The ultimate fixer-upper is the Queen Anne Victorian my husband and I have taken in tow. Rehabbing is in our blood. Old lights are a commodity I seek out always. Recycling and salvage yards are treasure islands for me, the inveterate rehabber. My friend's opinion of this 10 year venture is that we might as well buy a house that really needs work as we've torn apart and fixed every other house we've owned.
A year ago these three pictures were my family room (Click on the pictures to enlarge.). Today the lathe is still in place, but sheetrock, wallpaper primer, and wallpaper cover the walls. New windows have been installed. Cat 5 wiring is in place. There's even a closet with a big window! The hardwired smoke detectors are wired in series. One goes off and we're all awake! The trim is still awaiting a contractor to install several rooms at one time as a cost reduction. Despite the missing trim, a sigh of relief was expelled when the construction dirt was finally finished in this room.
Is this kind of work fun? The answer depends on several questions. Do you mind plaster dust all over the house even when the room is closed off and the heat vents stuffed with towels? Do you mind carrying hundreds of pounds of plaster down the stairs to the disposal trailer? Do you have allergies? Does it upset you when the plaster bag rips open in the hallway? Can you mentally shut the door on the room and rest occasionally, or are you driven to keep working until it's done? Are you willing to wear a HEPA mask to keep from breathing in any unknown hazardous substances? Do you derive great pleasure when the room is completed?
I give different answers to these questions depending on whether I'm in the throes of 
the process or it's completed. Do I mind the plaster dust when I'm dusting it? Yes! When the bag breaks? A scoop shovel makes the clean up easier. The HEPA mask? I love it. Fresh, pure air while sanding sheetrock or removing the plaster. What an improvement over the old goggles and wet bandana from my youth! Great pleasure? The reward is immeasurable.
Would I recommend others take on a rehab project of this size? Only when it's in your blood. Even small rehabs are annoying to some. For me, however, the reward is worth the blood, sweat, and tears along the way!
(c) Bonnie Erickson 2006
July 31, 2006
Oh darn, with that project you won't have a life anymore.
Posted by: Larry Cragun | March 18, 2007 at 02:27 PM
July 29, 2006
Larry, Remember one of the criteria for taking on a project of this size is that you can close the door on the project and pretend it's not there! I never miss out on life!
Posted by: Bonnie Erickson | March 18, 2007 at 02:28 PM