I love remodel projects. It was/is my second job. Well really my only job now that I am retired.

I cannot wait to see what you have designed. I am so impatient I would be pulling my hair out.

I will show you mine. I purchased this house to fix up. Because I like to do that. This remodel part fits this topic because I really wanted it to be pretty for containers. Are you ready? It is scary........

It is a upper patio that is 60' x 120' they could not tear the concrete off because they would have had to tear down the lower 3 rooms and part of the back of the house. So........

Before.........




After.....

They scrapped and put a coating over the concrete and covered with blue stone.

Niiccee!! Grand looking outdoor living space, Cinta. Green with Envy.

Wow, what a difference Cinta. It is beautiful and really does give you a place to showcase your containers.

Lovely, You are an inspiration.

Marilyn, when did you change your avatar? I love that container.

Marilyn, I think in our climate we need the best outdoor space possible because we have such a short time to be out in the sunshine.

Keep the faith you will be happy that the wait to get what you want will be worth your effort.

Lynn, several weeks ago.
Cinta, thanks for the encouragement.

I am just wanted to get it done. I hate chaos and that is what it is going to be until it is finished.
Mess around the house with things stacked here and there, neighbors to worry about, HOA to keep happy,
parking on the street instead of inside; etc etc etc and more.

HATE: Chaos, chaos, chaos-- and all it's synonyms :disorder, confusion, mess,anarchy, ataxia, clutter, disarrangement, discomposure, disharmony, dishevelment, disorganization, holy mess, indiscipline, jumble, muddle, shambles, snarl, tangle, topsy-turviness, unholy mess, unruliness, untidiness, upset

Awww Marilyn you need a hug. ((((((HUG)))))) I am lucky not to have a HOA to deal with. I hear that can really be a big, big problem. But contractors I have lots of experience and they can be a bigger problem.

I have a couple of properties and I recently had a major property repair job because of a winter busted water pipe. The entire house needed to be redone. But they dragged it out. I finally asked the Contractor "Are we Married" He said "No" I said "Good because I thought maybe you thought you did not have to finish UNTIL DEATH DO WE PART". He looked at me and asked was I threatening him. I told him "Only if you want/need it to be a threat to complete the job".

Amazing he hired extra people and got the job done in 3 days. They even worked Sat and Sun.

So be on guard. Contractors can be a big pain minor threats may be needed.

Thanks, for the advice, I hope I will not need it. They refer to this project as "a day job"
I hope that is true.

Edited so I could thank you for the hugs. They are always welcome

I am still laughing over these last few posting.

Marilyn, practice the 'Are we married?' line. I love that ne.

Cinta said: The entire house needed to be redone. But they dragged it out. I finally asked the Contractor "Are we Married" He said "No" I said "Good because I thought maybe you thought you did not have to finish UNTIL DEATH DO WE PART". He looked at me and asked was I threatening him. I told him "Only if you want/need it to be a threat to complete the job".

Cinta, your story reminds me of contractor experience I had where the contractor went ahead and put rebar and cement down for a large indoor planter without looking at my drawing for the planter. I told him I didn't like the shape and he said too late, already put the bars down. I said to him, "Somebody said that when you build a custom house you get 85% of what you want and 15% disappointment." And I then pointed to the project in front of him and I said, "With this 4000 sq ft home you are building, I didn't think the entire 15% was going to be right here!" The next morning the rebars were pulled out. Luckily, I didn't have to threaten but I think he thought I might cry...

Here's that indoor planter:

This thread is turning into a great place to learn how to handle contractors.
If threatening death doesn't work, use tears.

Bev, so glad you got what you wanted, that is beautiful.

This thread is turning into a great place to learn how to handle contractors.
If threatening death doesn't work, use tears.
What other methods might work?

Bev, so glad you got what you wanted, that is beautiful.

Bev I learned the crying only works with my local police when they catch me speeding. Believe me I have perfected that ugly crying, snoot everywhere, innocent, babbling fool look. I am not above using whatever it takes to get the results needed. But.... Contractors seem to do worse when I cry.

I do not know what happens to contractors when they get that hammer in their hand. Do they hit themselves in the head with the hammer and wake up thinking they are King of the world?

Bev that is beautiful. I want one.

Marilyn just a day job huh. Okay that should be finished in a week or two.

Week or two.

Oops, sorry Marilyn, of course it will be done in a day.
Want me to come and play tag team with you? Between us two old ones we can make sure it's done in a day. Just so they can get away from us.

valleylynn said:This thread is turning into a great place to learn how to handle contractors.
If threatening death doesn't work, use tears.
What other methods might work?

Bev, so glad you got what you wanted, that is beautiful.

Thanks for moving it my silliness. We can have some Contractor fun.

The other thing that use to work was Sex appeal. I remained the same Sex (female) but the appeal is gone.

Okay, so that approach will not work for those of us that are in advance age stage.

Can't wait to see what Marilyn's contractors do with her patio. She lives in such a beautiful area, and that patio is wonderful to use when the weather is nice. Hopefully she won't have to use any of the tactics used in some of these post.

She will be fine. Remember she said it is a day job.

Of course.

You guys are making me very nervous..... I am so naive, when they say a day...
I give them a little room by saying "ok they mean a day or two." I know cement does not cure in an hour

Bev, I love your indoor planter. Lynn come on down. We can have a good time, but no crying.

Cinta, at my age one forgets how to use the "x" appeal trick. But I can still bat my eyes a little, looks like I have sand in them.