Tearing Down the House

Last year, we bought this big ol' 1887 house. We are just now coming to grips with the magnitude of the "upgrades" planned.

With a baby on the way and Little Lady all of two years old burning calories faster than pillagers burn the Amazon rainforest, how tough can "upgrades" really be?

Ever since we bought the house, my wife has been urging me to tear "that thing" down.

"That thing", at the foot of our lane, had been a shelter to keep kids dry while waiting for the school bus. It had seen better days. Like when paint could still be seen on the wood. Like when it stood upright ? taller even than the weeds! ? before gravity won the battle.

"That thing" was our very own Roman ruins ... minus the Roman part, of course. So I finally tore it down.

"What?" my wife asked. "You tore it down?"

"Yup."

"But how will people find us, now?"

We had used "that thing" as a marker, even a beacon. "Turn right on County Road 7, and just keep going until you see the eyesore. You can't miss it. That's us."

Houses grow and age just like people. Sometimes the old gets in the way of the new. Sometimes you have to rip things apart to build them up.

Recently, I was ripping apart a couple walls of the soon-to-be nursery. I assured my wife it would be a two- to four-hour job. To avoid inhaling an overdose of plaster dust, she and Little Lady escaped to exile at Grandma's for the afternoon.

Twelve hours later ...

The clock ticked past midnight before those two to four hours showed me mercy. Little Lady and her pregnant mom wisely chose to remain in exile overnight. Instead of resting my weary muscles, I had a jungle of ? hack, hack - plaster dust nearly a foot deep to dispose of. Beach party, anyone?

If tearing it all down took so long, how many hours will it take to put up the new walls, including the wall overlooking the staircase? (Did I mention I'm afraid of heights?)

How long will it take to cut and place the trim (baseboards, casing, crown molding, and a new window sill ? I broke the old one trying to pry loose a lathe strip)?

How long will it take to hang a new door? To sand the old floor? To clean up the big mess? To lift the wallboard to the second floor? To return to the store for more nails or to replace lumber I wreck or to pick up a few dozen items I forget? To replaster the corners I plaster wrong the first time (and the second and the third and ...)?

I sat my wife down for a heart-to-heart. "Honey, we have a business to run, a toddler to nurture, family members to help, a house to clean on occasion, and a jungle that will need mowing one of these days. We need ductwork to thaw our bedroom this winter, the foundation needs crack-filling and this nursery would take Hercules many long days of hard labor to complete. I don't know if we can find time for all this before the baby is born."

"Maybe we should put something off," my wife suggested.

"Great idea!" I said, looking at my agenda. "Now, let's see. How long do you want to delay the delivery?"

I ducked just in time.

The easiest thing to reschedule turned out to be my sleep. Right now I have a house to upgrade. There'll be plenty of time for sleep next year. That is, if I don't grow too old in the meantime and need to be torn down myself.

About The Author

The author is David Leonhardt, The Happy Guy. To receive his column weekly in your inbox, sign up at http://TheHappyGuy.com/positive-thinking-free-ezine.html.

Visit his home page at http://TheHappyGuy.com.

Info@thehappyguy.com

---

Replacement Windows and Double Glazing - Essential Buyers Tips

Welcome to my essential tips for replacemnent windows and double... Read More

Are You In or Out of Balance?

CLUTTER: When clutter starts to accumulate in an environment, imbalance... Read More

Avoiding Leaks When Installing Vinyl Retrofit Windows

These days a lot of homeowners are replacing their old... Read More

Interior Design For New Homes

When decorating or making decorating decisions for new homes, it... Read More

10 Quick Ways to Change Your Fire-less Fireplace from a Black Hole to a Worthy Focal Point

Everyone loves a fireplace aglow with a roaring fire or... Read More

Tips for Designing with Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floor styles come in strips, planks and parquet, and... Read More

The Solar Energy Industry Grew 67% Last Year: Are You Making the Best Decision for Your Future?

Are you considering using renewable energy resources to heat water... Read More

Cordless Impact Wrench - Not the Same Tool as Your Cordless Drill

The cordless impact wrench is quickly gaining in popularity among... Read More

The Versatile Reciprocating Saw: The Power Tool of Your Dreams

A reciprocating saw is simply one of the handiest tools... Read More

Securing Your Castle

In the world of today, we no longer employ the... Read More

Remodeling Your Home: How Much Is Too Much?

The classic way for homeowners to increase the value of... Read More

Top Tips When Planning a Conservatory or Sunroom

General advice.Negotiate fairly with suppliers. Don't expect to get all... Read More

Laminate Flooring is Built for the Twenty First Century

The tradition of hardwood floors dates back hundreds of years,... Read More

5 Steps for Creating a Garage You Can Love ? and Use

A major US corporation recently launched a new line of... Read More

Deck Building Basics

In my previous article, "planning for a new deck," I... Read More

How To Completely Rehab Your Home In 10 Days!

This report is about taking a house and restoring it... Read More

Things to Consider when Buying a Hot Tub or Jacuzzi Tub

We recently purchased a new Hot Tub and Gazebo from... Read More

Ceiling Fans ? That Dont Require The Ceiling

The trend in remodeling homes is to expand the outdoor... Read More

Get Everything Done Quickly Using Your Basic Tools

No one wants to have their house equipment broken. But... Read More

Feng Shui Your Home, Work and Life For Balance and Harmony

Feng Shui describes the communication that takes place every day... Read More

Hot Tubs Create a Backyard Oasis

What would you like in the backyard that is great... Read More

You Get What You Pay for when it Comes to Above Ground Pools

When you think about an above ground pool do you... Read More

Installing a Brick or Paver Walkway

The use of Bricks or Pavers to create a walkway... Read More

Baking Soda for Cleaning

Baking soda is a common, inexpensive household item that can... Read More

How To Ward Off House Thief

To most of us, security at home is very important.... Read More

Electric Radiant and Floor Coverings

If the decision of what type radiant heating system to... Read More

Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs

The style of your interior depends for a great part... Read More

New-age Paint Thickening & Rheological Additives : Solvitex & Solvizen

For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has come a radical new... Read More

A Few Concrete Suggestions

Up until a few years ago, my professional experience was... Read More

Materials For Building Window Shutters

Shopping for window shutters can become confusing because of the... Read More

Get the Lead Out: Candle Wicks in the US

According to the National Candle Association (NCA), most US-manufactured candle... Read More

Hammocks Create a Stress Free Zone

Stress is all around us, from the office to the... Read More

Feng Shui, Design Psychology and Bed Placement

I love Feng Shui! Whether you believe this ancient Asian... Read More