Let's Talk Remodeling

[SplshMtn99]

Tonight we disconnect the kitchen plumbing & remove the old countertops. We are also moving the old stove out of the dining room.

The Silestone comes tomorrow morning!!!

Anything else I should know or check for during installation besides this list?
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0716114423971.html?1 (ignore the words granite thru out. the person used a granite checklist & modified it but forgot to change some words)

 

[DisneyPhD]

Tonight we disconnect the kitchen plumbing & remove the old countertops. We are also moving the old stove out of the dining room.

The Silestone comes tomorrow morning!!!

Anything I should know or check for during installation?

Oh, I am so excited for you!

Want to hear my plumbing drama for today??????? tough, you are going to anyway.

So yesterday I went to IKEA (day trip for us) and FIL worked on a few things around here. He had to turn off the water to the house around 4:00 he comes to me all upset and says it won't turn back on. The valve is busted.

Soooooooooo He calls his friend who is a plumber. He says he can't touch it, the city has to come and shut off the water to the house from the street. Of course they can't today. It is 4:00 and everyone went home for the day.

So they are coming at 8:00 am the next day (today.)

Sure enough 8:00 rolls around and they guy is out there. He says he found the line, but it is under the driveway. They have to dig it up. They did (just a small hole) and it still would not turn off. So they have to get more people, more equipment and dig about 7 feet down and replace the whole line and dig up about half of my drive (just near the base of it.)

They did, they got it done but it took about 7 hours. The good news is the guys were very nice, worked really hard and didn't let any of the troubles we kept encountering stop them. They didn't disappear for long times, and they patched it up. They said the city will replace it, but they don't know when.

The good news is it is all part of city expenses, so it doesn't cost us a dime. I almost feel over when he said it was under the drive way and we had to dig it up. I was sure this was going to cost us a thousand dollars.

We have water again. My FIL said he put the new valve on before they even got out of the hole in the driveway.

All this to fix the line running to the fridge for ice and the dishwasher.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Oh brother.

Luckily, DH installed new shutoffs under the sink last time we did plumbing. So we won't have your problem.

BUT if someone doesn't take care of the corroded main shut-off valve soon that is in our basement, we'll be in bigger trouble someday.

Oh, and 2 years ago, condo association hired someone to take care of some drainage issues the neighbor unit was having. They decided to run a pipe under our driveway & down hill. Its filled, patched, crumbling & looks like crap. I want a new driveway because they ruined ours to help the neighbor. Maybe I'll write another letter.

 

[Hixski]

Now, call my dog ugly and that's another story.

Duncan still thinks Chloe is HOT!!!!!

We have been painting for the last 2 1/2 days and we are still not done. The great room (with walls that are 16 ft at one end of the room), the foyer, the hallway and part of the dining room are done. We should be able to finish it up next week on our days off. My knees are killing me from climbing up and down ladders. And I work out!!!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Old stove is out of dining room & into the garage with the frig now. They've both been cleaned well & are ready to sell. We might even have someone who will buy them. 14 yrs old but SUPER clean & in great condition. Whirlpool.

Now if DH will stop whacking with the neighbor, we can move onto disconnecting the plumbing & get the counters off. I've already cleared everything off & emptied the sink cabinet.

Come on Mr.....its 7:30pm already.

 

[BillSears]

It sure does sound like you guys are really moving on your projects. Other then lots of measuring and ordering my contractor hasn't started work yet. But I did tell them I'd prefer they waited to start until I got back from WDW since I didn't want to vacation mid remodel.

I'm off to WDW early tomorrow morning. Have fun with your remodels, I know I'll have fun at WDW!!!

 

[SplshMtn99]

All the dishes are washed & plumbing disconnect. Its paper plates & cups till Saturday.
Dishwasher unscrewed from countertop -- screws taped inside the door so we can find them tomorrow.

DH remembered we still needed to install the anti-tip bracket for the new slide-in range. And that's done too.

He didn't want me to help him lift off the old countertop. So he'll ask the guys to help him tomorrow. I cleared space for them to go. I have an ad up by the mailboxes incase someone wants to buy them. I also remembered a few towns over there are identical condos from same builder. I put an ad by their mailboxes too. Nothing wrong with them except I made a mistake buying blue/green countertops 7 years ago. Hope someone can use them.

I've got to purchase a new undercounter water filtration system & dispenser ASAP so we can hook up the plumbing on Saturday. And the plan for this long weekend is to work on taking down the wallpaper border than joins the kitchen & dining room. Not looking forward to that. When we put up wallpaper....we put it up so it doesn't come down. ugh! Never thought I would still be living here when it needed to go. But I did learn some tips from the guy we paid to remove the bathroom border. He made it look so easy.

 

[Hixski]

It sure does sound like you guys are really moving on your projects. Other then lots of measuring and ordering my contractor hasn't started work yet. But I did tell them I'd prefer they waited to start until I got back from WDW since I didn't want to vacation mid remodel.

I'm off to WDW early tomorrow morning. Have fun with your remodels, I know I'll have fun at WDW!!!

Have fun!!!! I will be right behind you in a couple of weeks. We have a couple of days at WDW and the DCL cruise.

 

[mickeysgal]

It sure does sound like you guys are really moving on your projects. Other then lots of measuring and ordering my contractor hasn't started work yet. But I did tell them I'd prefer they waited to start until I got back from WDW since I didn't want to vacation mid remodel.

I'm off to WDW early tomorrow morning. Have fun with your remodels, I know I'll have fun at WDW!!!

Have a great time! We're going to hold you to a trip report when you come back. Enjoy!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Duncan still thinks Chloe is HOT!!!!!

