Tu 5/31/11
Loyd arrived right around 830am, and began the remodel. Today, he removed the toilet and vanity in the downstairs bathroom.
Also, Black Hawk Roofing decided to begin work on my condo building today. Of course, they began with the front, and tomorrow (when my guys are dragging in the vinyl) they will have the patio areas tied up.
On Saturday I was at Menard's and bought the pedestal sink, the tub enclosure, and a mirror with medicine cabinet. All items are being held at the store, and Loyd will pick them up when he is about to install the items. I was going to buy the materials for the wains-coating, but the clerk said that I should consider 'dry-walling' the entire bathroom. He said that this would save on materials, and should be cheaper in the long run. I ran this by Loyd, and he did not feel that this would be the case. So, today I went back with the estimate that the clerk made on Saturday, and bought the stuff. However, Loyd remeasured, and I needed far less materials.
Loyd suggested that I call Habitat For Humanity, and see if they would take the old bathroom fixtures. I called this morning, and they will be out on Thursday, and remove the grungy old stuff. Loyd said that a lot of rental owners buy this used equipment if they are leasing properties that get a lot of wear and tear. I guess you would certainly save a lot of money.
I called CWLP and arranged for a pick up of the old fridge, but the ice machine needs to be completely disconnected for them to take the item. Since the fridge must be moved tomorrow when they install the new vinyl, I am hoping that I can just have them leave the ice assembly un-hooked, and then I can qualify for the free pickup, and the fifty dollar rebate. But, if this cannot be done, Dick Van Dyke will accept a twenty dollar removal on the day of the delivery.
Right after Loyd left this morning, I called Emily at Dax's office, and had him sell some securities, and I will have $3,800 deposited in my checking account. This should take care of the remodeling, and have a couple of hundred to spare for a computer update on the old PC.
When Loyd removed the vanity, he noticed that they removed the vinyl flooring when they mounted the cabinet. When the new vinyl floor is installed, this area would sink in. He went to his storage unit which is out by the airport, and brought back a board which would even this area where the pedestal sink will set. He was gone by noon.
I got on the bike and rode downtown to pay the tax bill. $625.00, and I was interviewed by Channel 20 news before I paid for the bill. I wonder if I will be on the news? I guess it was a feature wondering why people would come into the county building to pay their tax bill instead of sending a check, and I said that it was a nice bike ride.
After the workout, it was back to Menard's where I spent $104 to pay for the materials for the wains-coating.
9am tomorrow the installation on the vinyl begins, and it should be completed by llam. Loyd will show up, I'll give him the receipts, and he will pick up the stuff that I bought today, and begin this installation. He will do the walls first, and finish with the pedestal sink, and toilet.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Meeting with Loyd Jones
On Friday, 5/20/11 I went to Lowe's and Menards, and was shocked and outraged about how expensive the labor installation was going to be. Lowe's was asking almost four times the cost of the unit (pedestal sink) to have it put in. Also, they were hinting at all kinds of additional charges that might apply. Such as, a 'paint check' if the house was built before 1979. After this time, all houses were not to be painted with lead based paint. And, this would require an addition $68.00. Also, something about a 'sink valve', if this was too old, this would have to be replaced, and there are two valves, at $65.00 each. On the bike ride home, I decided to go with one of Joe's recommendations. Jones was the most expensive, but he was the best workman. And, it would seem that it would be impossible for him to be more expensive than 'the big box stores' guys.
I called him late Friday afternoon, and he is to come over at 1pm on Monday afternoon, 5/23.
I called him late Friday afternoon, and he is to come over at 1pm on Monday afternoon, 5/23.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Opening Salvo
Shortly before I left for my trip to Surprise AZ at the end of April, 2001, the toilet in the bathroom off the kitchen lost so much power that it became useless. And then, the upstairs toilet began to run constantly. The flapper refused to seal, however, I am able to manually set it to run at a very low rate.
I have decided to dedicate some of my investment money to a major overhaul of the condo. I want to replace the downstairs toilet, add a pedestal style sink, and redo the flooring. Also, I want to completely replace the linoleum tile in the kitchen. And, I want to replace the crumbling shower stall arrangement in the upstairs bathroom. And, I would like to replace the living room carpet with wood, or just get new carpet. Also, the family room carpet needs to be replaced, as well as the steps. And, in order to achieve the 'carpet goals', I want to remove all of the standing book shelfs and have shelving brackets mounted to the walls.
On Saturday, May 7 I ordered a new toilet for the downstairs bathroom. $139.00 and $125.00 installation. I had to arrange an installation date with Jones Plumbing, and they didn't call until Monday, and the installation was then set for Thursday, May 12th. They arrived promptly at 930am, and within five minutes they determined that the toilet was not the correct size, and it would have to be returned for a 'special order'. On the upside, they volunteered to take it back to the store.
