I am considerably proud right now…and tired. So this post will be very, VERY short.
Sandra and I bought our first house about a year ago. It was cheap, ugly, falling to pieces, and it was ours. I remember the day we signed our lives away and were finally given keys. We unlocked the doors and walked into our new home. As I walked through my new home, I panicked. What had I gotten myself into? No wonder it was so cheap. Both Sandra and I were trying to act excited, but we were both scared.
To date we have rehabbed every room in the house, except the bathroom. For the past two days we have been slave to this dreaded room. I pulled up five layers of plywood, most of them rotten. Underneath the galvanized feed lines were pulled and replaced with copper, and the cast iron drain lines were swapped out for PVC. The toilet, which was snug up against the soil pipe—and awkward position—so I moved it four feet away, not an easy task when the new position required a drain line that ran against the floor joists.
A pro could have done it in a day. It took me two. But after several breakdowns, a few moments peppered with colorful language, and a two foot geyser (after turned the water back on was brought to the realization that I had forgotten to sweat on of the copper joints together) I was able to stand back and look on in amazement. I did this! No books, no internet, no help, besides some advice from a seasoned friend. In fact, I think I felt more pride than the times in which I have brought in $10,000.00+ donations at work. That probably sounds bad (like a bad fit), but there is something to be said for working with your hands.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
This Old House
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2 comments:
Nice job!
I look forward to the day when the only thing I can afford is a crappy house, and then gleam at the work I do on it.
I sort of chuckle at the thought, though, because I'm disaster prone. I caused havoc once when putting a lightbulb in a chandelier. Let's just say we had to patch a hole in the ceiling, buy a new chandelier, and keep a table cloth on the dining room table at all times from then on due to noticable scratches.
Also, it was the day before a Christmas dinner, so the entire extended family got to see my handywork. It was embarrassing.
And while I'm on lightbulbs, never clean them with damp clothes when they have been on for a while. They explode.
I did remove wallpaper once. Successfully. So that's a start.
I'm not sure I could replace a toilet though, much less move it four feet. I'd need an Idiot's Guide to Replacing Toilets. And an online tutorial. And someone over my shoulder saying "No! Don't! Good Garfield, are you trying to kill us??"
I admire your toilet moving abilities.
And this comment is officially too long.
ooooooooo....you should have Ty Pennington's job.
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