Let's Talk Remodeling

[minnie56]

I can never remember what I chose!
Giallo Veneziano or Veneziana??

Kind of Gold with Taupes ..and creams???
LOL

Whatever it is, he said it is prone to these pits.
Not sure about the filling in. Not sure I want that right off the bat before it is even installed?

 

[mickeysgal]

. The Slabs that I chose have some flaws and imperfections. He called them 'beauty marks'. Upon further discussion, I am told there are 6-8 of them approx (5 slabs in total) and they are pits in the finish..some with some crackling around them the size of a quarter. They will not cut until I approve them and go and visually see for myself.

Anyone have any info on whether this is typical? He said they will not affect wear or get worse. They can be felt upon running a hand over the surface and might be visible in sunlight. We chose an above mid-grade Granite and I am not a happy camper! I know it is a natural stone...but jeeeez. Thoughts?

Thanks!

I saw crackling on some slabs...Brown Pearl comes to mind. I don't know if this is expected or not, normal or not, or if it weakens the surface or not. It was minor and I don't remember any pitting - if there was, it was slight.

I'm interested in hearing the responses as well.

Do having these things mean that the slab is a "second" so to speak?

 

[minnie56]

Better not be for what I paid!

I 'think' it can just happen, being rock and all. But he did say he would have NO problem sending it back to his Supplier if I am not happy. I am not sure I want to go through the selection process alllll over again tho!?

 

[mickeysgal]

Whatever it is, he said it is prone to these pits.
Not sure about the filling in. Not sure I want that right off the bat before it is even installed?

I don't blame you!

It would be interesting to know which are more prone to pits. I wonder if there is a index of sorts for granite slabs.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I can never remember what I chose!
Giallo Veneziano or Veneziana??

Kind of Gold with Taupes ..and creams???
LOL

Whatever it is, he said it is prone to these pits.
Not sure about the filling in. Not sure I want that right off the bat before it is even installed?

I don't blame you!

It would be interesting to know which are more prone to pits. I wonder if there is a index of sorts for granite slabs.

I'd like to know too, because that's one of the ones I've been eyeballing!

 

[Hixski]

I have a couple of pictures of our paint job. This first picture shows some paint up against the original Medici Ivory walls we had. DH really though he was a vanilla kind of guy till we started painting. Now he loves it. (Thank God) The second picture is our foyer. It is a pretty big wall so I thought it would show the color pretty good in the picture.

I told DH that the new color makes our new all white trim really pop. He said what did you say. I said the new color makes our new white trim pop. He said you have been watching TOO MUCH HGTV because you don't usually talk like that.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Spash, do you have a picture?

Are you saying there is too much of a overhang from the countertop on the cabinet next to the dishwasher and therefore shows too much of a gap? Should the new cabinet been put closer to the dishwasher?

I think you're right. Can't the dishwasher be pulled out, centered, slid back in and bolted into place?

I'm sure I'm totally off...picture please!

Same old cabinets & same old dishwasher. Not sure why the guy even nudged it at all. It was fine where it was. It was centered before. The toekick was flush before with the cabinet toekicks. Now when I sweep or swifter, the dishwasher sticks out about 3/4" further onto the kitchen floor. I'll see if I can get a picture.

Its totally an EASY fix...but DH isn't going to do it. He doesn't want to buy a stone drill bit or risk chipping out the screw hole. They can come fix it. Eventually.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I have a couple of pictures of our paint job. This first picture shows some paint up against the original Medici Ivory walls we had. DH really though he was a vanilla kind of guy till we started painting. Now he loves it. (Thank God) The second picture is our foyer. It is a pretty big wall so I thought it would show the color pretty good in the picture.

My husband said the same thing! He never had painted walls until he met me! Now he loves them!

Your color by the way, is just a shade lighter than what I have in my whole house. Watch out for the towel bar syndrome! It'll bite you where you least expect it, and before you know it, you'll be repainting the whole house!

 

[Hixski]

My husband said the same thing! He never had painted walls until he met me! Now he loves them!

