Have to ask…any advice/tips to deal with this dilemma? I have the best answer for my situation, but it’s not doable–take a year off from work to finish, but………….
So how do some of you deal with this?
A brief history of what,s happening here:
First and foremost…my house could probably fit under Boss Hogg’s “Spec House from Hell” No, not probably…it DOES!
1 Started replacing all the windows a number of years ago. Landlord quality Andersen windows that leaked air and rain. Not due to poor installation(IMO), mostly due to the harsh hilltop weather and lower grade quality of these windows. The wind driven rain would blow under the bottom sash.
2 Windows led to siding replacement. Vertical T&G #2/#3 cedar that is painted. As I soon learned, bad news…all those vertical channels are mini gutters and did contribute to some of the window problems. I stripped everything down to the ply sheathing and started fresh. BUT… that went sour, somewhat. ‘Sheen’ problems were noticed after about 5-6 sq were hung. Advised to continue(it would weather)but after 10 sq hung, no way would I accept this problem. No sweat…Certainteed stood by the warranty and replaced everything(I mean EVERYTHING) including labor to R&R.
3 Took a break from siding after completion of the east wall…8 sq and it looked 110% perfect by my standards!!! Got a deal on material to widen my driveway from 9′ to 30′(18′ drive and 12′ outer bank for grass). Took 1600yds of fill and I had a blast running all the machines. This was a lot of blood, sweat and bucks, never mind the time, but able to complete it without problems, except for one thing. During this project, for some reason my ‘golf course’ 2.5 acres of lawn got hit with a swarm of “ARMY WORMS”. Sucked the life (green) out of every last blade. These worms are supposed to be from the south. Anyone heard of them?
4 Being Mr Fanatic <G>, I tilled it under…only did 1/2 (50K sf) to start. But…during this job, my DW and daughter decided to have an inground pool installed by a reputable(YEAH RIGHT) pool contractor. He was referred by my DW’s brother. Well that was not supposed to involve me at all, but let’s just say this…how would you feel if a maroon decided to spread the excess excavation fill over freshly tilled 12″ thick farmland topsoil?? Plus let me add…this yutz had the driver of the tanker of pool water try to drive up my 20* driveway, which BTW I just redid. The semi couldn’t get up and the water spilling from the top of the tanker washed out the outer bank, at the bottom. Plus he tore the snot out of the drain tile (3/4′ crushed stone on the slope. I’ll stop here with the pool nightmare, but there’s more to that horror show!! Still have to till the other 50K+ and plan to do it this fall.
5 The pool led to my having to put up 150′ ft of fence and 200′ of retaining/garden wall. Boy, that was fun!! Yeah I know, my daughter should have handled this. But after the nightmare caused by the contractor and his subs, no way would I allow ANYONE else to perform work here, except for yours truly or my own family/friends. Guess what…the fence panels (6×6) that my daughter bought had problems. The horiz rails were not parallel, some were off by 1″. So now I get to replace all 25…lucky me!! At least the manufactor replaced them all and gave us a gift cert to OutBack.
6 My DW couldn’t wait for me to finish the siding/window replacement, so she and her sister decided to start repainting the interior…at least she only did the rooms with the new windows and no water leaks. When they got to the kitchen, I said let’s replace the countertops and flooring, and I’ll tape off the cabinets(me and my big mouth) WELL, guess what? That led to removing the upper cabs and that led to removing the lowers (don’t ask!!) and that led to…yup…new cabinets. Boy do I enjoy being a perfectionist!! AARGH………
7 Storm damage last week… “again”…(60-80mph winds, not measured but my guess and I’ll bet my soul that it’s pretty darn close) tore off another piece of my custom made 15′ alum trim wrap on the gable end of the house. Last spring, a storm tore off the other one. Now this wouldn’t be so bad, but making flawless !5′ trim wrap on a 10′ brake is no picnic!! Plus now I have to rent a couple lifts to reinstall, since I’m not going to set up my scaffold and pump jacks there again. Oh yeah…the storm broke a couple fence panels too. At least they weren’t the new ones.
