Let's Talk Remodeling

[Hixski]

You really need to get your priorities in order.

Shouldn't golf be #1 on the list????

I am trying to get golf #1 on the list. Darn it though, life gets in the way.

 

[shovan]

Darn this is going to get expensive.

Bill, I feel your pain!!! If you read back, you'll see what I thought was a little remodel the best most honest contractor I could find, came back with a price of $20,000!!! All because the floors were messed up from Katrina, the fridge didn't fit properly & the back splash was installed incorrectly. Moving the wall for the fridge would have meant also ripping out the soffit/furdown above the cabinets, which meant taking down the cabinets, etc., etc., etc.! Yeah it really adds up quickly. We ended up just making do by widening the door opening and not moving the wall, changing the floor & backsplash.

If I were you I would find someone to repair the leak & get rid of the mold first thing. Then try to figure out the rest of it. The contractor we used gave us a very clear proposal with the cost of every detail broken apart. That way we were able to separate each issue to figure what could be done now & what could wait. I know for us it was very difficult, I also have wallpaper covered paneling in the den that ties into the kitchen. Had I started removing the soffits & redoing sheetrock in the kitchen, it ties into the rest of the walls in the den which then would have needed to be redone. You know, so you do this then you have to do that, as we've said on this thread so many times, it all starts with a towel bar!

We also had a fireplace guy & a roofer out here last week for a leak around and in the fireplace. To the tune of $1500 dollars and it rains yesterday and guess what,yep it's still leaking! And the flashing job on the outside looks like something a 4 yr old could have done! This is from the reputable roofer who lives only 2 streets over!

 

[shovan]

So here's a couple of pictures of the "finished" kitchen. I still haven't figured out what I'm doing with the ceiling & the light. (I'll post more pics of that later, to see if y'all have any suggestions.)

This is what we did with the wall next to the fridge and a good shot of the finished backsplash. And one of the two can lights we put in.

Another shot of the backsplash.

Here's the backsplash looking in from the den.

I thought I had pics of the finished floor but I don't. I'll have to take some more.

I really love the backsplash & the floor tiles. I do want to mention to anyone getting ready to do tile, that grout color samples are soo not true. The grout color came out much lighter than the swatch we were shown. I like the look, just worried about it staining.

Also has anyone else recently put down tiles & was told the grout does not need to be sealed? The contractor & the tile store both agree on this. That it's a new type of grout that does not require sealing. That we can seal it if we choose (& the contractor will come back out to do it) after waiting about 28 days until it's totally cured. They have both said that there is a new grout touch up stain on the market that works really well on any stains. And if we do seal it the touch up product won't work as well.

 

[BillSears]

Shovan,

I love the look of your kitchen. That tile looks fantastic... Maybe I'll do that too.

I've pretty much decided on taking out the home equity loan I've been thinking about doing or a couple of years. Then I'll start the long process of getting everything taken care of one room at a time.

 

[Hixski]

So here's a couple of pictures of the "finished" kitchen. I still haven't figured out what I'm doing with the ceiling & the light. (I'll post more pics of that later, to see if y'all have any suggestions.)

This is what we did with the wall next to the fridge and a good shot of the finished backsplash. And one of the two can lights we put in.

Another shot of the backsplash.

Here's the backsplash looking in from the den.

I thought I had pics of the finished floor but I don't. I'll have to take some more.

I really love the backsplash & the floor tiles. I do want to mention to anyone getting ready to do tile, that grout color samples are soo not true. The grout color came out much lighter than the swatch we were shown. I like the look, just worried about it staining.

Also has anyone else recently put down tiles & was told the grout does not need to be sealed? The contractor & the tile store both agree on this. That it's a new type of grout that does not require sealing. That we can seal it if we choose (& the contractor will come back out to do it) after waiting about 28 days until it's totally cured. They have both said that there is a new grout touch up stain on the market that works really well on any stains. And if we do seal it the touch up product won't work as well.

Your backsplash looks great. I would love to have a backsplash. Ours is just part of the countertop. Of course I have to decide on a new countertop before I can decide on a backsplash.

I love the glass front cabinets. I don't have enough pretty glassware to do that look. Yours looks wonderful.

