#5things Demolition Edition Jan. 17:
John and I tore out our kitchen in Elmhurst, Illinois, more than 18 years ago. Down to the studs.
John was doing the remodel himself — cabinets, electrical wiring, just about everything but the countertops. We did the demolition when we had access to a dumpster. Unfortunately, that was before he’d started building the cabinets.
We were without a kitchen for 28 weeks. Refrigerator and microwave on the back porch, sink in the bathroom. You get the picture. Lots of Lean Cuisines, and dinner down the street at Fitz’s pub at least twice a week.
We were young then. We didn’t know any better.
This time we knew what we were getting into with a complete kitchen remodel, and we STILL did it.
On Friday, the sink and dishwasher joined the oven and cooktop in the pile out back. That evening, while I edited stories for the weekend editions, John pulled up the particle board subfloor, piece by crumbling piece.
It was nasty stuff, fastened to wooden planks with four times the necessary nails. Using a screwdriver to pry out pieces underneath the drywall, John hit the water line.
#@$%!
He made a mad dash to the water shut-off by the road, then headed to Lowe’s. I went to the wine store.
John is blessedly competent at most home repairs, including plumbing. Imagine what a plumber would’ve cost on Friday night of a holiday weekend?
He repaired the line and got our water back on even before I’d finished work. Love that man.
Over the holiday weekend, in addition to driving to Savannah for more maple, John reworked the plumbing at the sink, finished installing the new plywood subfloor, moved the bottom cabinets into the kitchen and grilled salmon for dinner.
The granite supplier arrives Jan. 27 to measure the kitchen and create a template. They say the countertops should be installed two to four weeks after that. So fingers crossed, we’ll be without a kitchen for a lot less than 28 weeks!
In the meantime, among the things I’ve come to appreciate:
1. Hot water in the laundry room sink, which has become the kitchen sink. Because that sink is next to the water heater, I get hot water almost instantly. Water from the kitchen sink took a minute or more to heat.
2. Sharkbite fittings. John cut off the 1/2-inch copper supply line Friday night, and stuck a sharkbite fitting on it so we could have water again. I wouldn’t know a Sharkbite fitting from a wrench, but I am grateful for the piece of equipment and the one who knew what to do with it.
3. Time to walk. I took Sammy to the dog park twice this weekend to get him out of John’s way. And then Sammy and I went for a long walk on the Spanish Moss Trail. Since June, exercise has been a luxury I’ve rarely made time for. Looking forward to doing it daily starting in two weeks!
4. Nine hours of sleep (which I won’t get tonight).
5. Cool, sunny weather. I love snow. I really do. But the ice that blanketed much of NC this weekend made me appreciate winter in the Lowcountry.