So now you can see my dilemma…yeah ‘I made my bed, so I can lie in it’. No problem with that…just curious as to how some of you deal with burnout. I do enjoy doing every last bit of this work, just getting tired of having to some things twice. As far as the kitchen goes…no, not finished. Ran into problems there, and don’t ask what!! At least nothing has been done twice there yet!!<G>
Sorry for the loooooonnnnnng post, but that’s the only way I can explain this situation. Believe me, I could go on explaining about more related problems with all this, but I’ll stop here. I’ll just repeat that this half is /half was place is a spec house from hell. But when I finish…it will be one sweet place.
So any thoughts or ideas…??
Thanks
BTW…thanks Sphere, the flashing tape corrected the couple minor leaks I still had. It was proven by that stong storm last week. If there was any leaks still present, they would have shown up then!!
Replies
You might want to rent a copy of the movie Mre Blanding Builds His Dream House and enjoy it with a couple of cases of beer.
Mr Blanding ended up tearing down his beautiful old farmhouse and putting up some modern monstrosity in its place.
Life as A House made me cryMy life is my passion!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
...Life as a House...
Good analogy...I like it
Kinda has a familiar ring to it
:-)
BTW...you have one awsome place, looks great!!. Bet you had some moments too!! I've read your posts about it.
Be an awsome house
bob
You saw the movie....right?"My life is my practice"
Andy,
Great movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
bob,
I can commiserate! So many jobs, so little time...you must have used the same pool people I used. They tried making the pool the wrong size, set the wrong locations for the pool returns, tried using the wrong plaster color, they tried using tile instead of slate (3 times!) along the water line. The one that really pizzed me off? When they backfilled around about a third of the pool with COMPOST! Fortunately, I caught those boo boos and got them fixed. Unfortunately, they set the pool about 8" high, even after me asking repeatedly "Are you sure the forms are right? Looks high compared to my reference mark." That's nothing another 120 tons of stonedust can't fix...
I see your in CT as I am too. I won't mention names but if your pool guy is from Waterford/Lyme area...UH OH!!
Swap the compost for top soil... tried to use it as a base for the concrete deck around the pool. He dozer'd all the hard pan and fill out on top of the freshly tilled farmland.
I dug a 25' trench 2' deep(by hand) for the elec and this yutz drops the plumbing runs in there and backfills it before I finished my work.
8" high...your lucky, I could have lived with that and made it work. This worm brain planted it 6" too low. But that's ok...I wanted to build a retaining wall anyway. I didn't have anything else to do.
Let's just say this...these were only a few of the minor problems. Get this... I even got arrested (1st time ever!!). I'll skip the details but almost tore the guys head off (literally). But in the end I prevailed...self defense over ruled the assault charge and compensated for damages, code violations, and atty fees.
Sounds like different pool companies. Must be a low standard they all aspire to. I did have the same problem with them rolling about a 8" of subsoil over a foot of garden compost. Pool was put in the same location of an old garden, they were supposed to scrape it all clean, they only did half of it. Before I do the bluestone patio around the pool I have to dig down 18" and pull it all out.
Bee-astahds!
I hate babysitting. And yes, they came very highly recommended.
We're not too far apart. I'm just on the other side of the CT river.
Before I do the bluestone patio around the pool I have to dig down 18" and pull it all out.
Know the feeling...had to over dig the depth of the trench for the wall I built. When I hit the required depth for putting in the base material, ended up finding top soil...the original elevation of the yard. Dug down another foot or so and then refill and compact. About 50' in length.
We're not too far apart. I'm just on the other side of the CT river.
I lve in Preston ...you?<P align=center><FONT face="Comic Sans MS,Sans-Serif" color=blue size=3><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG></FONT> </P>
No, not seen
Did read a short review though
Looks like I'm going to hunt down these two flics you guys mentioned. Good chance I'd enjoy them and maybe learn something too. Life as a House seems like it could be interesting
Think BlockBuster has them?
Haven't seen or heard of it, but read a couple of previews about it. Bet it's a good flic.
One positive thing I've learned from all this is I'm glad I didn't build. Probably would never finish due to my desire for perfection with every last detail...which is tough to do. Need lots of patience, and mine have dwindled over the years.
The negative...I bought a new house due to lack of knowledge to build, yet found out that even though it was new, doesn't mean it's built with quality materials.
