And the Walls Came Crumblin' Down

If you’ve ever tuned into DIY Network or HGTV – you’ve seen the sheer enjoyment of a sledgehammer-swinging homeowner who gets to demo a few walls or – even better - an entire room!  Now that I am finally that homeowner, I could hardly wait to tear down our one decorative kitchen wall to make room for the center island.

But, first things first.  John and my step-son Wes removed our old, outdated kitchen on an afternoon when I couldn’t be there….so I missed all the fun!   In just under 45 minutes, the entire kitchen was scrapped, thrown in a dumpster and ready to be hauled away.  We salvaged the stove and dishwasher for a fate to be determined at a later date but they’re definitely not part of this renovation reality.

The next day, the circa 1970’s red and black tile kitchen floor had to be removed and the subfloor ripped clean.  Thanks to my brother-in-law Chuck, John was inspired to use a circular saw to cut up the tile and subfloor together in several 4’ blocks rather than to peel off the tile first and try and salvage the partially rotted subfloor underneath.   If you have outdated linoleum or vinyl tile you need to remove and you do plan to replace your subfloor, set your saw to cut around a 1/4” (the approximate depth of your tile and subfloor) and get rid of the entire floor at once.  Start to finish, it us took less than 40 minutes to remove the entire 16’ x 20’ kitchen floor and a day of back-breaking labor was avoided.

Revising the Budget…Again

Several swings of the sledgehammer and the wall that housed the stove and refrigerator was not only history, but gave us our first glimpse into the home’s construction.  No surprises here – we knew the walls would be constructed with wood slats and (most likely) horse hair insulation – but now we had a new decision to make: insulation.  Our original $25,000 renovation budget did not include insulation – so here we go again…

My first call to Tom Owens, owner of Advanced Insulation Solutions, Inc. of North East gave us a practical solution at what appears to be an affordable cost.  Tom’s company provides foam, blown-in and fiberglass insulation for new construction and pre-existing homes.  For the two main floors, Tom recommends blown-insulation installed by cutting a 2” to 3” strip along every exterior-faced wall (additional cuts are needed around windows at the top and bottom of each sill).  With a $2294 price tag, the Proposal did not include the drywall to repair the cutout strips once his work is complete.  For an additional $2356, Tom recommends foam insulation in our completely un-insulated attic.  Should we choose to add either, or both, the home’s R-value will drastically improve.  (The R-value is a measure of insulation's heat loss retardation under specified test conditions.  In the US, the Department of Energy has recommended R-values for given areas based on the general local energy costs for heating and cooling, as well as the climate of an area.  In our cold weather climate, a higher the R-value is preferred).  The wall insulation is expected to give us a 3.0 rating, and the attic, a 5.0.   Oh, and, for our fun fact of this blog:  snow has a 1.0 R-value; a bale of straw, a 1.45.  (Note: If you’re considering blown-in insulation and it’s a smaller project, you might want to check with your favorite Big Box store first.  They do rent DIY equipment.)

We decided to hold off on our insulation decision until the new windows are installed December 27^th and instead, it’s time to focus on more pressing issues:  heat, water and electric.   For now, the lights are on, the toilet is flushing, but baby ~ it’s cold inside.  We’ll explain how the Grinch stole our Christmas in next week’s Renovation Reality!

Looking Ahead…We’ll answer the question:  Who will win the battle in the new kitchen laminate floor versus the old hardwood floor showdown?

And, Looking Back….We’ll answer:  How does a Window World install rate on a scale of 1-to-10?   

Last Blog’s Answer:  Did Seaway Manufacturing ever follow up on its $12,000 window Proposal?”  No.  Seven weeks after Seaway bid the job, and still not one single follow up phone call.    

     

There's No Place Like IKEA

If I were ever to fall in love with a place (other than a vacation home away from home), IKEA is that place.  If you live in Erie, it's not likely you've had the IKEA experience unless you’ve travelled to Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Detroit (unfortunately Buffalo does not have an IKEA store, but a "Bring IKEA to Buffalo" Facebook page means some folks there are certainly trying).

My first ever visit to IKEA took days of planning - mapping the location, checking the catalog online, and comparing prices with other box store  competitors like Lowes and Home Depot.  With excitement mounting (well, at least I was excited), John and I decided an IKEA kitchen is the perfect fit for this renovation reality.  With our plans plotted down on paper, we decided everything must go - even the kitchen sink. 

Do It Yourself Design

Do yourself a favor, and go online right now to the IKEAHome Planner and check out IKEA's “Design Your Dream Kitchen in 3D” feature.  Once you establish a login password, there is no limit to the number of kitchen designs you can create.  If you don't have the funds to hire a professional designer or architect, the IKEA Home Planner 3D Tool is a dream.  It not only allows you to create and save multiple designs, IKEA’s software program (similar to what a CAD programmer would use) is extremely user-friendly.  With a click and a drag, you’re able to place your cabinets and appliances; add your walls, flooring, hardware and lighting.  We gave the entire experience an A+ for ease of use and simplicity.  One obvious note: be sure you have actual dimensions of your kitchen before you start designing. 

