The flooring company is returning tomorrow to replace the faulty product. This laundry room was completely finished! But today I had to uninstall the appliances, cabinets, baseboards, trim, and doors. This is so depressing.
Year: 2019
Basement flooring uninstalled
The flooring company ripped out the failed vinyl flooring today. However, there is no way to get rid of the adhesive underneath it. So they covered it with a thin layer of self-leveling concrete. I told them how self-leveling concrete has failed in the basement in the past. They checked, and rechecked with the product manufacturer and engineers to make sure this concrete won’t fail this time. Fingers crossed.
New vinyl flooring installed… again.
The flooring company returned to install the new vinyl flooring today. The new product uses a different adhesive and is a tongue and groove design. When installed, it looks identical to the last flooring that failed.
Flooring installers left sloppy edges
The flooring installers did a sloppy job around the floor drain and sump pump cover. Why don’t installers show any craftsmanship?
Installers were lazy. I finished the job for them.
The flooring installers did a sloppy job around the floor drain and sump pump cover. I finished the edges with caulk, and then sealed everything with tan concrete paint.
What to do about the closet system?
I’m annoyed about the drawers on the closet system I installed. Part of the problem is because the drawer rail screw heads are too proud and the drawer wheels snag on them. I showed this video to the retailer, but they offered no solutions. Their only suggestion was that I uninstall the system and return it.
After looking at different systems, I decide to try an repair this one I already have. I do this by removing the drawer rails, chamfering my own fastener holes, and then replacing the screws with flush top ones. My plan works and all of the drawers now work properly. But a new product should have worked out of the box, and never needed my customizations.
Painting and installing trim
Amáda has finished painting every room. I’m installing the trim I cut and marked earlier. Doing the job right means not skipping any steps. We’re carefully priming and painting each piece of trim with multiple coats.
Final hardware installed
I install the final hardware pieces around the finished basement, including door knobs, vent grilles, light trim kits, switch plate covers, and more. In the bathroom, I install a toilet paper holder and towel holders. I hang bi-fold doors in the laundry room and bedroom. I also install some last minute trim and touch up paint in a few areas.
Structured media panel finished
Today I completed the structured media enclosure. Over the last 6 years we’ve had to rebuild half of house, so we took the opportunity to upgrade our household telephone, cable, and CAT6 networks. Everything is patched from this panel.
6 years later, it’s finally DONE.
A flipper swindled us, resulting in over $100,000 in house repairs. We spent years undoing his predatory remodeling, rebuilding the house ourselves, and blogging every step of the way. Debt, depression, and therapy will continue for years to come. But today the reconstruction project passed its final inspection from the city building official. I can’t stop sobbing. It’s done. The ordeal is officially done.
Now, we can move back into the lower level, knowing that it is correct, complete, and there are no more hidden problems hidden by a flipper. This signed building permit is the proof that this awful ordeal is finally done and over with.
A story in 11 pictures
Here is the same view from the bottom of the stairs as seen over the years.
What’s next?
I’m going to continue working on local, state, and federal legislation to prevent predatory remodeling and providing real consequences for flippers who practice it.
Will we find more problems that the flipper hid? Maybe. But not on this level of the house.