Really, if you want to feel what it's like to suffer from manic-depressive disorder, do a major home remodeling project, preferably a kitchen. I find my mood swings wildly depending on what went well or what didn't on any given day.
What went well today
– I finished up two pieces of trim around gaps in the cabinets based on how things had to line up. I am very pleased with myself for my 1337 carpentry skills. (Thanks to +Margie Kleerup for holding some things for me, too.)
– The dishwasher was delivered and installed. It looks fabulous. It's not actually operational yet, as the plumbing is not currently complete, but I am counting the proverbial hours. (That would likely be Friday. Well, maybe.)
That makes the first appliance installed. And, to my mind, the most important one. Huzzah!
What went not quite so well today
– The countertop guys were supposed to let us know Monday when today they were supposed to be coming to finish installation of the island countertop and sink beyond a nebulous "Wednesday afternoon." They did not. No on Tuesday. Nor on Wednesday morning. The issue may have been that they didn't actually come Wednesday afternoon (i.e, today).
This is irksome, on a number of levels, not least of which is that I need to have my contractor here when they show up so he can do some cabinet work while the countertop is off. (Don't. Ask.)
It's also irksome because, based on the island sink being installed today, we're scheduled to have plumbers in on Friday, after which we would have working sinks and a working dishwasher. Which would be a good thing. So this is a not-good thing.
– The same appliance guy brought out our new range hood, which made me happy, until we discovered:
a. The hood takes a 10" duct. An 8" duct was installed. The installer did not have a reducer.
b. That's okay, because the 8" duct is actually about an inch too far from the wall for the "chimney" of the hood.
c. Also, the electrical line coming in is about 18" too low. A new hole needs to be cut (through the tile) and the wire fished up and then turned into an outlet (which is what this hood takes).
d. Also, the second line (that powers the air supply thing that keeps us from suffocating, per code, when the hood is cranked to super-suck) doesn't seem to have a place to be connected, and the installer had no idea WTF it was for.
As a result, we now have a range hood … sitting in the dining room. And an email out to my contractor. Who, it turns out, I had actually sent a copy of the installation guide for the hood back in February, such that in theory all these placement items and such should have been known to him.
In sum
But besides that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
Just remember, that trim I did looks awfully nice, and we have a (not quite yet working) dishwasher. Plus, I have my health, a lovely family, and some TV I can't wait to watch tonight, so … it's all good, right?
Time for my meds.
In Album Hill-Kleerup Kitchen – 2015-05-13
Had a good chat with the general contractor. All will be well.
The devil is in the details! In our remodel, they installed the main sewer outflow on the wrong side of the room. You know – that 6" cast metal pipe thing?
And part of the foundation was put in a bit crooked. When they built the wall on it, they made the wall crooked, too, even though there was plenty of room to true it up.
Of course none of this becomes apparent until it's time to do the finish work.
My heart goes out to you, indeed.
I guess contractors have to work with this all the time but it is hard. We have a bathroom almost done except….
That is a really good-looking dishwasher! What happens to the shims under the cabinets when the flooring is installed?
+Paula Moore Thanks. I don't think there's anything that fundamentally wrong here (yet). And I'm confident it will all work out. Just … not as soon as we'd hoped.
+David Newman They get snapped/trimmed off before the flooring goes in.
Flooring materials arrive 1 June, so that's still the critical path. Range and fridge can't be delivered until after the floor is in.