Condo repairs update

So the sticks have disappeared from our windows and they were supposed to be back this week to finish the painting. And then we'd finally be done. Simple, right? Think again!

The builder has decided that they don't want to put the metal plating around everyone's windows. Too much work and too expensive to do all 180 units. Instead, they want to put fire resistant paint on wooden frames. But they have to test it ... and that will take four to six weeks.

We've told them to finish painting our trim (as it looks like crap!). They can come back and do whatever they have to do once they figure it out.

Keep in mind that we are heading into week six of what was supposed to be a three day job!

Sigh ....

Condo repairs update

So with our condo repairs that started on March 22, the windows are still left.

There was nothing done for a couple weeks. We still have a bunch of stuff in boxes that we'll put away once all the work is done. So we still aren't settled. But we love the new paint!

On Monday, they came in and measured our windows (we only have three) to fix the crappy job they had done on March 29. They put the metal plating in yesterday and were supposed to be back today to do the trim and touch up the paint. And then we'd be finally finished. No one showed up :(

So this is what our windows look like. The wooden sticks are holding the metal plating in (I'm assuming they have been glued on) and the sticks are acting as braces. From the outside, it looks like we are in jail. We're hoping to make bail soon ...

Condo repairs

Gord went to his baseball pool draft and I spent the day cleaning and putting stuff away. There is still stuff to do I'm pleased with the progress I made. Quite a difference from this time last week! Gord did a bunch of stuff when he got home so we are almost back to normal.

We love our new walls!!

Our living room - banana yellow!

The bathroom ... tangerine!

Our bedroom ... grass green!

The builders still have to fix the windows and then we'll be all done. Yay!!

Condo repairs - day eight

We couldn't come home until 7:30ish because the painters would be there 'til then so Gord and I met at Fionn McCool's for supper. Mark and Monica had given us a gift certificate for Christmas so we used it (thanks, Mark and Mon!).

When we got home, our place was still a disaster. But the painting was done and it looked fabulous! We picked up the kitties from Mark and Monica's and set to work to make it somewhat liveable for the night. At least our bed is clear so we can sleep here tonight.

The kitchen

Looking into the kitchen from the living room

Condo repairs - day seven

Knowing we couldn't go home until after 7:30pm because they were painting, Gord and I went to Gabby's on King Street W for supper.

Then we raced home so we could watch Survivor. We were expecting the same mess we've been living with for the last week or so. But it was much worse. Things were even more jammed in and EVERYTHING was covered in plastic. Duh! Of course!

The living room, kitchen, hallway and part of the back bedroom have been painted. We love the banana yellow in the living room and hallway. And we love the tangerine in the bathroom. Both are very bright and loud but we are very happy with them. Quite a change from "builder white"! They will be back tomorrow to finish up.

All the boxes that were in the hallway because there was no room for them anywhere else were on our bed along with shelving and everything in the bedroom. Plus all covered with plastic. Monica and Mark said they could keep the kitties over night. There's no way we could stay at our place and Mon and Mark offered up their spare room to us. We have the best neighbours!!

We have imposed enough on Mon and Mark (they have taken in our kitties every day ~ we didn't think it was going to take this long) so we got a room at the Travelodge on King Street W. It's just outside the downtown core so was only $109 for the night (free parking and free continental brekkie). So we packed quickly and off we went. Then I realized I'd brought everything but a comb and make-up. There will be a quick stop at the drugstore on my way to work tomorrow! And because I couldn't get into my closet, I'm wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Eeeew! I was able to get a change of underwear, though. Yay!!

Tomorrow is Gord's birthday and he's taking the day off (he never works his birthday). He'll be able to chill and relax on his day without the stress of having to be up and out before 8:00am because of the painters.

Condo repairs - day six

They came in today to put up the trim, baseboards, etc.

They nailed a metal plate around the inside of the windows and then did some caulking. It looks like crap. Not acceptable!!

