Home Renovations Question

So we purchased our home a month ago. It is a huge house and was in move in good condition but needs to be updated. My husband is a carpenter so it was perfect because we got it for a great price.

At first we said we weren't going to touch anything in the house so we unpacked and everything was fine. Well fast forward 5 weeks later and our house is a mess! My husband knocked down the walls in the living room, dining room and kitchen because there was a horrible border and we saw that they painted over wallpaper. Now the walls have been down for a couple of weeks and he still wants to redo all of the electric before they go back up and he said it will be a couple of months.

We are also getting all new carpet in the bedrooms upstairs so now we are trying to get the bedrooms ready. I painted one over the weekend and took the wallpaper off of our walls (what a PITA!). We still have to spackle and paint the rooms and the carpets are coming in 2 weeks.

We are SO SO stressed out. I think I can handle the stress better than he can. We have been fighting alot.

Somebody please tell me they have been through this and we will survive.

Re: Home Renovations Question

Ahhh i remember that, dh and i moved into a house under massive changes, we had to sleep in our living room for about a month, we had to deal with dust/clutter and being completely unpacked. Everything was a stress but the saving point was DH working TONS of OT and I had to do all of the work along with my father and my BIL. The problems came when we had to work together since DH can not do anything house work related and I had to do it even though I didn't know what i was doing.

Eventually you got to stop when your about to get into a fight, walk away and find one spot that is clear of clutter and just chill and then come back. THINGS WILL BE BETTER and you both will survive.

Re: Home Renovations Question

We moved into our house in February and had started renovations in Januaray. We moved in with no kitchen and dust everywhere. Its getting better. We had a kitchen by the end of Feb but we are still painting and doing moulding.....it never ends and the dust is horrible.

You will get through it. I see a light at the end of the tunnel but it was a tough few months.

Try to clean up daily so that way things arent too bad.

Re: Home Renovations Question

We bought our home and it took 4 months for us to do the work we needed done before we moved in. We were able to stay in our apartment while we did the work and had a lot of the work for us. But we still had lots of projects to do after we moved in, so yes it is stressful and yes we do fight some, but 2.5 years later you get better at it and the stress gets a little easier. We really had a lot to do to our home, so we will still be working on it over the next couple of years until we are rid of the previous owners "look"/"work". But just remember it's all the way you want it when it's done. I make lists and check them off as we do things, it helps me keep things in check and keeps the stress down. it will be ok. Try to have nights out, go to dinner when you can or even to a movie. Or just for a walk around the block so you remove yourself from the house and spend time together.

Re: Home Renovations Question

sorry Kim! Sounds stressful! But Im siure it will all work out!!

Re: Home Renovations Question

Yes you will definitely get through it. When we were moving into our house, I realized how alike Richie and I are, but how differently we think. he sounds like Anthony, a little ambitious (however, at least Anthony is a carpenter) in what he thinks he can get done.

Just take a deep breath, and let him do his thing, control what you can control and it will all get done eventually and you can sit back and admire your house.

Hugs Kim.

Re: Home Renovations Question

we did this last year. My DH lived at the new house and I lived at our apartment with our son. 5 months of renovations, that we WEREN'T going to do!!!!!!

It was challenging. It was frustrating. It was stressful. BUT it was worth it. To have it DONE before we lived here was such a burden off our shoulders.

Hang in there. Try to have patience and see the bigger picture down the road. It will be worth it. AND make sure you TAKE a break once in a while. Go to dinner. GO to a movie. Don't let it consume you.

Re: Home Renovations Question

I know exactly how you feel!! We moved into out house almost two years ago, and DH is in construction so he does all the work himself, but he has also had to start working away from home 4 days a week and the only time he gets to take care of things is on the weekend, which makes things take 3 times as long, not to mention he has an AWFUL case of ADD and will start a project but never quite finish it. So the walls will be put up and painted but the trim stays uninstalled for MONTHS. I hate living with dust and half finish projects. I just do what I can to make the house look livable while it is all going on, and remember that he is working so hard for us and the house, and he is only human. I have also learned how to use power tool through all of this and do what I can to help

Re: Home Renovations Question

I know the feeling. We ripped out all the walls because we had wallpaper issues too. We decided to do the electrical because it made us feel safer and once it is open you might as well. My biggest problem is that we are doing all the work, minus the electrical, and it is taking us FOREVER. MONTHS! Just keep telling yourself that it will be worth it in the end! :)