Appreciating the Time it Takes
The project may take a while, but the rewards along the way are encouraging. A certain level of patience is truly needed when renovating an old farmhouse. Imagine finding time in the midst of the mess to appreciate how things were built a hundred years ago. Don’t miss that. Learn how to appreciate the renovation during the process and how to allow yourself to watch deadlines come and go with ease.
When we pulled the wall apart in the back porch we found denim. No not the new denim insulation I see they are selling now, but real denim jeans. I am here to tell you that these people used the clothes off their back to build this home! Literally! The neat part was that all the buttons were removed from the pants and the shirt sleeve we found. I am sure this was on purpose. Why would you throw away a good button!
Taking a moment to appreciate this is worth it. Tt might even take buying a frame to put the pants into to remember the days of old. It is those little things that makes renovating old homes interesting!
Supply Chain Delays
To think that a farmhouse renovation will be complete in the time frame you have set for it, is a crazy thought. Allowing yourself ample time to finish the project is a must. These days, it has been hard to get the products we need for the kitchen remodel. The wait times on building materials, windows, appliances, and even lumber has been astronomical compared to 3 years ago.
Before beginning the project try to gather supplies needed. I know this can be hard for the creative spirit who wants to get right in there and begin the process. Or the one who wants to continually change things during the renovation. These creative people may find that they cannot be as creative as they want because the items they need are not available in the timeframe that they need them. Being creative myself, I have found ways around this. Salvage yards! These are great places to find items that cannot be found online. Yes they are old. Yes they are used. They are however, perfect for the creative who knows they may change their mind often.
When Will the Renovation Be Finished?
Don’t be afraid to drag the project on for longer than expected. This will work to your advantage, as terrible as it sounds. My husband always says it will be done by Christmas. Then he adds a year (“2022”) onto the end of that sentence. Usually the year is not the same one we are in! Since he is the main-man on the job, I let it fly. I know he doesn’t want to live in mess any longer than I do. This is part of being patient with the process. Being patient with the builder, with the lack of supplies, and with the finish date will pay great dividends in the end. It will allow you to act human when the deadlines come and go.
Having realistic timelines. It took us 9 years to finalize the kitchen plan. This is certainly not the case for most people, or anyone I know. Think about the planning process. It takes 2-8 weeks for a draftsman at a lumber yard or wherever to draw your plan, make revisions, and finalize things. Now that you have a plan, you receive the materials list. Materials can take from two weeks to six months to get. Beginning demo before materials have arrived is a bad idea and one we have done. Demo can take anywhere from a weekend to a few weeks depending on the amount of time and demo you have. Paying a builder to do this is much faster!
Lets say that again. Paying a builder to demo and build is much faster and much easier. Sure you will miss moments and it will not have your fingerprints all over it, but if its affordable, my husband would highly recommend paying a builder. We paid a mason, to pour footings but we dug the hole. We paid a builder to frame up the kitchen addition but we did the siding, the roofing, the insulation and finish work. We will paid a plumber to move/add pipes but we drilled the holes did the finish work. We paid a cabinet maker for doors, but we built the boxes. The list goes on. There is no shame in farming out some of the work to stay sain during the renovation. Allow yourself to do this if the pocketbook has padding for it.