And sometimes things go wrong... (not horrid, just wrong)

15 years ago

Last week I posted that sometimes things go right? Well, my right went wrong. Fate laughs at hubris, right? My much delayed floor tile that they promised faithfully would be there only one day later than I'd been forced back to, took an unexpected long weekend in Phoenix. (I spent a long weekend in Phoenix last month, and it's lovely, but I don't know why my missing tile needed the sunshine...)

When I hired the contractor I was hoping (not planning, but hoping) to finish in time for Passover. Getting everything lined up and ready, however, took longer than expected, but the timetable got me to Memorial Day. No problem. Done by Summer. But we didn't break ground until just after Passover ended. No biggie. Major construction would still be done by June, and everything would be finished by Independence Day.

Then there were delays with the floor which turned a one week task into a three week delay. Independence Day was still within reach for most of the work.

Well, that two day tile delay was the last straw for the camel that held the calendar. They could, theoretically, install the cabinet boxes next week. If the cabinet maker hadn't had to go on to another project. So it'll be another three week break.

The new schedule? The floor will be finished tomorrow. The workman has been working on the pocket door, and we have to order the dining room door. I also have to order some tile. But most of the on site work is done until the cabinets. So I get to catch up on some sleep and try to do some of the work work that I'd put off until Summer, if I can wrap my head around it.

Around Independence Day they'll install the cabinet boxes. Then the appliances. Mid-July will be the tile counters and backsplashes. Maybe the stone island top.

Then there's another wedding!! No work. Makes the tile setters happy. The grout gets to set.

So then they come in with the doors and install the hardware, finish the wiring, and do touch ups. And when are we?

I told them all today that I need my kitchen in time to bake for High Holidays.

Sigh.

Welcome to remodelling. :-D

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Comments (23)

Jean Farrell
15 years ago
Oh, I know so well what you are going through. We started our kitchen after the holidays last winter. The original schedule would have had the kitchen done by the end of April. Right off the bat, there were delays, some unavoidable, some actually my fault. But then it was going to be done for Memorial Day for sure, and most certainly definitely before July 4, because our contractor was going on a three-week trip to Russia and it had to be done before he left. Ha! Not so much. Then for sure by the end of the summer so we could have the birthday party we planned for my husband's 40th. My mother told me I should be happy if it was done for Thanksgiving, I thought she was nuts. It was just about finished in time for Thanksgiving.

The good thing is, as agonizing as all that way, it doesn't matter any more. All the frustration is just a distant memory.
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pbrisjar
15 years ago
Just keep repeating to yourself: The end is in sight, the end is in sight.

We're going on 18 months of remodeling (and that's just our kitchen) with NO end in sight. Oh well, at least it's (mostly) functional.
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rubyfig
15 years ago
How about tripling that time schedule (in your head, not out loud). That way, if things happen faster, you are pleasantly surprised?
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cotehele
15 years ago
I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Frustrations with all the delays are high right now, especially when you are so close to being finished. It will be worth it to have it done right the first time.

Who is getting married? I've been so distracted with our own remodel and DS's wedding, if you said, I lost track.
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plllog
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to all for the sympathy and encouragement!

I think my problem is that I was prepared for a week's delay here and a few days delay there, which could have gotten me to the exact same place. It's the part where there's essentially 7 weeks of delay due to the floors that's stretching my nerves.

I'm sorry, Judy, I thought I'd mentioned that the weekend away was a wedding (cousin). The August wedding is a cousin from the other side. I don't have to do anything for it, but will have to shut down the work.

When is your son's wedding? I hope you'll be done before it (or not in construction at least).
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cotehele
15 years ago
I am sure your memory is fine; it's mine that needs help. DS's wedding is one month from today, 10th July. The garage should be usable and the kitchen may be at the dry wall stage. The house is a wreck, but the old kitchen is usable because the new kitchen is in another part of the house. So, no bedrooms, but plenty to eat, lol.
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jejvtr
15 years ago
pll
Sorry about all the delays - seems unrealistic to have customers accepting those timelines. Do you like the GC? have you pushed back hard on him/her? Seems that once the cabs are installed all the other work should follow closely

I guess it's like having a due date when pregnant - I always told myself I will be going a week late. I try to tell new moms that - but they typically are under the impression the will "go early" - because the "doctor said" - ummmm dr's are fine people but they have NO clue when your lil one will decide to enter the world!

Good luck
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loves2cook4six
15 years ago
Well the good thing I guess, is that the High Holidays are after Labor Day :)

But the end result, when ever it comes, will, I am sure, be well worth the wait.
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biochem101
15 years ago
plllog, Isn't it always the way? SO annoying. You NEVER hear someone say "They finished a week ahead of schedule..." (I wish!)

Your talk about Holidays reminds me of my original schedule. Started planning last summer (realize now that should have started WAY sooner), figured it would be done in the Fall for Thanksgiving. It wasn't even done for Christmas! :(

But everyone came over to see the partially done kitchen anyway. :) The truth is...People LOVE to see someone else's house in a state. And It will all be worth it when it's done. :)
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Niki Friedman
15 years ago
It's very hard to navigate around the Jewish holidays, isn't it? How do you kosher a kitchen that's under renovation?!?!?

