Flexibility…
This is my first blog after two Sundays “away”; well, on holidays anyway. I seem to keep the blog working in the back of my mind all the time. Something will occur to me and I’ll think, hey that’s a great topic for the blog! Or, wow, this will be something to share! The problem can be that sitting down to write on Sunday afternoon doesn’t mean I always remember all those great ideas!! I guess part of the second half of life is forgetfulness! LOL
We are in a heat wave. I was starting to worry that by the time my pool arrived, the heat would be gone. NO!! It’s still here and I’m extremely thankful for being able to refresh in my new pool with a swim during the day or after work or just to close out the evening. It was an interesting process. The first arrival from the pool company was a visit from a couple of guys to check out the area and make sure it would be appropriate. [I wonder what happens when your chosen area won’t work? My trench was already dug and I can’t imagine how I would have felt if they said no to my spot!] Part two, a few days later, was the crew to prepare the ground. It seemed like a fairly organized set up - they had shovels and a tiller and in no time there was a circle of dirt in the yard. In fact, it went so well they were done ahead of time. Next day they showed up for part three - the actual pool. I’ve never seen an above ground pool installed. I was working so couldn’t watch the whole routine but managed to wander out occasionally. It took the full day to get it set up and ready to fill. I figured the tanker would come and the water would be like that from your faucet - cold! It was a great treat to find out it was actually already a very comfortable temperature for swimming. In my mind, I thought it would take at least a few days to warm up - so happy I was wrong! I could swim right away. Oh wait. Of course, it wasn’t exactly smooth. There was no ladder. Now, I ordered and paid for a ladder but…. it didn’t arrive. So, after a few calls, I was finally able to speak to my sales person who arranged to have a ladder shipped in. Remember, these aren’t “normal” times. Everything is backordered or simply out of stock. I consider myself extremely blessed that he was able to find one and brought it out himself the next day. Now, the pool isn’t at “perfection” yet. There is no deck - again, due to the current pandemic getting a deck built (and affording the lumber) was not possible this summer. Fingers crossed, I’ll be able to get one next year. My yard is a bit of a mess. The electrician filled in the trench after running the electrical into the house but there’s always more dirt left that has to be cleaned up. I’m really looking forward to how much fun it will be to plan the area next year. In the meantime, it’s simply heaven to have the pool!
So, one big item checked off. Next, the kitchen! It’s hard to believe I’ve only lived here for seven months - it feels like I’ve been planning and dreaming of this kitchen for years! And maybe I have. When I started working on the ideas, it’s hard to believe I didn’t have some thoughts buried from years of home ownership. Who knows? Maybe it’s just the fact that the kitchen has been awful and from the moment I saw it, I knew it had to change.
Well, we’re one week into the renovation and let me tell you, it’s been a big learning experience. It’s been hot. Like I said above, we’ve been in a heat wave. You start demolishing a room, you need windows and doors open so that means, no air conditioning. In all honestly, it hasn’t been nearly as bad for me as it probably is for the guys working. It’s not just hot. It’s brutally humid. Thankfully, the new appliances arrived and the new fridge (currently stationed in my living room) is holding many bottles of water.
Day one of the reno and things aren’t what was expected. Do you watch any of those home improvement shows on TV where something is always “unknown” or “hidden” or far more “disastrous” than expected? I may have thought that some of that was dramatic effect for TV. I now know it is not. Right off the bat, there was a potential issue with the attic above the kitchen. It looked like my reno costs were going up by approximately $10 000! And it was only day one! Yikes! What else is going to happen? Well, it didn’t take long. The floors were going to be a bigger issue than first thought.
