I walked into the home, books filled every square inch from floor to 18" from
the ceiling, it was a hoarders home, two women lived there. There was
little to no room to walk less 2 1950's beat up chairs. The woman said :
"
My toilet does not work". Unwillingly, I went into the bathroom, there it
was, the toilet was literally falling thru the floor.
It was sitting at a good 40 degree angle, floor rotted out from under it.
Cat box full, I am having a hard time breathing. "
How much to fix it" she
says. Now, I don't want the job, but, I am not a wealthy man, I must
work, I have turned down few jobs in my days, but this was deplorable
conditions. The window had not been opened in years in the bathroom,
dust and dander abounds.
This was about 11 years ago or so. I figured I could do a good job on the
repair if I could just breath. I looked at the window and figured I could pay
a glazer 400 or so to fix it after I busted it out, I told them they had to
make at least and 18" wide path for me to come and go thru the front
door, the crawl hole was out back and directly adjacent to the toilet so I
didn't have to crawl but 3' under, my legs hung out. I figured I could bang
this out less linoleum floor, with a new WC installed and working in 6 hours
w/ a helper, who was at my side. The home is flithy. I am not enjoying this.
"
$2500.00 Mame, we will trash this WC, install a new angle stop, replace
the leaded in ring w/ a new properly poured hot lead-in cast iron ring and
give you a good Gerber toilet and fix the floor." I did not want this, I'll price
my way off this job! I figured it was too much money for them
and we would be leaving but NO! She said OK!
Ohhhh boy...here we go.
Contract signed I put on gloves, dust mask, walked into the bathroom that
is tiny, slammed my palms left and right sides of the lower double hung
window in attempt to open it before breakage, and IT OPENED! I took my
hammer and hit the toilet right next to it's two closet blots and broke the
toilet for fast removal, it was completely dry so they had been breathing
sewer gas for what appeared to be years. I cut out the old floor, put in
blocks and backing and split off the old closet ring, a new plywood floor
went down, glued and screwed. New ring set, toilet was delivered, set w/
new angle stop and seat. I collected my 2500 and went home and stripped
outside leaving my clothes outside and hit the shower.
The job took 4 hours, it was an Olympic effort in time and quality. ( I only
do jobs like it were my own home so every job is done right) I was on site
for a little over 4 hours, a trip to the close and local home center too. I
made a little over 2K for my efforts, they were VERY happy. When I was
leaving, I realized something...THAT was there only bathroom, it had not
been used for years, think about that...
THAT Job was pretty bad, THE WORST was I walked in, I saw filth and was
completely overwhelmed w/ a stench of human waste, I am only 10 ' inside
and I see the couch and it looked like they used it for a toilet, I started to
gag, I retreated quickly out the door telling them "We don't do that kind of
work" . My nose reeked of there life for hours, it was horrific, so bad I felt
they were a danger to themselves and the neighbors, I called the health
dept for advice. The health dept said; "Can you see it from outside? Is
there anything outside indicating a problem" I said no, they said they could
and would do nothing...
You simply can not believe how some people live.
PS, I cleaned a grease pit last week. I had a pumper come, I had hoses and
A pressure washer, flood, pump, spray clean and repeat, several times,
stand by charges from the pumper. the client was THRILLED I did such a
good job, then I went to work unclogging the plumbing because they had
not serviced the grease interceptor for so long. Made a few grand...VERY
happy customers. I would RATHER clean a grease pit then deal with 'some"
people in SO Calif!
But hands down, the VETS, the guys whom have served in the military, in
battle and or have spent time in places like the hanoi Hilton had the worst
of the worst jobs...
THANK YOU for your service Crankshaft21, and all other Veterans...
PS ...WELCOME Home...
