What was/has been your most stressful part of renovating?

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Hi there houzzers,

I'm at that point in my reno where it seriously just seems too much. I can now understand why those couples on the block seem so crazy!!

Hoping for some likeminded assurance that this happens to everyone and I'm not alone! When did the stress levels hit the roof for you?

Posting my green colour scheme inspo for some calming vibes.....

Bathroom Envy: Go Green and Calm the Senses · More Info

Featured Answer

olldroo

11 years ago

I think Houzz helped save my sanity a lot, being able to research ideas months in advance and save photos to my ideasbook was so helpful. Also being able to show builders exactly what I wanted when getting quotes saved a lot of misunderstandings and actually impressed them that they were dealing with a very organised person - in other words, don't mess me around. Researching best places to buy things in advance and checking on availability of products and delivery time frames also meant when the time came to buy, I knew exactly where to go and how much time to allow. We also broke the house into areas according to the order work had to be done for minimal mess and for space to move and store furniture, clothing, etc. and gave ourselves breathers between areas. Even our bathroom guy was happy to do another job between our bathrooms to give each other a break, he fully understood how intrusive it can be having strangers underfoot in the house day in day out.

The only issue I have no solution for is brain overload just thinking of every little detail - I think I was more mentally exhausted at the end, but the pleasure of walking into my "new" rooms has helped calm that.

I think stress happens when you feel you are losing control, fluffykoala, focus on why this is happening and how you might be able to regain it - once you are fully in control the stress levels will drop. Take some "you" time out too - climb a tree, take deep breaths and watch the sunset :))

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Comments (28)

J
11 years ago
I feel your pain.
theamazingmisssharon
11 years ago
We are (thankfully) only days away from moving into our home, post renovation. I can honestly say that it nearly sent me insane, with the biggest crisis' coming from the smallest details! How is it that I can see the end game so clearly, and nearly drop my bundle completely over the door handles for the french doors on the verandah? Or save the decision on the splashbacks until the counter tops are in and then nearly have a complete meltdown because the builder needs to know NOW when I have to look at it a bit longer to decide?? Anyway, we got there in the end. I can't afford window coverings because of the various unanticipated issues that sucked the life out of my savings, my secret savings, AND my coin jar, and turf will have to wait, but it's done. Good luck with yours. You'll get there!
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georgi02
11 years ago
OK, there might be something wrong with me :) I really enjoyed the renovation process - I admit I snarled twice - with the Strata Management Company who was just purely incompetent (a trip to their office wearing an unhappy face and quietly snarling my unhappiness and the bylaws put that to rights) and the Shower installer who tried to get a longer delivery time (a phone call to the shower installer's boss outlining what I was told in the showroom and what was indicated on their website fixed that), but apart those two things and the dust I really enjoyed it. What probably helped me (I admit - I am a control freak) was having all the taps, tiles, lights etc picked and prices negotiated ahead of time (with the exception of the custom made items that we did with the builders' carpenter and had an agreed to price before contracts were signed) with no changes we pretty much came in on time and budget with sanity intact.

I found that getting out for an hour or two when dust and noise were getting to me helped, as was sleeping at my Mums place during the process (a hot shower, a hot meal and no dust of an evening is a sanity saver). I also found having a beer ready for the trades on site at the end of the day was appreciated by them, generated a lot of good will and we could recap anything that didn't go plan that day and the schedule for the next day keeping the process smooth.

