Comments on: Bathroom renovation burnout.

By: Candace in North NJ

Candace in North NJ — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:44:27 +0000

Thanks for responding so quickly! I see. I got the chronology wrong, but good to know that you got a confidence boost after the second bathroom. I’m excited to try my hand at doing the tiling myself.

I’ll keep looking on my end but please pass on the powder-coat guys contact info just in case I get completely fed up with the ones I find in Bergen County.

I’d also prefer the powder coating be done off-site but most of the companies here do the work in the home.

Regarding the tub, besides painting did you do any other work to the exterior of the tub yourself? Mine is pretty rough and it looks as if it will need more than a paint job.

Best,
Candace

By: Anna at D16

Anna at D16 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:07:45 +0000

Candace: Yes, I would recommend the powder-coat guys, but not if you’re in NJ (unless you plan to do all of the transporting yourself).

If I could do it all over again, I would do the marble hex tiles myself. The installer did a terrible job. That was the first bathroom we renovated, though (the black pennyrounds came a year later), and not having ANY experience with tiling at that point, I didn’t have the confidence to attempt it.

Oh well!

By: Candace in North NJ

Candace in North NJ — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:16:42 +0000

Hi Anna et al. Complement on such a cool blog, it’s been my go-to site even before I bought my home three months ago. I have an old clawfoot tub that needs refinishing on the interior and exterior. Would you recommend your guys (despite the carelessness)? The companies out here that I’ve called don’t keep appointments!

Also, on another related topic, was there a reason why you didn’t install the marble hexagon tiles yourself even though you did such a wonderful job on the black penny rounds? Are there difficulties with the marble that are best left to a professional? I’m considering renovating one of my bathrooms myself and to that end your site has been invaluable!

Best,
Candace

By: Michele in Montreal

Michele in Montreal — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:27:59 +0000

Thank you for posting… I am the only one I know doing renovations and when the plumber screwed up and the foundation guy disappeared, and things I ordered from the renovation center come in ALL WRONG, I feel like I am the idiot… *ugh* It is nice to know that I am not (really) alone in this silly idea that I can fix a house by hiring professionals… (and doing some things)

I think I am in renovation-burn-out… but…. must get back in the ‘pit’ and fight until I have water again, and (hopefully) have a house that won’t fall!

thanks for posting, keep strong, for all our sakes!

Michele

By: nicole

nicole — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:21:52 +0000

now i am starting to understand what you do with your vacation time from work.

By: jennifer in sf

jennifer in sf — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:20:21 +0000

Too bad Tim Gunn wasn’t there to tell those bathtub guys a thing or two. I’m pretty sure he would have thought they were a bunch of slackers.
Hope the rest of the bathroom work goes smoothly!

By: heather

heather — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:19:17 +0000

How cute are you?!
Sorry to hear about the troubles – just keep thinking, it’s going to be beautiful. :)
Movers are never careful with other people’s possessions… no matter what they advertise or how much insurance they claim to have. I can’t believe they managed to damage 4 things with one tub!

By: lesley

lesley — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:30:28 +0000

Escutcheons! Crustaceans! Escutcheons! Crustaceans! Ta rah rah BOOM de yea…

By: Katherine in LA

Katherine in LA — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:46:07 +0000

So excited for you! I can’t wait to see how it works with the room and the red paint you chose. I am living vicariously through you this year because I hate both my bathrooms.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:25:14 +0000

The image of Jimmy Durante’s nose attached to your sink is killing me!!! I can imagine it going “Ahh ch ch ch chaa” every time you walk into your bathroom.

I have not started filling the dumpster yet, I still have to go to the gym. Now that it is here I feel overwhelmed, but I’m sure I will get over it soon.

By: Anna at D16

Anna at D16 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:12:18 +0000

Adam, that faucet is SO MUCH WORSE in person. It’s HUGE and BULBOUS. It’s like having Jimmy Durante’s nose coated in chrome and attached to your sink.

The damage to the marble is really just a chip, but still. It’s frustrating to have these things happen because of someone else’s carelessness. I’ll get over it when the bathroom is done, I’m just feeling really sick of the constant movement of things/people in and out of the house.

DUMPSTER! Have you stared loading it up? Take pictures! (Did you see that Chez Larsson linked to you today?)

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:04:50 +0000

I like crustaceans better too! I’m so sorry to hear about the damage incurred Anna, I hope it is not serious (although I know marble damage is serious). I can’t wait to see it how the tub and everything look. I like the original faucet you have much better than the new one, I must admit after I read your description of it when I clicked on the link I actually laughed out loud because you were dead on in your description!

P.S.: The dumpster has arrived!

By: Anna at D16

Anna at D16 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:20:44 +0000

Ess-cutch-uns is how I’ve been saying it, but I think I’m going to switch to calling them “crustaceans” instead. It’s more fun!

The plumbers are putting the new faucet on the bathtub RIGHT NOW! So exciting.

By: lauren alane

lauren alane — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:39:25 +0000

How do you even pronounce “escutcheons”? Can’t wait to see the final choices!