Had some snags, but we signed with our contractor last night.

Now we just have to figure out if the HOA will approve us now to start Monday...if we have to wait for their meeting in a few weeks

What's your HOA process like? We have to submit some "architectural" form and other docs like the invoice. I don't know if they wait till the monthly meeting but that's kind of ridiculous. My old HOA didn't have a process but just don't violate the rules.

They request one...but my understanding is on one ever really submits one. They say they want material samples, too, which Ive also hear no one does.

So, basically I submitted a form saying the scope of the work being performed and a form signed by the two neighbors with whom I share common walls saying they know and are cool with the work.

My wife is on the board but we are trying to "take total advantage" of that. But if I have to wait until the 20th to get work started, Im going to be pissed. I'd rather start now and ask for forgiveness later.

Wait, you need HOA approval for work INSIDE your kitchen?

Or am I failing reading comprehension this morning and we're talking about something else

Yeah mine is only external stuff. And how will they know you started early?

^ I would assume it is required since he shares walls with other residents.

Shared walls. And certain rules in the cc&r such as those with residents beneath them can not have hard floors. When ch isn't a concern as I have a business under me and already have hardwood throughout.

Also scheduling. Will have to call the management company to let them know things such as when we have to shut off water or get the elevator draped.

Met with the designer for the cabinets this evening...that was somewhat of a frustrating experience.

Boom..we start March 6...

Best of luck with the process

In for updates

Been spending the week ordering and acquiring the bits and pieces...I think the only thing left I need is the cabinet pulls for the bathroom.

I'm hemorrhaging money, someone tourniquet my wallet...

I don't know what kind of pulls or knobs you are looking at but we are having some wood knobs made for us from a woodworker in vermont.

polished chrome to match the rest of the fixtures. our cabinets will be high gloss white.

Guys are here starting the demo now.

enjoy your mess

should have posted before and after pictures.

I hope they covered everything.

I have before pictures. Going to post them later.

Yup. layout board, plastic, etc etc.

doesn't matter

I renovated the whole house except for the kitchen and used the kitchen as storage while construction was going on. I covered over the one entrance to the kitchen with plastic, covered all our things in the kitchen with plastic, and covered the cabinets with plastic. Job got done and open up the silverware drawer and all the silverware is covered in dust. I think it's unavoidable.

Yeah from that stand point, Im expecting that to happen.

I'll just cover every open area with swiffers

Wads of cotton in the ears I found to be most effective

They started on the kitchen about an hour ago, and its right next to where I am...and yeah...I'm going to have a headache tonight.

Oh... The construction noise is nothing compared to listening to the wife complain about the mess

I prepped her before hand. Now...in 2 weeks at the halfway mark, might be another story.

Damn, they got the entire demo done in one day like they said.

Before:











AFTER:

Great that they actually got it all done in one day.

Also what is the piece of glass over the top part of the window? Never seen that before.

Jesus I wish my bathrooms looked like your old bathroom. Nobody's updated these 80's bathrooms.

is it done yet?

your placed looked good before, surprised you're redoing all that.

There's 4 pages worth of pretext, so I'll forgive you for not reading all of it.

The pics make it look good. And while its not horrible, the kitchen is actually falling apart. The laminate has yellowed and is peeling off the cabinets, the shitty tile counter is chipped and cracking in places. The microwave trim is cracked and brittle from being over the stove for 10 years.

And the bathroom...has tons of wasted space and steam damage. That light fixture in the photo that is blown out...its covered in rust. The vent cover, rusted out with the paint flying off, lots of shit.

It was time to do them both.

No one knows. I dont think any of the other units have it...and I will be finally getting rid of it.

Holy crap, that's some fast demo

It was "stained glass" but not the good kind....

Yeah, shocked how fast they got that shit out. And that was after a slightly delayed start...AND they packed up both rooms.

OK..day 2. Electricians came. They were here to wire for the LED under cabinet lighting, new GFIs in the kitchen. Relocate and new GFI in bathroom, new larger exhaust fan for the bathroom - CFM110, replace recessed light in shower with LED, and my personal favorite...wire up and install a ceiling fan in the main living area.

I've been dying for a ceiling fan in that room for almost 10 years. It gets warm in the summer and our AC bills go way up. Hopefully, this helps a lot. I went with the Haiku H series by Big Ass Fans. Known about them for years, and then a friend got a few for his place and loves them. They look modern, the company is top notch, and the unit has sensors, etc and wifi so it works in tandem with my Nest. I just set it to auto and walk away.

That fan looks awesome! What does one of these puppies run?