one wall as well as one pieces of floor moulding.  When BIL left I came downstairs and yeah I guess it wasn’t too bad.  BIL didn’t do that good of a job wiping down the backsplash tiles before he sealed them which didn’t make me happy but I felt a little better.  I’m afraid BIL isn’t into details and there are some details we do notice.  So today I’m leaving work at 3 so hopefully the electrician will show up.  I have a meeting tonight at 6:30 but I am going to tell them they need to be out by 7 because of the baby but whether husband will enforce or even if they had planned on staying that late I do not know. UPDATE: All the elecrical was done but never saw BIL. My husband said he thinks they are all work on a big job at an empty house and wanting to get it done so they’ll get paid…..I don’t anticipate my job getting done and I do not anticipate them getting paid by me this week.  Also,  the garbage disposal is screwed up…probably from when they removed it bu either way…it’s not working.  It tries but nope.

8/1/2008 – I think we are almost done.  My BIL called around 11 after I had called his partner first thing this morning and left a message about how I had not seen BIl since Tuesday evening and wondered whether we’d get some work done today.  Looks like everything is done except sanding and sealing the floor and finishing out the new backdoor and boarding up the old one, and of course the few things upstairs.  Supposedly they are coming tomorrow for that.  I told BILs partner that last time someone said they’d be here on a saturday…didnt happen so hopefully this time it will work.  BILs Partner wants to bring over the guy they have do brick work so he can finish out the door outside.  I was so stressed that BIL would ask for money but thankfully he got paid on another job and was not desperate for money.

8/7/2008 – Huh!  You thought it was over…..not quite.  After BIL showing up unexpectedly Monday after work to sand the kitchen tiles down where the floor was uneven and getting MORE dust in my house he tells me he’ll be at the house Tuesday at 3:30 and would only need an hour (I asked how long because he’d already ruined dinner time on monday and I wasn’t going to let that happen again).  So I leave work a little early and am home by 3:15.  No BIL.  I’m pissed.  When husband comes home with little boy I tell him how mad I am and that I’m running out to get dinner.  I mentioned that if BIL does show up which I doubted to tell him to leave I don’t want to see his face I’m so mad.  Well who do you think is in the driveway when I pull towards my house….BIL.  I keep driving and call husband and tell him to ask BIL to leave and that I’m not coming home till he does.  BIL knew he’d made me mad and his excuse was he showed up at 2 hoping I’d gotten off early since he was on our end of town.  He then thought he had enough time to run to the next town to do something real quick for another homeowner but then that homeowner “begged” him to stay and finish something else…therefore not getting to my house until 6pm and never calling me to tell me.  BIL’s partner came by the next day after work to work on the threshold in the hall bath since BIL had gone to Auburn to help his daughters move.  D brought their tile and carpet expert and instead of a threshold he tacked the carpet back and they are coming back today to add a tile there instead of a tile threshold.  I wish he had suggested that for the master bath instead of putting that beige tile threshold in there that doesn’t even match and BIL didn’t even bother to fix carpet back.  I mentioned to D that once everything is done we will need a day or so to review the invoice and receipts.  I think D wants to get us finished to so they can get paid.  Ultimately he is the one who is out money right now since he’s had to buy any extra part and pay extra workers since it’s his company and frankly BIL has no money.  They are coming back today to put the tile.  I noticed last night that some of the grout is coming out from between the tiles (shotty work) and I told husband we need to point that out to D.   They are coming monday to finish out the outside of the back door.  Also,  the control console of the dishwasher arrived by UPS yesterday so we will be getting that done monday as well by the Maytag Repair man.

8/6/2008 – I’m getting pretty tired of seeing my BIL.  He came by today and put a tile at the threshold of the hall bath so that is done.  He didn’t patch the holes in the ceiling as expected.  I hope that doesn’t mean he’s coming tomorrow and then hang out to have a drink while talking to my husband.  I’m going out of town and I’d rather this not go on or him try and talk my husband into dropping our child off at his mother’s and going out….argh

8/19/2008 – I just realized today that I didn’t end my remodel saga yet. I actually think we are done. Last saturday brother in law came over and did the final things on the “list”. Of course on his very last day is when the dogs got out unbeknownst on anyone there but that all turned out okay and I only have the whole remodel ordeal to dislike BIL for. About the only thing left is trying to fogire out how to finish out the whole where the back door was. It’s just boarded up now but we figure that doesn’t have to be done right away and we’ll probably do ourselves. My husband may also have to replace the shower diverter in the hall bath as well. We have not received the bill yet and I am planning on taking off some for the labor portion to pay for getting my carpets cleaned. They don’t know this yet and I probably won’t take enough off but I’m just so glad to have them gone it’s not even funny. Now if I can just get over this sinus infection then maybe I can finish unloading the dining room and put everything back in its proper place.

