Spring. Time to shake out the cobwebs, tune up the yard and spruce up the home?
Stop. Before you undertake any thoughts of a “quick” renovation this Spring I encourage you to read about our experience and then make your decision.
If you’re not careful you might find yourself in a tight jam like this:
Timing IS Everything in The Renovation World
The beige wall to wall carpet on the main floor of our house was long overdue for replacement. Even Wayne (a gem in the carpet cleaning world and a godsend I had on speed dial) agreed with me. Inevitably within three months of a good thorough cleaning the old carpet ghosts would magically reappear. Those stains were a wonder. Spilled apple juice, milk, tea and wine, vomited butter (now there’s a tale just begging to be told), saliva coated foil wrapped chocolates, ink from exploded bingo dobber pens ( another particularly favourite memory ‘eh kids?) and at least 20 years of normal household traffic. Each told a story. Each story was one I’d like to forget.
Not so long ago in the blissful throes of Spring I decided it was time to get rid of it. But should I replace the carpet or go with another option? Mrs. Previous House Owner had promised us there was beautiful hardwood hiding underneath the carpet. In the hallway, three bedrooms, the dining area and living room. What a lovely concept. However I had no idea of the condition. Was it in need of just a simple spruce up or something far more expensive and beyond our means?
There was only one way to find out. The carpet would have to be removed. Regardless of which decision we went with – carpet or hardwood – it was obvious that all of the furniture, every item of clothing, all of toys … yes every stick would have to be stored somewhere else. I opted for an outside storage unit. Perfect.
Just lovely.
Ok this was when I might have wanted to consider the concept of timing. Was my daughter writing three provincial exams at that exact same time? Yes. Would we all be sleeping on a sofa and on the floor in one room in the basement? Yes. Would she be studying in that basement room? Of course. Would we be eating meals and watching tv and reading in that one room in the basement. Absolutely.
Could we have done it in another season when our days were a little less busy? Yes. It never even occurred to me. I just wanted it done.
The one good thing was that my brother who was staying with us during the week days wouldn’t be affected. His bedroom was already downstairs. I doubted his life would be impacted by the removal of the carpet upstairs.
Fool me.
Long story short. The carpet was removed. A lovely pristine but faded hardwood floor was revealed. It would have to be cleaned and polished and new baseboards added. Ok and why not paint every room as well? There would be no better time than now with all of the furniture removed. Perfect. Colours were chosen. Two of us selecting a multi-tone colour scheme led to delays upon delays.
The expected week of sleeping, eating and living downstairs in the one downstairs room quickly morphed into two. It was an interesting time being crammed into one teensy room. My daughter was growing ever more impatient with studying on her air mattress on the floor; her feet and legs tucked into the sleeping bag. She constantly misplaced study sheets and complained of a sore back and stiff neck. My son struggled with the need to gingerly sidestep over and around a multitude of obstacles to get to his bed. Barked shins and bruised feet became routine. All were exposed in living colour to his fellow swimmers. Me? I was toast by the third sleepless night. Thankfully my brother wisely held back comment as he balanced his cold dinner on his knee night after night. His wife trained him well.
At the end of week two we had hope. All rooms were ready to accept furniture. There was just one tiny lingering question. Did I want to consider the foul-smelling surface coat that would add endless years of protection from dogs’ claws and household wear and tear? Naturally! I didn’t want to be on constant scratch alert in any part of the house.
“You’ll want to be out of the house for a while. That stuff really smells.”
We had to move out. My brother escaped to his cabin up the coast; work would have to be done online. The floor budget was blown. Our dog and rabbit had to be boarded. We moved into a different hotel each night as it was the May long weekend and the copious hockey tournament teams had pre booked months in advance. Just typikel. One plus? My daughter finally had a desk. Too bad her exams were now finally over.
The floor man was right. Nothing smells as evil as that surface coat. Nothing. We zipped home to collect the weekly newspapers my son had to deliver through the neighbourhood. It was shocking. You could smell the fumes from outside. They wafted through the mail box and seeped through the key hole. The smell lingered for weeks, long after we finally moved all the furniture back into the rooms.
They say “it’s never a good time to renovate.” I’m really glad we did lift the carpet. The hardwood floors are lovely. However, next time? I think I’d do it in the summer. Long after exams are done. When we could sleep outside in a tent. Yes timing IS everything in the renovation world.