 

[shovan]

Thanks Bill & Hixski!

Bill, you have a long road ahead of you! Good Luck on jumping into the treacherous path of remodeling!

Hixski, That glass cabinet is one I was considering taking out. If we had moved the wall, the soffits would have had to come out, so I was going to probably take the cabinet out altogether. So maybe not being able to afford some of this was not so bad after all! Some of that glassware is depression glass that my Mom & MIL no longer wanted!

On picking out the counters, just remember one thing leads to another! Towel bar syndrome again!

 

[Hixski]

We just got our new fridge and stove delivered. What a difference. Our refridgerator shot craps a couple of weeks ago. We had another small one so we were ok and didn't lose any food. Since we are remodeling and changing appliances to black we went ahead and go a new stove too. We had the old 20 yr old cream colors. We did not want an all black refridgerator so we got one with mostly black and the fake stainless front. It looks great. (At least I think so). DH said maybe it is time to get the new countertops you wanted. WooHoo.

Here is the before:

Here is the after:

 

[shovan]

We just got our new fridge and stove delivered. What a difference. Here is the before:

Here is the after:

Hixski, That looks great! Glad you didn't have trouble fitting the new fridge either. And maybe a new counter too!

I picked out a stovetop if other stuff around here would just quit going haywire! This one from GE, it's gas on glass. I'm hoping that will be easy to clean.

http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SPECPAGE&SITEID=GEA&SKU=JGP970BEKBB

But over the weekend I decide to change the AC vents from silver to white. Go run to Lowe's to get them for all over the house. Take the one down in the kitchen & guess what, MOLD!!! On the insulation surrounding the vents & up into the duct work.
Since we had all the vents & intake cleaned about 5 years ago and installed a Ozone generator & UV light that's supposed to kill mold, allergens, etc., I'm really upset about it. So someone is coming out today to give me a price on cleaning that. Of course the company who installed the system doesn't do that anymore.

 

[tiggger1]

They are putting carpet in the bedrooms, right now! I will be able to sleep in my new bedroom tonight! my dd will have her own room agian and the baby will be in his crib and Ill actually be able to sleep next to my hubby( the baby sleeps in his moses basket on the bed!) We also bought tile for the kitchen but hubby is putting that in this weekend...Ill put pictures up after he leaves.....

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The countertops were postponed until today because when they opened the box with the sink they discovered the sink was cracked. DH reports they are just about done. I can't wait to see!!

Tomorrow the plumber comes.

 

[Galahad]

The countertops were postponed until today because when they opened the box with the sink they discovered the sink was cracked. DH reports they are just about done. I can't wait to see!!

Tomorrow the plumber comes.

Tick...Tick - almost there - Great news.

They are coming to put in the new back door this week - one of the "finishing touches" that has been on back order. I've gotten used to no contractors around. I hope it's a quick job.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Here's the latest!

The plumber is scheduled for tomorrow, so the faucet and dishwasher will be installed as well

Things left after that...backsplash, light fixture and painting. We are getting there.

 

[Galahad]

Very Very nice. Love the cabinet colors. Is the sink made out of quartz/granite?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Thanks Galahad. It's a Blanco silgranit sink.

 

[tiggger1]

well the bedroom carpets are done, My dd bed is in her room but she is in my bed at the moment.. the crib is up in our new room and the baby is sleeping in there finally.. our mattress is in here, so tommorrow we will add the actual bed...we had to add fake curtains so the neighbors cant see in and we dont get woke up at 5 am by the sun....the old BR is trashed.. we still need to add dd bureau and here toys in her room and move the babies stuff in here...there is also no heat or trim but it is 85 degrees out!

 

[shovan]

They are putting carpet in the bedrooms, right now! I will be able to sleep in my new bedroom tonight! my dd will have her own room agian and the baby will be in his crib and Ill actually be able to sleep next to my hubby( the baby sleeps in his moses basket on the bed!) We also bought tile for the kitchen but hubby is putting that in this weekend...Ill put pictures up after he leaves.....

I hope you can get back to some sort of normal routine very soon!

Tick...Tick - almost there - Great news.