What’s next for us? We I still have a a 1/8 started paint job in the master bedroom and the wallpaper starting to be ripped down in little boy’s room…..and of course the out side projects….:-)
8/19/2008 -UPDATE About 6:30 this evening as I’m cleaning up from dinner, my BIL stops by with the bill. Thankfully he didn’t insist on payment right then. I had already said we needed a day or so to look over. I’m already seeing things I don’t agree with. Especially when you have a stack of receipts from Home Depot and one of them you can’t even see what it was for because it is so stained up. I’m also questioning the bills from the city dump. One receipt actually says for roofing…..how do I know whether the city just put roofing or if it was roofing….we didn’t have roofing. The other dump receipt said non-compustibles. Also, the way they did the invoice they specified how much to make a check out to my BIL and how much for Dean who owns the company and was ultimately in charge of buying most of materials and paying other labor. How can I take $100 off for carpet cleaning? I can’t think about that now. I’ll just sit here and enjoy a glass of wine and think about it tomorrow after my medicine for my sinus infection kicks in.

8/22/08  Just when you think you are done with your a-hole contractors…something else happens to piss you off.  BIL had dropped off the invoice last week for us to look over.  We reviewed it and about half the receipt were unreadable and we really couldn’t swear they were part of our job.  They had requested one check be made out to BIL and the other to the company owner.  We reviewed and reviewed and finally I said to husband (since he was writing the check) that I’m tired of fooling with them, just write whatever you want BUT I asked him to take $100 off to get my carpet cleaned.  With all the plumbing and contruction that went on, they had no regard for my carpet going upstairs and into my bedroom…it was terribly dirty.  I don’t even think $100 would cover it but I was trying to be reasonable.  I had also questioned a box of tiles they had on there twice but the carpet cleaning was the main thing.  We didn’t BIL again last week but his wife calls Sunday inviting us over (I’m still sick so no thanks) and they say BIL is on his way over for the checks.  I had already said I didn’t want to see or deal with him for awhile so I went upstairs and husband and little boy waited out front.  When he came in we did not talk about how much he wrote the check for.  He skirted around the subject claiming I had said I didn’t want to be involved.

So this afternoon I get home and get curious (mistake) so I look in his checkbook and sure enough he’d written a check for the amount on the bill.  So I call him at work and said. “Did you take $50 off”, he said no (at least he didn’t lie) and I said why?  and he said we’d talk about it later.  I’m in tears by now……he might as well have lied to me…..So I emailed him and he wrote back saying that BIL told him they took $1K off the total bill to replace the carpet since some spots were so damaged even cleaning wouldn’t help.  I’m like that’s bullshit!  The amount on the invoice was very close to what they quoted in the first place if not more.  I frankly don’t believe a word coming out of my BIls mouth and he just told my husband that so he wouldn’t deduct from the check.  I would think if that was the case it would have been annotated on the bill but it wasn’t and I’ll bet if the company owner had been asked that question we would have gotten another story.  I’m sorry I’m just not buying that.  Contractors will say anything……………………ARGH!

9/1/08 – If you are wondering why I haven’t posted pictures of my fabu new kitchen it’s because I’m considering entering some BH&G contest and one of the stipulations is that pictures are not published anywhere…..if it comes down to where I don’t enter I will post I promise.

9/2/08 -  Well now we need a new roof…great…..but I specifically told my husband that we will not be hiring BIL’s company to do it.  I don’t care how much we have to pay….they ain’t getting no more work from us…LOL.  We had hail damage a couple of years ago but did not get the roof repaired because it didn’t seem that bad…but now here two years later and through one more hail storm there are shingles missing so I think it’s probably time.  Husband noticed the shingles this weekend while up there checking on the gutters.