Actually, some of our cousins hop on a plane for Passover and go to an all-kosher resort. They've been to both Puerto Rico and Mexico and it's a blast. We may consider it next year, especially if our kitchen reno is underway.
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2ajsmama
15 years ago
Hopefully it'll be done by Labor Day (tell them no more delays!) so you can get your baking done.
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pluckymama
15 years ago
I feel your pain. I missed out on my Thanksgiving deadline last year and just made Christmas with all of my family coming! It makes the holidays memorable for sure. Based on your schedule, I think you have a good shot of making it for the High Holidays. Be encouraged.
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tigger
15 years ago
Plllog - I can sooooo identify with everything you wrote!! I am now convinced that with contractors, deadlines mean absolutely NOTHING!! We are about to go into month 10 (and no end in sight) of what our contractor estimated would be a "5-6 month" project - haha! That is a real laugh! So...through no fault of our own (we've done everything we possibly can, including ordering all materials MONTHS in advance), we're a prisoner to his (very limited) schedule now, as it's necessary to work on other jobs to bring in money to finish ours (I'm sure that's the case with many contractors). It's so frustrating to have no way of moving things along more quickly, unless we want to pay someone else to do what he's supposed to be doing - and we've actually done that in a few areas such as trim work just to progress to the next step. The ironic thing is that this contractor finished 2 comparable projects just prior to ours and all references said that he finished on time and on budget for the most part - lucky us that our project is when everything changed :)

Anyway, I saw an episode of Kathy Griffin's show and was about to fall off my chair laughing because she was talking about having some remodeling done. Her next few sentences consisted of "I'm sick of ___ remodeling" and "Remodeling is a ____ nightmare" and "I hate everyone and want to go postal!" She then proceeded to say that she had to go to a hotel because she couldn't stand it anymore. I was laughing so hard because I feel exactly the same - as if I could kill all contractors who cross my path. It probably doesn't help that we've been confined to our basement for 2 weeks now in order for floors to be done - which also should have been a 4 day job!!!! ARGH!!!!!!!
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plllog
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh, I thank you all!!!! I'm so cheered up this morning!!

Let's shift our good wishes to Cotehele! I can't imagine entertaining with all this happening. And her son's wedding, to boot!! Judy, I wish you much joy on the occasion.

In fact, I think the really depressing thing about the delay is not being able to have company this Summer. Upside, Sukkot (early October) is my favorite holiday, and gives me a whole week of cooking opportunities for the new kitchen. :-)

Biochem, Does dinner for 20+ two days before demolition count? They sure saw the house in a state! :-D

Jetvtr, Great analogy! I think I've hit the late second trimester doldrums with this. LOL!!!

NONE of this is the GC's fault. He's a gem. He was trying to please me by letting me use my artisan tile setter, around whose schedule we had to work, including getting the final count for ordering the tile. Most of my lower cabinet boxes are made, but the cabinet maker was waiting on the floor to be laid to measure for all the floor to ceiling units. He finally had to go on with the jobs he had waiting--he can't stay in business and have his crew doing nothing. I totally get that, bummed as I was (am). The finishing after the tile counters are in should go fast, as you say. That delay is mine. I'm not going to spend wedding festivities worrying about what's happening in the construction, and the time off suits the tile man better, giving the counters a chance to set and settle.

Jeannie, Pbrisjar, Rubyfig, Loves2cook, Ajsmama and Pluckymama, you all have made it a lot easier for me to anticipate the joy of baking for the New Year instead of worrying about my lost Summer. I promise to post a picture of the pizza sized challah. :-)

Viennamommy, I don't keep a normally kosher kitchen. My family's minhags don't coincide with it. But it's really the food that has to be kosher rather than the kitchen. I guess it seems easier to me, because I know how to produce a kosher meal in a kitchen that isn't. It's the same as if you're camping, travelling, or anything else: Two layers, and parchment paper rocks!! And so do disposables. The easiest part of it, if your situation is anything like mine, is that I've found that wet food prep is just too repulsive during the rough remodelling. Prewashed lettuce and prepared salads. Precooked meats. Lots of dairy.
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plllog
Original Author
15 years ago
ROTFL!!! Oh, Traci, thanks for the laugh!! At least your sense of humor is intact!!

Situations like yours are why I put "not horrid" in the thread title. As everyone has said, delays are to be expected, and mine is just a delay. Yours is a much more serious situation. I don't get your contractor's "very limited time". He should be working overtime to get your job off his books! I get that scheduling conflicts might mean he can't work full time on your job, but that's just ridiculous. I hope the quality of the work is good, at least. And I wish you a speedy release from the basement, and a beautiful end result.
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User
15 years ago
plllog, sorry to hear about the delays, I'm sure it will be beautiful when it's done. Our master bath reno has been going on since October, not the GC's fault either but all the same, I keep saying to myself, "all good things are worth waiting for!".
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rjr220
15 years ago
16 years ago, during our first kitchen redo in our first house, we started the project when I was 23 weeks pregnant. We ordered the sink, was told that it would take a week: the kitchen got ripped out, and an hour later HD called to tell us the sink would be a special order, and would be in in 6 weeks. . . . . plumbing failures and feet thru attic and 9 weeks later (I went overdue, as well) -- the kitchen was functional.