Once you're happy with your design and ready to order, I do recommend you visit a store and allow an IKEA Kitchen Design staff member to be your second set of eyes.  While the software has built in features to safeguard your kitchen against design errors and pitfalls, the staff makes sure you are getting exactly what you pay for. 

Sleek and Stylish

My three must-have's for this kitchen redesign: clean lines, stainless steel and lots of cabinet space.  For that, an IKEA kitchen simply cannot be beat.   Sleek and stylish defines most IKEA products and this modern kitchen is no exception.  While price was an obvious consideration, we had budgeted $8,000 for our overhaul, excluding appliances.  IKEA is known for unbeatable prices – but if you want that economical price, you’re going to have to work for it. IKEA cabinets come in boxes….lots of them….flat, wide boxes by the dozens….

Price & Delivery

Erie, Pennsylvania is in the IKEA delivery zone and cost an additional $139.00, plus tax, for shipping to 711 Ohio.  We ordered our kitchen on a Wednesday and it was delivered the following Thursday.  Fortunately we were able to take advantage of a promotional 20% discount by ordering before Thanksgiving and used that savings to order an IKEA stainless steel dishwasher, which was essentially free.  We added in a stainless steel electric range/oven for $799.00 for an entire IKEA kitchen redesign at $3983.44 (after discount and excluding delivery).  Thanks to a Black Friday special, we also purchased a stainless steel Kenmore side-by-side refrigerator for $699, plus tax.   The grand total for new birch cabinets, ceramic farmhouse kitchen sink, IKEA designer faucet, and appliances:  $4870.00. 

We still have a few key decisions to make, such as flooring, countertop and backsplash – but we are well on our way to coming in under budget.  (Note:  an IKEA estimate for a Quartz counter top came in a $2666.00).

With more boxes that Santa could fit in his sleigh, our IKEA kitchen install awaits us.  The guys who delivered it did make a few key recommendations:  buy a case of beer and if that doesn’t work, find a good divorce lawyer...

Looking Ahead:  We’ll answer the question: “How long does it take to demo a kitchen?”

And, Looking Back:  We’ll answer:  “Did Seaway Manufacturing ever call to follow up on their window proposal?”

Protection, Permits, Permission and A Pick Up

As you work your way through any home renovation, there are several behind the scenes components you can’t forget about before you start flipping on light switches and tearing down walls.
 

Protection

Homeowner’s Insurance/Rental Dwelling Insurance.  If you’re out scouting possible renovation properties, make sure your preferred insurance provider is able to provide adequate coverage.  Providers will have different requirements – for example, some won’t insure a property that will remain vacant during your renovation, others may only insure a property with updated wiring (no knob and tube wiring).  Our provider, State Farm Insurance, was able to insure 711 Ohio for $604.00 which is 80% of the assessed replacement value (our estimated replacement value is $185,000 because the structure is brick).  The entire premium was due in full, day one of the coverage and started October 31, to coincide with our closing.

Permits:  Electrical & Building

Depending on where your renovation property is located, the condition of the home, or the length of time it has been vacant, you will likely need a permit to restore electrical power.  Plan for at least one month or longer because you will need to hire a licensed electrician to help you get your power turned back on.  In our case, 711 Ohio sat vacant for well over a year and the home is located within city limits, so an inspection by the City’s Bureau of Code Enforcement was necessary. 

The first step is to contact your energy provider and ask if power is able to be immediately restored to your home.   Again, if your property has been vacant for any length of time, the answer will likely be no.  We were told a meter base service inspection by a licensed electrician was required before a “cut card” to restore power could be issued.   We contracted with King Electric to help us fill out the necessary paperwork and permits (they also filed our permit with the City of Erie to provide that service inspection).  In the end, as expected, it took 32 days start to finish for our power to be restored.

Moving onto Building Permits, our renovation doesn’t require one.  After making a quick phone call to the City of Erie, I was told a Building permit wasn’t required but only because we’re not tearing down walls or putting up new ones.  Our kitchen redesign keeps the design integrity of the original kitchen and only a portion of one decorative wall will be removed.   As for the rest of the home, the bones are great and won’t require any alteration.  If we do choose to add an additional ½ bath or change the structural components of 711 Ohio, a building permit is needed.  And as a side note, a Building Permit is not needed when replacing windows or doors.

Pick Up
As a two car family, it became obvious very quickly that that mode of transportation wouldn’t cut it for very long.  Two weeks into our Renovation Reality and I traded in my Subaru Legacy for a Honda Ridgeline and loving it….