BTW...I'll pass on the case of brew, lost the taste for beer a few years ago
bob,
Unil going into business full time I was a maintenance super at various commercial buildings and for awhile a teacher. During that period of my life I would buy and fix up houses for rentals. I also would move my family into semi rehabbed homes and finish them only to sell them later. The last one was in the old money area of our town. 1/2 acre in town, big brick, really nice, street everyone knows etc etc.
As with your situation the work was huge, expensive and never ended. Last year I bought a nice, small, 3 BR with a block building for my business. I built a garage and rehabbed the house in the most generic low maintenance methods possible. My wife and I moved here in January.
I can mow the grass in 11 minutes with a push mower. No body here treats there lawn. I have only a few flowers and beds in pots. I have no back yard. When I come home I cans relax. My wife can clean (shes a clean freak) in 2 hours, old house 8 minimum. We go places on the weekends and don't worry that we are falling behind. Good move. Hope later in your life you can be so lucky. DanT
I can mow the grass in 11 minutes with a push mower.
Lucky you...used to take me 3 - 3 1/2 hrs with a 44" deck, now it's only a little over 2 hrs with a 60". But that's one thing I still enjoy doing...helps me unwind and I enjoy the cruise. Plus I get to scope out the whole place from a distance. Then again ....... sometimes that scoping out leads to more work or improving something I've already done. At least I'm an optimistic perfectionist <G>
I kinda miss the days of renting a place, had lots of freedom. But at that time I was blowing the $$$ on hot rods/street cars and running the streets with a wild bunch. Still miss those days a little, but my DW doesn't! Maybe that's why she doesn't complain anymore...with all my ongoing projects, she knows where I am and where all the $$$ are going. LOL
The plus side of this place is the property values have more than doubled since I bought it. Even had a few people offer to buy...but won't happen. I'll be here till I croak. Sure hope I live long enough to enjoy smelling the roses and not worry about all the details. Being an optimist is what helps me to not give up!!
bob,
So you bought a new house so you didn't have to deal with building it, and then replaced the windows and siding!? Low bid huh. You say you will be there till you croak, projects like that don't finish you off they wear you down. And frankly wear down you relationships in the process.
Seriously I would hire some of it done to get a least some of it completed. Maybe have someone come in and rap up the siding and window. Then you can focus on whats left, along with the yard, driveway etc, etc.
There has to be some relaxation involved. I am a text book work-a-holic and yet take time out to relax some. Consider some options. There is not end to the work on a place like that so you really don't want to get a lot of half done stuff or it will wear you to the ground. DanT
Some people get stuck in the rut of feeling they have to do everything themselves just because they can. Sometimes this leads to their families living in the middle of a construction site for years. For example, my neighbor just sold the house he built and that he and his family lived in for the past 4 years. He had to take a month off from work to finish the house so it could be sold.
As said above, you need to hire out some of these jobs. Based on some of the things you said above, be sure and get the job scope and details straight with the contractors, and expect to pay well for things to be done just the way you want.
Focus on what ever it is you do to make a living, undoubted the thing you are best at, and use some of that earned money to hire out the pure labor jobs like re-doing your yard, building retaining walls, fences, etc. Hire a helper or 2 to accomplish other tasks like doing your siding or whatever the things are that you want to do yourself.
In the long run you will be happier and your family will be grateful for it.
Good luck,Matt
Some people get stuck in the rut of feeling they have to do everything themselves just because they can
How true, how true...though let me add that after getting burned by others too many times (not all building/remod related), I am reluctant to let anyone do anything for me. In my book, there are only two options regarding performing a task...do it right or don't do it at all.
May give some thought to hire a helper though, never really thought of it
Edited 4/27/2004 2:54 am ET by bob
May give some thought to hire a helper though
"helper" --- Usually a case and a steak are enough - though it means my weekend sometime down the road, but also a case an' steak <G>
As to a hired helper other than bonded, insured, etc, DW is paranoid about the tort boys and IRS guys; thus, vs. the cost of hiring the true pros makes it worth DIY whatever the menial task. (whatever - before you ask, yeah, I HAVE shoveled out my septic tank by hand, gotta rank right up there with the top stinky jobs!)
Good points...what kind of beer you like? Pulled the grill out yesterday too<G> Plus a dip in the pool at the end of the day is sure refreshing. Can you be here Sat @ 7 AM... he he he!
Curious...gotta ask, since you already knew I would
Why by hand with a shovel? Pumping wouldn't work?
