Remodeling DIY-Style!

[Miss Mary]

I know I'm going to start a gender war here with this topic but I can't resist!

You see since January 6th, my husband has been finishing off half of our basement. He's has help with various phases, just to get started properly, and I'd have to say he's done most of the work himself. We hired a mud guy to finish all the drywall and to have carpet installed. These two jobs were out of our realm, LOL! Do not trust me with spackle - it will look worse than when I started. And oh, I've done my fair share too - installing insulation, priming/painting all drywall, staining and polying of all trims and doors. So I've not been sitting on my duff.

Anywho, just thought I'd share some uh, hum, observations along the way. This is where I'll likely get into trouble!

1. Instead of running to Target all the time, you find yourself at Home Depot. And you even learn the layout of the store, despite the fact that their aisle signs are VERY vague.

2. Your husband or spouse, suddenly becomes a list maker! Yes I am finding all sorts of list lying about the house.

3. Forget your original estimate, add at least 1/3 to the total before all is said and done. Forget what a salesman will tell you - they just want the sale. Case in point: we were told a simple laminate faux wood floor would be under $200, for a 8 by 12 foot area. We thought about it and decided that would look better than vinyl. Final total: $400! Salesman didn't mention the pad or pricey faux wood thresholds we needed. Hey, we're learning!

4. Your husband, or spouse, will take lots of goofy pics. One with all sorts of gear on, clean clothes, etc. - hey look at me, I'm Bob Villa! That sort of thing. Another will be possibly a pic of our newly installed back up sump pump. Yes right among your precious daughter's Birthday photos, will be a pic of a sump pump. LOL

And here's the kicker (Brad and j, I just know you're both chomping at the bit here).....

5. Your husband (and I refuse to type that word, spouse, b/c well wife does not apply here!) will want continual pats on the back for the smallest of jobs. Yes I'm up to 846 pats by now.....LOL And those big jobs - OMG, just keep those pats a coming Mar!!!!

There, I'm done. Could think of more but I'll be kind and stop now.

Feel free to add your own observations to previous DIY projects you've taken on!!!!

Mary

[wx247]

I remodeled my room downstairs here, but I hired it done, so I can't relate.

[azskyman]

Well Mary...you struck a nerve. We are in the process of having the pool repaired/replaced and some landscaping done.

Indeed, I have kept track. 64 shrubs or plants I have pulled out since the beginning 3 years ago. 6 trees and 8 shrubs left...and all 8 of those shrubs will go too.

In the process now of getting together the bids. My lists are getting longer, the price is going up, and I keep trying to add in things that I know my lovely wife would want so I can offset some of those with what I want to do.

We'll do some of the work ourselves...but much will be hired out. I have the wherewithall to do it...but not the time nor the tools. And maybe not the patience or the knees any more either.

So...I'd add to your list of comments.

The cost will be half again more than you really think it should be and more than three times what you want it to be.

The lists are growing all over the place, like you. I have a file folder now 2" thick and growing.

I get pats on the back from the contractors and vendors for making a near-scale drawing of what I want to do. That way they can sit in the kitchen with their caculators, drink our iced-tea, and shock us with their price! (One quote for an installed French door was $4,000!). I should have charged $2500 for the glass of tea!

Projects our fun. I will enjoy the journey when it gets started...but HATE paying someone else for what I COULD do myself if I only had time and tools.

Good luck finishing the basement. Wish me luck on the yard!

PS...we will have plenty of photos too! It's part of the experience!

[Stephanie]

That's a big job but quite an accomplishment! Marty and I would probably kill each other!

I DO KNOW about those pats!

I have a short, funny story about completing a small task around the home. When we moved into our home, he and his mother did all the painting. That's another story in itself. I call him "Mr. Splash and Dash" - doesn't take the time to cover things up, he just goes in there and does it. I have tiny paint speckles inside my one bathroom's tub. Thank goodness the other one is wall papered! He teases me about how much time it takes for me to edge with the paint. At least I'm neat!

