I Have Good News. I Have Bad News. I Have VERY Bad News.
THE GOOD NEWS
The Other Justin installed the salvaged flooring in the sun porch! This is going to look incredible sanded.
The shower in the first floor bath got tiled! I used the same tile as in my shower in the Cross House as I like the idea of the two houses being obvious ‘twins’.
With a huge new hole in the dining room ceiling, Scott was able to bring new plumbing lines to the upstairs second bathroom!
THE BAD NEWS
There’s a friggin’ huge new hole in the dining room ceiling!
THE VERY BAD NEWS
The water line from the street to the house…BROKE! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! In 2015, we dug a huge long hole to find a previous leak. We then replaced about half the water line with PVC. I’m guessing the remaining old line (lead) has now broken. Fuck! We will now unearth the remaining old line and replace ALL OF IT.
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25 years ago my sister and her toddler moved in with me, 500′ of a waterline and a sewer line down a steep WV hill had to be replaced. 5K.
10 years ago, electric meter melted, new service and panels like a nuclear sub. 5K.
Both crimped the pluperfect heck out of other restoration plans
I am today very very grateful for the work
I read the John Lennon quote at the beginning of your grand saga__ I know. however inconvenient and unbudgeted, you embrace the necessity. And the young lad Cody should not get his water from a lead line!!
Oh dear! This is such hard news
🙁
But I have confidence all will be righted!
Within a year of my moving in to my new old house I had to have the water line from the street to the house and the gas line from the meter to the house replaced. I escaped replacing the water heater by buying and installing a new thermocoupler. I got another 7 years out of that water heater.
Needless to say those expenses put a hold on a lot of things like painting the exterior. I dodged a new roof for 15 years but did replace all of the house water with copper 15 years in. That pushed up the remodeling of the bathroom and kitchen since walls had to be opened.
This year I had to replace the gas line again. This time I had a shut off installed where the service comes in to my house. Should have done that the first time. Should have used better pipe the first time and had them wrap it better. It is twice as deep now as the previous one.
If it’s not one thing it’s another.
When you’re feeling a bit heavy, just go stare at the floor or the bathroom tile.
That floor is going to be amazing, as will the bathroom when it is finished.
I love the look of the boards with some red paint still on them. I’d leave it. I know it’s not your design aesthetic, though, and it WILL look fabulous when it’s sanded and shined.
I’m so very, very sorry to hear about the water line. You do not need the extra expense right now (or ever).
Probably time for another wine delivery the next time I’m in town. I have a “welcome” package for Cody, too.
Oh, well……crappo! THAT is a bummer.
We have had so many sewer issues with our “new” little 1952 ranch since we bought it 4 years ago.
I told our plumber that we are his cash cow!
Our last issue was a simple fix after weeks of research and was something the city fixed out at the street access….some valve.
But!!!! My husband and the Plumber first told me that it was a broken water line somewhere which ran under our loooong concrete driveway! Like it is probably 100 yards long. At least. And I horrified my plumber by saying “FUCK!!!”. Then they both laughed and laughed.
Never was I so glad to be the butt of a joke.
So at least there are not yards of concrete to dig up and replace.
We had to reroute our old sewer line that had collapsed because the original sewer line ran under our concrete steps to our walk out basement!! That was about 5K!
Small mercies. One step forward and two steps back, you know.
Ugh. 😬 Just thinking about plumbing issues, jacks my stress to Himalayan levels.
Plod along, step by step – it’s all that can be done when it needs to be done right. When it’s done, stress levels receed – homeostasis relieves.
When the most “necessary” (horrific) bills are paid, well … a beverage can’t hurt.🍷 Small mercies can soothe the tender spots, Ross.
Sorry for the misfortune; I could point out that it is much better to happen now than in January when the ground is frozen, plumbers are booked out for days and charging double, and Cody is in residence and needing water. Of course this reminder is not a lot of comfort to you and your wallet right now…
Here it’s 14 days. I know. When I was researching how much it would cost me for a new gas line I not only found average costs and what it would entail but that plumbers are so in demand during Covid that 1. They doubled their rates and 2. You often had to wait two weeks before they would start work. One guy wouldn’t even come out for an inspection and quote for two weeks. Of course they would be more than happy to do an “emergency” and of course, charge you extra for it. I was lucky. I found an “honest” plumber (If there is such a thing) whose answers matched everything I had researched on line and didn’t mind answering questions on the process, giving me alternatives and allowing me to decide. He started the next day and the cost and timeline were spot on. We discussed the pros and cons and opted to pay an extra $50 for a shut off. The other quote I got was it wasn’t needed and if I wanted it it would be an extra $250.
There are honest plumbers, and I have one. I won’t use anyone else, and I recommend Dan (the World’s Best Plumber) to everyone. He even shows me how to fix simple stuff. Great guy. He’s worth his weight in gold.
You are very lucky; my good plumber retired a few years ago, and I am beginning to think that he was the only one in our area. The last one I used did an awful job, purchased different faucets than the ones that we had bought, charged us a mark-up on them plus two hours time for shopping for them, then tried to charge us a service call to fix a leak in the new plumbing…his own work! I refused to pay the service call, and told him what I thought of him; I am sure that it broke his heart…
Better now than in the dead of winter!
Like someone said previously, go stand in some area that is done or almost done to clam down and enjoy! You got this! 🙂
OH NO, just what you need. But as some readers have pointed out, better to fix it now than in the winter and when Cody is all moved in and needing water. The sun porch floor will look great and the shower looks great, so, small consolation.
Phew! When you said VERY bad news (in caps, nonetheless), I was anticipating something burned down or Cody backed out, or they were widening the highway and taking the side yard, or or…
The dining room ceiling hole is a welcome problem since it means upstairs plumbing. Tell me, have you sheet rocked before? (tongue-in-cheek)
The water line…well…watcha gonna do? Yet another joy of dealing with an old house.
You’ve got this. You have dealt with much worse. Sending extra heaps of fortitude your way!!