Of all the subcontractors on our project, my favorite is the tile guys. I did have to explicitly tell than to avoid two of the same tile near each other, but they understand and executed on that cheerfully and accurately. They also did a fine job of dealing with corners, edges, and other potentially difficult points. And the weird tessellations i asked them to do.
A few years ago, when they did my bathroom, i wanted a somewhat random mix of white and blue tiles around the tub. They asked for more explicit guidance. I drew an example of what i meant on graph paper over my lunch break, photographer it, and texted the photo to the general contractor. And i came home to find every tile exactly where it had been in my sketch.
(There’s a larger difference in size between the big and small squares in my floors than in this photo, but you get the idea.)
And here’s the other:
The dissimilar squares is harder for the tile folks because it’s just squares, and they need to actually understand what’s going on. I had to show the lead guy fairly explicitly that you can do that with any two sizes of squares if you set it up right, but once i did, he got it, and executed perfectly.
Those are some beautifully evil hexagons. In terms of labor to cut all the pieces they’re obviously a bear, but once on the floor those should be fantastically elegant. Thank you!
One guy here today, working on the sheetrock. He went to town sanding and smoothing but didn’t ensure the plastic sheet dividing the kitchen from the dining room was taped up and the dining room and even living room ended up in a dust cloud. Son of a bitch. This crew is careless on cleanup.
At least progress is happening, he is part way through priming but disappeared while I was watering plants outside. No clue what’s up.
I’m getting really frustrated. They won’t be back until next week. The sanding is not even done yet. The hole they made into my wife’s office/guest room was not finished.
So 2 days ago, I did the sanding myself with a shop vacc going to reduce the dust greatly. I got the primer on it. Two coats of paint and it looks pretty darn good at least.
At least my wife will come home Sunday to her office being back to normal.
So frustrated with these guys.
I looks like Postimg is not worked well the last two days.
So I feel like I’m in Purgatory. We were suppose to finally get the cabinet today, but now put off to next Friday. We’re nearing 2 months into this damn project I’m sorry we started.
There is literally no home improvement project ever that doesn’t go through a phase of unnecessary stasis where the homeowner is questioning why they ever went down this road with these losers.
Two years from now whether the project completed on the 15th of April or the 15th of June won’t matter spit. Despite how much it pisses you off now.
Eyes on that prize; it’ll save you some blood pressure.
Best of luck on the sometimes-winding road to eventual victory!
I’ve been spoiled I guess. I do a fair amount of research for these big projects.
The bathroom crew (a different company and local) where incredibly quick and efficient and communicated pretty well with me. Roofers got in and out in a day, which still amazes me. The wood floor guys spec’d out 4 days and were done in 4 days.
This crew is miserable for cleanliness, organization, timeliness and communication. So far the actual work seems to be well done but they are killing me with everything else.
I’m so jealous of your new kitchen, I could hate you! The kitchen I have now is ridiculous in its deficiencies.
I mean, really, who ever heard of a kitchen with only three drawers?
We bought what we could afford at a very lean time in our lives, and the big picture is what we needed and wanted. Since I don’t have to charbroil mastodon on sticks over a cookfire, I count my blessings instead. I turn away from the stupid, overcrowded three drawers and look out the window at the heart-stoppingly beautiful Arizona landscape, and drink my coffee, and I’m thankful to be where I want to be.
I remind myself I do have outstanding kitchen appliances. Who cares about wonky, cheap-ass cabinetry? And I get another cup of coffee and stand at the window to watch the world wake up to sunrise.
Enjoy your gorgeous new kitchen! Plug something into each outlet, and count every single one of your kitchen drawers, and realize how very blessed you are!
I’m getting another cup of coffee and then I’ll be at the window, absorbing the peacefulness!
My new kitchen/dining room just completed last week. They said it would take six weeks and they finished two days late. (It was fully useable two days late. There were a couple of small fixes that still needed to be done that dragged on for a week or so). It was also on budget.
It’s gorgeous and so much more functional than the previous 60 year old kitchen that was original to the house.
In your face to the dozen or so assholes who delighted in saying “it will cost more and take much longer durr hurr hurr”. Why tell someone such a dickhead joy ruining thing?
The contract/design company just hired a social media marketing guy who documented the whole thing and will be posting a montage. I can’t wait.
I’m jealous. This project of mine has me in the dumps. I believe the 1 month project will take at least 3 months. That is a long time to have the house disrupted and no kitchen,
I hope you share the montage if possible. Or at least some pictures.
No kitchen for 3 months sounds miserable. But if you like it when it’s done, it will likely have been worth it.
I am still uneasy by the amount of destruction that my (extremely minor) kitchen work ended up doing. But it’s really nice to have enough outlets and under cabinet lights. And the new backsplash is pretty.
I know it’s a first world problem but it’s exhausting not having a kitchen. My living room was like a studio apartment with a table, fridge and microwave in it and I had to go to the other end of the house to wash dishes in the master bath sink. No oven or cooktop and my outdoor grill was blocked by the tile cutter or table saw.
I’m retired and home all day. It was so loud between the power tools or loud conversations and music playing. Being around helped. I’d check in on them in the morning and late in the day and was there to instantly answer any questions.
I wanted our remodel done in 6 months. They said it would take 9 months and cost $x. We were without a kitchen for two years, including the darkest days of COVID isolation. Serious strain on our marriage, but we love the finished product It’s truly amazing in function, style and comfort.
I don’t want to post photos because it’s quite unique and might dox me. But I’ll PM a link if someone is interested.
I may have been one of those assholes. Sorry, but I meant is more as a warning, and advice to keep on top of the project, not as joy ruining thing.
Yeah, sorry, I was probably a little harsh there (again). I just heard that so much even from people who had never done a remodel. I used a fantastic company that does design and general contracting. I originally used them for a design and remodel of a guest bathroom and I originally chose them because of the five people that I contacted, they were the only ones who had great communication or really anything better than fair to shitty.
I was losing my mind with no kitchen for six weeks. Two years is insane. You really learn what is meant by “home is where the hearth is”.
I remember seeing a comic many years back - likely in the Reader. A contractor essentially says, “We’re going to tear your home apart and basically make it unliveable. Then we’ll disappear for a few months. But in the end, you’ll love it!” The homeowners ays, “Well, I guess I appreciate the honesty…”
We redid our entire house when we moved in about 9 years ago and, believe it or not, we really can’t remember the specifics. So hang in there. And keep exploring the local restaurants!
This is coming in late to the game but one suggestion.
If the cabinets all have finished sides I would swap the 30 and 36” cabinets left of the stove. Alternating 30/36/30/36 doesn’t balance visually as well as 36/30/30/36. Might not be able to because of the exposed end on the w30 to the left of the stove.