The reason I ask is that sounds like smething I would do if the need arose
...but sure wouldn't look forward to it WHEW
Probably not much worse than when the farmers open the barn doors to air out in the spring...man that cheese is toxic!!
Well, Bob,
I can actually mark something off my "to do" list.
Just finished another run of stone retaining wall along one side of part of my driveway. This section was about 140' long. Did the retaining wall on the other side of the driveway, about 260', last fall.
Hallah-freaking-luyah!
Just finished another run of stone retaining wall
You must be beat...that's a lot of wall. Any pics to post?
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I have to say, these digital cameras are pretty handy. Idiot-friendly, too.
My drive is "L" shaped, the short part of the "L" runs from the house, up about 175' or so. Then it takes a 90-degree turn out to the street and the long part of the "L" runs another 750' or so.
Pic 15 is taken from the parking area near the house, looking up the short end of the "L". The retaining wall I did over the past couple days is on the left side of the pic, the one last fall is on the right side.
Pic 16 is at the bend in the "L", looking back down to the parking area. The wall I just finished is on the right, the one I did last fall is on the left. The left wall continues out of the pic to the left about another 90-100' or so.
Pic 17 is the pool area, and shows the subsoil rolled over the topsoil. I need to dig out another 250 sqft or so to finish removing the buried topsoil. Then I'll add add base, pour a slab, then mortar down about 1700 sq ft of bluestone. In the background of the pool you can see another section of retaining wall. This run is not too long, maybe 75' or so?
The walls actually weren't too bad, only about 24"-30" tall. It was the flies that were killing me!
So many rocks...so little time...
Essex.
Edit: Shrunk the pics to a manageable file size, but I forgot to reduce the image size. My apologies.
Edited 4/30/2004 8:45 am ET by Mongo
Mongo
I think your camera has a dirty lens broMy life is my passion!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
It's the kids' camera...it's either on a low-resolution setting, or they didn't get all the ice cream off the lens.
Or both.
Be Ben and Jerry,
Mongo
Nice work, and lots of it too. Don't you love all the rocks that grow around here?
I agree about the digital camera...idiot friendly-yep!!! The kodack 6490 I bought recently is awsome...have taken over 150 pics so far and most look like a pro shot them IMO
As soon a I can attach pics again, I'll post some of the block wall around the pool area and my 250' of fieldstone wall
I see I'm not the only one with a double wide driveway. Does the stone wall run the full length of the drive? Looks like your nestled in the woods too...bet you love all those leaves in the fall, and in the pool!! Myself...mostly wide open space, some woods on the NW side, but that drops off into a valley.
pic #17 says it all, what posses people to do something as ignorant as that? BTW.. how do you draw on a pic like you did, photoshop, printshop?
flies... yep, those grow around here too, gotta love those farmers...
1700sf of blue stone...bet that will look awsome. I still have to finish the landscape around our pool too. Hopefully this summer or fall. Someday I'll bust out the hack job the yutz did for the concrete pool deck. I would like to use pavers or something similar to what you are ...yeah someday!!
Essex...I know where it is, nice area and not far from here.
Thanks for posting those pics...real nice work!
Nice work, and lots of it too. Don't you love all the rocks that grow around here?
I'll tell you, there sure are a lot of them. Drives me nuts if I'm watching a gardening show on TV and someone sinks a spade cleanly into the ground and gets nothing but clean topsoil. I guess that's what we get for living near the end point of the glacier.
As soon a I can attach pics again, I'll post some of the block wall around the pool area and my 250' of fieldstone wall
The fieldstone must look nice. I do have a smallish retaining wall in the bakyard, that separates a raised 850 sqft bluetone patio from a small lower patio and section of lawn. Did that from fieldstone and blast rock, but it's only about 50' long and 18" high. In a sense it's easier to stack than these dreaded round rocks, but that was my first attempt at a wall, so it's not the greatest.
I see I'm not the only one with a double wide driveway. Does the stone wall run the full length of the drive? Looks like your nestled in the woods too...bet you love all those leaves in the fall, and in the pool!! Myself...mostly wide open space, some woods on the NW side, but that drops off into a valley.