Enough about me and my concept that timing IS everything in the renovation world. I’m curious about you. Have you undergone a renovation? How was the timing? Perfect or hellish? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
20 Responses
You’re doing better than me. 2 years and ours is still going on. I figure that by the time we get it all done, the first rooms will be due for another painting. Oh, well, the joys of DIY. 🙂
But look at that studio of yours. It’s a perfect gem and just how YOU want it. What could be more perfect?
You’re absolutely right, Kelly. It is a gem. Plus, I know the two of us well enough that if everything got done, we’d just start something else!. lol
Yes- the life long reno! What is wonderful is that both of you are on the same page. Love that.
In the past few years we’ve redone the deck (easy), the kitchen ceiling (moderately annoying) and the kitchen floor (a REAL pain!). The master bathroom is past due for a renovation–I’m not looking forward to it at all.
Wow – that’s quite a hefty schedule in renoland Kathy. Impressive. Are you contemplating replacing all the fixtures in bathroom?
Our house is about 25 years old….at some point we’ll be downsizing. Trying to do some updating while we’re still around to enjoy it.
The bathroom has ‘issues’. When the house was built polished brass was the height of fashion. All of the Master fixtures and lighting are gold (including the shower frame). In addition, the shower itself has seen better days-a few of the tiles are starting to loosen, and the floor is stained.
Kathy – my house is the same. Polished brass everywhere! Our house is older but previous owner did the brass update. I took out the brass fire insert jobby and my late husband removed the brass and glass doors that were around the tub. However the brass light fixtures are still blooming. Good for you to do the updates before you move so that you can enjoy it. Friends are doing the same – updating their kitchen in anticipation of a sale later down the road. Best of luck with it!
I love that you know the source of each carpet stain, sounds like our house, most of which are animal related ! Having lived throuh a number of renos, they are never easy, always lead to more renos and take much longer than anticipated. My friend’s reno takes the cake though, taking over a year, and she actually had Christmas for 10 people while living out of her garage !
Ok – laughing here Jane. She had ten for Christmas while she was living out of her garage. Damn impressive. She has many children doesn’t she?
Yes, she has 4 ! She is the calmest person I know !
Of course. Anyone who can host Christmas from their garage is amazing in my books. Wow.
I’ve been toying with a renovation project in my apartment but have been putting it off and off and off because I am terrified of exactly (well, close!) to what you have described – I keep thinking, ‘when I’ve done xxx’ and ‘xxxx is over’ then I’ll start. I suspect I never will, so at least you got it done in the end!
It’s paralytic at times isn’t it? I do understand. So much easier to put things off. Believe me – as my son stepped on me for the third time in the dark as I tried to sleep – I was thinking “Surely I could have lived with that carpet until he moved out!”
Tee hee…. We once varnished the floor and in the middle of the night the fumes set off the smoke detector! Oh my that was scary and very loud! lol…
Oh Helen I am laughing. Sorry but I am. The fumes set off the smoke detector? Whoa. That is something I hadn’t even thought of in our toxic fume spell. That must have given you quite the shock. And of course it was in the middle of the night.
My family lived in a constant state of renovation when I was growing up, as we flipped houses and moved nearly every year. It was crazy! Now that I’m an adult, I shudder at the thought of remodeling. Nearly ten years ago, though, we put in hardwood floors — a fabulous decision, despite my trepidation — but we had to live in a 300sf outbuilding on our property for three weeks, along with the dogs and cats, with most of our belongings packed in with us. Thank goodness for that building!
Oh thank goodness for that building indeed! My mom had a similar childhood Harmony. She went to nine different schools. Even today she gets itchy feet and feels like she needs to move after being in same home three years or so.
UGH renovations are never fun but the result when they’re done is just awesome. I’m glad the hardwood floors ended up being in good shape and that you’re now done with the stinky messy part of it and can just enjoy it!
When we bought the place we’re in, we did major renovations. Timing was not bad as we still lived in the old place. But then all the pipes needed repairing (and the drywall). I was pregnant. NOT a good time. Glad it’s over though!
One really should just look at the end project. Perhaps “this too shall pass” should be my reno mantra. I do know that but I always forget it.