December 5, 2008
Tedious tasks
I’m beginning to wonder if I’m ever going to get out of here. Most of the “big” work on the house is done, though I still have to install new floors in my bedroom/bathroom and the kitchen/dining room. I’ve already torn out three layers of floor throughout the kitchen, but can’t finish the tearout until Paul is finished working on the cabinets. The front lanai still has to be sanded and repainted. Most of what remains though, is small individual tasks that suck hours out of each day.
The new cabinet faces are about an eighth of an inch thinner than the old ones. The drawer slides wouldn’t attach properly, so Paul had to add some backing to beef them up. I’m hoping he’ll be back tomorrow to finish the drawer fronts, install them and cut the cabinet fronts for the last two cabinets.
The front door is only a couple of years old, but the original matt finish holds grime, so it will soon be repainted. The painting itself doesn’t take long and I enjoy it, but the prep work makes me crazy.
Many of the thitty-five year old switchplate and plug covers are discolored or cracked. I bought replacements for several plugs that are really cruddy, then discovered that my wiring isn’t standard and I can’t use the new receptacles. I’ll have to settle for cleaning the old ones as well as possible and replacing the plates.
The old bathroom fan doesn’t work so I bought a new one. It’s slightly smaller than the old one. Rather than patch the existing opeing to a smaller size, I’ll try to adapt the old cover to fit the new fan. Each of the “small” tasks that should be quickly accomplished seems ot come with its own time-sucking problems. I’m sure I’ll be finished with it all someday, but my move date keeps getting further away instead of closer. Surely I’ll soon catch sight of the light at the end of the tunnel … won’t I?
Technorati Tags: DYI, home improvement, home remodel, moving
Posted by skeet @ 8:35 pm • Home & Family
RSS feed for comments on this post.
TrackBack URI
December 6th, 2008 at 5:56 am, Marcus Says:
3 layers of floors? ouch. You must have gained a foot of height to the room now? Good luck.
December 6th, 2008 at 6:37 am, skeet Says:
I do feel closer to the ceiling when I’m in the kitchen now, Marcus. Mahalo for stopping by for a visit!
December 6th, 2008 at 7:32 am, blueyes Says:
You’re just making me dread starting to rip out my kitchen floor and living room floors now lol I know the kitchen has at least 3 layers and some of the cheesy top layers don’t even stick anymore which is why I want to rip it all out and put cheap wood floors down as well as the connection to the living room with carpet that isn’t even tacked down yet either. I also have subpar electrical with both bathroom sockets not working and repairing them as well didn’t work. It sucks being in such an old place sometimes and for me a rental to boot but the rents cheap and I don’t mind fixing some things up since I’m gonna get the wear out of them before I leave.
December 6th, 2008 at 7:48 am, skeet Says:
I enjoy working on my house, Blueyes, but I’m anxious to get moved so I can see family and start making a living again. I’m seeing each task as just another delay to getting on with my life, ya know? I’ll probably get to start all over with the same type of chores once I buy a new place, too, lol!
December 7th, 2008 at 3:19 pm, Muhd Imran Says:
So much labor. It’s a labor of love. It’ll be great when it’s finished. You’ll want to stay home all day long.