Posted by jsexton – October 14, 2006 8:32 PM
As you can imagine, the dust and debris from this project is significant. Our crew does a nice job of cleaning up at the end of each day. But still, we track sheetrock chunks and sawdust upstairs into the bedrooms and into the family room downstairs. By the end of the week the whole place is pretty dirty.
So on Saturdays we've been doing a whole-house cleanup. This is basically our normal routine. The kids clean up their rooms and pick up toys and clothes in other rooms; Mackenzie vacuums and Maggie occasionally cleans the tubs. If this sounds like they are perfect children, well, the parents provide a lot of "encouragement."
Gretchen and I have been using the shop-vac to clean up the construction area. This makes the house seem a little more normal on the weekends. We can walk around in our socks. And the house feels less chaotic/out of control. If we keep the place clean, somehow it seems like the whole job will go smoother for the crew. This is probably irrational, but we're in a situation where we can't do a whole lot to help them out now. So cleaning makes me feel like I'm contributing.
What's your experience? Do you try to keep the house clean, or give in to the mess? Is it worth the trouble?
Open-air stairs. There used to be a wall here.
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Just found your blog. We're in the midst of a kitchen renovation ourselves.We went through HOme Depot for the design and construction and are happy with the results. The best thing we did was to install a slop sink in the half bath (we're going to update the sink anyway). This gave us a space to wash pots and dishes. The actual installation of the cabinets took only six days so we have use of the stove and frig. It's the picking out of the paint and countertop that's taking so long. We're also installing a laminate floor by ourselves. That is the biggest pain so far. Being former campers also helped us to endure the inconviences. Good luck to all who take on a renovation.
Posted by Margaret – October 15, 2006 6:29 AM
We're working with Home Depot on the cabinets and countertops also. Our experience with Home Depot so far has been excellent. The cabinets are ordered and should arrive in the next week or so. This is indeed a lot like camping in your own house. If you have tips, please share them!
Posted by Jim Sexton – October 15, 2006 12:02 PM
We are renovating also.... But as yet we aren't able to move into our new house. Everyday it's something else, a roofer falling through the ceiling, discovering our walls are made of plaster and the paint is all lead based, the rafters in the attic are hopelessly warped and moldy.... waaahhhhh. I wish it were as simple as just pulling out the cabinets and putting in new appliances.
My beautiful new appliances are in the garage, (only 2 of the 4 were dented in the delivery), and by comprimising maple for cherry cabinets, I was able to cut the price of my cabinets in half... oh yeah, I also am getting the laminate countertop, not the granite. It'll be great once it's done, whenever that is.
Posted by Martha Piercefield – October 15, 2006 1:16 PM
I recently had my kitchen gutted/remodeled as well as my bath and dressing area. Thought I'd mention one hazard we encountered - in addition to the drywall and stud and insulation replacement we had to replace due to mold found behind our kitchen wall...as you know all the dust and sheet rock is everywhere. Our cat walked thru it constantly and then, as cats do, he would groom himself. Ended up he nearly died after he developed a blocked urinary tract. Surgery was necessary to try and save him...adding another $2,000. to our remodel costs.
Posted by Ruth – November 3, 2006 3:21 PM
I just found your blog and have been reading from the beginning. The question of cleaning is always a major concern. I have always tried to use plastic sheeting around the work area so that the rest of the house stays fairly clean. There are items on the market that can be used, but they are expensive, instead I just use 2x2s or 2x4s to make a frame around the area with a zipper door that can be bought at a home centre.
I realize the barrier can be a hassle to work around for living in the rest of the house, but in the long run it is well worth the problems. Like in your picture, I would have put it up along one side of the stairway for sure. Another way would have been to have the zipper door at the top of the stairs to keep the upstairs fairly dust free.
I am getting ready to remodel my 10th kitchen in that many years. I do the work for my own homes and for other people; this one I am starting just after Thanksgiving is putting a new kitchen in what used to be a dining room. In many ways it makes the work easier, especially since the current kitchen will still be usable until the last week when two of the kitchen appliances have to be installed in the new space.
I read all the comments and shake with all the horror stories. I have never, ever had any problems like everyone talks about. I guess it is just because of making sure I have all the details worked out before tearing anything out. And, if the cabinets have been purchased, making sure that everything is correct before tearing out the working kitchen.
Last January I tore out a kitchen on the 2nd and with all the new cabinets and the wiring and plumbing that was necessary, and waiting even for the granite counter tops and the granite floor tiles to be installed, the client was able to turn the stove and sink on on the 2nd of Feburary -- right on schedule. However, a friend of hers in the same building, with the exact same floor plan, but with someone else doing the work, started the same day and was without a kitchen until the 22nd of April !!! The checking of details and making sure everything is correct before hand sure is worth all the hours it takes to get it right on paper before digging into the real thing.
Posted by Douglas – November 14, 2006 10:34 PM
Working with Home Depot on cabinets, countertops (silestone)and all appliances (GE) also. Scheduled for install January 2, 3, 4. No contractors as yet from Home Depot...keep you posted!
Tiling is being done by a private contractor...will have to say....just love the work....Ontario's best!!!!
Posted by donna – December 14, 2006 4:28 PM
Mess! Our home has been such a mess since we began remodeling. Of course finding termite damage didn't help. All of sudden we had to replace wood, sheetrock and such. Then the ceiling were sprayed and the dust and paint residue covered everything. And we covered all of the walls and furniture and such, but dust seeped in everywhere. Then, I finally gave up trying to keep the house clean. Two months later, I think there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Posted by pat – March 28, 2007 11:02 AM
