So there are a few things that I have realized over the last month and a half about DIY remodels. This all started out with daydreams and a list. The list was simple things like “Take down old cabinets,” which we realized was muuuuch harder than originally expected and took much longer as well. Here is a list of things that I think are absolute necessities.
1. Dust masks – when ripping out the kitchen ceiling, walls, and insulation, these are the only thing that made it possible for me to stay in there for more than 5 minutes. I have developed some serious allergies over the last year, and they do not like the dust that is being created by the remodel.
2. Shop vac – dear lord do I love my shop vac! These are typically billed as the vacuum to buy if you have a man in your life who doesn’t like to vacuum. Give them one of these, and they will go to town! Having a wet/dry shop vac has made all the difference in the clean up. My brother gave me a shop vac for the remodel, and it has been so incredibly handy to have.
3. Crevice tool accessory for the shop vac – when you can’t get a two inch vacuum hose opening into small corners, this is what you need. So handy
4. All of the accessory pack for the shop vac – the accessory pack cost $50, which at the time I thought was a bit overpriced. However, we have used every tool in it, and the crevice tool and the extention hoses are worth their weight in gold.
5. Patience – that is all I have to say about that.
6. A sense of humor – every time we plan out something, or schedule a certain amount of time for a project, something comes up. The projects end up taking three times the amount of time we originally thought, or we’re missing a crucial tool or something else ridiculous. I have learned to just take it in stride and know that eventually, we will be done. And then on to the next project!
7. Good measuring skills – the quickest way to having to buy excess supplies and flushing your budget down the drain is by not measuring properly.
8. A screw gun – this little tool was one I had actually never heard of before the Remodel O’ Fun. Just like a nail gun, but with screws, it makes putting up sheet rock much easier and a heck of a lot faster.
9. A budget – this is one thing that Alan and I haven’t exactly made for the remodel, but we are being smart about every purchase we make. Most of what we have found has been on clearance or sale, given to us, purchased from craigslist.com, or just repurposed.
10. A handy neighbor – although Mr. Carter deserves his own post (which I will definitely do later on), I will at least mention him now. Mr. Carter, being a handy old guy has saved us a bundle by fixing a drain that we thought we were going to have to call in a plumber for, and has offered his electrical expertise when we run all new wiring through the kitchen. So, get yourself a retired electrician who wears awesome suspenders. You won’t regret it!
11. Imagination – so far our favorite things that will be going into the kitchen are those that we storm up in our brains and think would just be awesome. We will be having some awesome repurposed pieces in the kitchen that I can barely wait to see go in!
12. Beer – Boulevard Wheat Beer is by far, the best thing that has happened to the remodel, haha.
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