Years later my husband and I were watching TV and an Ocean Spray commercial came on (how they related this to a kitchen redo, I can't remember!) -- a slacked jawed couple was listening to a contractor as he says "I'm gonna come rip out your kitchen and disappear for 6 weeks. I'll come do the job, and do it wrong. I'll disappear for 3 more weeks, but when I come back I'll make it so beautiful that you'll want to kiss me full on the lips!" We've never seen it again, but the thought of it still makes us laugh and laugh! Now as we start this process we talk about someone who will make us want to kiss them "full on the lips!"
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igloochic
15 years ago
You know my story...we'll be finished by christmas....THREE YEARS AGO!!! Then by my birthday (May) then by DS's Bday (Nov) Christmas again....easter would be nice....how about the 4th of July? Umm here comes santa again....

But what's a year or two late amongst friends :oP
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tigger
15 years ago
Plllog - if I can't find a way to laugh, then the only alternative is crying :) Or going postal - haha!

Yes, you'd think our job should be the contractor's # 1 priority, but unfortunately due to his financial issues, if he's not working at other jobs, he's also not getting paid, therefore, no money to complete the last bit of our job. It was extremely poor management which has turned into a vicious cycle so far, so I'm just hoping he can manage to finish in a few more months and I never have to see a contractor darken my door again. I will NOT be one of those compulsive remodelers after all this :)

I hope the time in the basement will be worth it, but it's not looking good with the floor company either. For some reason, every time we point out an issue and they say they will fix it, they create at least 2 more!!! The latest are 3-4 HUGE scratches across the kitchen floor that had to be created either right before or right after they put a coat of poly on today. I'm ready to just give up ever leaving the basement or having a livable house again!

Hope your kitchen is somehow done before you think it will be, or at least no other delays - maybe things will be smooth sailing from here on out! :)
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plllog
Original Author
15 years ago
All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are w

Well, Igloo, I really don't think yours counts!! You're a collector. You're in a totally different class.

Okay, okay, you had the rotten contractors, plus everything is more challenging in Alaska, besides all the life you've been living, so it counts. :) But you are in a totally different class.

orth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good th

RJR, thanks for the giggle!!! It sounds like they were testing that commercial and no one else could figure out the connection either! :) Thanks for sharing your experience too. My contractor is the best (I lucked out that a friend of mine found him first so I just had to hire him), so I guess I'm never going to get to the full on the lips stage, but he is a hugger. :)

ings are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for! All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are wo

Yikes! Traci, I totally admire your attitude and your patience. I really have nothing to complain about. I'm going to keep thinking good thoughts for you and hope some good GC karma floats your way.

rth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!All good things are worth waiting for!
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2ajsmama
15 years ago
Traci - I feel the same way as Kathy G about my whole house! It helps to know that everybody goes through this (though not all of us have the $ to just go to a hotel for the duration!). Good luck with the floor- make them fix it (how much longer could it take LOL?)!

rjr - I think I remember that commercial! But you can't appreciate it until you've lived it.

plllog - I hope you'll want to kiss your GC "full on the lips" in a couple of months - hang in there! I *love* challah - I could eat a pizza-sized one myself! Can you post your recipe (since I made my grandma's stollen, pieced together from 3 different recipes she had written down, or partially written down, I've overcome my fear of baking yeast breads!)?
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plllog
Original Author
15 years ago
Actually, I think my GC is already a full on the lips kind of producer. :-) I just meant that I don't think he'll ever annoy me enough to get the rebound thing. :-) I'm thankful! Really, I am!

Ajsmama, My mother's challah recipe is too long to post. If you want to e-mail me I'll send you a copy. It's a brioche style double rise. In other words, the kind of "cake" Marie Antoinette meant the peasants could eat if there wasn't any bread. :-)
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tigger
15 years ago
Plllog - thanks, I need a LOT of good karma sent my way :)

Ajsmama - well, I'm afraid to even ask "how much longer could it take" since the answer seems to be "a VERY VERY looooong time"! But one way or another, it IS going to be fixed! Today was the 12th day in the basement and approx. the 9th day since the floors really began being sanded and stained and every day it looks worse than the day before. I swear I don't know what they are doing, but I'm ready to just say get out, we obviously can't trust you to fix this (at least not in the near future), so please realize you won't be paid, as I need to find someone else!!! Today they insisted that fixing the huge long scratches on the new kitchen floor would be no problem (???) but I come home and it looks exactly the same!?!?!? I'm really ready to scream at someone.
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And sometimes things go wrong... (not horrid, just wrong)

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