Nope, my driveway is "L" shaped. The stone retaining walls are on both sides of the shorter leg of the "L", but a wall only extends maybe 100' or so up one side of the long leg of the "L". The long leg of the drive is about 12' wide, but I did widen it up a bit more for the short leg. I actually opened up the pool last week. The kids were swimming in it again today. I have "medium gray" plaster in the pool, so it catches solar very well. Even though the air temps are still in the 60s, today the water temp was 71 degrees, thanks to solar.
It's a fairly nice lot. The lake is on one side, neighbors are off about 600' on the next side. I do have neighbors fairly close on the third side, though they're never, ever outdoors, so they're pretty quiet.
pic #17 says it all, what posses people to do something as ignorant as that? BTW.. how do you draw on a pic like you did, photoshop, printshop?
Did it with photoshop. Used the paintbrush function.
flies... yep, those grow around here too, gotta love those farmers...
1700sf of blue stone...bet that will look awsome. I still have to finish the landscape around our pool too. Hopefully this summer or fall. Someday I'll bust out the hack job the yutz did for the concrete pool deck. I would like to use pavers or something similar to what you are ...yeah someday!!
It's going to be a LOT of work. I was hoping to do all bluestone, but when I discovered the inverted top/subsoil sammich, I knew it was going to take me a while to make things right. So now I have 3' of Kooldeck around he pool. I'm thinking of tearing that out and putting down bluestone coping, but I think I'll just leave it in place and run the bluestone up to it.
Thanks for posting those pics...real nice work!
You're welcome, and thanks for the good words. I look forward to seeing your pics.
Here a some pics of my walls...
The blockwall is almost finished. A couple corner fillers and the corner caps, some drainage pipe, and it's done. This wall is a split face...both sides are visable somewhat...so I split all 600 blocks, 80#'s each! Should have gotten some hired help though, spent 3 solid days alone, just doing that. Guess I was penny wise and pound foolish<G>
The fieldstone wall was a mess...buried in brush and saplings. About 1/2 of the length was also buried in dirt. Most likely from the farmer who worked these fields at one time. But there was a fair amount that I'm sure the builder of this house dumped there. I dug the mess out and sorted out the fieldstones. Just a rough restack for now. Someday I will rebuild it correctly, (key word: SOMEDAY) but for now I can live with it. As you can see, I have been stockpiling stones too...fieldstone wall 2 pic... found a ba-zillion of them when I tilled under that side of the yard. Plus there's a few hundred feet more of stone wall down in the valley. So at least I have more than enough to rebuild.
Hmm...if your bored with nothing to do, want to rebuild it for me??...<G> just kidding. Looks like you got your hands full with that sammich deal.
I actually opened up the pool last week. The kids were swimming in it again today. I have "medium gray" plaster in the pool, so it catches solar very well. Even though the air temps are still in the 60s, today the water temp was 71 degrees, thanks to solar.
Say what???????? open already? Hasn't been that warm yet, at least IMO. Probably a few weeks away before we open ours. No solar here...do they really work? We did plumb for a heater, but don't have one yet.
Those walls look pretty nice, and that fieldstone...you certainly have enough to keep you busy for a while!
I don't have a solar heater on my pool. The dark plaster just catches the sun's energy on its own and brings the temp of the pool up quite nicely. I do have a propane heater that can heat the pool or the spa, but we just use the heater for the spa.
Last summer the pool temp hung between 85-89 degrees, again, that's unheated, just due to the dark plaster catching the sun's rays. With only having to heat the spa 15-20 degrees to get it to 105-ish degrees, the heater just sipped propane.
hire out the pure labor jobs like re-doing your yard, building retaining walls........
Huh??? If I do that, whattam I gonna do, pay some more bucks to go to the gym and run on a machine??
No thanks, I'll continue doing my own manual labor also.
Low Bid?...Yeah, probably the only one. Paid 60K less than asking price plus another 15K credit at closing. Desperate builder/seller...house sat vacant for a year due to the RE market crash in the late 80's here in New England.
I did enjoy smelling the roses for the 1st 7-8 yrs, but after painting this place twice during that time, I realized and learned why the paint wouldn't last but a few years. All those vertical grooves in the siding were like open windows, allowing rain to get behind the siding. That's what led to the window and siding replacement. Did a lot of research and spent the $$$ on quality material IMO, but didn't have the coin to pay for the demo and install. So that's where all this dilemma started.
