Will My Apartment Be Ready On Time??

Wallpaper being put up in my new living room.

So last week I had been meaning to write about the emotional ups and downs of a renovation project, because it’s definitely not linear… And then work and life got in the way. So I’m writing today instead, a week later, with a different view in the ‘retroviseur’ (rear-view mirror, don’t you love how you can just work out what some words mean in French if you actually stop and think about them?). 

Last week, I had a site visit with Hocine, my lovely contractor, two weeks before the end date. Hocine was very concerned, as the guys installing the new windows had damaged the beautiful wooden flooring that he had literally just put down. Now, when Hocine installs flooring, he walks around on tiptoes in his stocks to avoid any possibility of damaging the floor. So you can imagine his désarroi (distress and dismay) when the window men wore heavy protective shoes and trod on the screws which had fallen out when they took out the existing windows.

This being my own new home, and worried about Hocine’s stress, I said ‘... it’s just in the bedrooms, we won’t notice it when the furniture arrives…’. But for Hocine, it’s a point of principle, of respect for 1) the brand new flooring itself, 2) the client (ie. me) and 3) Hocine himself and his work and care. So he’s really quite upset about it. I am too, actually. It’s the most beautiful, honey-colored, warm, smooth wood I’ve seen in a long time. And for these (all things relative) cowboys to come along and stomp screws into it without taking adequate care, and for it to happen in all three bedrooms, is actually a problem for me too, I realize.

In these cases, the different trades generally work it out between themselves, in order to avoid getting their insurance companies involved. So once the new windows are in, and the finishing touches done, I’ll have an official completion meeting with the supplier and I will point out the damage. And he will pay Hocine to replace the damaged parts of the floor.

So all will be well. It’s just a shame that they didn’t protect the floor beforehand. Another point to add to my checklist for future renovation projects, to ensure that the same thing doesn’t happen to my clients. Some things apparently can’t just be a given, I’ve never had this problem before, but it could potentially happen again.

As Hocine was so stressed about the damage caused by the window guys, he was worried about not finishing in time for my move in, two weeks later. Added to this, he had received a quote for the wallpaper which was extremely high. And he was stressed about that too. Now, I’m stressed about moving. But I can’t comfortably move unless Hocine finishes. So I suggested that he just concentrate on what he has left to do, and I take over the wallpaper. And we’ll deal with the damaged parquet after I move in.

So what’s left to be done? We are casing the radiators in the bedrooms and the kitchen so that they look nicer and can be used to put things on. Hocine has to finish these, which is quite a fiddly job, as all the lines have to match up and be parallel, the corners at right angles. The same is true of the cupboard he is installing in the hall to hide the electrical panel.

In my bathroom, he has to install the basin unit, faucet, shower screen on the bath. Then he has to hang the wallpaper, do some final painting and install all the power outlets and light sockets. And when I receive my lights (which, yes, I’ve finally ordered!) he’ll install those too. This should all be doable in two weeks. There are three bank holidays in those two weeks though…

This is what I mean about the emotional roller-coaster of a renovation project. When you first buy a property, you’re on a complete high because you’ve finally got the keys. Then demolition happens, you generally get a few nasty surprises and you wonder what on earth you’ve done to the beautiful space you fell in love with. When you’re choosing paint colors, tile and other decorative finishes, you’re back up there, imagining with delight how amazing it’s going to look! Then you go through the wilderness of plumbing and electrics which take weeks and weeks and you think will never, ever be finished. 

Then, finally, the painting starts. And you’re back on high, as your vision starts coming together and you see how the colors affect the feel of the space. The flooring completes this and you’re just ready to move in right away! But there are always a few last minute hiccups and stress about the delivery date which bring you down again. Then you get the last speedy length of final fix before it’s all finished!

I generally avoid roller coasters, actually. Usually, when I’m managing renovation projects for my clients, I’m able to keep enough perspective to stay even. Not to feel the ups and downs too much. And to be the buffer for my client’s stress. No buffer for me this time! And double-whammy as it’s my own apartment I’m working on!

So I got a much more reasonable wallpaper quote directly from the stockist, ordered, collected and delivered the wallpaper to Hocine yesterday. He was back to his usual sunny self, even saying that this was one of the most agreeable renovation jobs that he has done (which is a lovely compliment to yours truly!). And that he thought he’d be 98% done by my move date. Phew!