I took the bike, and arrived at the store before noon, and went back to the plumbing department and ordered the correct model. The toilets are sized from the distance to the center of the drain hole from the wall. The standard size is "12", and this is what I ordered, however, my bathroom requires a "10". The new toilet also required all mounting parts, and seat to be ordered separately. The grand total was $247.41, and this did not include the installation fee which is the same.
This new toilet is supposed to arrive between Thursday 5/19 and the following Monday.
The following is a list of names and number which Joe gave me a couple of years ago when I thought that I would engage in a remodeling project. For some reason, it never happened.
Loyd Jones 529 4108 306 5940
Allan Brinkoetter 787 4701 433 8426
Dennis Thomas 494 7430
Late in the afternoon of Friday, 5/13, I called Dennis Thomas and made an appointment to have him come out to the house, and give me an estimate about installing the shelving. I found out that he runs a window and door outfit located near Moffet and Carpenter, however, he said that he would be happy to do the work, and he charges sixty dollars an hour. By the following Monday, I decided that I will have the bathrooms done first, and then the kitchen and bathroom floors. Late Monday afternoon I called Dennis, and cancelled the meeting which was to occur on Tuesday, 5/17 about 10am. The flooring in the family room and living room can wait, but I will still need to have the shelving before I can tackle that end of the project.
On Monday afternoon, 5/16 I took the bike over to Menards off of Vets, and did some preliminary shopping. This is the first time that I had been in that store, and I really liked it---even more than Lowes.
The plan is to have the new toilet installed in the downstairs bathroom, add a tub enclosure upstairs, then the floor in the kitchen/downstairs bath. And, I am not sure how I will do the carpet/wood flooring. I want to go to Staffs Carpet out by the Fair Grounds and see what there is to offer. And, how much it costs to have them install the flooring, or what the savings would be if I had a 'handyman' do the work. I talked with Bill who lives a few units down, and he told me of his adventures of installing wooden flooring in his condo, and he said it looks great, and was not that hard to do.
I have decided to dedicate some of my investment money to a major overhaul of the condo. I want to replace the downstairs toilet, add a pedestal style sink, and redo the flooring. Also, I want to completely replace the linoleum tile in the kitchen. And, I want to replace the crumbling shower stall arrangement in the upstairs bathroom. And, I would like to replace the living room carpet with wood, or just get new carpet. Also, the family room carpet needs to be replaced, as well as the steps. And, in order to achieve the 'carpet goals', I want to remove all of the standing book shelfs and have shelving brackets mounted to the walls.
On Saturday, May 7 I ordered a new toilet for the downstairs bathroom. $139.00 and $125.00 installation. I had to arrange an installation date with Jones Plumbing, and they didn't call until Monday, and the installation was then set for Thursday, May 12th. They arrived promptly at 930am, and within five minutes they determined that the toilet was not the correct size, and it would have to be returned for a 'special order'. On the upside, they volunteered to take it back to the store.
I took the bike, and arrived at the store before noon, and went back to the plumbing department and ordered the correct model. The toilets are sized from the distance to the center of the drain hole from the wall. The standard size is "12", and this is what I ordered, however, my bathroom requires a "10". The new toilet also required all mounting parts, and seat to be ordered separately. The grand total was $247.41, and this did not include the installation fee which is the same.
This new toilet is supposed to arrive between Thursday 5/19 and the following Monday.
The following is a list of names and number which Joe gave me a couple of years ago when I thought that I would engage in a remodeling project. For some reason, it never happened.
Loyd Jones 529 4108 306 5940
Allan Brinkoetter 787 4701 433 8426
Dennis Thomas 494 7430
Late in the afternoon of Friday, 5/13, I called Dennis Thomas and made an appointment to have him come out to the house, and give me an estimate about installing the shelving. I found out that he runs a window and door outfit located near Moffet and Carpenter, however, he said that he would be happy to do the work, and he charges sixty dollars an hour. By the following Monday, I decided that I will have the bathrooms done first, and then the kitchen and bathroom floors. Late Monday afternoon I called Dennis, and cancelled the meeting which was to occur on Tuesday, 5/17 about 10am. The flooring in the family room and living room can wait, but I will still need to have the shelving before I can tackle that end of the project.
On Monday afternoon, 5/16 I took the bike over to Menards off of Vets, and did some preliminary shopping. This is the first time that I had been in that store, and I really liked it---even more than Lowes.
The plan is to have the new toilet installed in the downstairs bathroom, add a tub enclosure upstairs, then the floor in the kitchen/downstairs bath. And, I am not sure how I will do the carpet/wood flooring. I want to go to Staffs Carpet out by the Fair Grounds and see what there is to offer. And, how much it costs to have them install the flooring, or what the savings would be if I had a 'handyman' do the work. I talked with Bill who lives a few units down, and he told me of his adventures of installing wooden flooring in his condo, and he said it looks great, and was not that hard to do.
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