Let's Talk Remodeling

[Glendamax]

Not speck of black paint on the white! Great job!

 

[mickeysgal]

But, what do you think? Tear out the soffits or not?

Another vote for tearing out the soffits. You really don't see them anymore. It should be fairly easy. They don't usually hide plumbing or electrical behind them, right? It should be just a empty framed box.

(It took me awhile to figure out what furdowns were - they're soffits to me. )

 

[mickeysgal]

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Not speck of black paint on the white! Great job!

Thanks. I will say I have a great painter. Now if I can only get the carpet runner for the center.

 

[shovan]

Another vote for tearing out the soffits. You really don't see them anymore. It should be fairly easy. They don't usually hide plumbing or electrical behind them, right? It should be just a empty framed box.

(It took me awhile to figure out what furdowns were - they're soffits to me. )

Furdowns, soffits it's better than what I was calling it, the Boxing above the cabinets! And down here in Nola, I'm lucky I knew what a basement was! We don't have basements here, if we did they'd be called swimming pools!

It's funny you said that about the plumbing or electrical. That was what DH kept telling me last kitchen remodel, when I wanted to take them out. That this house is going on 30 yrs old, you don't know what might be hidden behind there. I have since learned better! The only issue we'll probably have will be around & above the stove with the electrical & stove vent.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Thanks. I can't believe I finally found a vanity I liked. On ebay, no less. I like it so much, that we're looking for a similar one for the upstairs powder room. (See how I can sneak another mini-remodel in?)

The basement is like another living level. Its a walk out. It was already framed out into rooms, like a regular first floor, instead of a wide open space. We didn't want to mess with changing structural supports that basically hold up the house, so we finished it as is. I don't have the stomach for messing with structural beams.

As you can see, we still have a way to go. Carpet runner for the stairs, tile for the bathroom and backspash in the kitchen, doorknobs. The list goes on and on.

And the budget has been exceeded a long, long time ago.

Well, you're doing a wonderful job. It looks like something I'd do; our tastes are very much alike. You should be scared.

 

[Galahad]

Hi all,

Our project is finally done. I've been cleaning up all week. Hopefully more pics this weekend. Right now, the air duct cleaners are here for the final cleanout after all that construction dust, etc. (Boy, I highly recommend doing that after a big project. That dry wall dust just get recycled and recycled for months afterwards I'm afraid). My house has 30 vents! I had no idea. And, we get charged by the vent!!

 

[shovan]

Hi all,

Our project is finally done. I've been cleaning up all week. Hopefully more pics this weekend. Right now, the air duct cleaners are here for the final cleanout after all that construction dust, etc. (Boy, I highly recommend doing that after a big project. That dry wall dust just get recycled and recycled for months afterwards I'm afraid). My house has 30 vents! I had no idea. And, we get charged by the vent!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!:cool1:

Whew, I wouldn't want to get that bill, 30 vents, aack! Can't wait to see more pics!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Hi all,

Our project is finally done. I've been cleaning up all week. Hopefully more pics this weekend. Right now, the air duct cleaners are here for the final cleanout after all that construction dust, etc. (Boy, I highly recommend doing that after a big project. That dry wall dust just get recycled and recycled for months afterwards I'm afraid). My house has 30 vents! I had no idea. And, we get charged by the vent!!

Woohoo! I bet you're looking forward to the weekend!

 

[Galahad]

Woohoo! I bet you're looking forward to the weekend!

Well, DW has been out of town. I have the place pretty clean and the new hot tub full, hot, and treated. She gets home in a few hours. She hasn't seen most of the last two weeks of work. I guess I'm looking forward to the weekend.........

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Well, DW has been out of town. I have the place pretty clean and the new hot tub full, hot, and treated. She gets home in a few hours. She hasn't seen most of the last two weeks of work. I guess I'm looking forward to the weekend.........

Wow! She's in for a treat when she gets in! I wish I could have been gone the last two weeks of my kitchen remodel! But nooooo, I was the contractor, painter, decorator... etc...

 

[mickeysgal]

Our project is finally done.

Many congratulations!

I'll bet that phrase is music to your ears.

