Morningside Renovation

Our Journey Through The Renovation Process Of Our Future "Forever Home" In Morningside (Atlanta,GA)

Tag Archives: morningside


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Wish That I Could Channel Churchill’s Fire

I think Sir Winston once said “Never, Never, Never Give Up” but then I quickly remember the definition of insanity – extreme foolishness or irrationality.  As you can tell a clear decision has yet to be made…unfortunately.

We’ve decided to speak with various builders which have been referred to us (thanks to many of you) and see where we stand when comparing what it will actually cost to complete our home versus what is remaining in our budget.  (I think we’ll need a magician)

I know we both fell in love with this ugly house when we first saw it and emotionally we fell even further as we envisioned the memories that would be made and the future it would hold for us, but we’ve come to realize that it just may be unachievable now thanks to all that has transpired.

It’s depressing and it’s extremely tough for me not to feel defeated in numerous ways and levels.   There have certainly been high’s but the low’s have been numerous and more constant.  This place which use to bring me so much excitement has unfortunately become such a source of negative energy and feelings for me that unless we come up with a solution fairly quickly it will probably be best to just abandon this dream and try to eventually start a new one. 

I also need to clean up after our former GC as he’s left everything in quite a mess,but for a place that I once would make any excuse just to go over there and spend time splitting wood, moving dirt or just sitting there envisioning “one day”, I now find myself actually trying to avoid it.

“When you feel like giving up remember why you held on for so long in the first place”

And now to exhaust every potential avenue…initially the biggest challenge will be summoning the energy to explore them.


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My Focus Needs to be Elsewhere

As we head down to Florida there are numerous questions rolling through our heads. Aside from the LAST stunt our GC pulled, the big question is what do we do?  Sell it or keep it?

He’s already taken a significant portion of our allotted construction funds and has also basically put us in quite a predicament due to the alterations and modifications that will need to be made because of his numerous mistakes and omissions.  At this time I’m not really sure how we can overcome this position if we decide to continue forward?

If we sell it, the “improvements” he’s made will have little value and will very possibly detract from the value of our house.  Plus, we still have the cost of cleaning up the mess that he’s left behind as well as repairing the existing house due to some of the damage (direct & indirect) that his crews have caused.

I’m just not sure of any answers, it’s a lose lose situation either way.  The thing is, we aren’t one of those couples that bit off more than they could afford.  We work hard, save money, budget and watch our expenses.  We’ve been looking for several years and finally found our potential dream and POOF!!!  Not only does it feel as if it’s gone but it possibly will also cost us even more money with either route we choose.

So here we are; heading down to Florida with some pretty massive thoughts going through our minds.  And I’m resentful, very resentful!!! Not only will all of this take away some of our focus on the boys but the true purpose behind going to Florida isn’t so much for the beach or a vacation but more so to be closer to Julie’s dad.  I won’t go into too much detail but after his accident, a year ago tomorrow, the beach is now a place where Julie feels the closest to him.  Outside of this “renovation” catastrophe it’s been a hard year for all of us and especially Julie.  Douglas, Julie’s dad, was such a big part of our lives and their father/daughter relationship was one beyond anything that I have ever seen.  If one day I can achieve even half of that relationship with my boys then I will feel as if I have been successful as a father and dad.  There have been so many times throughout this project where I have wanted to call him for advice on what to do, how do we handle something, what do you recommend, etc…which at times has only made the reality and pain seem close to unbearable.

Tomorrow will be about Douglas, Douglas and Julie. 

We Miss You and Love You Douglas!!!

 


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This Isn’t Me

After trying to reach our contractor since last Thursday to find out when framing would begin, we finally received an email from him yesterday (Wednesday) stating that on the previous day Julie and I had refused the framing package at the house. 1) Why would we do that? We’ve been begging for him to begin reframing before I can remember. 2) We don’t even live at the house, plus we both work all day – how would we have refused an order?  This really doesn’t make sense and to add to it, we’ve been trying to reach him ever since receiving that email and he has yet to respond to voice mails or emails.  Seriously, is this really the way to conduct business?  What is he trying to pull?

Tip:  Make sure that you hire a GC that will return your calls as well as emails

To top it off, I received a huge bill today from the Structural Engineer.  She’s doing a fantastic job, no complaints on that, however this extra, unanticipated expense is killing me because the vast majority of her expense (98%+) is due to her fixing the screwups and incompetencies of our GC and somewhat the architect’s. 

