September 2004 - Posts

tiling the bathroom, week 2

If you're a little confused how a small project like “tiling a bathroom floor” can extend into week two, particularly when you're using Lowe's “Edge System: Real Tile Without the Mess(tm)”, then allow me to explain:

1. cutting the tiles in the evening is quite loud; should really be done during the day.
2. the “Edge saw blade” for the jigsaw wears much quicker then the package advertises.  Trips to Lowe's last weekend on Saturday?  2.
3. you run out of “Edge Grout” because we apparently used more than expected - 2 cans supposedly does a 6x4 room.  (I think ours is a bit less).  We really coulda used another half can.
4. you remove the toilet.  and then tile.  but don't anticipate that the toilet is now higher then it used to be - requires more confidence in your skills or a plumber (we chose option 2).
5. I'm 95% positive that the “transition piece” from the tile to the carpet means that the door is now too long for the remaining space

All in all it adds up to periodically working on/in the bathroom and the project extending into a 2nd week without the bathroom being fully functional (much less finished).

Posted by greg

I can see clearly now... I think.

Recently I've discovered more of the joys of home ownership.  That is, the joy of “home improvement” by tiling one of the bathroom floors (more on that to come) and the joys of unexpected repair/replacement required.

The large window looking out from my dining room over lake union has apparently developed a leak in the seal between the two panes of glass.  Considering the moist environment of the Puget Sound area, it shouldn't be hugely suprising that within a week or two, this moisture had turned into a mold colony :(  In a couple days I'll get the initial estimates on the window replacement.  Until then the grey I see through the window isn't the usual Seattle grey that's coming back into fashion - instead it's unique to that window...

It could be worse though - Aaron recently discovered that his bedroom ceiling was leaking because the sprinkler pipe had a connection that had problems...  Since plumbers won't touch sprinkler pipes it meant two seperate repair people - now there's a hole in his ceiling that's yet to be patched up.

Posted by greg