Talkin` with an old bud this afternoon….reminiscing the days we spent working for a hack GC. We discussed a bunch of the projects we worked on, and the HOs we worked for.
Discussing one of the jobs triggered a memory of a project I had had such high hopes for.
We were renovating an entire house….soup to nuts. Lotsa detailed stuff….matching mouldings….bringing the the home (bout 100 yrs. old) into the 20th century, while attempting to maintain its integrity.
One of the projects centered around a half bath midway up the staircase leading to the second floor. It was just a tiny room, but the only bathroom other than the main on the second floor. IIRC, it measured about 2 1/2 ft. wide, by 5 ft. long. Barely enough space to drop trough without bumping into the tiny wall mounted corner sink.
HOs had found a small, beautiful, hand painted drop in sink they wanted to use in the renovation. We came up with a plan to build a wood ledge, that would run lengthwise, widening enough to accomodate the sink in the corner opposite the entrance. Fearing it might look odd against just the one wall, we ended up designing it so it would run the perimeter of the room, while not interfering in the limited space.
I was anxious to tackle the project myself, as much of the design was my own.
I got the go ahead, and built what to this day I consider the most beautiful wood “countertop” ever. I made it out of cherry, glueing up stock for the width required to accept the sink….curving and tapering in such a manner that it was both attractive and unobtrusive in the space. It continued back behind (above) the toilet, returning again on the wall opposite the long run. Routed a ogeed edge, sanded and finished it to perfection…..if I do say so myself. All work was done on site with the limited tools available.
I couldn`t have been prouder.
At least not until the plumber got a hold of it. I wasn`t there the day he came to tie in the sink. I had made the cutout, myself and was certain it fit fine. He claimed otherwise and used a sawzall to bastardize the hole.
The job went south from there, and I`m not certain what ever became of my work…..but I highly doubt whoever was called in to make it right was able to salvage the top.
Wish I had taken some “before” pics.
You guys have similar instances? Something you put your heart and sole into that never came to being?
ATTENTION FELLOW BREAKTIME MEMBERS:<!—-> <!—->
If you`d like to discuss topics other than home building, come on down to the Woodshed Tavern. Great bunch of guys and gals letting off a little steam about everything and anything. Its not a special club, but…..as of Monday, March 14, the Tavern folder will go behind an access wall. Only those who request access to this folder by contacting [email protected] will be able to view and participate in discussions there.
Replies
^
I've had nothing of the magnitude of the mess they made of your hard efforts, but when I was working at a landscape nursery, on a rainy day the boss had us paint two bathrooms. In the time it took me to cut in on one bath, another guy completely painted the other, so the boss got mad at me and put the other guy on my job (which was basically done at that point). Guy got paint all over everything that shouldn't have been painted because he was so slap dash. But he was fast and that's what mattered to the boss.
I buildt a beautiful mahogany bathroom. Beaded wianscotong to about 32" and a tub surrond and vanity with grain matched choice woods on the drawer fronts and doors. Some of you have seen the 35mm photos.
Stained with cherry hand rubbed in oil eight or ten coats of Watco.
The next year the owner had his caretaker repaint the cieling and walls above the wainscot. He apparantely did not know what masking or a drop clothe was. The detailed work grew speckles and platters. We went back in and refinished in place. That cost him between two and three thousand and I got over it.
Then came the ultimate insult to fine work. Three years later they painted over all of it.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I just dropped into a new sports bar in the local mall. It used to be a Mediterranean restaurant with Trompe-o-lieu (sp.?) murals of Italian villas and vineyards, Greek fishing villages and temples, etc. Probably $10,000 in murals (just a guess) just painted over and replaced with sports trinkets.
"Barely enough space to drop trough without bumping into the tiny wall mounted corner sink"
Let me suggest an alternate spelling--drop "trou"--since it comes from "trousers". Just a hunch, I'll check Websters.
I went to look at a buddies cabinet job in progress. Just happened that while I was there the owner got into a heated arguement with my bud and said that he hadn't built the frames to match what the customer had said. Customer grabbed his chainsaw, came in the kitchen with it running and cut off the offending part of the cabinet frame.
Job just didn't go well after that, but at least it was't my job.
That buddy made it from learned lessons (don't build cabinets without plans!) and is now a top-notch custom builder in the CA wine country.
The worst blow I've suffered from building is having to sell my first spec home in a dead market for no more profit that I could have made at a low paying framing job. Learned from it, though.
I'm thankful for the loyal opposition! It's hard to learn much from those who simply agree with you.
Job just didn't go well after that...
I can`t imagine anything that coulda been done to salvage that job after such an incident.
ATTENTION FELLOW BREAKTIME MEMBERS:<!----><!---->
If you`d like to discuss topics other than home building, come on down to the Woodshed Tavern. Great bunch of guys and gals letting off a little steam about everything and anything. Its not a special club, but.....as of Monday, March 14, the Tavern folder will go behind an access wall. Only those who request access to this folder by contacting [email protected] will be able to view and participate in discussions there.
everytime I think plumber and sawall in same sentence the small hairs on the back of my neck start rising and blood pressure raises a notch.
FIL is a retired plumber....everytime he catches wind of my doing some work on my house, he offers to come over and give a hand.
I always tell him fine.....just leave the sawzall at home!
ATTENTION FELLOW BREAKTIME MEMBERS:<!----><!---->
If you`d like to discuss topics other than home building, come on down to the Woodshed Tavern. Great bunch of guys and gals letting off a little steam about everything and anything. Its not a special club, but.....as of Monday, March 14, the Tavern folder will go behind an access wall. Only those who request access to this folder by contacting [email protected] will be able to view and participate in discussions there.