On the Home Front

Posted by: Blue

As I have posted before, I have a second life as a finishing carpenter and cabinet maker/installer.  It was one of my previous careers.

We bought a "fixer-upper" house.  Here is a list of the things that I have done to it so far:

• Tore-out kitchen, re-designed it, built a new kitchen, installed it
• Tore-out 3 walls (lath and plaster), re-designed main floor layout (including re-routing ducts) 
• Re-painted every square inch of wall and ceiling
• Replaced all of the flooring on the first and second floors and stairs, including sub-floor on second floor
• Re-cased all doors and windows, repainted the same
• Painted the exterior (minus trim)
• New door for kid's room
• Walk-in closet addition to master bedroom, including manufacturing built-in cabinets and shoe shelves
• Built-in pantry cabinet closets for kids' room
• Built and upholstered 2 chairs
• Built office desk
• Milled and replaced all of the railings on second floor
• New curtain rods and curtains on most windows
• Multiple electrical upgrades
• Crown moulding in the dining room and living room
• Re-drywalled the dining room and living room

This is what is left to do:

• Remove all sod, re-grade front and back yards, replace sidewalks and front steps, re-sod
• Replace front chain-link fence with hedge and wrought iron gate
• Scrape and paint all exterior trim
• Baseboards
• Replace kitchen flooring (again) as I tore the vinyl with the fridge pushing it in (stupid rookie move)
• Replace stairs into basement and all of the flooring on them
• Re-drywall the back entrance
• Replace much of the flooring in the basement
• Finish the spare bedroom in the basement
• Touch-up all paint
• Hardware for a few of the cabinets
• Knock-down shed and garage, build mega-garage with shop
• New parking pad
• Repair and replace parts of the back fence, repaint entire fence
• Take out current flower beds and re-design, re-plant
• Clean gutters
• Trim pine trees
• Tear-out both bathrooms and replace tub, shower, sinks, possibly toilets and rough plumbing
• Install exhaust fan in main bath
• Build medicine cabinet and shelves for bathroom with mirror
• Build entertainment unit for rec room
• Install false stringers for stairs
• Sell this stupid, stupid house and buy one that some other schmuck has already finished

Out of all of these things, the only thing I have not done myself (or plan to do myself), is the carpet for the two bedrooms.

Most weeks, heading back to "work" at the station means I get a bit of a break.