I’m not sure that I can continue with this project.  I’ve never quit anything, I don’t quit.  An obstacle that’s too high or too tough to climb? I take it one step at a time, little bits while focusing on the end goal.  However I just don’t know how much more of this I can take and that crushes me that I would ever consider quitting.  This was going to be Julie’s forever house and before all of the screwups it was a place where she could actually find some happiness over the last year (see About page). I just don’t know, it’s wearing me out emotionally, mentally and has been a huge financial stress. I’m hopeful that things will turn around but it seems as if it is only getting worse.  I don’t know, I just don’t like what I’m feeling – the excitement is gone.  Maybe that’s the answer, maybe we give up and quit fighting our GC about his “work” and just be done with it?  I don’t know?


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A Little Common Courtesy Please

It’s Wednesday, our framing package was supposed to be delivered on Monday and framing was to start on Tuesday.  Nothing, still no framing package which means no framing – nothing has been done.  Julie and I, as well as our Structural Engineer, have been trying to reach our GC by phone, email and text but for whatever reason he won’t respond.  What is going on?  This is crazy.  I don’t even know what to think and why won’t he at least have the decency to call us back?


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Mad, Resentful, Angry, Guilty

As I sit here tonight typing out my thoughts I’m basically pissed and feeling very dejected.  This house/project/our future home feels as if it has basically been taken from us.  I do feel robbed, not saying 100% of this lies with the GC, however a vast majority of it does and I feel as if he has basically ruined what could have and should have been our home. Whether through his inaccurate estimate/budget, lack of knowledge and expertise, pure incompetence, lack of supervision and oversight, costly mistakes, etc…at this point it really doesn’t matter.  I feel as if we’re at a point where we need to decide if it even makes sense to continue trying to move forward.  Just the thought of abandoning our dream kills me,  but I almost see no alternative.  I just wonder which would be worse; the frustrations and disappointments that now seem to be created almost daily or throwing it away and just giving up?   

Nothing further to add, maybe this site will end up becoming my pseudo therapist.


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Snakebit

The rest of the basement slab was poured however for whatever reason our GC decided not to pour the carport slab.  Almost funny that even the guys laying the concrete, laborers, were telling us that it wasn’t smart not pouring it all at one time and that it was going to cost us more money.  Maybe they should manage the financials for our GC.  Speaking of, he still won’t return calls or email from us or our Structural Engineer.  It would be great if he was a little more responsive but this has always been the case.

It rained a fair amount this week and we have discovered that the ceiling is collapsing in the kitchen and the ceiling and floor in one of our boy’s bedroom has been damaged beyond repair due to him continuing not to properly install a tarp even though we have told him about this issue numerous times.  GC still hasn’t been in our house, ridiculous. 

Also, our Structural Engineer informed us that as a result of the new foundation slab having to be cut to dig and pour footers (since the grade beams which were on the plans weren’t properly installed) she noticed that the slab is actually 2 1/2″ – 3 1/2″ thick in places instead of 4″ as the plans required.  She also discovered that the guys pouring the concrete didn’t lift the wire mesh resulting in it being on the bottom of the slab. Thankfully she insisted on the footings to carry the weight of the structure or we would have one hell of a mess in a few years since basically the main floor would collapse into the basement area. 

Last she also noticed that another grade beam, which was noted on the plans, was also not poured.  This means another area will need to be sawn out, excavated and poured properly.  I guess we won’t be able to go with a finished concrete floor since our slab is going to look like a checker board – a look we were leaning towards.

Good news is that our GC said that the framing material will be arriving on Monday and framing will begin on Tuesday. Yes!!!  Let’s go forward  – finally!!!

My constant question to myself – should we keep it or not?  This is driving Julie and I crazy and we’re questioning what we could have done differently. We thought we did our due diligence on the GC but he has continued to not only drop the ball but create further issues.  A lot is his lack of supervision and I believe knowledge of general construction along with not wanting to properly right a wrong, but I guess the question we keep asking is “are we just snakebit”? We’re going to talk to a few experts to see if we’re able to financially afford to keep going and honestly if it makes sense – I’m already scared about their answer.  Julie’s “forever home” has turned into a nightmare and I just don’t know if now we’ll ever be able to make it right as well as remove the tarnish.I feel crushed and basically beaten down.


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Some Progress

So today the footings and rest of the walls connecting the existing structure with the new were poured. New Wall and Footings to Connect

It’s a hot one today but I’m so thankful that I’ve had so much wood to split and dirt to move – great way to take out my frustrations and feel as if I’m somehow moving things forward.


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We Need You to Speed it up a Little GC

Due to both slabs being poured incorrectly we have had to get our Structural Engineer to design a new framing as well as roofing plan, versus “figuring it out in the field (extra cost to us).  It looks good but it’s going to require the GC to cut, excavate and pour new footings.  We have asked and are trying to get our GC to have this accomplished before the end of the week since our Structural Engineer is going out-of-town for several days.