Remodeling ain't as sexy as HGTV makes it out to be.

[scho63]

I purchased a very small but highly suitable home in a retirement community here in AZ at the end of September.

This is the place I have decided will be my final home to live out my life from nearly 62 to whatever time is left.

I began a nearly 90% remodel in November starting with a new hot water heater and all new parts in the external closet after a leak from the old one.

I started at the rear of the home in my bedroom by ripping everything out: built in cabinets, ugly decorative boxes above the window, tore out all old curtains, ripped up rug, expanded closet from slider to walk-in for more storage, changed every light fixture, changed utility closet for washer dryer from behind door to hall, changed plumbing, added 3M whole house water filtration at water meter, brand new bedroom window, electrical changes, custom closet design, new paint, new sheetrock, custom wall design behind bed, new bed, new hanging end tables, new art work, new sconces above night stands, new rug, new washer dryer. .

I have a complete new bath, all new floors, all new kitchen and appliances, all new windows, new porch and stairs and new office shed upcoming.

I hired people for all of it and it takes a shit load of more time than I could have imagined.

Wish I was a craftsman....

[Why Not?]

Oh yeah. Remodeling is a ****ing nightmare....but it's worth it when it's all done. But in the meantime, it sucks.

[ScareCrowe]

Originally Posted by scho63

I purchased a very small but highly suitable home in a retirement community here in AZ at the end of September.

This is the place I have decided will be my final home to live out my life from nearly 62 to whatever time is left.

I began a nearly 90% remodel in November starting with a new hot water heater and all new parts in the external closet after a leak from the old one.

I started at the rear of the home in my bedroom by ripping everything out: built in cabinets, ugly decorative boxes above the window, tore out all old curtains, ripped up rug, expanded closet from slider to walk-in for more storage, changed every light fixture, changed utility closet for washer dryer from behind door to hall, changed plumbing, added 3M whole house water filtration at water meter, brand new bedroom window, electrical changes, custom closet design, new paint, new sheetrock, custom wall design behind bed, new bed, new hanging end tables, new art work, new sconces above night stands, new rug.

I hired people for all of it and it takes a shit load of more time than I could have imagined.

Wish I was a craftsman....

I did it about 10 years ago now but I went the more craftsman route. I think the only thing either me or my Dad didn't do personally was the cabinets (kitchen & bath) other than that all electrical, plumbing, HVAC (we both work in HVAC) & even removing a few walls was done by us. Since we were doing it ourselves we had to do all the work on weekends so it took almost 2 full years to get it done. Granted we moved in after about 16 months & finished the basement while we were living upstairs, but yeah it was a real bitch.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by scho63

I purchased a very small but highly suitable home in a retirement community here in AZ at the end of September.

This is the place I have decided will be my final home to live out my life from nearly 62 to whatever time is left.

I began a nearly 90% remodel in November starting with a new hot water heater and all new parts in the external closet after a leak from the old one.

I started at the rear of the home in my bedroom by ripping everything out: built in cabinets, ugly decorative boxes above the window, tore out all old curtains, ripped up rug, expanded closet from slider to walk-in for more storage, changed every light fixture, changed utility closet for washer dryer from behind door to hall, changed plumbing, added 3M whole house water filtration at water meter, brand new bedroom window, electrical changes, custom closet design, new paint, new sheetrock, custom wall design behind bed, new bed, new hanging end tables, new art work, new sconces above night stands, new rug, new washer dryer. .

I have a complete new bath, all new floors, all new kitchen and appliances, all new windows, new porch and stairs and new office shed upcoming.

I hired people for all of it and it takes a shit load of more time than I could have imagined.

Wish I was a craftsman....

I will tell you kind of a funny story about the big remodel we did on our Gilbert house years ago. One of the things we did was have our pool redone. One late afternoon, our GC came by and asked if a few of his crew (who were very good but spoke no english) could come over at around 10 to fill in the pool. The next day was a Saturday so I figured he was just getting the green light to come over on the weekend, so I said "no problem" and went about my day. I immediately forgot about the conversation. I'm usually a night owl, but that particular night, I fell asleep early. At around 1030p, my wife wakes me up in a panic, "There is someone in our backyard!", she says. I go and look through the blinds and see a flashlight in my yard. I call 911, grab one of my handguns and wait for the police to arrive while watching the guy in my yard. It's Gilbert and not much happens crime wise so within minutes what seems like the whole police force is in my yard, guns drawn, getting these two dudes out into the street with their hands up. The guys are freaking out because they can't speak English and none of the cops can speak Spanish. Finally, the get a cop who is bilingual and the guys are able to tell him they are workers coming to work on my pool. The GC had meant 10PM that night. So it was fine, but those dudes may have shit themselves. lol. Sorry fellas, my bad.

[Hammock Parties]

Make sure to include a shed out back for the dead hookers.

[ChiTown]

I feel ya, scho

I have zero handyman skills, and that is no exaggeration. If I want it done, I either have to have the money to outsource it or it doesn't get done. The bitch of it all is that my Dad (may he RIP) and 2 brothers are both HIGHLY skilled in this area. While they were off building shit, I was out playing baseball, basketball or football - which have provided a sum total of jackshit for me since the age of 18.

[Deberg_1990]

Are the hired remodelers as cute and sexy as they are on HGTV?

[Rain Man]

I'm considering building an addition onto my home, and it comes with big pros and cons. I love thinking through the design and picking out fixtures and stuff, but living through the construction is a nightmare. (I've done a complete rehab of my home over the years, so I have real-life experience living amidst construction.) I'm hoping that an addition would be a lot easier than my previous projects, because maybe we could just keep it closed off until it's done, and then have a ceremonial removal of the plastic tarp. I suspect it won't be that easy, though. And now that I think about it, it would also need to involve redoing the space that is currently our kitchen. So yeah, it would be a nightmare.

But wow, it would be so awesome when it's done.

And I would do none of the work myself. If I try to hammer a nail, there are explosions and fires. That stuff is not in my wheelhouse.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Are the hired remodelers as cute and sexy as they are on HGTV?

I'm pretty sure they are.

In one of my remodeling projects, the rastafarian wood stripper got into a fistfight on my front lawn with the stoner drywaller, and the police had to be called.

[Rainbarrel]

Hope you get that sweet breakfast nook

[Jewish Rabbi]

Does your home have a garage and/or curbs?

[notorious]

Did you wear leggings when mounting the cabinets, Scho?

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Does your home have a garage and/or curbs?

The garage has will have wall to wall carpet.

[displacedinMN]

I did the kitchen in the last house/

Sheet rock, floor, plumbing. The only thing I did not do is hang the cabinets.

NEVER AGAIN.

Good luck Scho. You earned it.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm pretty sure they are.

In one of my remodeling projects, the rastafarian wood stripper got into a fistfight on my front lawn with the stoner drywaller, and the police had to be called.

Hahaha. I would pay good money to watch that TV show.