Relaxation...got plenty this past winter, but that was b/c I found this place (BT) and spent countless hrs reading/absorbing tons of info. But seriously I do get some R&R time now and then, It's just that I can't seem to sit idle too long. Hard to explain... kinda like "ants in yer pants" LOL
My wife got a pool about 4 years ago too. There were some bumps in the road, but overall, the outcome is excellent. My part of the deal was to install ~200' of drain tile, about 3/4 of which had gravel, before the concrete guy,but after the bricklayer, and then I did one of those cast block retaining walls. I had 2 Hispanic labors who were just great and didn't mind working on the weekend, as they had regular jobs, and it all went fairly smoothly. After that stuff was done, I had a grader/landscaper guy I know come and do his thing - charged $1000 for the day for a putting green smooth job (included some top soil), and then had a fence guy come to do his thing.
OK, I got pissed when the bricklayer came back to add a few steps, and got mortar stains on the $6 a sq ft stamped concrete, but I doubt that anyone has noticed it but me, and I got over it, and would hire him again.
The thing about getting referrals for subs, is you gotta carefully consider the source. For example a great builder undoubtedly has some great subs. On the other hand, at least 1/2 the people I know wouldn't know a good job from bad... Matt
OK, I got pissed when the bricklayer came back to add a few steps, and got mortar stains on the $6 a sq ft stamped concrete
I realize accidents happen, but having a pool pump thrown at you is no accident. The one he installed had been leaking for weeks and he did nothing about it...Til I went to pay him a visit.
Sounds like your install was fairly smooth. Possibly things would have been different had I been involved with the job and contract, from the beginning. I figured what could go wrong ...dig a hole, install a pool, pile the loam here and the subsoil here. Boy was I mistaken. I do believe he thought he could pull off doing a hack job, since he was hired by two females.
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Edited 4/29/2004 10:46 pm ET by bob
Pull a motorcycle into the living room this winter to rebuild and wash all the parts in your new dishwasher. String christmas lights from the handlebars. It'll take everybody's attention off of the unfinished diy projects. And be a conversation piece for the family.
remodeler
MAJOR ROAR
LMAO
I can't believe what I read...wash all the parts in your new dishwasher
The last place I rented before I bought a house was a condo. I was restoring a 73 Grand Prix SJ....street cruiser/sleeper. Every nut, bolt, clip, etc taken apart. Front to back, top to bottom. Nothing untouched.
Anyway, I ran just about everything that would fit through the new dishwasher, which wasn't ours. I loved what the hot water/steam would do. All the AC duct work and even the fiberglass case for the evap core under the hood, looked better than new. Also had over 100 freshly painted undercarriage parts and tons of other new parts stored from the top floor master bedroom to the basement/garage. Talk about people being distracted...try explaining why a rear axle hsng, control arms and chrome goodies are sitting in your living room.
Glad to see other guys share my lust for perfection.
Thanks for posting that...brought back memories and it really made my day!!!
Hmmm...wonder if I can find a dishwasher that I can fit my house in...Ha Ha Ha HA
Thanks again :-)
So any thoughts or ideas...??
Apparently you're not bored with nothing to do. <G>
Last friend who had seemingly insurmountable problems with his house (although not so numerous as yours) ended up with a "For Sale" sign and left the fun to new owners. Bought some land from me and convinced me to build him a house. He says life is much better now (with close to zero maintenance).
But I ain't comin' to Connecticut and you like it there. Hmmm.... you do like interesting driveways though. Guy I sold 21 acres to has decided not to build after all. Driveway will be similar to mine, rising 400'. Move here and maybe Sphere will come visit if you bribe him with a few trees!
On-the-job-training is tough. My first building attempt (1k sq ft) blew down. That was one really merry Christmas, yep. Mostly it's prioritize and take it one step at a time. I've finally learned to be very wary of new projects, considering I have one unfinished building and one barely started house. So why last week did I buy a lathe needing repair and a dust collector system to install? Oh yeah, they were too good to pass up.
Good luck.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
You haven't touched the foundation yet. Or the roof. HVAC. fireplace complete electrical...
You'll have to be there till you croak. You got a lot to do yet.
You'll have to be there till you croak. You got a lot to do yet.
