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Additional plumbing work was required after the foundation and framing, but our GC was having problems getting the original vendor to show up. So, he had to hire someone else, a "friend of a friend", to fit us in among his other scheduled jobs. More late evening and weekend disruption, and a trench running through our front yard for a month. The electrician the GC hired, though, kicks ass. Hardest working man I've ever seen, who actually knows what he's doing. A new air conditioning unit was required for our existing house, which Calvin and I took care of in a couple of phone calls. It was done three days after our initial phone call to these folks. However, our GC was having problems getting *his* guy to come out and bid the job for the AC on the addition (surprise surprise), so we referred him to the folks we contacted. Once again, it was completed three days after the initial call. At this point Calvin and I are beginning to suspect that we could have done a better job than our GC. During all this time, Calvin and I were looking through magazines, going to home improvement shows, going to home improvement warehouses (a curse on Lowe's and Home Depot!), and trying to organize our end of the deal. Our GC is covering the addition, Calvin and I are covering the improvements to the existing house. Inventive budgeting ensues. We've already tackled the walls in both upstairs bathrooms - the most hideous wallpaper has adorned them since the house's construction in 1986. *That* certainly had to go. We've also rented a mini-storage which is residing in our driveway (the guys digging the trench for the plumbing thought it was a dumpster and threw a bunch of cuttings on top of it), and lugged most of the furniture out into it. We currently all try to squeeze onto a single couch and eat off of our laps because the dining table and other seating apparati are stored. We purchased and (Calvin) assembled new bathroom vanities, for the existing bathrooms and the new one. Calvin moved the washer and dryer (and all necessary connections) from the pantry in the kitchen out into the garage. Here I must describe the kitchen to you. Up front, I must say that Calvin did the most incredible job. We had a vendor come in and do the tile on the floor, and another vendor come in and install granite countertops. We ordered stainless steel appliances - a new dishwasher, refrigerator, stove, and microwave/hood. Calvin installed all the appliances, re-finished the cabinets (plus new hinges and handles) in automotive-grade paint (this stuff is bulletproof), re-painted the walls and ceiling, and installed a new overhead light and bar light. He kicked his own ass getting all this stuff done over Labor Day weekend (a more apt name for that holiday doesn't exist). I was (still am) completely and totally impressed, and I'm ecstatic with the results. |
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