Truths about living through a remodel

Sep 24

Sep 24 Truths about living through a remodel

When I announced my plan to live in a garage while gut remodeling a house, why didn't anyone stop me? Aren't friends supposed to hold interventions?

Don't worry, I'm joking. The process of taking a house apart is incredibly satisfying. With that being said, there are challenges and frustrations associated with living through a remodel. Here are a few that I didn't expect:

Dust gets everywhere. In our cabinets, in our fridge, in our shoes. Given the age of the house, there is likely lead in the dust. We either wash dishes before using them or use disposable plates and cups.
Lots of takeout. The plumber comes when he feels like it, meaning our water has repeatedly been shut off for a few days at a time for no particular reason. We discovered that our kitchen doesn't have any three-prong outlets, so our kitchen appliances don't work.
Everyone is flaky. Contractors and inspectors don't show up when expected, and sometimes show up when unexpected.
No one cares about our landscaping. Contractors park equipment, dump trash, and stomp wherever they please. We've been told this is normal, and you should put temporary fences up around favorite plants.
Lead times are unpredictable, which makes project planning difficult. For example, we will have bathroom faucets and drains somewhere between one to eight weeks from now.

I know you're "supposed" to share beautiful, inspirational photos of your house. Instead, here are some honest photos of living in a construction project.

Cardboard everywhere

This is only a fraction of our cardboard collection. New furniture, cabinet hardware, plumbing fixtures... it all comes in cardboard boxes.

Uneven floors

Brown paper lines our floors to save the hardwood from scratches. There are also open holes in the floor where walls, cabinets, or vents have been removed. It isn't a good idea to go barefoot in our house right now.

The nursery

This will be the nursery, once the windows and walls are repaired and painted. In the meantime, unassembled furniture and empty cardboard boxes keep me company in the rocking chair.

View from the garage

The roof is still covered in a tarp, and patio furniture is haphazardly strewn around. There's no point in organizing it because the contractors keep moving it to make space for equipment. Despite all that, it's still pleasant to sit around and drink tea while the sun rises.