Project Creep

ustmd · Sep 20, 2019

So we have a washroom in the barn.

There is a washer & dryer, laundry sink, toilet and hot water heater.

The facet on the laundry sink has developed a serious leak.

So last night, I go to Home Depot to get some washer to repair the faucet.

While there, I start thinking (always a problem):

"The faucet is almost 20 years old and we have hard water. It is going to be a major PIA to take it apart. It well just be easier to replace it--it will be $30 well spent. Hmm, the laundry sink is also fairly gross as well...I am going to pull to get at the faucet, so why not replace the sink as well. But you know, the toilet is right next to the sink and it will much easier to replace the toilet if the sink is out. The toilet is showing its ago and the lid to the tank did break last year..."

So, I know have a new faucet, sink and toilet to install (I left Home Depot before I started thinking hold old the water heater is).

My replacement washer is cost me $276.

oosik · Sep 20, 2019

Good you quit thinking. You got off cheap.

MossRoad · Sep 20, 2019

Sounds like our trip to Menard's last night to "look at new bathroom fixtures" as stated in pre-trip discussions. Somehow came home with $80 worth of stuff but no bathroom fixtures!

JamesHW · Sep 20, 2019

I had a leaky 1930’s bathroom sink in the seasonal house that required new valve stems and nothing at any local hardware stores worked. Finally had to drive to the next city for a plumbing supply store that carried it. Then the little insets (some sort of fiber material I think) in the faucet handles stripped out and nothing from the hardware stores could fit. Fortunately found replacements online. This coincided with a marathon project sorting out a hodge-podge pex & copper repairs with manifolds and a logical layout in addition to dealing with some powder post battle issues in the 150 year old floors. But the repaired little bathroom sink ended up the most important punch list item as far as my dearest was concerned of course. I just assume everything dealing with the old houses will present a cascade of related stuff that needs attending to.

CobyRupert · Sep 20, 2019

If your clothes get so dirty in the barn that you need to wash them there, you probably do too. Might as well install a shower stall so you can jump into it and clean up as long as you're standing around naked waiting for the clothes.

bunyip · Sep 20, 2019

Glad I don't live in the USA, that would never happen here

Fuddy1952 · Sep 20, 2019

Years ago Dad (rip) worked in the Sears plumbing department, so the barn at home has three truckloads of assorted plumbing from 40s-70s.
In the 90s he had their kitchen remodeled and the contractor needed one piece for the sink trap. Dad says he knew he had it, so off to the barn they went. Finally the contractor found "enough junk" to make it work.
Contractor calls me that night, asking my advice. He said Lowe's had the complete drain kit for 10 bucks...instead He said he and Dad spent four hours in the barn looking everywhere for what they needed. Contractor said "I charge $50/hour...so instead of $10, do I charge your Dad $200?
He chalked it up to experience and stuck to his remodel estimate.

Tractor Seabee · Sep 21, 2019

You should see how my Master bath remodel estimated to cost $20K crept into a $30K project. WE really love it though and glad we did the upgrades along with some hidden structural repairs by dry-rot from the previous shower leaks.

Ron

4570Man · Sep 21, 2019

Isn’t a shower leak wet rot?

fried1765 · Sep 21, 2019

ustmd said:
So we have a washroom in the barn.

There is a washer & dryer, laundry sink, toilet and hot water heater.

The facet on the laundry sink has developed a serious leak.

So last night, I go to Home Depot to get some washer to repair the faucet.

While there, I start thinking (always a problem):

"The faucet is almost 20 years old and we have hard water. It is going to be a major PIA to take it apart. It well just be easier to replace it--it will be $30 well spent. Hmm, the laundry sink is also fairly gross as well...I am going to pull to get at the faucet, so why not replace the sink as well. But you know, the toilet is right next to the sink and it will much easier to replace the toilet if the sink is out. The toilet is showing its ago and the lid to the tank did break last year..."

So, I know have a new faucet, sink and toilet to install (I left Home Depot before I started thinking hold old the water heater is).

My replacement washer is cost me $276.