Renovations
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Good job. I don't know how to do any renovations but I can tell when they're not done well.
For example, I love my modern cute little mini house - but there were a few short cuts I can now see, that the owners made. For example, there is one of those bowl/ fountain sinks installed in what looks like a solid wood table. The problem is that the faucet is about 1/2 cm too far from the sink bowl so water dribbles down the edge onto the wood when I turn the water off. So I have to, every time I wash my hands, put a facecloth between the sink and the faucet to catch the water drops before they roll down under the sink bowl and rot the wood. The landlady cautioned me not to leave water drops on the wood. She is concerned about water damage. I pointed out the sink flaw and she didn't say anything...but it made me think a couple of things: first "Why didn't they measure the distance from the faucet to the sink better?" They can't fix it without installing a new table because a hole was drilled exactly the right size for the faucet. And "why don't they use a very good seal on the wood? Coat it a few times so it's fairly waterproof?" Oh and, "Having a wood table for a bathroom counter probably isn't the most functional idea to begin with." These are things that go through my mind.
The other thing is the glass walk in shower. If it were about 3-4 inches wider the water would not seep out the edges; and the flap at the bottom of the door is also about 1/2 cm too short so water leaks out. Even I can figure that out. All they'd have to do is use it once and they'd see the issues. Apparently they didn't before renting. I'm not causing them. The seal around the shower isn't good either. The landlord has re-sealed it twice already. He admitted he's not very handy but he doesn't want to hire a professional. I told him I have a relative who's handy - a shipbuilder - but he declined. They are really nice people but some of the bubble gum and chicken wire renos are frustrating.
Just venting since we're on the topic of DYI renos.
For example, I love my modern cute little mini house - but there were a few short cuts I can now see, that the owners made. For example, there is one of those bowl/ fountain sinks installed in what looks like a solid wood table. The problem is that the faucet is about 1/2 cm too far from the sink bowl so water dribbles down the edge onto the wood when I turn the water off. So I have to, every time I wash my hands, put a facecloth between the sink and the faucet to catch the water drops before they roll down under the sink bowl and rot the wood. The landlady cautioned me not to leave water drops on the wood. She is concerned about water damage. I pointed out the sink flaw and she didn't say anything...but it made me think a couple of things: first "Why didn't they measure the distance from the faucet to the sink better?" They can't fix it without installing a new table because a hole was drilled exactly the right size for the faucet. And "why don't they use a very good seal on the wood? Coat it a few times so it's fairly waterproof?" Oh and, "Having a wood table for a bathroom counter probably isn't the most functional idea to begin with." These are things that go through my mind.
The other thing is the glass walk in shower. If it were about 3-4 inches wider the water would not seep out the edges; and the flap at the bottom of the door is also about 1/2 cm too short so water leaks out. Even I can figure that out. All they'd have to do is use it once and they'd see the issues. Apparently they didn't before renting. I'm not causing them. The seal around the shower isn't good either. The landlord has re-sealed it twice already. He admitted he's not very handy but he doesn't want to hire a professional. I told him I have a relative who's handy - a shipbuilder - but he declined. They are really nice people but some of the bubble gum and chicken wire renos are frustrating.
Just venting since we're on the topic of DYI renos.
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BetteTheRed
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If you want to get scared about public renos, go to Montreal. Their bridges are held together, visibly, with chicken wire. I kid you not.
chansen
Still waiting...
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Chicken wire is common skin reinforcement for thin cementitious repairs. It's not holding up the bridge. It's keeping the concrete cover over the rebar that is holding up the bridge.
Without that chicken wire, concrete could spall off and hit cars below.
Though yes, it is a half-assed repair. Better to chip below the reinforcing steel so the new concrete goes around the bar and grips it. But that's like, hard.
Without that chicken wire, concrete could spall off and hit cars below.
Though yes, it is a half-assed repair. Better to chip below the reinforcing steel so the new concrete goes around the bar and grips it. But that's like, hard.
BetteTheRed
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Perhaps. It makes me nervous. Ever driven through Montreal? Lot of bridges, LOT of chicken wire...
There is actually no chicken wire, or bubblegum, used in my place. I was being sarcastic. There are a few less than perfect details though. It 'looks' perfect - home magazine perfect - until you use a few things.
Foul bridging to cross? Difficult to use critical thoughts on a professional oligarch that believes they know all about everything ... a fair stretch? Obscure minds are like darkness of the sol ... that Yo seph guise!
Master of dreams and floating psyches !
BetteTheRed
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If you had a choice, would you trade off the "looks" perfect for better functionality? I think I'd rather have something that worked perfectly, than something that looked perfect, worked less than perfectly.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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Ideally, you want a balance of looks and functionality. That applies to both household fixtures and furniture (a couch that looks gorgeous but is hell to sit on for more than 5 minutes is kind of pointless). But if I am going to err to one side or the other, I'll err towards functionality. Having something that works is more important than having it look like Martha Stewart designed it. We could have redone the whole kitchen last year when we replaced the door and floor, but there was nothing wrong with the rest of it and it works for our lifestyle so why bother? We just fixed what was broken and left the good stuff alone.
Carolla
wondering & wandering
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You too could have drywallers if you weren't so stubborn
I think it's an "engineer thing" to do everything oneself ... at least it surely is a theme for every engineer I know (and a few other folks too!) - and their long-suffering wives!
No. It could be both. Doesn't need to be either or. All they would've needed to do is measure things better. I.e professionally measure the angles and spaces for the shower vs. water and make the faucet hang just a tad further over the sink, paint a coat - double coat - of weatherproof varnish on the wood - and they would've increased functionality ten fold.
I don't think they're stupid. They're elegant. They just have to be installed properly.
I like style. It feels good to be in a beautiful space. Good for the psyche. I don't like drab or ugly spaces and for the rent price...I am very lucky to be here. But nice style can be done functionally and not necessarily expensively.
ChemGal
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Even when installed properly though, they lose some function. The need to lift something up and over from the counter to pour in the sink. Or can't just brush the mess from a broken makeup pallet from the counter to the sink.