They are coming to put in the new back door this week - one of the "finishing touches" that has been on back order. I've gotten used to no contractors around. I hope it's a quick job.

I quickly we adjust to not having guys working in the house!! Hope the door installation goes smoothly!

Here's the latest!

The plumber is scheduled for tomorrow, so the faucet and dishwasher will be installed as well

Things left after that...backsplash, light fixture and painting. We are getting there.

Thanks Galahad. It's a Blanco silgranit sink.

BEAUTIFUL!!!! I was going to ask the same question Galahad did on the sink. silgranit? Is that a manufactured granite, it sure looks good. The fit under the counter is perfect too! I know you mentioned it before but what is the name of the granite countertop? It is so gorgeous. If I ever get to changing the small bar counter I think that is what I want. Love it!!

well the bedroom carpets are done, My dd bed is in her room but she is in my bed at the moment.. the crib is up in our new room and the baby is sleeping in there finally.. our mattress is in here, so tommorrow we will add the actual bed...we had to add fake curtains so the neighbors cant see in and we dont get woke up at 5 am by the sun....the old BR is trashed.. we still need to add dd bureau and here toys in her room and move the babies stuff in here...there is also no heat or trim but it is 85 degrees out!

Glad you have the carpet done anyway. Sounds like things you still have a long road ahead of you. Hang in there!!!

 

[shovan]

Well we finally received an answer from the state on whether or not they would approve our contractor for the "grant" to do the handicap accessible bathroom. NO! Only if he adds another $250,000 worth of contractor liability insurance on top of the $250,000 he already has. And adds auto business liability insurance to his vehicle. (His personal car that only he drives.) This all has us so disgusted! The contractor is away on vacation this week, so we will have to speak with him about this next week. We had previously discussed the issue on the vehicle insurance & he agreed he would add that, but this extra business liability could be the proverbial straw.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I'm sorry Shovan. That really bites.

The coutertops are Cambria Quartz Welshpool Black.

And silgranit is manufactured granite. From the Blanco site: "SILGRANIT® is manufactured of 80% rock hard granite. Features of SILGRANIT include heat resistancy up to 536° F, stain, scratch & chip resistancy, impervious to acids & alkalis, easy to clean & maintain, colored all the way through and guaranteed with our no-hassle limited lifetime warranty."

Oh and the plumber didn't make it today, he had some issues at his first job of the day. However, he did say he would be there tomorrow.

 

[Crankyshank]

Jas, the kitchen is gorgeous. I love the countertops. In fact, those are exactly what I was looking for.

DH has our garage ripped apart and found a giant carpenter ant nest He destroyed it and sprayed, so hopefully that will take care of it. It's been too hot to do much work, but I'm hoping he's finished soon (my poor tomatoes and hydrangeas are taking a beating from the debris).

 

[BillSears]

I just got my first estimate for the repair.

I've called 5 different places and got the answering machine at 4 of them but 1 of them actually had a real person who answers the phone and schedules appointments. The estimator came out after I got off of work and seemed knowledgeable and pleasant.

He told me some things that paniced me. He said the entire wall of the dining room would have to come down. The vinyl siding on the outside wall would have to be taken down too. They’d replace the entire set of studs for that wall and put all new vinyl siding on the outside. Reframe the window and replace the window. I requested that they replace the sheetrock on the other 3 walls and lower a pass through countertop between the kitchen and dining room.

He worked up the numbers and quoted me $5700 for the entire job. I quickly sighed in relief. $5700 really didn’t seem that bad for what they were going to do.

So of course I got the “while we’re at its” and asked about some other repair/remodel stuff around the house. He gave me a quote of $5350 for installing 8 Certainteed Bryn Mawr II windows, 1 of which is a 3 section slider. I got a quote of $2100 to take out an old woodstove, repair the roof and ceiling, take down the paneling in my kitchen and replace it with drywall. Then I got a quote on them doing the laminate floor replacement. They quoted me $3550 to put down about 360 square feet of laminate floor and I would have to buy the materials. The rest of the quotes seemed to be pretty good but that flooring quote seemed high to me.

So any opinions on the Certainteed Bryn Mawr II windows or on the prices quoted above?