Well, this Sunday I was able to prove my point. I was cleaning up the kitchen and before I mopped the floor, I was going to spray paint the front of the refrigerator with an appliance spray paint since we have rust spots on the door. He took the can from me and told me to get some newspaper for the floor. AS a was putting the paper down on the floor he starts spraying. I didn't get a chance to cover the counter tops or the cabinet doors. He didn't do the short even sprays either, just one long PSSSSSSSSSSSST. When he was done, the door looked fine, but I started to walk around him towards the sink, and my bare feet started to stick to the floor that wasn't covered. Needless to say HE cleaned the floor and the kitchen AGAIN!

[Miss Mary]

Well, Steve, I wish you lots of luck with the yard! But $4000 for a French Door - crazy! I've heard that to have anything professionally done is almost double or triple what materials cost. We had our kitchen floor tiled over 5 years ago. I think materials were around $900. Total for materials and installation? $3700! And that was with a discount (we knew the owners of the tile company!). But like you, we didn't have the knees or wherewithall for that job. It was worth it to pay to have it done professionally.

This basement project has gone very slowly, since Jim doesn't have a lot of free time to do it. Weekends and a few evenings here and there. Little by little it's getting done. I do laugh when I think back to his original timetable - it would be done by Easter! Ha! I even toyed with hosting Easter dinner for the family, thinking that would spur us on to finish it up. Good thing I didn't do that! We still have about a month's work to do and then the next phase(s) - half bath, fireplace, bar. All in good time.

We're no experts, by any stretch of the means. We just happen to have several good friends who are good at remodeling. They'd get us started and we'd take over. I made lots of lunch runs to Penn Station and kept the coffee coming. They're on our invite list when we start thanking everyone properly for their help/expertise.

Stephanie!! OMG, you almost ended up with a fully painted kitchen! I think my hubby is in that paint and dash category or whatever you called it. Jim hates trim, just give him a roller. In fact since I had the job of painting this basement, I did it my way - with roller and paint tray. Forget those new fangled roller handles/spray guns. We've tried them - they work once and then you can't get the old paint out of the lines before you paint again! So this time Jim just said okay but I know as we were walking past that paint aisle at Home Depot he was just itching to try to the newest 'time saver' paint contraption. No thank you I say. Give me one roller, a tray, one brush and paint. And I'm happy! And oh, latex paint for easy cleanup. I don't ask for much!!! Thanks for sharing!

Mary

[mf_dolphin]

When I "estimate" my projects I take what I think it'll be and multiply by 1.5 Vicki and I have an agreement, whenever she adds a project to my list I get a new tool. The bigger the project the bigger the tool I have a very nice shop now (read garage that will never see a car in it) I'll post some pictures later to disprove that all men are not wannabe's

[Miss Mary]

Marshall - I imagine if you posted a picture of this garage that doubles as a workshop, you'd be the envy of lots of guys on the board! My husband is even talking about setting up a work area in our unfinished space in the basement. This is the guy I could never get enthused about projects around the house. For 15 years! I told him there's no turning back now. Once this is done, the deck is next. He just sighs. I wish I could give him a project list but that's pushing it too far with my guy. What helps is he's a tight-wad! He knows just how money we can save if we do projects ourselves. If not for that, it would never get done. I have also asked him several times since this all started - who are you and what did you do with my husband? He hates when I do that. Even the kids have said - who are you and what did you do with our dad? LOL

Mary

[Stephanie]

Marty drools at Norm's shop on the "Yankee Workshop".

[vbhoutex]

We'll do some of the work ourselves...but much will be hired out. I have the wherewithall to do it...but not the time nor the tools. And maybe not the patience or the knees any more either

AMEN!!!!

[Pburgh]

I'm a DIY person. I love to remodel and redecorate. I was just a Home Depot yesterday looking a Pergo Flooring. Looks pretty simple and I might try it in the kitchen and foyer. Seems like a pretty neat project. It's nice to have friends that do hardwood, carpentry, ceramic and plumbing. I just cook like crazy for them and offer them lots of beer!!!!

Mary, I love my Electric roller and sprayer. But, you are right about the clean up!!!!! I repainted my wicker furniture in 1 hour!!!

Stephanie - LOL - "splash and dash".

Steve, I'll be right over to help with that landscaping. That's one of my favorite things to do.