I'd do it again and I'd do it the same way - all you need to keep saying is "it'll be beautiful when it's done" and keep thinking about the end result. Hang in there!
karenleonn
11 years ago
Well at the moment I am stripping wallpaper and could happily choke the inventor!!! Painful to apply and more painful to remove!
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My Beautiful Abode
11 years ago
I recognized that renovating is always stressful, so I've developed a gift voucher called 'renovators lifeline ' so I can step in and help out at the tail end of the project where everything is seemingly overwhelming.
oklouise
11 years ago
having just moved in to our newly renovated old house we are completely exhausted and just want all the decisions to STOP!! Best decision, initially based on runnning out of money has been to concentrate on getting the basics like roofing, windows, insulation and drainage finished and leaving out the kitchen, verandahs and landscaping until after we moved in and could concentrate on each at a more relaxed pace. Time to find something else to do!!
fluffykoala thanked oklouise
Kim Westwood
11 years ago
Getting someone motivated just to paint, Yes hubby. He likes to do it himself with no help from me but getting him started is the worse part. He hates to paint.
marisepalmer
11 years ago
I found that good tilers in perth wa are hard to find and for bathroom reno they ruined our bathroom with poorly laid crooked tiles. that's VERY stressful. but on the flip side stripkraft who removed my old kitchen and floor tiles did a professional job so happy with them.
Yvonne Newman
11 years ago
Unreliable tradies. They say they are going to be there and you plan everyone else around them and they dont turn up ... what is worse ... they dont even have the wherewithall to ring and let you know they are not coming. So unprofessional
antonia_d
11 years ago
We've just completed a 10month renovation. The worst part was when our certifier 'changed' his mind on the design of our privacy screens 3 weeks before we were due to move in. They had been built months prior. The certifier was required to approve our privacy screen prior to issuing the construction certificate. He issued the certificate so the design was approved. He then changed his mind after our neighbours complained that we could still see into their yard. The neighbours complained to council during the DA process however council dismissed their complaint. Anyway, we built beautiful timber vertical screens that are angled at various degrees. As they were not your standard horizontal and vertical slat our certifier could not see past this. Our architect made a feature of our screens and right now we have placed a piece of villa board over the screens just so our certifier is happy. We will now need to modify our screens and hopefully make it look as though it was the original design. Next time we will choose a certifier that appreciates design and is more contemporary. We will also be making a complaint to the building professionals board in relation to the certifier as he should not have issued the construction certificate if he was not satisfied with the design of the privacy screen. This was part of the conditions of consent for the DA.
Pazz
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Right now?... This!! :/

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/make-builder-change-drawers-worth-it-or-not-dsvw-vd~3407711
telperien
11 years ago
Pazz, the link doesn't seem to be working for me ?
Pazz
11 years ago
Sorry telperien, I couldn't work out how to insert the link with my mobile phone... try copy & paste in browser?
olldroo
11 years ago
telperien - copy and paste to the search box above.
olldroo
11 years ago
See if this works.

[https://www.houzz.com.au/discussions/diy-treehouses-and-childrens-safety-discuss-dsvw-vd~1131710?n=7[(https://www.houzz.com.au/discussions/diy-treehouses-and-childrens-safety-discuss-dsvw-vd~1131710?n=7)
olldroo
11 years ago
Pazz - what is the problem??
Pazz
11 years ago
Duh... can't work it out...

Can you see my recent post:

"Make builder change drawers? Worth it or not?"

under 'Design Dilemma' ?
telperien
11 years ago
Okay, found it, thanks everyone.
2dogssashatess
11 years ago
The most stressful part is seeing how expensive everything is
olldroo
11 years ago
Pazz, can you put a link? Needle in a haystack otherwise.
mrjudsonjames
11 years ago
In my past renovations, it's been unforeseen things numbering too high, too often, blowing out the budget and time frame! That was after me allowing for some things in advance too!

This time I'm concentrating on structural before moving in, then taking my time over a year or two to do a few things at a time, so there's less rush.

Eg Restumping, dangerous tree removal & roof repairs before moving in, then once in, kitchen, skylights, ducted climate control, landscaping, verandas & bathrooms all separately with a break in between, rather than all at once!

Means it's gentler on my psyche and my wallet, plus allows me to plan each thing through more thoroughly as I'm only concentrating just on that thing. Fortunately it's just renovating existing spaces and not an extension (that's in about 4-5 years!)

Good luck and remember to get out often for nights away!
Neryl Hollingsworth
11 years ago
Finding so many cockroaches i should have called the Australian museum.
Longer Time2004
9 years ago
Venting the exhaust fan for the first time in a roof cavity with limited space (downstairs unit). At one stage I just lay in the cavity and chilled for 20 minutes. End result was ok.
PRO
The Napier Renovation Co.
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Cutting a level entry shower base in to a concrete floor then getting the waste out.....that was fun!

Good job I love the end results!
Debra Kelly
9 years ago
choosing which white paint for interiors
Jackson Taylor
9 years ago
Hang in there!
Debra Kelly
9 years ago
ps . and waiting for council approval

What was/has been your most stressful part of renovating?

olldroo

Comments (28)

J

theamazingmisssharon

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