BS: House Wars...

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: Charmion
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:49 AM

I lived in a construction site most of my childhood (my parents never finished anything) and all through my first marriage (neither did Mr. Wrong). When Edmund and I got hitched I considered doing it all over again to adapt my old dwelling for the two of us plus cats and books -- for about thirty seconds. We bought a brand-new house (it was actually a hole in the ground at that point) and I have never regretted it for a minute. Not coincidentally, everything we have had done to our present house was executed by competent tradespeople on tight and carefully observed schedules. Counting money, time, hassle and collateral damage, those projects actually cost less than similar undertakings executed by various family members.

The low point of the House Wars for me was the day I came home from the office at noon because I was sick, and lay down on the bed to suffer in silence. I had almost drifted off when a huge hunk of plaster fell from the ceiling onto the bed, missing my hip by about two inches, followed by a torrent of swearing, and the sneaker-clad foot and hairy leg of Mariusz, the Polish carpenter who was hanging new joists in the attic above me.

No -- no, I'm wrong, the worst moment was when I was on the phone in the kitchen when the entire bathroom ceiling -- 20 square feet of 60-year-old plaster -- fell to the floor, having been fatally disturbed by a roof leak, and the installation of new plumbing upstairs. I felt entitled to scream, and did.

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: Barry Finn
Date: 11 May 06 - 12:01 AM

I'm about 5 years into my 2nd home reno project, about 3/4 done. I'll get beck to ya when I'm done. Mean while enjoy the rest time has a way of letting us forget until we're 1/3rd the way into the next project. Glad to see you're at ease. Do ya know where I can borrow a tractor, I have some painting I need to touch up. HAHA
Barry

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: Bobert
Date: 10 May 06 - 09:30 PM

Hey, LH... I know where you live so keep Chongo on his leash and all will be jus' fine but if I see that ape messin' 'round my "Finished" house then Mr. Popgun gonna get involved...

Just thought you might wanta get word to the ape...

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 May 06 - 09:20 PM

I find that just about the time you figure you have put the final touches on and are ready to settle down for a well-deserved rest...

A gorilla busts in through some door or window, tommy guns start blasting, and all hell breaks loose! When it's over there are walls, windows, doors and furnishings that need to be repaired or replaced. There's a dead gorilla that needs to be disposed of. Maybe even two or three of them. You know what it costs to dispose of a dead gorilla in this town? It's not cheap. We can't just bury them in the backyard any more. People are starting to talk.

It's all Chongo's fault. I really have to question whether his friendship with Chongo is something I can do without at this point. He could at least not bring his work home with him. That's all I ask.

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 May 06 - 08:55 PM

Actually there have been several movies that dealt with this.

A recent one was "The Money Pit" - a much earlier British B&W one was "And Father Came Too" - which had the ineffable James Robertson Justice as the father!

Any others?

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: Bobert
Date: 10 May 06 - 08:15 PM

Thank God I have a real decent tractor, Amos... It a 3650 Kubota with a front bucket and it makes 1.7 tons of gravel a 10 minute job... If that???

Had a boy down in the holler who had been shovelin' his pile for several night and he sent word that he'd pay me a $100 to come and spread it and muck out one of his barns... 1 hour and it was done....

I couldn't do this without a decent tractor...

Unfortunately, the tractor don't know how to paint, or wire, plumb, finsh drywall, build 'er nuthin' like them things... That's why it's taken 8 months and there isn't one room that din't get the full treatment, plus knockin' out two stone exterior walls to build out more space....

But, it done, its done, its done!!!!

I feel like I've just gotten outta jail....

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: Amos
Date: 10 May 06 - 03:11 PM

We're midstream. Just remopdeled the bath of the MBR completely to beautiful result, just finished new roof. Windows are starting today.

Still have 1.7 tons of gravel to remove from the front yard. Oy!!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 May 06 - 01:30 PM

Good gracious, Beaubear, has it been that long? Gongratulations on a job well done.

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: DMcG
Date: 10 May 06 - 01:28 PM

Wasn't Gervase's house on BBC some months back because of the restoration work he was doing? I can't find the thread anymore. How's that going?

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: freda underhill
Date: 10 May 06 - 01:27 PM

At the beginning of mine Bobert - plans have been drawn up, builder located, now fiddling with red tape.

Congratulations on finishing - I bet its a beautiful place.

freda

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 10 May 06 - 01:14 PM

Been through 2 of those Bobert ... that was enough. One of them almost out us into the 'poor house'.

When we moved out here I made sure we bought a new house ... certainly doesn't have the character ... but is much cheaper in the long run, first house we lived in where there are no frosty windows in the winter ... and most of all, it's home.

Anyway, congrats on the completion! Relax and enjoy it.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: House Wars...
From: Grab
Date: 10 May 06 - 12:50 PM

Ours (our first house) is about done now. New carpets, but that's it, and I won't be doing that. This'll be the first year for 6 years where a fortnight of my annual holiday allowance *hasn't* been spent fixing up the house or garden.

And now we're thinking of moving to somewhere larger...

Graham.

Subject: BS: House Wars...
From: Bobert
Date: 10 May 06 - 12:38 PM

Well, well, well...

I, today, declare victory over this house!!! Yazzir, I have just hung the last ceilin' fan in the great room and have looked around at the inside of this house and, ahhhhh, there's nuthin' left to be done, with the exception of decapaging a shower enclosure!!!

Hooray, hooray... After 8 months of living in a construction site, I am retirin' the hard hat fir a soft couch...

This is the time, fir sure, that I will put myself thru this...

I was thinking just last night how many houses I have lived in that I completely remodeled while living in them and it's 5, with this one 6, and that is plenty!!!

Anyone else been thru this who would like to share any of their own House War's stories???

Whew....

Bobert