Isn't this a lovely caulking job? NOT!!

So our Super said the builder will have to figure out what to do instead and then come back and do it. Hopefully in the next couple of days ... which will bump the painting into next week or the next.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the painters are still coming in tomorrow and Friday. That gives the builder time to figure out what they are going to do. Then they can fix it ... and then the painters can come back in again to touch up. There's no way we can keep living with all our stuff in the middle of our place. We're not the neatest people but it's never THIS bad!

Our living room ... they expect us to keep living like this??

From our kitchen

Condo repairs - day five

We came home tonight to find that the primer has been applied to the effected walls. Yay! There is still no trim.

Gord and I both had shitty days at work today. So we met after work and consoled ourselves with a burrito at Burrito Boyz. Very yummy! We needed nourishment for the night ahead.

We had to pack EVERYTHING as the painters are coming in tomorrow. I've got a ton of books in my bookcase so it wasn't a fun chore. We ran out of boxes so I put my back issues of fitness magazines in groceries bags and put them in the trunk of our car out of the way (I didn't want them mistaken for garbage). Gord took everything out of our "shrine" and the shelving units in the living room.

So the mess in our place has gotten worse. Keep in mind that it isn't all that big and right now everything is piled in the middle of it.

Everything we own is in the middle of the rooms ...

This is driving us NUTS!!

The deal is that just the effected walls are getting repainted. But since our place hasn't been painted since the summer of 2002 and needs a painting (and we hate painting!!), we are going to have the painters paint our entire place and pay the difference. May as well since they are there anyway.

Condo repairs - day four

They didn't show up ...

... so our Super called the builder to see what was going on. They promise to be there tomorrow.

So we have been inconvenienced for seven days so far for the "three day job". Sigh ...

Condo repairs - day three

All the plastering and sanding has been done.

The dust factor is very low.

Yay!

The back bedroom

The back bedroom

Condo repairs - day two

All the drywall is up and the dust factor is fairly low. Yay!!

Our back bedroom (the computer is usually on this desk ...
um, when it's not on its side)

The desk on its side and their vacuum cleaner

The back bedroom ... the desk chair is buried on top of the futon

Condo repairs - day one

When our condos were built seven years ago, the builder screwed up and didn't make the inside of the exterior walls fire-proofed enough. This is a serious issue and the condo corporation has been fighting them about it since. Last year finally agreed to fix the issue. And this month they finally agreed to get the work started.

I'm the president of our condo board so I begrudgedly volunteered our place as the guinea pig. It had to be done eventually so we may as well get it out of the way. Last weekend we packed up everything to get it away from the outside walls ... shelving units moved, knicknacks packed, computer taken apart, etc. Everything is being stored as far from the outside walls as possible (so there's not much room to move around). We took our dog to Gord's son's place for a couple of weeks. Our kitties are at our neighbours, Monica and Mark, during the day (thanks again, Mon and Mark!!).

We have a small two bedroom unit (744 square feet) that runs north to south (our condos are in townhouses rather than a tall building). What they did today is start putting up two layers of drywall in the living room.

Stuff that was against the outside wall is now jammed against other walls

By the door - light switch and alarm

Up into the air conditioning vents

Our living room (Byron doesn't seem to notice!)

The trim in the back bedroom has been removed. Though they are covering the furniture, etc., there was a bit of dust (nothing too serious).

Tomorrow and/or Friday should be worse as they have to tape, plaster, sand, plaster and sand. They estimate it will take three days to do ... then they'll have to repaint ... and we'll have to clean clean clean!

Apparently the owner of the company (the builder) was by three times to see what was going on. From what I understand, they didn't realize the magnitude of the job. Right now, they maintain that the work will be completed in all 180 units in three to four months (using multiple crews). Very optimistic!

So Gord and I are feeling very displaced. Nothing is in its place. We keep telling ourselves that all will be well again this time next week.