Well, you know she has the hots for Duncan too!

We have been painting for the last 2 1/2 days and we are still not done. The great room (with walls that are 16 ft at one end of the room), the foyer, the hallway and part of the dining room are done. We should be able to finish it up next week on our days off. My knees are killing me from climbing up and down ladders. And I work out!!!

Painting is my indicator of how out of shape I am! I used to circuit train, and back them I could paint with no problems.

Now, I can hardly walk the next day!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

And the plan for this long weekend is to work on taking down the wallpaper border than joins the kitchen & dining room. Not looking forward to that. When we put up wallpaper....we put it up so it doesn't come down. ugh! Never thought I would still be living here when it needed to go. But I did learn some tips from the guy we paid to remove the bathroom border. He made it look so easy.

Ugh. Good luck with that! It's my #1 most hated job!

 

[shovan]

There really are some pretty fluorescent light out there. DH really wants to put that in the kitchen, but I'm still unsure about it. I was considering this one for that spot in my kitchen, it's the wood & iron one on page 19 of this catalog. What do y'all think?

AmIThereYet, They have some pretty vanity lights in this catalog too!

http://www.americanfluorescent.com/display/catalogs/images/files/AmericanCatalog.pdf

 

[SplshMtn99]

The Silestone countertops are in! I really like it. Of course, everything will look better when the kitchen is cleaned up & put back.

Its 12 noon & 83 degrees. I'm wiped out & trying to cool off. I did get the first floor of house vacuumed up. Sink cabinet & dishwasher vacuumed out from holes they drilled in counter. Counters wiped off with just water & towel. They are a bit gritty still. They said I need to go buy some Simple Green Countertop Cleaner at Home Depot (cleaning aisle). 2 good cleanings & it should be all cleaned. When I cool down I'll give the floor a quick mop.

I'll post some pic of disaster zone in a bit.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

There really are some pretty fluorescent light out there. DH really wants to put that in the kitchen, but I'm still unsure about it. I was considering this one for that spot in my kitchen, it's the wood & iron one on page 19 of this catalog. What do y'all think?

AmIThereYet, They have some pretty vanity lights in this catalog too!

http://www.americanfluorescent.com/display/catalogs/images/files/AmericanCatalog.pdf

Thanks! I'll take a look at it!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

The Silestone countertops are in! I really like it. Of course, everything will look better when the kitchen is cleaned up & put back.

Its 12 noon & 83 degrees. I'm wiped out & trying to cool off. I did get the first floor of house vacuumed up. Sink cabinet & dishwasher vacuumed out from holes they drilled in counter. Counters wiped off with just water & towel. They are a bit gritty still. They said I need to go buy some Simple Green Countertop Cleaner at Home Depot (cleaning aisle). 2 good cleanings & it should be all cleaned. When I cool down I'll give the floor a quick mop.

I'll post some pic of disaster zone in a bit.

I can't wait to see the pictures! You must be thrilled!

 

[shovan]

The Silestone countertops are in! I really like it. Of course, everything will look better when the kitchen is cleaned up & put back.

Its 12 noon & 83 degrees. I'm wiped out & trying to cool off. I did get the first floor of house vacuumed up. Sink cabinet & dishwasher vacuumed out from holes they drilled in counter. Counters wiped off with just water & towel. They are a bit gritty still. They said I need to go buy some Simple Green Countertop Cleaner at Home Depot (cleaning aisle). 2 good cleanings & it should be all cleaned. When I cool down I'll give the floor a quick mop.

I'll post some pic of disaster zone in a bit.

I can't wait to see it!! When you have time later, can you tell me how the price of silestone compared to granite, quartz & other materials? I've been looking at their site & I'm not clear on is this quartz slabs or a man made product using real quartz! They have a color I really like for the bathroom, so now it has me considering other counter surfaces besides granite.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Pictures!!!!!

Ok, here is before: (blue/green counters & almond appliances)

Here's where we are today: new black frig & stove; new Silestone counters

Still need to do plumbing, remove border, paint that green wall a different green, tile backsplash, raise microwave & cabinet, add molding to cabinets, & probably new hardware. Sew valances, drapes & toaster cover.

Here's the color scheme. Blue carpet, beige vinyl floor, green door mat, wine bottle valances, green lattice pattern drapes. Tile will be a darker beige tone maybe - haven't picked anything yet. Accent wall color in kitchen will be green like the drapes. Dining room will remain porcelain paint. The drapes & valance will be in the dining room.

http://s99.photobucket.com/albums/l...hen Updates/?action=view&current=IMG_0022.jpg
If you want to see the entire first floor (kitchen, dining & living - I left out the 1/2 bath & stairs), then click above & look at 13 pictures to give you an idea of what our modest 1987 condo looks like. I know its not the great houses alot of people have, but we like the wood, blue carpet & porcelain walls. Its very us & its almost paid for. However, if someone would like to give us a new beautiful update to date fully furnished house, we would take it.

There are 34 pictures in the album if you feel like looking at all of it.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The combo of the counters and appliances look great!

 

[SplshMtn99]

The combo of the counters and appliances look great!

Thanks. I was worried about going too dark because it only gets morning light from that 1 kitchen window. I think its good middle of the road color. It doesn't look so in the photo, but there are specs that are a dead match to the 1987 oak cabinets. So it picks them up too. And there are little specs the color of the floor. Its brown, black, grey, amber & cream.

 

[Hixski]

SplshMtn99: Your countertops look great!!!! What color is that? We have the same cabinets and that color would look great with ours too. It is not too dark and we need something like that. Our floor tiles are a little darker than your floor. Keep the pictures coming. I will post a few of our paint job when I get a chance.