Morningside Renovation

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

Tag Archives: remodeling


by

Step by Step

Not a lot to add since my last entry.  We’ve basically been meeting with several contractors as well as their sub’s to explore the possibilities of moving forward. I really wish that we knew our future course however some of them are all over the board when it comes to pricing.  Interesting enough, it seems that those with more experience on our type of project tend to be more reasonably priced than the others.  We shall see though.

I won’t even go through all of the various mistakes and omissions pointed out by these GC’s and subs on the “work” that has already been “completed” by our former GC.  However they all say that we were extremely fortunate to have caught these mistakes when we did and that all work has ceased – versus discovering it later in the process…or 5-10 years from now.

As you know our former GC left the site in quite a mess: pieces of discarded boards lying all around (with nails sticking up), empty drink bottles everywhere, huge pieces of concrete rubble scattered around the backyard, etc… So last week I decided enough.  First up replace the tarp that was put on the house by our former GC, which has been slightly more effective than a window screen… with the result being that we now have to replace the ceiling in a few rooms and have lost the hardwood floors in a couple of them as well.  I had no idea who to call but somebody referred Bell Roofing.  So I called late one afternoon and by 10 am the next morning our house was securely covered (tarped).  It just doesn’t make any sense why it wasn’t tarped properly in the first place by our former GC when he was still on the project?  We told him numerous times that water was getting into the house.  Plus, he’s the one that opened up the back as well as top of the house.  No doubt he would have tried to charge us for the damage, “change order” is probably how he would classify it.

Next up, the foundation slab.  Max and I spent a few hours on Saturday morning cleaning it up by removing the various pieces of discarded lumber, nails, broken pieces of concrete and trash. I know, not your typical father and son activity but it was his decision; his favorite playground, swimming or helping me clean up the site.  He loves working over there, he seriously can’t get enough of it and of course I love the one-on-one time with no outside interference or distractions.  I wish this time in his life would slow down but in reality I know that before long there will be a 1 in front of his 3 and these moments I so enjoy with him will become less often as they will eventually take a backseat to his friends and other more “cool” activities.  (At least he has a younger brother)

Next on the list; getting all of this stuff removed from our property.  If you know of a place that rents those roll-off dumpsters and has a cheap rate PLEASE let me know.


by

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?


by

Why Lie?

It’s been 3 days since any work has been done on the house, disappointing since we were told that they were really going to start moving everything forward to try and get back on track.

On another and rather confusing note, today Julie asked our GC to contact the sub that cleared out the backyard to have him come and finish clearing out the front yard, especially being that we’ve already paid for it.  His response – that sub is out of business.  Initially this was disappointing, until I called the sub myself and found out that he was still in business.  I just don’t understand why our GC would lie to us about him being out of business?  I want to and I’m trying to give our GC the benefit of the doubt on this but it’s hard. I just keep asking myself why would he lie about this and also, have we been lied to about anything else?


by

Happy Valentine’s Day

The grading was completed on the expansion portion of the house yesterday so I went by to view what will soon be covered in concrete.  Not quite sure… but I think we have a problem, still have some diggin to do.  The plans call for an 8′ finished ceiling in the basement, however I’m 6′ and I’m able to reach the top of the floor on the main level of the existing house.  I know this can’t be correct as we’ll need to account for the joist, foundation, sub-floor, etc… Also the carport is smaller than what we discussed.  I sent an email to our GC just to alert him to what I’ve discovered. 

On another note, while Julie has enjoyed deciding on finishes, colors, etc… I’m starting to scare myself.  I’m now a subscriber to Better Homes & Garden‘s website and bought a copy of the latest Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and Renovation Style.  Thankfully we were left with a lot of wood that needs to be split – think that I need to go and split some in the near future for a reality check.

Pics of the grading process, you can see that Max had a blast and felt very much at home:


by

We Have a Leak

Will this rain please stop!!!  I went by the house yesterday and it seems that as a result of all of this rain we have sprung a few leaks in the basement.  Nothing major but definitely something we’ll need to get taken care of since our immediate plans are to use this area for storage.  Our GC said that it won’t be a problem and that he’ll take care of it when we get to that point.

He also suggested that it would probably be best for Julie to call the Planning & Zoning Department to push for the permits, seems as if an angry wife tends to get more attention – my money is on us getting that permit shortly after she reaches someone.


by

Closed and Ready

Well we closed on our house/project today.  Our excitement is beyond explainable however that is at times dampened when we look at the current state of the house and all that will need to be done.  Big Picture, it’s not a sprint, focus on the finish line – I have to keep reminding myself of these thoughts.  There is also comfort in knowing  that we’ve got a great and very reputable General Contractor (GC), great plans, house with good bones, almost 1/2 an acre  which will have a flat backyard for the boys and it’s in the neighborhood where we have been concentrating our search efforts for the last several years – Morningside, Atlanta, GA.  Our GC says that it will take 5 months from submitting permits until completion which will put us in the house in May however I bet him a 12 pack that it will be June – something has to come up, nothing is ever that easy.  May or June, whichever it is, we’ve got a lot to do and a ton of decisions to make.  Big Picture – it will and should be, our ideal house and Julie’s “forever home”.  Here we Go!