For those of you that have wondered where and what I have been doing lately, trust me it isn't personal. I've been up to my *ss in home improvement projects for the downstairs unit of my duplex. As usual, these projects take me forever to complete. The reasons are as follows:
1.) I really don't know waht the hell I'm doing so I spend a lot of time reading, googling for info, driving back and forth to Home Depot...and just generally considering the situation.
2.) My house is old, which means that what appears to be a straight-forward, no-surprise, common project turns out to be the complete opposite. Strange/sloppy rig jobs from previous "handymen", walls that are not plumb/square, mixed materials and general disrepair have all conspired against me with every swing of my hammer.
3.) Fortitude. For the most part, I consider myself very well endowed with this characteristic. When I'm motivated, I can chop down a forest of difficulty in no time...and enjoy it. But I must say, I have been a little bit of a slacker with this situation. I've gotten discouraged more than usual (just yesterday as I was set to install a large section of 5/8" drywall and was dismayed to find that my fasteners were too short and another trip to Home Deephole would be required. My first impulse was to kick, flail, and throw in all directions. Instead, I just quietly put all of my tools away, took a shower and sat on the couch in front of the computer. Time lost.
Anyway, I would be lying if I said I didn't somewhat enjoy this task, but until I make significant progress it will continue to be just that...a task.
Here's a pic of the bathroom:
By the way, if I sound like a complainer on this blog, uh...yea I guess that's what it's fer.
4 comments:
The ReStore at Habitat is not as deep a hole as the Home Depot. They may not have what you need each Saturday afternoon, but you may find at ridiculously low prices just what you need and you may run into someone who can give tips on the job you're trying to get done.
Check out the ReStore at gchfh.org.
Good luck with the project. I know how you feel. We have been fixing up our fixer upper for years now...
I found this because of George Nemeth over at BFD. Is there any way you can do away with that glass block in the bathroom before you get too finished? It detracts from the value of a home that age. It also impedes air flow.
I see you may be one of the Chanel alumni/ae. I'm from the class of 1964.
Tim,
Thanks for the input. Believe me, the window was installed a few years back with much consideration. This house is a duplex in which we live upstairs and rent the downstairs. The windows were completely inoperable at the time(dark, wet and rotten, covered with a piece of vinyl shower curtain) and it was a cost vs. function thing for us at the time. A high quality double hung with frosted glass(so nobody can see in!)would have been too expensive for us. I also must say that the natural light that comes in from these windows is a very welcome improvement.
The previous owner had installed exhaust fans and in conjunction with the vents in the window, work pretty well. Usually what people do is cover this window with cement board and cover the outside with vinyl siding. To us, that was the more appalling of choices. Now to be sure, if this was a single family home, safe from the ravages of tenants(not including our last tenants!), I would take great pains to restore the house as close as possible to it's original aesthetics(no shower near the window, only a tub, with a separate shower stall)...but unfortunately most people don't value those things when they don't own:(
p.s. I am from Chanel(1986). Did you have a son that graduated about 1983?
p.s.s. Also as far as home value goes, are you speaking aesthetically or monetarily?
I think the bathroom looks good. All you need is some open ductwork running across your ceiling and you've gone 21st century industrial. Some little Lakewood goth would love it...if only they had real jobs.
I think Tim Ferris is Jim F's older brother.
Post a Comment