Face lift? Yes please!

Its been 10 years that my dad has owned the Bader street property (where I live fyi). When he first purchased it there were some cosmetic changes we planned to make down the road but nothing that was too urgent. Over the years we have done a lot as far as upkeep, a new roof, new gutters, replaced the doors, I bought new kitchen appliances, changed the first floor flooring and we even did a little dry walling in the upstairs bathroom. When we moved in the basement bathroom had some messed up fish wallpaper and a really weird set up (a toilet on a riser between the shower and the sink) but we planned to change it out eventually. Well with the wedding 7 years ago we did just that but it appeared that it was messed up because there was a small leak behind the wall. So we pulled the wall out and fixed the leak and had it dry walled by one of Tim's buddies and repainted. All was well. Until the summer of 2012 when we noticed the paint was bubbling. Crap. We still had moisture behind the wall and it was sure to become a mold problem. The shower still worked and Timmy and I are not fussy so we let it go. That was until my dad retired and decided that it had to be fixed. Works for us! We will take a face lift any-day. We hired a company to come in and demo out all the existing bathroom and then turn the shower 45 degrees making it larger while still allowing room for a toilet (not on a pedestal this time hahaha) and a sink, maybe even a fan). The estimate came in and the date was set for demo. That was a month ago... and I still cant use the room. Fasten your seat belts cause its about to get bumpy...

You hear about people having horror stories while building or remodeling a home. Tim's grandma had a roofer that quit mid-job and split with the money leaving a giant hole in the roof. Well our adventure starts with demolition in the rain. Wisconsin is well known as having some pretty interesting climate changes and mother nature was probably trying to warn us with all the rain. But we pushed through it anyway. The first day they brought in the jack hammer and tore the old stuff out. Not bad, loud but progress. Then the electrician came in to survey what he would have to do to accomplish what we asked for. In the process of checking everything out we found that the wiring in that whole area was not legal. Awesome. Ho fixed everything so it was up to code but as he went to the fuse box (in my basement bedroom) he noticed that we did not have an escape window. In the little room adjacent to ours (Kyra's room) there was one but I guess not suitable for today's standards because he notified the city and I had an official knocking on my door the next morning. WTF? I felt like I was on cops or something. Like I was a delinquent (outside of my obvious shortcomings) Turns out we have to now dig out the egress window and replace it with something much bigger while also installing a set of steps in the basement to get out. Long story short this process took a few trips to city hall (building permit bullcrap) and eventually Tim's dad was able to adapt a pair of steps mom and I found at a rummage sale to fall within the guidelines set forth by the city. Thank God for family Sigh*
We waited a few days and then the plumber finally came to work on the pipes. He was there not 30 minutes and left for the day. Ummm Ok. He said he would be back the next day. It was two. Then he left again. Now I am crabby. The third visit that week and he finally finished what he was supposed to accomplish the first day. (two day install my ass) Then the main guy putting the tub in gets the flu. That was a Thursday. We are now pushed back another week. Next week they get the tub in and we are waiting for the floor guy. Somehow he talked my dad into putting a tile floor into the basement (probably the fanciest laundry room on the block) but with all the moisture it didn't set up. SO he had to come back to reset it not to mention all the tiles that keep cracking because he didn't level the floor. Now, I am not into construction but would you pay someone before the job is done. Hell to the no. But my father felt it was close enough to the end that we could pay him and have the job finished in good faith. Nope. That was a mistake. Tiles keep cracking, the guys keeps no showing and I still have no laundry room, heating room, bedroom or place really for Kyra because everything in our basement is in disarray. I just want my life back. Its been a month with really no end in sight. I feel so guilty because it was proposed as a two day job and now has been weeks and weeks of men in and out of my house. My father just doesn't have the endurance he used to and with my parents bearing the majority of the daycare and house sitting while Tim and I are working its wearing on both of them. They really are outstanding and I am lucky to have them. (and dad's checkbook because if this was my house we would be dirt broke) about 2,500 over budget... sucky for sure.

The egress windows turned out great though and passed inspection no problem. The guy from the city came and within literally two minutes approved the job. I asked if he wanted to go into the house and see the steps we installed and he said to me "I am used to half assed efforts... this is a phenomenal job. Tell your dad he is not my typical slum lord." I told him I would be sure to put that on his birthday card in June and that was it. 950.00, a Saturday afternoon of man hours and finally, something right. *Whew

We actually put the egress window in on Mother's Day so Tim's parents were around along with his 2 brothers and respective children. Paula came too and so I swooped her up when I we needed to make a run to the store for more river rocks to fill the window well. It was nice to visit and get the scoop on whats been going on with her and my nieces. I am looking forward to spending some time with them hopefully this summer.

Oh and taking a shower sometime soon!
(don't worry, we have another bathroom upstairs)