Hey - wait a minute - I thought projects never get completely done, done. There has to be something left over...a outlet cover, a piece of trim, a loose door knob, something!

Don't leave us here all alone with our unfinished projects! You're our inspiration.

So when is the hot tub getting its first test run?

 

[mickeysgal]

Well, you're doing a wonderful job. It looks like something I'd do; our tastes are very much alike. You should be scared.

Finally! Someone who understands me!! (Please come talk to my husband. I've been trying to explain me to him for over 24 years now. )

Seriously, I'm going to take that as a complement because there is nothing that I've seen YOU do that isn't simply outstanding. Your remodels are picture perfect. It was your bathroom vanity picture that led me to that type of cabinet.

 

[shovan]

Well, DW has been out of town. I have the place pretty clean and the new hot tub full, hot, and treated. She gets home in a few hours. She hasn't seen most of the last two weeks of work. I guess I'm looking forward to the weekend.........

Your DW is one smart lady! She is in for a very pleasant surprise! Enjoy!

 

[shovan]

Well we received our bid last night.

TWENTY-FREAKIN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!! That does not include removing the furdowns or sheetrock in the whole den!!!! This would just include moving the wall, sheetrock in kitchen area. Tile the backsplash, & tile the kitchen floors, fix the light in the kitchen & add some other can lights! And a small granite countertop in our den bar area, (that I didn't take a pic of.)
We are definitely rethinking this whole thing. What is sad, is that he broke it all down, it all looks reasonable nothing outrageous. But for that amount we really thought we could have redone & I mean REDONE pratically the whole kitchen & den! Removing the furdowns would be another $3000-$4000 dollars!

$20,000 and not removing the furdowns, just doesn't seem to be the best use of our money. We really need to update our den (whole room needs the wallpaper paneled walls removed & have sheetrock floated) just as much as the kitchen, maybe more.

DH & I are really feeling disgusted about the whole thing. We'll talk with the contractor more today. We need to be very careful to not run this guy off. We still feel confident in his work, ideas & overall just having him in our house & running the job. I'll keep y'all updated!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Finally! Someone who understands me!! (Please come talk to my husband. I've been trying to explain me to him for over 24 years now. )

Seriously, I'm going to take that as a complement because there is nothing that I've seen YOU do that isn't simply outstanding. Your remodels are picture perfect. It was your bathroom vanity picture that led me to that type of cabinet.

Thank God I didn't post pictures of my towel bars!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Well we received our bid last night.

TWENTY-FREAKIN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!! That does not include removing the furdowns or sheetrock in the whole den!!!! This would just include moving the wall, sheetrock in kitchen area. Tile the backsplash, & tile the kitchen floors, fix the light in the kitchen & add some other can lights! And a small granite countertop in our den bar area, (that I didn't take a pic of.)
We are definitely rethinking this whole thing. What is sad, is that he broke it all down, it all looks reasonable nothing outrageous. But for that amount we really thought we could have redone & I mean REDONE pratically the whole kitchen & den! Removing the furdowns would be another $3000-$4000 dollars!

$20,000 and not removing the furdowns, just doesn't seem to be the best use of our money. We really need to update our den (whole room needs the wallpaper paneled walls removed & have sheetrock floated) just as much as the kitchen, maybe more.

DH & I are really feeling disgusted about the whole thing. We'll talk with the contractor more today. We need to be very careful to not run this guy off. We still feel confident in his work, ideas & overall just having him in our house & running the job. I'll keep y'all updated!

Don't give up! Surely there are ways to cut some costs, if not some corners all together. I understand the frustration of sticker shock though.

We did our kitchen for under $10k, and the bathroom creeped up to almost double that - and look at where I am right now. No remodeling going on here at all right now!

How long do you plan to stay in your house? Will the remodel (even at that steep of a price) get you a good return on your investment?

 

[shovan]

Don't give up! Surely there are ways to cut some costs, if not some corners all together. I understand the frustration of sticker shock though.

We did our kitchen for under $10k, and the bathroom creeped up to almost double that - and look at where I am right now. No remodeling going on here at all right now!

