We bought a house in august of 2011 in a good neighborhood in FL that needed remodeling. Mauve carpet, light blue tile and light oak with huge water damaged areas. Popcorn ceilings, tiny ugly bathrooms and weird walls that stuck out in the middle of everything. We even had to put on a new roof before we could buy it cause it was completely shot to satisfy the insurers. Why did we buy it? Location location location. It's a great lot with a pond and a few acres. Just beautiful. Best of all I can have chickens and whatever else I want for animals.


We chose a contractor based on recommendations from people we know. We have been remodeling for gosh, a long time. The contractor says that it's my fault because I want to choose the things that go into the house rather than just take whatever he wants to put in. My husband says that we will go with someone else to do the bathrooms because with this contractor we won't get to pick fixtures. I only get to make simple choices. For example, I got to choose silver or brass handles and hardware for the doors. Just the color, not the type or quality. He and I went toe to toe about a month ago. He said. "Do you know how many houses I've done?" To which I said, "Do you know how many remodels I've done? NONE! We are relying on you to guide us!" He said we never should have chosen him because he just takes out old kitchen cabinets and replaces them with new ones with the exact same layout. I said we told you what we wanted to remodel and you said you could do it. So we were wrong to hire him. I sure won't argue that.
Here's my most recent concern. What happens if we don't have a vapor barrier in our brick house? Here's what is happening. The old kitchen vent went through the side of the house. The new vent is going through the roof. So there is a hole covered with metal screening. The contractor said he is going to put up insulation this week. I asked if he was going to patch the six inch round hole first and if he was going to patch the vapor barrier. He said he was going to patch with wood on the inside and the outside. He also said that the crew got a good laugh from my vapor barrier question. He asked me what I was talking about. I said, "you know vapor barrier. The plastic sheet that they use special tape to put up that goes underneath the insulation." He laughed and said that there was no way to put up vapor barrier in our house and get a seal. He has opened up about 40 foot of wall and a part of the ceiling. Apparently we will not get a vapor barrier. Maybe it is not needed. What do you think?
We chose a contractor based on recommendations from people we know. We have been remodeling for gosh, a long time. The contractor says that it's my fault because I want to choose the things that go into the house rather than just take whatever he wants to put in. My husband says that we will go with someone else to do the bathrooms because with this contractor we won't get to pick fixtures. I only get to make simple choices. For example, I got to choose silver or brass handles and hardware for the doors. Just the color, not the type or quality. He and I went toe to toe about a month ago. He said. "Do you know how many houses I've done?" To which I said, "Do you know how many remodels I've done? NONE! We are relying on you to guide us!" He said we never should have chosen him because he just takes out old kitchen cabinets and replaces them with new ones with the exact same layout. I said we told you what we wanted to remodel and you said you could do it. So we were wrong to hire him. I sure won't argue that.
Here's my most recent concern. What happens if we don't have a vapor barrier in our brick house? Here's what is happening. The old kitchen vent went through the side of the house. The new vent is going through the roof. So there is a hole covered with metal screening. The contractor said he is going to put up insulation this week. I asked if he was going to patch the six inch round hole first and if he was going to patch the vapor barrier. He said he was going to patch with wood on the inside and the outside. He also said that the crew got a good laugh from my vapor barrier question. He asked me what I was talking about. I said, "you know vapor barrier. The plastic sheet that they use special tape to put up that goes underneath the insulation." He laughed and said that there was no way to put up vapor barrier in our house and get a seal. He has opened up about 40 foot of wall and a part of the ceiling. Apparently we will not get a vapor barrier. Maybe it is not needed. What do you think?

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