We shared some photos of our kitchen renovations progress at the end of last year and today we had the new flooring installed. While we're really happy with it, we're finding that the renovation process is one step forward, two steps back.
Close up of the new floor
We were so close to the finishing line but had to remove the plinths, skirting boards and now need to re-size both to compensate for the change in floor height. Not to mention the repainting and disconnecting of our recently connected appliances! Whilst we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, every time we finish something it opens up a whole new list of things to do. It doesn't help that we're trying to live in the space we're renovating. Have you overcome the vicious cycle and lived to tell the tale?
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I have, but... ... it's just too painful to go there. ... I, I'm not ready yet. Sorry...
We did a total gut renovation on my small mid-century home a few years ago and I tell people who want to do it to be prepared because it will take twice as long and cost twice as much as originally thought...but it is so worth it when you're done.
Oh, and btw, we lived in a tiny back bedroom with a mini-fridge and a microwave for over a year. You can do this.
I understand your pain! I've worked on a number of renovation jobs that were full of surprises. I myself am thinking of a bathroom remodel, and I'll tell you that I'm going to spend at least 6 months, if not a year planning every step of it to avoid the some of the pitfalls of the remodel/renovation process. Planning is everything.
I too lived with a mini fridge and a microwave along with a cooler and a bag of ice (I still needed my iced coffee in summer). It didn't necessarily cost more, but everything took much longer than I originally thought. We did as much of it ourselves as we could to save money so that did account for much of the extra time. And each project did seem to expand into additional items on the Todo list. Stick to it...it is well worth all the hard work!!
LOL at DeborahMcP!! You summed up so well what it's like!
After three years I still have no backsplash because I will need a new electrician to move the outlets and then I will need new drywall. I have boxes of the most glass tile sitting in a closet right now because I just don't want to go there.
beautiful floor!
I don't even want to think about major renovations... Just repainting my kitchen cabinets is taking twice as long as I anticipated (five days instead of two) and I'm going crazy eating takeout. I put what is hopefully the last coat of paint on this morning before heading to work and (crossing my fingers) will be able to reattach the hinges and rehang the cabinet doors tonight. I'm planning to wait one more day to put the pulls on. Can't wait to have my kitchen back!
Haha Deborah! The cliché is true though, it is worth it when you're done. Now when I look at our house I see only how nice it is, and conveniently forget about the frequent near break-ups, empty bank account and sky high bills, people falling through the open floor joists/drywall ceiling into the downstairs bedroom, new tub leaking, old walls crumbling, four layers of old flooring laid down with more nails than Alice Cooper can sleep on, new tile floor being removed (twice) when the inebriated tile guy's design did not quite coincide with ours, the never ending mounds of dust and rubble... Hang in there, looks like you're almost finished!
Whenever I do a project now that involves contractors, I've adopted an approach similar to what our state does with roads. We agree on the completion date and I give them a bonus if they finish early and we establish penalties for each day late.
The key is to establish the completion date in writing prior to raising the idea of the bonus/fine option. That way you get a real date instead of one made up to gather a bonus.
Good idea Indy
I just bought a place with the worse layout. A bedroom is 8x8 and the bathroom is 4x6 including a tub! I can deal unfinished spaces as long as the space is useable but nothing here works for me. Walls have to be moved throughout the house and I'm dreading looking for a general contractor. Thank god I don't have kids or a remodel would be off the table.
Oh my. Renovating a room (even in a small way) always seems to take forever with me. I wanted to repaint the bathroom and hang up new fixtures but the whole process took over a month - the first can of paint was as thick as paste, the next can was waaaaaay too orange (like prison uniform orange), and because of all of this I had to re-prime the walls before finishing off two coats.
On top of all that, it took me about 5 trips just to get the doorknob installed! I got a really cool one from Anthropologie but the doors in our old apartment aren't standard size, so it didn't fit. We finally got everything all working together, but it sure did take a long time.
http://www.abbeycatchat.com/2009/11/holy-orange.html
Ugh - I feel your pain! The one step forward and two steps back very accurately describes renovating!
We got all of our floors refinished last year - only to have to buff and recoat this year because the finish was so incredibly thin it started wearing off within weeks. :( So heartbreaking!
We're in the middle of moving all our earthly possessions into 2 bedrooms in order to finish the floors in the kitchen/living/dining/hall. While I can deal with the turmoil, the love of my life doesn't deal with it so well and is stressed out. I know we'll forget the stress when we're done, though - and it's incredibly satisfying to have our own place with our own design preferences!
The floor is looking gorge.
Revel in the dirty.
I wish I had more before or mid shots of things because I really am starting to forget what hell was just four years ago...
@cliokitty - If you just need to extend your electrical outlets out to the new tile level you can use extenders. And why do you need new drywall? Can you just tile over the old drywall? I did both these items for my backsplash and it worked fine.