How long do you plan to stay in your house? Will the remodel (even at that steep of a price) get you a good return on your investment?

We are thinking at that price it would not be a good investment. If with $20,000, we could have removed furdowns in kitchen, change & add lighting, fit the fridge properly, sheetrocked the den, & put in crown mouldings, painting through the whole area & the granite counter on the den bar, it might pay off. But it appears to do it all would come in around $30,000!

Whether we stay in the house, depends on the next couple of hurricane seasons. Whether or not we can handle the stress of living here. And if we were to get hit any worse than Katrina, the value of our property would go right down the drain. But I think we will be here at least another 5 years, (until DH can retire) if not forever.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

We are thinking at that price it would not be a good investment. If with $20,000, we could have removed furdowns in kitchen, change & add lighting, fit the fridge properly, sheetrocked the den, & put in crown mouldings, painting through the whole area & the granite counter on the den bar, it might pay off. But it appears to do it all would come in around $30,000!

Whether we stay in the house, depends on the next couple of hurricane seasons. Whether or not we can handle the stress of living here. And if we were to get hit any worse than Katrina, the value of our property would go right down the drain. But I think we will be here at least another 5 years, (until DH can retire) if not forever.

Has construction costs always been that high in NOLA?

 

[shovan]

Has construction costs always been that high in NOLA?

No, due to the construction demands from the hurricane things have really skyrocketed! There are not enough contractors/craftsmen around, especially to do this type of remodeling. There is still so many homes that are still being gutted & redone, which the contractors seem to prefer doing, rather than having to retrofit things & work around people living in the house.

We expected sticker shock but just not this bad!

I wouldn't have thought prices would be that different from N.O. to Houston. Here's what some of our Pre-Katrina remodeling had cost. Does that seem more like the prices you have seen?

Our first kitchen remodel cost $10,000 for cabinets (not custom but high quality), corian counters, low end dishwasher (has already been changed), wall range & stovetop. No walls moved or anything like that. We also spent $3000 on 2 exterior doors, 2 interior doors & replaced baseboards through much of the house. Wood floors ran about $8000. throughout most of the house excluding only the bedrooms & master bath. Wallpaper in the kitchen& changing wall paper in the foyer & painting in the dining room was about $1200. included wall paper cost. All of this was done about 6 years ago.

 

[elizke]

Well we received our bid last night.

TWENTY-FREAKIN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!! That does not include removing the furdowns or sheetrock in the whole den!!!! This would just include moving the wall, sheetrock in kitchen area. Tile the backsplash, & tile the kitchen floors, fix the light in the kitchen & add some other can lights! And a small granite countertop in our den bar area, (that I didn't take a pic of.)
We are definitely rethinking this whole thing. What is sad, is that he broke it all down, it all looks reasonable nothing outrageous. But for that amount we really thought we could have redone & I mean REDONE pratically the whole kitchen & den! Removing the furdowns would be another $3000-$4000 dollars!

$20,000 and not removing the furdowns, just doesn't seem to be the best use of our money. We really need to update our den (whole room needs the wallpaper paneled walls removed & have sheetrock floated) just as much as the kitchen, maybe more.

DH & I are really feeling disgusted about the whole thing. We'll talk with the contractor more today. We need to be very careful to not run this guy off. We still feel confident in his work, ideas & overall just having him in our house & running the job. I'll keep y'all updated!

How disappointing! I know the feeling! We never seem to be able to hire anyone to do anything, because it's always just too danged much money. We end up doing what we can ourselves, but "we" as craftspeople are definitely not my top choice, and we can never afford to do all we want to.

I think you may be able to pare down a bit a get close to what you want. If you just have him do the wall, which is your biggest problem, and floor and light, that would be great. Extra canned lights are not worth installation costs to me, and even backsplashes are overrated in my opinion.

As for the overhang or furdown or whatever you call it, I think you'd be perfectly fine leaving it. Removing the border to stop calling attention to it, and maybe even painting it a color similar to the cabinets would make it all but disappear. Wallpaper removal is messy but defintely yourself-do-able as long as you use the right method. (Never score!!)

At least your cabinets are lovely!!!!!