Plumbers.

The electrics in progress.

Hello and Happy New Year!

I wrote a spiel a couple of weeks back, but I didn’t like it, so I scrapped it. Maybe I’ll just give you a quick update instead!

Our trusty electrician, Hugo, has been around and has run a load of tubes carrying wires across the ceiling downstairs. It’s starting to look pretty impressive down there.

Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the plumbing. Our original plumber never answered my calls or messages, so I had to ask a friend for another contact. The second guy answered on the second ring! That gave me hope, but he never showed on the day he said he would, and he also never picked up my calls again. 

So we are on to our third plumber now. This one comes recommended by our neighbour, Marcelo. Marcelo has kindly prepped the plumber for us. Laying it out exactly as it is. Explaining the work that needs to be done and asking him to just be straight with us about his availability. I met said plumber and I have a better feeling about this one. He was honest about his dishonesty, and that’s gotta count for something! He said, “I can be a bit of a liar myself,” and proceeded to let out a big laugh. But he gave us a date. I double-checked it with him before he left. I think I’ll give him a call a few days before we’re expecting him, just to be sure. 😉

Otherwise, Luke did a bit of demolition downstairs, drilled some vents into the external walls to help with the humidity, and we impermeabilized the rock under the big window in Luke’s office. It looked like rainwater was coming into the house through the rock. It has now been sealed with Hydroblock clear and caulked with TRex Flex. So we’ll see if these products do as they promise next time it rains! 

We’ve also refinished our front door. The carpenter advised us to refinish the wood with clear Bondex come December. I must say, it does look refreshed! Does anyone have a wooden front door? How often do you reseal it? We’re thinking we might have to do this once to twice a year?

And now we wait for the plumber! Our bathtub, shower basin, suspended toilet and vanity have all been ordered for the downstairs bathroom. Everything should be in the house in time for the plumber. And only after he comes to do his bit of work, can we proceed to closing up the dropped ceiling and putting up the partition walls. I am antsy to get this next bit done! If you have some spare patience lying around, please send it my way! I’ll cover shipping. Thank you.

We are so close and yet so far from having the walls up and rooms built. After that, it’ll be a lick of paint… and quite a bit of tiling… and the bulk of the downstairs will be finished! That’ll just leave the carpentry: the cabinetry in the utilities, indoor doors and windows, the metalwork: the glass wall and doors for my office, and the light fixtures, all of which will be done by the respective professionals! Doesn’t it seem like we’re so close??? Yet we cannot proceed with any of these jobs until the plumber has come to do his bit. Please, everyone, positive thoughts, “the plumber will show up. The plumber will show up.” 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas or other end-of-year holiday celebration, and I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

(The plumber will show up! 😉)

Speak to you soon!