Your color by the way, is just a shade lighter than what I have in my whole house. Watch out for the towel bar syndrome! It'll bite you where you least expect it, and before you know it, you'll be repainting the whole house!

The master bedroom was painted in the spring. The hall bath will get painted when we change out the vanity. We are doing the foyer, hallway, great room, dining room and kitchen with this color. So other than the master bath and the 2 secondary bedrooms we ARE repainting the whole house.

After this.........THE BASEMENT!!!!!!

 

[Syrreal]

Well, the ball is starting to roll here...

The deck should start being put in week after next. We are meeting with the builders to change the design (and make it cheaper). tohaving one 20X12 section by the living room and then a 5X60 walkway. Like a big P. Originally we were thinking of doing a 12X20 on each side attached by a 5X20 walkway but I know we would only end up using one part of the deck instead of both. I also wasn't too keen on the 14K pricetag that came with the double deck. It'll be a bit more manageable now.

We've also gotten all our electrical issues fixed from the do-it-yourself job of the PO. And all the plumbing issues are taken care of.

Yesterday, was appliance day. I was livid!!!
We were given a 2 hour window of between 12 and 2. I drove DH to school and then went to the new house to sit and wait with the baby. At 2 they still had not been delivered. DH finally called the company and 3 ways with me at about 2:30. They said that the driver was still a long ways away. I asked why no one had called me to say that they were running late with the delivery and the guy just blew me off. When I told him that was't good customer service he gave me some line about them having 100s of deliveries a day and most of them are on time. I just said that my current experience with them wasn't indicative of that. He wouldn't give me an ETA and wouldn't refund the delivery charge and finally weakly offered to have the driver call me. So three hours past the later end of the delivery window (and 5 past the early end) the driver comes to my door. I haven't been able to leave the house in 5 1/2 hours because no one could give me a new window. I was lucky that I brought extra food for the baby. The delivery guys were fine. Only complaint I have about them is that they were late (although if I had gotten a call saying that they would be that late it wouldn't have bothered me as much).
The fridge is too big right now- but should just fit once we get the new countertop. There is a 1 3/4 inch lip on the current counter that we're going to get rid of. The fridge is one of those french door/freezer on the bottom stainless steel.
The washer is in. The dryer couldn't be put in b/c the PO had a plastic dryer hose to the vent. Any ideas on who I can call to change that??
We need to call someone out to put in the dishwasher and wall oven since this company doesn't install either one.

All in all I was at the house alone with the baby with no food or entertainment (we didn't get TV there till today) for 7 1/2 hours. No fun at all. DH even had to get a friend of his to give him a ride home from school. Plus I get treated like crap by the CSR for the company. I am going to send a letter to the headquarters. I don't want any kind of compensation. They can keep the stupid delivery charge. But I want someone to know what kind of "service" is being provided.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Changing the plastic dryer hose to the aluminum kind is TOTALLY a do-it-yourself job. Its part of being a homeowner now. Just go to Home Depot, pick up an aluminum dryer hose kit (its the only kind they sell now). $10 maybe? You'll need a screwdriver to loosen the clamps on each end of the old hose. Replace with new hose & clamps. Tighten with screwdriver. 5 minute job.

BUT, if you prefer to pay someone, I don't have any clue who to call. Maybe a handyman. Its not anything that requires skill.

You could pay me to do it, but I'll charge you travel expenses from MA too. lol

 

[mickeysgal]

I have a couple of pictures of our paint job. This first picture shows some paint up against the original Medici Ivory walls we had.

What a difference! Thats a pretty color - do you know what color it is and from what manufacturer?

 

[mickeysgal]

All in all I was at the house alone with the baby with no food or entertainment (we didn't get TV there till today) for 7 1/2 hours. No fun at all.

Well at least its over now. 7 1/2 hours alone. I'd be talking to the wall by then. How in the world did you keep the baby entertained for so long?

 

[Syrreal]

Changing the plastic dryer hose to the aluminum kind is TOTALLY a do-it-yourself job. Its part of being a homeowner now. Just go to Home Depot, pick up an aluminum dryer hose kit (its the only kind they sell now). $10 maybe? You'll need a screwdriver to loosen the clamps on each end of the old hose. Replace with new hose & clamps. Tighten with screwdriver. 5 minute job.

