We've begun!

9 years ago

After about 5 months of planning, we finally started our kitchen remodel 2 weeks ago. We are mostly DIY, and have 2 kids, so it's slow going. Demo took much longer than expected--4 days! And we're reframing 3 walls plus putting closets and a pantry on 2 of them. Every inch of framing except the pantry and the wall that recesses the fridge is load bearing. So we're working with sections at a time rather than entire walls. 3 sections down. 4 to go. The 22' exterior wall will also need to be furred out to accommodate plumbing that doesn't sit inside the wall. My initial estimate of 6 weeks is looking increasingly optimistic. Right now I'm hoping we can get to drywall by then.

BUT on Saturday we finished the opening between the kitchen and dining room, which is the biggest change we're making, so we can see the new floor plan really taking shape. This week we're getting started on running all the new water supply lines. We have old galvanized that sat in the dropped ceiling that we took out. Taking out the ceiling has mostly exposed the supply to the bathroom upstairs, so if we do that at the same time, all were left with is laundry room and master directly above, which we'll do when our 16 year old water heater craps out, which can't be too far off.

Chugging slowly forward like the little engine that could...

:-)

Featured Answer

barncatz

9 years ago

Just read an article about how people always, as in always, underestimate how long a project will take. We built our own house on the weekends over five or so years. I learned that every day's work completed was exactly the amount that we were supposed to accomplish that day. And thinking about it, DH still needs to trim out some spots, lol.

Stay strong. :))

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Comments (10)

Cheryl Hewitt
9 years ago
Congrats on kicking things off! It looks like you're making great progress. I'm always impressed with the DIYers. What a big thing you're tackling. :)
User
9 years ago
We just completed our DIY a week ago. It was after we completed the bathroom remodels, siding, hot water heater...and so on. This should go quickly for you!
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Amber Hooper
9 years ago
Congrats! We just started too. We have young kids too and are also DIY most of it. We hired out the electrician, gas line, and my dad is helping with drywall but the rest is us. Our cabinets are supposed to be delivered tomorrow!
townlakecakes
Original Author
9 years ago
nicole, congrats on making it through to the other end. We're hoping now to get there before school breaks for the summer.

Wow, barncatz. I know people build their own houses, but I can't even imagine doing it! I'm not always the most easy-going person, but after the second day of demo, when it looked like we could still have 3-4 days left (thank goodness it was only 2!) I decided to have the same attitude you adopted. We aren't pros, DH and I are 51 and 43, so not as springy as we used to be, and we can't just ignore our kids (5&13, so each has much different requirements) So Saturday is our big work day, Sunday to finish up loose ends, and where possible we can do small things, and prep and planning in the week. were doing the remodel to make a happier and more comfortable home.it would be counterproductive to be miserable getting there. I think we'll be better able to estimate how long were in for once the framing and plumbing are done.

Amber, we are also hiring the electric and have already had a plumber in for the gas. My dad has a drywall lift, so we *could* do it ourselves, but it would take us so much longer than a pro and would not look as good, so we're hiring that out too. We have almost all our materials, including cabinets, sitting either in the garage or the shed waiting for us. Cabinet delivery is so exciting! Good luck on yours and I hope to see posts of your progress.

Cheryl,

are you completely done with yours or still waiting on last details?
Laura
9 years ago
"were doing the remodel to make a happier and more comfortable home.it would be counterproductive to be miserable getting there."

Great attitude to have - I love it! I will be following along - we will be starting our own mostly DIY kitchen soon and I hope to have the same thought process!
townlakecakes thanked Laura
Cheryl Hewitt
9 years ago
Cheryl,

are you completely done with yours or still waiting on last details?

Last details. Tomorrow 95% of those last details should be completed, then we're left with just a few minor things and we can call it completed. :)
Amber Hooper
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Cabinets got delayed a week. We are getting slammed by a blizzard right now so I can't really blame them. We aren't exactly ready for them yet anyway! Here is a few before pictures and what we're down to now. We're expanding the kitchen into the dining room and the dining room is getting put in another room.

The electrician is coming Saturday and then the gas and drywall will be done the following week/weekend. Then its flooring, paint, and cabinets! We're still figuring out countertop and backsplash.
barncatz
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The other thing I learned was that if I was working on something and I stopped feeling interested and engaged and caught myself irritably rushing to finish, I should just stop, finished or not. Obviously some things you push through (e.g. the wall insulation has to be finished tonight!) but especially if it was a task I usually enjoyed and there was no real deadline other than my own impatience, I'd just mess up.

That's one reason why it's probably easier to build a home while living in another than to renovate a kitchen in your current home!
townlakecakes
Original Author
9 years ago
Amber, sorry about the delay. You must have been so disappointed. You've got some good progress already, though!

Cheryl, I assume you'll do a reveal on a new thread. The one you're on now has almost 300 posts! Takes forever to scroll through :-D

barncatz, we haven't actually gotten to any fun parts yet, but I'll keep that in mind when we do. Everything we've done so far has needed finishing before day's end. Temporary walls don't need to be left up with kids around. And of course this weekend we won't have water until we're finished!

Laura, good luck with yours, and I look forward to seeing what you have going on too!