You made me laugh with that ;-)
Foundation?? hope not...seems solid to me. Then again new concrete would look nice <G>
Roof?? BTDT...93' it blew off. But since you had to mentioned it, have given a lot of thought to a slate roof...seriously!! How ever I'm smart enough (really) not to even consider doing that unless all the current projects are done.
HVAC?? BTDT too...undersized boiler/tankless HWH upgraded to a sweet setup in 97'. CAC...not here, only window units.
Fireplace?? still mint/new...never had a flame in it. Someday it might though
Electrical?? switches and the like no sweat, but isn't romex forever?
I think just slow down and finish what you started. I do most of my own work because I can but.... when I fell over burdened then I hire someone to come in and work for me. remember all the pros sub some of their work out too. Believe me its better to do it that way then to do a crappy job because your over burdened and want to bang it out go to the next one and bang it out..if ya do the work half fast then your 'll be back inna few years doing it again....better to sub some out bro...
Darkworksite4:
El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera
Slow down???
Any slower and this place will be one of those historic properties when I finish <G>
But I know I'll finish...optimists don't give up, they survive and endure
Re crappy work...not here. I couldn't sleep at night if I did. I put 110% effort in and get 110% results. But then I go back and see if I can improve anything...for real!! It's like a disease, but the results are worth it.
Tell you what,, I'll do all of your work if you'll come here and finish mine!
I'm building a timberframe.. I've got about 2 1/2 years into it and only 1/2 of it is done on the outside.
Next year I'll pull a permit to do another chunk of it. My goal is to have the outside finished by 2007 with the inside done by 2009.
I take nearly every weekend and most evenings to work on it.. wanna trade?
Tell you what,, I'll do all of your work if you'll come here and finish mine!
wanna trade?
Sure...it's a deal ;-) Timberframe is unique and I would love to know all the in's and out's about it.
I take nearly every weekend and most evenings to work on it
Glad to know there's others here that share my disease.........
Guess I'm not alone<P align=center><FONT face="Comic Sans MS,Sans-Serif" color=blue size=3><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG></FONT> </P>
Now I don't feel so bad about my house.
Part of the reason I like working on other people's houses is THAT I KNOW WHEN THE JOB IS DONE!. I think this is even more satisfying than getting paid.
In contrast, like your house, one small project leads to another. Painting a hallway leads to 2 bedrooms and a bath remodel. Replacing a light switch results in rewiring the entire half of the house, tearing up an attic floor to run the wiring, ripping out 80 YO FG inslulation, reinsulating, and putting the floor back in. That light switch project is starting it's second year soon. You get the idea.
I tell my wife the most expensive 4 words in the English language are her favorites: "While you're at it..."
My advice is to take one project, and get it completed. Hire help if you need it, but get it done to get some sense of accomplishment. It will really fell good, and recharge your enthusiasm. Then take another project and complete it.
When I said hire help, I mean someone to help, rather than sub it out. Sounds like you already had enough of the subs you can't rely on. Just get a good helper, even a neighbor kid, to run tools, hold this, clean up, fetch water. I even had a little neighbor girl watch me one REALLY hot and humid day to sit there and say, "It looks GREAT Mr. Duffy!." Every little bit helps. (BTW, the neighbor kids were visiting my kid, and were watching anyway. Didn't have to pay more than a quarter for this, but it did keep me on task!)
Get a few project completed, then reward yourself with a vacation away form home, and come back refreshed.
Pete Duffy, Handyman
Now I don't feel so bad about my house.
Believe it or not, reading your post gave me a little boost...I guess I'm not the only one who ends up doing a major remod just b/c a little painting was needed.
I have set a goal for this year...finish up all the pool, yard, outside projects by the fall. Most of the major work is already completed, so that shouldn't be a problem. Then I'll just stick with the siding/windows til it's finished. Oh yeah, first I need to finish the kitchen...can't forget that!! Bet my DW wishes she never started the painting, but at least she learned something from all this...let me finish the current projects before SHE (and my daughter) get any more bright ideas and start another.
Re: vacation...would love to go on a cruise, but that costs a few $$$. However, maybe after the kitchen is finished, I might look into getting away from here for a few days or so. Might just help and recharge my enthusiasm.
Part of the reason I like working on other people's houses is THAT I KNOW WHEN THE JOB IS DONE!. I think this is even more satisfying than getting paid.
Well said...
Thanks for the boost...it was needed