Starting Again

Since moving into our current house, we have been engaging in repeated home remodel tasks.  We knew this would be the case.  The house was built in 1980 and almost has a mobile home layout.  We'll take breaks in between projects, but the overall theme of home remodel persists.  At times, I fear that it will never end.  At what point does one say the remodel efforts are done?  That's a question to ponder another time.

For now, let's get up to speed on my current situation.  In early 2008, we embarked are a massive home remodel project.  And messy.  Did I mention massive.  Huge.  I should be cautious.  What's massive to me may be minor to someone else.   Let's just say that the entire upper floor of a two floor home was having new hardwood floors installed, and a new kitchen as well.  This was a pain because the kitchen, family room and master bedroom were al upstairs.  We lived in remodel dust for nearly a year.

I won't get into all the details.  There will be plenty of time to explore the various tasks involved and discuss what I learned in future posts.  For now, just know that I have acquired many new tools and skills in 2008.  As winter and the holidays approached, the spark of remodel faded and the bliss of being separated from the trials of home remodel were embraced.

Yesterday, 05/15/2009, I geared up and got back into the home remodel mode so that I could finish the 2008 remodel.  As I sat in a pile of drywall debris, grumbling and cursing at a stubborn nail unwilling to yield it placement in the universe, I felt this rush of frustration sweep over me like a child getting jackked up on sugar.  

You see, I grew in a world of perpetual home remodel, and I worked on construction sites during the summer of my college years.  I am painfully familiar with the large scale commercial construction, home building and now home remodel.

If there's one thing I have learned through all my tours of duty in the field of construction is that its not easy.  I believe if its easy - you're doing it wrong.  Certainly proper tools and knowledge will help, but those will not replace the need to get dirty.  There are times you need dig, claw and scratch your way to an end.

Now, before the mood of this posting begins to smell like crap, let me state that while I'm not a home remodel fan, the rewards are worth it.  Not only did I get a new and wonderful kitchen that we designed and installed, but I gained for valuable skills and got into good shape.  Digging up an old floor and installing 3/4 inch hardwood hickory flooring in 90+ degree weather will increase your stamina, develop more strength and shed a few pounds.  

I'll end this post here saying that 2009 will see the completion of the 2008 remodel.  In future posts, I will revisit the tasks of 2008  and explore why I chose certain tools and why we made the choices we did.