Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DYI with a serial home renovator:

In the beginning

My journey in renovation began 35 years ago when I pulled the trigger on our first project. I was impatient, inexperienced, and (over) confident that I could handle tools. My husband Greg had no interest in any of it and didn't share my confidence. What began as a bathroom renovation escalated into a complete house remodel. That first experience tested our relationship, finances, and sanity.

We made it through and enjoyed the results. We learned how to make decisions quickly, research ways to reduce costs, and the versatility of a Crockpot. In this column, I aim to share helpful tips and tricks for beginner renovators or those on the verge of starting a project. The journey is messy but worth it.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines renovation as "to restore to a former better state (as by cleaning, repairing, or rebuilding)".

Renovating a home can be costly, but there are budget-friendly ways to update or improve it. Start by cleaning the house, both inside and out, as suggested above.

And I do mean cleaning, as in renting or borrowing a truck to haul away debris, renting a power washer to wash the outside of the house, and if needed, enlisting friends or family to help. Plan on feeding them well. Trust me, they will remember and might answer your text the next time you need help.

The first home my husband and I purchased in 1989 had been a rental. The house had great bones, but a very poor floor plan. I'd watched my father renovate the house I grew up in, and he made it look easy (I got to pick out the wallpaper, which was pretty cool). How hard could it be?

I was impatient to renovate the bathroom in our first house, so I waited until my husband was away for a baseball tournament (he disapproved of the bathroom renovation) and borrowed a sledgehammer. After a few hours of knocking out the bathroom wall, I'd clogged the bathtub drain with debris and broken the window. I called my brother Terry. My brother had experience in putting things back together and assured me that it was possible to install a new window, for a cost. I had my first reality setback. I did not know what I was doing, but I was damned if I would let my husband find that out.

Thirty-six years later, my husband and I are now living in our fourth, largest, and last home renovation project. After five years, each room is in a state of "nearly finished," unfortunately, so is our budget, and we may not be able to complete our initial plan. However, with the experiences we have gained in addressing hidden issues, we continue to refine the original design. He still relies on my judgment but doesn't hesitate to offer his opinion on how long it might take, what it will cost, or what he won't do.

As a reminder of Webster's definition, my Renovation 101 suggestion is to start your project with a deep clean, stripping the space of everything and cleaning thoroughly. It takes a considerable amount of effort and organization, but once the space is bare to the bones, the planning can begin. Take your time, work safely, and work smart.

In our experience, it is budget, experience, and timing that drive a project. To create a renovation plan, first make a list of the existing conditions of the space you want to improve. Include natural light (through windows), flooring, light fixtures, outlets, floor plan, plumbing, and wiring. And, yes, even closet space.

Next week, "Know your limitations."

 
 

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