[email protected] writes:
>I think my response to him would have been you did a fantastic job on the
>36
>inch cabinet, but as I ordered a 34 inch cabinet I need to know when it
>will
>be ready?
>
>If he tried to argue that 36 inches was a standard, then I would have said
>but 34 inches is the standard I specified.
Trust me, he knew I was furious about it. (And he *didn't* do a fantastic
job past it being the wrong size.)
>
>
>If he didn't buy more wood at his own expense and re-do the cabinet
>promptly
>I would perhaps ask him if he had a preference of another cabinet maker
>that
>would deliver the requested product as he will be the one asked to pay the
>bill.
I don't think he was capable of doing it right, quite frankly. He put the
doors on cross-grain. What kind of idiot does that?! (and the prettiest
grain on the inside when I had specified which was to be the outside *and*
marked the edge of the wood with a pencil so stating "outside")
>
>
>What was the final outcome of the dispute?
Unfortunately, he was my boss' brother-in-law so that went nowhere. They
merged companies shortly thereafter and I was without a job. Neither was
a great loss. Working for a remodeler was a good fit for me, but not that
remodeler! (My boss of 20+ years would have made him do it right, family
or not, difference in people.)
As I said, if he'd done it right, I'd never have learned all that I
learned. As you know, there is no greater satisfaction than doing such a
project as remodeling a kitchen and being totally satisfied with it. A lot
of my male acquaintances were laughing about "a woman" doing such a thing.
Those who saw the finished project told the others they were fools for
laughing at me. Life does have its own rewards sometimes.
Prior to that project, all I'd made was a few bookshelves, a sewing
supplies cabinet, and one overhead cabinet, so this was a major deal.
Eventually, I'll remodel my current kitchen, but it is very workable now.
It's still the mid-forties kitchen originally built, but lots of counter
space (compared to the other one) and all in one room! The other one was
not, sink was in a separate room, no lie, like a pantry and just as small,
hence the 34-1/4" opening for the sink base. Living 13 years with that
kitchen made knocking out that wall a pleasure beyond description. :-)
It had a turn-of-the-century (19th to 20th) sink, the old -time sink, low
rim, high back, with two holes for water faucets (and outdoor type
faucets). The kind that they sell in antique stores now. LOL Some people
might want to pay big bucks for them, but that one was so cheerfully sent
to the dump. Of course now, it might be nice to put in the garden for
washing veggies before bringing them in, lots of spill factor with those
low sides.<g> Maybe it could have become some yuppie garden art. (See, I
may not be a yuppie housewife, but I can joke about it, though I'd never,
ever bring that sink back. Taking care of a family of five and all the
dishes generated to be washed there was not fun. I tried to be grateful
at least I had running water and a drain, but 13 years was 15 years too
long. And that was a house we bought that we planned to live in only two
years at the most, yeah, about 21 years understated. But there's something
to be said about actually owning, as in no mortgage, your own home.)
Right now, my biggest problem is having too much to do and too many
interests to pursue. And I have a male friend who wants me to meet his
neighbor who is widowed three years and "a nice guy." I asked, "Does he
do yard work and home repairs?" Like I have time for a guy in my life
right now. It's actually great to be at this point now since the first
few years after my son's death, not only did I not look to the future, I
didn't even want there to be one. It's a world that has come almost back
to normal. It's not so very long ago that I would have bet the saws would
never have been used again and almost gave the power tools to my middle
son. The only reason he didn't get them was he lived in a duplex and no
place to use them. He now has a house and workshop area, but no time to
do it and a mom who is selfishly keeping her tools. They do, however,
love the bookshelves I made them for Christmas and are looking forward to
more. He has even asked for a wardrobe for the girls to supplement their
bedroom furniture (and 6-foot long closets!). Joat posted a web page that
has what looks like exactly what he has in mind. He'll thank Joat for not
having to draw the plans himself.
Glenna