Can I plug the fridge into any regular outlet during demo/reno?
boone_2009
10 years ago
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corgimum
10 years ago
annkh_nd
10 years agoRelated Discussions
How to keep info and comms organized and clear during reno?
Comments (5)Having a spreadsheet of the info is great for you, but if you are sharing the info with the GC, you need a hard copy format. I'd recommend that you have all the contracts and contact info for yourself, GC and subs organized in one place-- either a binder or folder or file box. We needed the plumber's number asap when we sprang a leak, and we (GC and I) didn't have it handy. Nasty. Put it in a defined place, make sure the GC knows it's there, make sure they're copies, not originals (or they'll get lost). Also, I can't tell you how hard it is to make subs look at your notes/postings. You basically have to hand it to them and get them to acknowledge that they'll look at it. I stapled up the stove installation diagram right over the place where it was to be installed, and the electricians still ignored it and put the plug in the wrong place. The GC fixed it, but really, people, why do you think it was flapping away there? I don't know how to remedy this, but I offer it as a way of saying, you can't assume they'll look at your notes unless you tell them to. That goes for GC and subs too. I would also recommend that you post your work phone, cell phone and alternate contact info in large type somewhere permanent (so they know where to look) so that no one can say "I did it this way because I couldn't reach you." That's averted a few disasters at my house, and has provided me with ammo when things weren't done right. I can go back and say "Why didn't you call if you couldn't find something or figure something out?" Finally, try to establish a regular place where you leave notes for the GC and the GC leaves notes for you, either in a notebook left in a permanent place, or a clipboard or whatever. This has been really important in helping me to understand what's happening when I'm not around. Leave plenty of paper and pens -- they never seem to have them, and I get notes written on pieces of 2x4. Cute, but not what you want to take the HOme Depot when you need to buy a part. I kept all my printed purchase orders, confirmations, etc. in a binder for the kitchen. Make sure to mark old plans as old, or throw them out. Otherwise, you can end up relying on an old version of the cabinet plan. And keep checking up on the communication area - because the documents can walk away and get lost. This leads to tiny disasters where the cabinets get installed without the crucial 3" filler that makes them line up. Leading to cabinet installation take 2, take 3 . . .etc....See MoreRecessing a wall to accomodate a regular fridge...
Comments (13)The refrigerator is recessed and I'm going to love it. The drywall isn't mudded or taped, the closet in the guest bedroom needs to be repaired, and hubby smashed his finger ten ways to Sunday, but we're very happy with it. Nothing is going to get back to normal anytime soon though. I said I wasn't in a hurry and am perfectly happy with the mess, but DH isn't happy that I'm dragging my feet with the cabinet selection. There are just so many wonderful things out there and so many beautiful color combinations that I don't want to choose too quickly and then regret it for years and years. I'm sure I want white or creamy cabinets, but a funny thing has happened. Everywhere I look on television series, commercials, movies, there are white cabinets. It's like buying a new car and then meeting yourself everywhere you go...Anyone else experience this?...See MoreNew addition to house - Did you live there during reno?
Comments (16)Well, its been 2 1/2 years -don't ask :) :)! and for heaven's sake don't hire your friends even if they are contractors :) L shaped ranch house. completely demolished the long side of the L - living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry, bedroom, bathroom, & garage. The only thing left standing was a rock fireplace that we wanted to save. short side of L (now fondly called the "west wing") we planned on leaving until we finished the other part of the house. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and laundry in this part of the house. Contractor got a "little" carried away and removed all the siding and insulation in the west wing at the same time he did the planned remodel area. luckily we have a finished basement. We didn't want to spend a fortune heating the outdoors so we kept the heat in the west wing to a bare minimum and moved into the basement. Our plan was to add on about 1400 sq ft and a third garage bay. 1st year we slept on cots in the basement during the winter (we live in snow country) and in a 5th wheel trailer in the driveway in the summer (unless we had company---which we did a few times--and then we slept in the yard under the apple tree). We had no electricity in the remodel area so we used flashlights to find our way around through the mess upstairs and down to the basement. We cooked on the outside grill and had a microwave, crockpot and coffee pot in the basement. Luckily,we had an old beer fridge down there too. We moved everything we could to a rental storage unit but basement took the over flow with boxes stacked everywhere. Periodically the police would show up in the middle of the night saying they gotten a 911 call. Our phone lines got cut early on and the phones liked to do their own thing. No joke!!! We hung one of our old patio doors in the doorway to close off the upstairs as much as we could. I spent a lot of time duct taping around the jam to control the dust and dirt but, believe me, a lot made it through. When we finally got a sub floor we cooked pizza in our new wood fired pizza oven for 50 or 60 people and a few of their 4 legged friends. We strung contractors lights from the ceiling, built a huge fire in the old fireplace and put out some folding tables and lawn chairs. We didn't have to worry about damaging anything or the mess and it was great. Second year I insisted on adding some insulation to the west wing so we at least got to turn the heat up a little and go back to our bedroom. Still cooking outside---have learned more and more dutch oven cooking and cooking over a campfire. We have a great firepit that we sit around in the evening summer and winter. Still under a couple of down comforters at night but as soon as we finish the first part of the house we'll get started on the west wing and hopefully it won't take as long. To tell you the truth it isn't all that bad and we have loads of stories. For me the worst part is cleaning and cleaning and cleaning to try to control the spread of dust and dirt that's constant. For my DH the worst part is lack of privacy and the commotion and noise level. If I had it all to do over I would really think about demolishing the whole house and starting from scratch instead of trying to make an old house new. We didn't do that originally because DH didn't want to move out. He felt it would be easier and cheaper to stay in the house. It wasn't easier and it sure hasn't been cheaper but we're surviving and maybe we respect and appreciate each other more now. We still laugh a lot. So who's to say what's best? Having a shower, toilet, washer/dryer and fridge made all the differnce. Don't think I could have survived going to the laundramat all the time. Silly but true. You might want to think about those things that you can't live without. Long narrative but hopefully thought provoking. Good luck....See Moreoutlet won't work during cold weather
Comments (6)Some years ago I read an intriguing "puzzler." An electrician was called in to diagnose an intermittent problem with a cellar light. The light had worked fine for years, but recently it had started to act up. It still worked in the winter, but in the summer, it would flicker or not light at all. The house was an old one, with original knob and tube wiring in the cellar. It seems that the original electrician had neglected to solder a connection. Over the years, the copper had oxidized. In winter the cellar was several degrees colder, and the wires contracted a bit, pulling the twisted joint tight enough to pass current. In summer the warmer conditions allowed the copper wire to expand and loosen just enough for contact to be lost, thanks to the oxidation on the copper. My guess is that your situation is similar. Maybe the person who wired your kitchen forgot to tighten a terminal screw somewhere, such as on one of the receptacles. Don't let this go - a loose connection can cause a fire....See Moreboone_2009
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10 years agojoaniepoanie
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a2gemini
10 years ago
cookncarpenter
10 years agoHere's our trusty 29 year old Amana, living it's final days in the living room. We were actually kinda sad to see it go...
boone_2009
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