Is it wrong that we’re not done the main floor yet and we’re already planning on what to do next and how to afford it? I guess it’s just human nature…
We view the house as having 5 main areas that need completing. One to four are the floors of the house (including the basement) and the fifth is of course outside. Once the main floor is complete we will have 2 of 5 done (since the third floor where the kids rooms are is done). We don’t view it as 40% complete though. During this phase we also re-wired the whole house, replaced almost all of the windows, did some repairing of the plumbing to the second floor bathroom, and generally cleaned the place up. So let’s say we’re 60-70% done which is good because the money is essentially gone.
What’s left - serious work to be done on the second floor which includes: (a) ripping out the old kitchen and converting it back to a bedroom or den, (b) major reno of the existing bathroom which is a disaster, and (c) contemplating where the master bedroom and bath should go.
On the basement level what was once a relatively clean and finished area (albeit not nicely) is now a train wreck. So much of the basement had to be cut open to access wires, plumbing etc… We now need to clean and rebuild down there and will most likely take the opportunity to open it up a little bit more.
The final area is outside. The backyard became a garbage dump when I had to remove the addition and given the amount of snow had to just leave it in the backyard. So step one will be garbage removal and then the real project begins. The front and back need a serious make-over.
So there you have it. Lots more in front of us even while we enjoy what’s been completed thus far. We’re going to have to take on as much of this work as possible to cut down on cost. We’re also going to have to radically slow things down so we can attempt wherever possible to pay as we go.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Sharon // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:44 am
I believe the sailors call it footitis - when you start out shopping for a 24 foot boat, but end up buying a 36. Same applies to home renovation. Also known as the “while we’re doing this, we might as well do that” phenomenon.
2 Peachy Keen // Mar 25, 2008 at 3:53 am
OH Wow! I have just found you and have read back over the archives! What a stunning transformation! I LOVE the kitchen. Its amazing!
3 Kirk Simpson // Mar 25, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Too right Sharon. Although if you saw our second floor bathroom, old kitchen, basement, and backyard you would realize that something definitely needs to be done. It’s just a matter of when and to what level. But I don’t disagree that if Anke and I went shopping for a boat we would likely end up with a 36 footer…but then again I never would have been looking for a 24 in the first place.
4 Leon K // Mar 25, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Your upstairs kitchen doesn’t seem to be THAT bad from the pictures (I’m sure you’ve seen real dumps while shopping around for a house!) Rather than paying more $$ to get this kitchen ripped out and disposed off, why not call Habitat for Humanity and see if they can take it away from you? Not only will it save you $$$ on the removal. You’ll also know that it would be sold to another home (saved from landfill) and the $$$ will be used to help a needy family!
5 Kirk Simpson // Mar 25, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Hi Leon
I think you had to live in it with two kids under 3 to appreciate the state of it. It took me three hours of cleaning to get the mold out of the fridge as just one example.
I’m going to do the demo myself and we did call Habitat for the removal of the old main floor kitchen and they have strict rules of what they will and will not accept. The appliances must be no older then 5 years if my memory serves me which does not apply here.
We will absolutely be doing everything we can to avoid putting this stuff in a landfill. We find that things in a relatively decent state get picked up from the end of our drive in almost every instance.
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