Among Friends

[Shanus]

So, last year we had our roof replaced by a well respected company. The job was poorly done and after a few hard rains and leaks, we contacting them to come and do repairs. We received no answers. Long story short, our homeowner's insurance lawyer sued them and are having to pick up the cost for huge repairs on both floors of the house.

We have cracked, peeling ceilings and walls. Some walls need to be taken down to studs and checked/sprayed for mold. This is in every room on both floors of a 5000 sq. ft. house. They told us to expect at least 4 weeks of construction and then repainting the interior of the entire house. The insurance also covers Molly going to daycare during the mess of construction.

Everything in cabinets, on tables, on walls and breakables has been packed up in boxes and stacked. They move the furniture and cover rugs. I assume I won't have use of the kitchen intermittently and we haven't been to restaurants yet, so will be at the mercy of our microwave. Workers will be masked.

I am grateful to our insurance company for covering this huge expense, but because I'm a neat freak, I'm flipping out w/ everything out of place. I can't find a thing I need and the walls are covered w/ paint swatches trying to decide on colors for each room. 

As the song says, "I Will Survive". It's going to be a very tough 4 weeks!!!

[jlkz]

@Shanus 

This 2020 certainly is turning into the year from hell for you !  I am so sorry that you are facing and having to live through this horror scene.  Truly hope it doesn't last past the 4-week deadline.......

I also am a neat freak and have gone through 3 major additions and a gutted kitchen to our rancher.  My personal bathroom is the only room that remains basic 1957 style....retro pink and light green ....as I can't go through any more " mess " at this age / stage !!!

As for the all the paint swatches:  May be go with a happy neutral throughout the house and let your decor items be the accent colors.  I have used Rustoleum spray paint to modify the color of pieces that I bought that wouldn't go with where I wanted to place them.

You may not even want to unpack all the boxes: good time to downsize if you wanted to.

Back to the temporary mess issue:  it might be a good time to wear masks indoors with all the dust and whatever floating around.  You don't want to compromise or weaken your lungs during Covid time.

See if the workers will clean up at the end of each day.  With our last major addition, this was a blessing as the plastic still let dust blow through the rest of the house.

Talk about "detailing "...I was on the Q-tip patrol with all the Spanish style furniture in the living room for quite a while.

Just remember two things: the great luck that your insurance company is there for you and that when all is done, your home will seem "new" and safer.  

Take the time now to prepare it as though you will be selling it in the future.

May you all get through this with good health so that you can enjoy the outcome for years !

[BlueFinch]

Good grief, what a nightmare.  I know, first hand, how difficult restorations can be after such events.  

Watch your project carefully and demand quality work.  I really saw slackers, who were cutting corners with my projects.  Also, be prepared for it to be longer than 4 weeks.

I hope it will turn out beautifully and you can begin enjoying your home, again, with the peace you're now longing for.   Best to you.  

[jackthebear]

i sympathize I had a dining room gutted b/c of a roof leak

but repainted a wonderful color and got rid of window shades that outlived their time

[jackthebear]

@Shanus  check out b Moore Pale Oak 

it is a  wonderful color

not white or grey or beige or cool or warm

I put it in my DR and will do the rest of the house in that color when I repaint

[Shanus]

@jlkz   Thanks the suggestions. Yes, we will be masked, as well and each room will have a plastic barrier as they work. A cleaning crew comes in when they finish to do a thorough job of dusting/vacuuming/cleaning bathrooms.

[patbz]

We had a similar, major restoration when our pipes froze and we were out of town, resulting in a major whole house restoration, right before Christmas!  We have USAA so they put us up in a hotel for two months and put out dogs in a kennel.  They paid for us to eat out the entire time (years ago, pre covid).  Were never even moved back into the house; took the opportunity to upgrade (we were younger when this happened).  Good Luck; we looked back on this as a blessing in disguise.

[sweetee2]

I'm so so sorry. I wish I had words to help you through this especially this time of year. Just try and stay patient  and know it won't last forever. By the way we also have a Molly.

[Kachina624]

@Shanus    This too will pass.... just keep saying that.  What a mess you got into.  Never heard of that happening with a new roof.  YouI must of have had a pipparoo of a roofing company. I got a new roof 3 years ago and it has been perfect.

My friend had similar damage to her house due to an upstairs gushing water leak while they were away on vacation.  Their insurance company put them up in a very nice hotel while the house was being repaired.

You'll have a new home when all is finished.

[ECBG]

@Shanus Oh, I am so very sorry this has happened.  Since we've missed you in "Outfit", I had hoped you were enjoying a little vacation.  Some vacation, huh?

I know it must be very hard and my heart aches for you.

I wish you were nearer, I'm more than pleased to come help out, bless you, Girl!

If it turns out you can leave for a few days, come have a mini vacation in the cool, green mountains.