Gorgeous, but there were some communication breakdowns re what they were going to do and how much time we had to do it…which meant that we expected the front of the house on one day, the back of the house on the next, which they didn’t—so we had to scramble, tired as we were, to move the Rubik’s Cube of the office, not to mention shift the cats about to safe areas without windows missing; and each window (there are 10) has 8 trim parts, from 4 inner moldings to the 4 framing pieces, the sill and the sill support. Which we had pulled to sand and paint, and which began to get mixed up. Jane wanted (with an artist’s sense) to have a fine-furniture finish to all the paint; and it meant a lot of stooping and carrying, which we’re getting too stiff to do, and then I bought oil-based primer, and used water as a brush-dip extender—that’s how exhausted I was, absolutely brain dead. So Jane then had to fix that problem with about 8 pieces atop all the rest.
We were by that time totally fried, the project leader was getting tense, but we managed to get the situation straightened out, however—we agreed that they should do the exterior work on the first non-rain day (it started raining this morning) and that we would meanwhile spackle what needs spackling around the frames, paint, and then prep those molding bits as we like, then call them and they will come out and do the final set.
We were so tired and sore that we could hardly move. Vitamin D, water, calcium, water, magnesium, water, and zinc, with water—all helped. But we agreed that the back pain was somewhere around the level of a broken bone. Or toothache. Jane also lost a filling while eating a very simple burger, so now there’s that to fix.
On the other hand, the windows are beautiful and clear and wonderful. White frames. And the leaking corner of the front window is definitively repaired and solid. We had some mold going there, now fixed, as well.
And the front window is gorgeous. I took pix. Jane will put them on her site when she gets her computers running again…everything had to be unplugged and moved about. The cats took it remarkably in stride, and are just glad to have the run of the house. Skittish Sei was fairly amenable to being caught with all the banging and machine noise going on—I think it finally penetrated his kitty skull that I was trying to protect him, so he didn’t try to run, just clung like Velcro as I shifted him from my room to Jane’s and then to the basement.
We are done with this phase of the house reno as soon as we finish the trim and do the last little bit of floor under the main window. At that point, we cry halt for a number of months.
just as a sidelight, I’d recommend that you get everything in writing ahead of the project.
Who does what, when do they do it, what do you expect the other parties to do, what happens if the project is delayed, etc.
Then, make the other party sign it, too.
That way, when they say, “there was a miscommunication”, you can point to the agreement and tell them, “No, there was not….”
Even on the older home improvement shows, they recommended that, to avoid a mechanic’s lien, where you pay the contractor, but the contractor fails to pay a sub-contractor, and that sub-contractor can legally bring action against you. Pain in the neck, but protection for you…….
I’ll be looking for the pictures. I’m sure the windows look great. Will you now be changing the interior window furnishings, such as blinds/drapes, etc?
Well, we have everything in writing but the schedule. But we’re working it out!
No, blinds and drapes stay as they are!
I’m glad you’re happy with the windows, but two big renovations (floor and windows) in four months time seems quite enough for at least a year!
And thank you for askng DAW about the Kobo availability for Europeans, I’m happy to hear that they’re fixing it, and it’s going to be available to us as well.
This 😀
One hopes that by this time you have gotten a good night’s sleep, drunk your electrolytes (or whatever it takes to reset 🙂 ) and are feeling a little less wiped. How many boxes of flooring did you and Jane need to do your floors? Today I had our Pergo delivered, but as it was all shrink-wrapped onto a pallet, I had to unwrap it and schlep it into the house a box at a time from the back lanai, all 42 of ’em! Advil, washed down with some hard cider.
I can’t remember but we had them stacked in the kitchen, the living room, the office, my bedroom, all for fear of too much weight on the subfloor.