Is it easy to push it through the wall to the outside of the house? The dryer isn't at the back end of the house but about 8 feet away against a side wall. If it's easy I would so much rather do it myself.

7 1/2 hours alone. I'd be talking to the wall by then. How in the world did you keep the baby entertained for so long?

I had brought over a whole bunch of toys but it was still hard to do. It didn't help that he was in a cranky mood that day. I had to walk him around a lot on my shoulder and I did get him to take one 40 minute nap (which is amazing in itself since he isn't a good napper at all). But mainly it was me hovering over him while he tried to "walk" along the fireplace. It's a huge fireplace that's raised and just at the right height for him. Looks like this-->

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[Am_I_There_Yet]

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You did a good job on him. No remodeling needed at all!

 

[mickeysgal]

I had brought over a whole bunch of toys but it was still hard to do. It didn't help that he was in a cranky mood that day. I had to walk him around a lot on my shoulder and I did get him to take one 40 minute nap (which is amazing in itself since he isn't a good napper at all). But mainly it was me hovering over him while he tried to "walk" along the fireplace. It's a huge fireplace that's raised and just at the right height for him. Looks like this-->

[/IMG]

Smart mom bringing a bunch of toys. He looks like he was having a great time. That 7 1/2 hours didn't seem to bother him at all.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Is it easy to push it through the wall to the outside of the house? The dryer isn't at the back end of the house but about 8 feet away against a side wall. If it's easy I would so much rather do it myself.

Never had to do that, but here's what I would do. Attach the aluminum hose to the plastic hose somehow (securely - maybe with duct tape), then pull the plastic hose thru....the aluminum hose will follow thru the hole. You'll have to remove the plastic shield outside of the house to do the pulling method I would guess. Its only screwed on. Also, you'll have to deside if its easier to pull towards into the house or out of the house. And I would have someone at the other end to help guide the aluminum hose into the hole since it won't bend as easily as the plastic hose would.

If it gets to complicated for you, you can always stop & hire someone. I guess. But I think its totally homeowner do-able. Unless you are like my SIL who can't even change a lightbulb. (wink)

Just like when you replace an elastic in a wasteband on pants. Oh wait, you're young. You don't know what elastic wasteband pants are. lol My mom was a seamstress. I've know all about replacing elastic. As a kid, that was my job to do. lol

As a homeowner, you'll find ways to do things yourself. Most stuff is NOT hard. Directions are always available online --- just google. And the people at Home Depot are a wealth of information. Most of them used to be contractors.

 

[mickeysgal]

Just like when you replace an elastic in a wasteband on pants. Oh wait, you're young. You don't know what elastic wasteband pants are. lol My mom was a seamstress. I've know all about replacing elastic. As a kid, that was my job to do. lol

Boy, do I know what elastic wasteband pants are. I grew up with them and now I'm growing old with them. Elastic is my friend.

OP, just like loosing a string in a hoodie or jacket. You have to inch it along...a push, pull kind of thing. Its a bit tedious but with patience it can be done. You can do it!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Hixski, I would love to paint the dining room a different color than the current porcelain while doing this project....BUT, if I do that, then the living room should be done, which leads to the stairs & hallways, and .......

I think I'll just wait to spring the idea of painting the house next year. DH can only handle so much at a time.

Besides, painting is the job he loathes more than anything else. BUT, he does an AWESOME job at it. He tapes everything REALLY REALLY perfectly. Then scrapes off any paint with an exacto knife if its on the wood.

He'll never hire a painter again after the last time I did that for the bathroom. DH just simply didn't have the time. I can't tell you how long I spent getting splatters off new sink, faucet & new floor & off the natural woodwork.

Again.....no one cares as much about the details than the homeowner does. If you haven't figured it out yet, we are ANAL!!!

 

[mickeysgal]

Again.....no one cares as much about the details than the homeowner does.

You're exactly right.