How to Get the Most Out of a Remodel or When will we be done?

The floor is now up to the level
of the bottom of this small door.
The wood paneling hid more metal siding.

First of all you need to know that we live in a very small space during the winter months. We own a park model in an RV resort. The park model is 12 feet wide and about 36 feet long. It also has an Arizona room attached. It is only 7'9" wide and about 16' long. We are restoring that old Arizona room this winter. We have raised the floor to park model height, torn down warped paneling and removed the park model exterior siding and exposed the studs so we could attach bead board.

The "room" had become our virtual basement and things we did not want or couldn't decide if we wanted went there to live. I cleaned it about once a season, ironed occasionally and generally ignored the fact that it existed.

Then one day about a month ago my husband gave in to my nagging and we began the job of making the room livable. We bought lumber, had it delivered and he started the job assuring me that I would not need to leave the main part of the house. He would do it all!

I would wander in several time a day as the project began and one day I said that I wished that I could do what he was doing. It just looked like fun to me. I must have sounded so pathetic so he let me help as much as I could. My husband encouraged me to use the electric screwdriver and even a hammer. I followed him around like a faithful dog picking up wood, handing him hammers and giving my silly advice. It was so much fun. I felt like I was a kid again.

On that first day I remember feeling absolutely drained and when I looked at the clock it was 2:30 in the afternoon, I asked if we could quit. My husband either did not hear me or chose to ignore the plea. So I drank a glass of water and kept on moving until it was too dark to work anymore. Now we have been at it for over 3 weeks.

I have discovered that my talent does not lie in measuring or even nailing but give me a crow bar and a bunch of stuff to tear down and I am just dynamite. I don't know how that speaks to my finesse or creativity but I suppose it is all part of the process. So now we are in the final stages, trim work is being put up and I am going back to Home Depot to buy another gallon of paint. I do love paint a lot.

All the metal siding has been removed...I loved that part!

It is almost over I think but then I thought it was "almost over" three weeks ago so don't quote me. When I asked my husband when we would be done he got that hopeful look on his face. I think he was wishing I would be ready to quit long before the project was complete. Poor man...he is just such an optimist. I will keep you post and I may even get a picture or two up for you to see.

By the way, this is just an update on the blog post How to Feel Younger in a Week. I really am much strong and I think my worth has increased in my husband's eyes. You should give something like this a try...you might like it a lot.

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Related articles

• How Many "Projects" Do You Have Left In You?
• How to Feel Younger in a Week

Life: Can we outwit a Salesman?

Really, I have no idea what to do about these salesmen and getting bids. It is so hard to get anyone to be honest and forthcoming about what they are actually charging.

Just about the time we are getting ready to ask for a signed bid and send the guy out the door he comes up with a whole different theme...first a 10% discount and finally "what are you wanting to pay?" or "at what price would you buy?".

tearing my hair out!!!!

I don't know! If I knew what it would cost I would not be listening to the pitch. If I knew what was best, I would certainly not be listening to the pitch. I don't like listening to the pitch!

Just about the time I am beginning to like the sales guy he steps in the poop and it is all over.

We want to do a little remodeling and now we have begun to get bids for replacing a couple of window and door openings. Should we get a general contractor, go buy the doors and just get a handyman to help us install them or should we let some salesman talk us into buying their product.

So far we have survived the "pitch" but it may be we will just throw up some plywood and live in a hole. I suspect that my husband and I are no match for a pitchman....not at all.

We were both so relieved we did not buy anything we went out and got a beer at the local roadhouse. Wow!

What do you do?

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Contractors: Does begging work?

The conversation with the carpet installer was not what I had expected. I have remodeled many houses, built houses, dealt with construction workers and much much more. I have also been inside contractors offices and sheds. But, for some strange reason, I just assume that they will be more organized. What is wrong with me?

Living room full.

It had been exactly 2 weeks since we ordered the carpet and we were promises 10 working day so the carpet must be in....right? A call to the construction company that does that sort of thing revealed that the installation scheduler did not know if she had the carpet in the warehouse or not. Yes...no....yes! Oh my gosh... it was a miracle. The paper work had just been put on her desk as we were talking! How long would it have taken my file to make it to the top of the pile if I hadn't called? It turns out the average time between delivery and a call to schedule is 4 days.

I am not a proud woman and have been know to beg to get the service I need. When we began to schedule the work, she told me it would be 2 weeks before they could come. OH NO...2 WEEK????? PLEASE TELL ME IT CAN BE SOONER.

This room was cleared 2 weeks ago.

