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Message started by philthymike on 09/21/19 at 16:59:52

Title: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by philthymike on 09/21/19 at 16:59:52

During the spring bad things happened inside the walls. Insurance was called. Men came and tore out most of the kitchen. At the time I had plans to buy a dual sport bike. Insurance offered up the generous sum of $800. The plumbing bill was $7000. The 1st plumber screwed up royally so we've had them come back like 5 times to fix the mistakes. We talked to a public adjuster. Now he avoids our calls and insurance says he never gave them his revised estimates. Insurance doesn't want to pay anything now.

So with much sweat and literally back breaking toil I set out to rebuild. I managed to hurt my back for real and have been seeing the doctors ever since. After x-rays and tests and visit after visit the prognosis was...... Wait for it......

I have a bad back!

The things my medical coverage doesn't feel like covering are trickling into the mailbox daily.

That dual sport - not happening. I could have bought 3 of them used or 1 and a half new for what the remaining kitchen work took out of my pockets. I have pains where I didn't know I could feel pain. And I absolutely loathe insurance companies and public adjusters. And really don't want to set foot in the kitchen ever again.

But here it is at long last. This 1st picture is after I cut out all the smashed through drywall and removed the drop ceiling. The whole corner is gone, walls, counter, sink etc.

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by philthymike on 09/21/19 at 17:04:22

Here's today. I put the range hood up along with diamond plate on the wall behind the oven. Alls left is trim and a backsplash.

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by philthymike on 09/21/19 at 17:06:06

So I chose kitchen this time.
Knowing what I know now I'll be choosing motorcycle next time around. :D

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/21/19 at 19:16:18

You know they make backpacking camping equipment, right?
You can carry your own kitchen.

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by philthymike on 09/21/19 at 20:04:51

I'm just going to stop eating. It's a vulgar habit that eventually kills you. No need for a kitchen then and plenty of money for dual sport bikes!

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by jcstokes on 09/21/19 at 23:59:35

Does the kitchen inclube the back door to the house?

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by Dave on 09/22/19 at 04:49:44

I hope you have changed insurance companies.

Have you spoken with an attorney about the issue?

I would think the insurance company would still owe you the $800 at a minimum.......and the crappy plumber should not have been paid for his "do overs".

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by philthymike on 09/22/19 at 07:37:39

6D565B4C5D514A4C575F524D3E0 wrote:

Of course we spoke to a lawyer. We were told that the insurance company has a year to reach their determination. After that we can take them to court. But if the condition of the property changes in that time it invalidates the claim. Essentially we'd have to live with the kitchen all torn up like the demo company left it for an entire year and as long as the court case takes which could have been 6 months to a year depending on if the insurance company files an appeal which is normal practice when they lose a case.

Living without a functional kitchen and with holes through the party wall into the next door neighbors house for potentially 2 years is not an option.

The lawyer didn't comment on the fly by night public adjuster because we never received a full copy of our agreement with them.

As for the plumber we are still fighting with them for an itemized bill. But they couldn't charge us for the repairs to the repairs because we already had the loan drawn up by then.

For fixing the walls and ceiling I called more than a dozen general contractors and got quotes from $800 to $2800 for installation of 128 square feet of drywall. That's an entire 4 sheets of wallboard.
In the end I managed to get a neighbor to help me with the ceiling and did the rest myself. I just couldn't believe what a ripoff these contractors are.

Anyway if you ever need a public adjuster do NOT call Zenith.

If you ever need a plumber do NOT call Len the Plumber.

There's my wisdom for the day.

And yes we're ditching the homeowners insurance for another company.

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by zipidachimp on 09/22/19 at 14:54:00

I'll quit whining about my keys!!!!
Cheers! 8-)

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by raydawg on 09/22/19 at 18:44:53

As a plumber most of my life, except my stint at Boeing, I must ask, what did the plumber do wrong?

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by stewmills on 09/23/19 at 07:52:42

So it's not just me? I have been at this kitchen project too...but not because of an insurance claim. Wifey wanted a new kitchen for 6+ years so we tore out two walls to open it up, and of late my project has been stripping tile floors, re-running electrical and plumbing, and this weekend I got drywall back up and have to put a 2nd coat on tonight to get ready for cabinet installers later this week...then I get to lay ~400+ sqft of hardwood floor.

After I get this project finished I am throwing away all of my carpentry tools. :-?

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by stewmills on 09/23/19 at 07:53:04

drywall up

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by raydawg on 09/23/19 at 13:33:59

No...I've been doing mine for years ;D

I just finally got done with the tile on the back-splash, which is pretty much the whole kitchen except behind the reefer.

I did floors, from vinyl to ceramic tile, cabinets, electrical, etc.....
Just have to paint now, then off to my bathroom next.

I will get it all done just in time to sell :-?

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by philthymike on 09/24/19 at 15:51:41

7B68706D687E6E090 wrote:

As a plumber most of my life, except my stint at Boeing, I must ask, what did the plumber do wrong?

If you must know. In addition to replacing the leaking pipe we chose to have all the old copper replaced so as to eliminate ticking timebombs all over the house.
Anyway the pipes for the bathroom upstairs above the kitchen were run below the drywall studs for the ceiling. Granted we didn't tell the guy we were ditching the kitchens drop ceiling but still it's a big zoning violation regardless and he should have known better.

The sewer stack was also changed to PVC instead of old cast iron. This is inspired by the aftermath of our next neighbors stack cracking and leaking into our basement last winter. The guy cut ours about 4' off the basement floor and ran PVC up from there. Except the PVC was the wrong size to mate up with the old pipe so he cemented the joint between the two. It took all of 2 days for the cement to crack and leak.

He removed the old ball valves for the boiler and replaced them with ....you guessed it. Gate valves.
He removed the old ball valves from the lines to the two outside spickets and replaced them with.....
Nothing! We had no shut offs for freeze prone outdoor plumbing!

Many electrical grounds were attached to our copper plumbing. All of which were just left hanging after the copper was gone. He didn't bother to even warn us or recommend calling an electrician.

He damaged the woodwork in the doorway to the kitchen with a tool hanging from his belt and pretended like I hadn't just watched him do it.

What a piece of work this guy was. So that's just the short list....

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by philthymike on 09/24/19 at 16:11:27

353223312B2F2A2A35460 wrote:

Crikey at least I didn't have to worry about hardwood flooring.
I'm taking all the tools I bought for this job to the veterans charities at my local Greendrop. I'd like it if a vet could use them to find work.
And this is the last time I tackle any big house project.

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by DieselBob on 09/24/19 at 17:03:03

-

I suppose the ultimate solution is not having to choose. But, I love my wife too much for that. Closest I came was getting kicked out of the college dorm for secretly rebuilding a wrecked DT360 in my dorm room.

http://https://sun9-34.userapi.com/nE6l39A1drhAB9mYmfUzICb4lh50gBVbI5oHxA/w9NTWbILs6A.jpg

Title: Re: Motorcycle or Kitchen?
Post by Gary RVA on 09/29/19 at 22:47:37

The most expensive phrase in home or bike repair... " While we are at it" $40000 later,,,,, still at it :'(