Originally the plan was to put a false ceiling over the current one and put a new floor done, also over the current one. The false ceiling wasn’t going to work when the attic looked like it wasn’t properly insulated or had proper water barriers. Thankfully, after a day of taking out old insulation and removing the old ceiling, the contractor discovered it was in better shape than first thought. It will still need to have foam insulation sprayed but it’s not a $10 000 job. Phew! The floors, though, were another concern. There was no way to level those floors. During the demolition, the original pantry was taken down. It had been built onto the floor below the current floor and directly onto the wall. Honestly, I think things in this house are very weird. Anyway, when it came down, the floor below was discovered and it is level! Why would anyone put crappy wood plank (uneven, with lots of knots and cracks and almost impossible to keep clean) on top of a perfectly good floor??!! Oh well. Once that was discovered, it was decided the best option was to NOT put the new flooring on top of the crappy but to pull up the crappy in preparation for the new. These are reasons why you want to find a contractor that you feel you can trust. And get references, too! I was concerned that I had not investigated this contractor enough (although I did get references and pictures from the new house they just built). I was worried that I would end up regretting my choice. Thank goodness, I went with my instincts. He’s a good guy and an honest one. He doesn’t try to talk me into anything - gives me the choices with the associated costs and then, after discussion and questions, I choose. To be honest, I think I usually follow his direction but that’s because he’s the expert in this, not me. And I’m happy with that.
So, when my ceiling came off - it was shocking (not) to discover the joists weren’t in the best of shape! Well, I guess I understand that. This part of the house is 121 years old! After a week of work, the ceiling wood is whitewashed, the joists have been fortified, the floor is gone [new flooring is ready for pick up], the new appliances have been delivered and the old have left the house. This week will be the start of reassembling the kitchen! It will be really fascinating to watch it come to life and I cannot wait.
I’ve learned a few things these past two weeks. While on holidays, I was reminded that nothing about the house or renovation matters if I’m not around to enjoy it. So, I forced myself to look after myself for a few days. I went to a Scandinavian spa with a good friend and what a blessing that was! You leave your phone in the locker room. That was one of the best things I’ve experienced. And the spa! Oh my goodness, I can’t wait to return. It was heavenly! I golfed, I relaxed, I went in the pool and I tried to refresh. I returned to work realizing that at my age, I’m getting ready to think about retirement. I’ve been working since I was in my early teens. I never thought retirement would be something I would want to do. I’d have to at some point and I understood that but I didn’t see how it would be something to look forward to. I don’t know if it’s due to the pandemic and the stress and changes in my life or whether it’s because of my age, or more likely a combination of all, but now I see how people can embrace the adventure of retirement. I’m getting there. It’s not quite around the corner but it’s no longer a distant dream (or nightmare?).
This past week has been interesting, as well. Flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to renovations, especially in a century home. Most of the original plan has been scrapped. Changes had to be made due to plumbing realities and, while I was resistant at first, my contractor has helped me come up with a plan that I believe will be more than just good enough. I think it will be gorgeous. It’s certainly not what I envisioned. I’m doing my best to stay positive and I’ve learned that I trust the contractor so with that as my guide, I know the final product will be one that I will love.
I’ve survived a week with cold meals, dishes and kitchen items spread in different rooms, and no air conditioning during the work day. I know it’s worth it. I can make it through two more! After all, I have a pool to dive into at the end of the day!
Whoo hoo! I have a pool!
Emptying the kitchen was a big task!
When you empty out a kitchen, it all has to go somewhere! Last weekend the whole house was a disaster! In the bottom right is one of the piles of kitchen cupboards awaiting installation. In the center are some of the pantry shelves that were salvaged!
Top left: while the attic was under consideration it was decided the original floor had to be removed.
Middle left: the built-on pantry is gone!
Bottom left: only the parts of the wall boards that could be seen, were painted! On the right is the cedar that will become the new ceiling.
Top right: plumbing issues mean that the sink and dishwasher cannot be situated in the island.
Middle right: the attic caused issues for the ceiling plan.
Bottom right: Tom removed all of the insulation and got things improved. Foam insulation still to come!
End of week one and the joists have been strengthened with fresh lumber!