Then a ray of sunshine peeked out and she said she could put me on a list (the top of it I assumed) and she would call if there were a cancellation. Did that ever happen? Well, evidently, yes, because the carpet was installed yesterday, a whole week early.

 I am so good...I'm just saying!

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Note: I am still a little confused. Why would any company be working with out a computer system in this day and age? But I was sure I heard paper shuffling around.

The carpet installer was excellent and did a wonderful job. That is a very hard way to make a living.

The secretary was very nice and was doing a good job considering she was working for a company that installs carpets for Home Depot in the area. She was almost as excited as I was to get the job done for me. This was not an unpleasant experience at all. This is just the reality of getting things done during the summer. If you want to hear about unpleasant, just let me know.

The lesson here is that you need to be proactive if you want your job to get done in a timely manner.  Every time you call your file comes to the top of the pile or, if you are dealing with a more modern set-up, onto the computer screen.

Laundry Room Full

Small Space Living: Remodeling? Angies List

Okay, I told you yesterday that I was looking at carpet for our master bedroom.  Sure enough the Sleep Number bed is in and I will need to have delivery delayed because the carpet will not be here for 2-3 weeks...maybe sooner if I push the process along. This is a learning process it seems. Even though we have gone through similar things many times before, the rules keep changing. And I have a cold so I am working with a big cloud hanging over my head. Thank heavens for my wonderful husband!

The Plan
I had thought I would go with one of those quick install companies you find across the US. It seemed simple and they would come to your house with samples.  Easy peasy...right? Then I got a little worried and decided to check reviews on line at places like 3 Cent Worth and Yelp. Wow! It seems from the comments made, having the carpet salesman come into your home was a bit like letting the vacuum cleaner salesman step in the door.  The old bait and switch, etc., seemed to be what people were complaining about. I was ready to cancel right then but I wanted to make sure that the bad reviewer were not the only ones commenting.

Click for link: promo code

Angie's List
I had been thinking of signing up for Angie's List for quite a while. My family had been using them so I had a feel for how it worked. The yearly fee was around $35 per year but if I signed up using my Paypal account and the promo code I found online, the amount went down to $16.81. I bought it.

Angie's List users commented on the company I was thinking of using. It was not a good as I had hoped. Angies's  gave the carpet dealership a B grade. I don't know about you but B is not good enough for me when I am talking about my home. I cancelled the appointment.

Home Depot
We decided to go with our local Home Depot. We have dealt with them over a long period of time and feel comfortable with our store here in town. It is very good, reliable and honest. The salesman did not bait and switch. If a service costs extra he did not shrink from telling us so.

Why Use the Home Depot Card
The suggestion was made that we take the full 6 month interest free payment period to pay off the Home Depot credit card debt. If we do that we will be notified of any promos that might come up on the carpet we purchased during that period of time. We could then take advantage of more savings.

We get a 5% discount every time we use the card BUT we have to ask for it or they do not do it...let me repeat...it is not automatic!

The Process Starts Thursday
So that is where we are.  I will let you know how the rest goes.  The installation people will come measure on Thursday and we can have the whole thing in the works by Monday if I push things along.

Wish me luck!

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Keep your fingers crossed for us!

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Small Space Living: Bedroom Carpet Dilemma

From Apartment Therapy

Okay now we are getting ready to upgrade our carpet in the master of our little retirement community home.

The bed we have been using was returned to Costco because I felt like I was falling out of bed all night. My husband and I were fighting for the middle space. It was the safe part of the bed. Incidentally Costco gave us a full refund even though we purchased the bed in 2010.

The room is empty as we wait for the delivery of our Sleep Number bed in a week or so.  Hopefully, we can locate the perfect carpet and have it put down within the next few days. Yikes!

So what is the best carpet for the bedroom? Anybody have any suggestions or ideas?  Help!

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Redecorating: #Grandma...Wanna Come and Watch #Grandpa with Us?

We redecorated a room in our house and turned it into a dining room.  It is at the front of the house and has lots of light.  We had been using it as a TV room but it was not a comfortable room or attractive for that purpose.

Before

After

We have painted, put down a cork floor, replaced the molding and moved the furniture in.

My grandsons think watching Grandpa working is better than a TV show. My husband was in the room replacing the baseboard last Friday and the boys were here for a visit. They came running out to get me...."Grandma, grandpa is putting nails in the wall.  Wanna come watch with us?" 

Well, of course I did.  I think Grandpa working is better than a TV show too. Have a wonderful day!

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Notes:

Paint - Sherwin Williams "Bagel"

Sconces - Lowes Gavanized Zinc Exterior Lamps

Floors - Cork

Lamp Shade - Lowes Barrel Shade