I’d also been wondering about your rooftop, so happy to read this non-formulaic update. Four months ago I purchased a tiny house in Portugal to renovate, and have spent four months listening to warnings and tales of woe from many countries. Work began one month ago, and it’s moving right along. No complaints.
I’m glad you posted an update! I’ve been wondering how this was going. I find this project fascinating. I’m no climber but I do appreciate people that dream of creating communities, make plans and put down roots. Keep on keeping on
I think you purchased shortly after I did (in Sicily). Three and 1/2 years later, with renovations nothing compared to yours, I've declared a moratorium. I'm exhausted. I HAVE to be present any time a worker is here. When I haven't been, there have been disastrous consequences. And even when I HAVE been here, things go wrong.
A few days ago when the new plumber discovered that the masons had installed the pipes incorrectly for the shower, he called me to come look and seemed to indicate this was my problem. "But you were here and okay'd what they were doing," I said. "I know nothing about plumbing. It was up to you to make sure this was done correctly, right?" Then he brushed me off and proceeded to chip away at the newly placed stone tiles. When the contractor (who manages the masons) came back the next day, he and the plumber had words. But they were civilized enough to take it outside and end up still friends. Still, it cost me a few extra tiles and grout that doesn't match the original.
Things are not finished and the kitchen has never been touched. But it has moved past camping and right now that's good enough for me. By the time I leave in mid-May, I will have a living room and a bathroom downstairs to go along with my bedroom and bathroom upstairs and even a newly furbished guest suite. We will have to wait to paint the living room and adjoining bath. New breathable plaster that was put up 4 weeks ago is still not dry (and thank goodness they used the breathable plaster! but they forgot to do a specific anti-salt treatment that helps against salt crystals forming on the walls due to moisture. So naturally, I have salt crystals on my new walls.) Okay. Va bene. At the moment, I don't care. I just want more than anything to relax when I'm here. To entertain family and friends. To NOT be up at 6:30 every day to monitor workers that arrive at 7 and stay until 5.
I speak a lot of "languages", even if my Italian is still poor. But one language that is about as difficult as Sicilian for me is "contractor." It wouldn't matter if my Italian was great - I still would not know what the workers are talking about half of the time. Some of the stuff I feel like I could do, but there are no places that rent equipment, so...
I'm not walking away. I'm making a spritz and sitting in the yard with a book while the sun sets. Someday, come visit. :)
Wow, sounds rough Jan! I am 100% coming to Sicily at some point, I'll be sure to let you know. I suppose the one thing I've got going for me is I kind of DO speak contractor. At least I've done enough plumbing, carpentry and electric to understand the landmines that are around. For me it's mainly cultural / language that's the issue. But language is going ok now adays. So mainly cultural still! As we say here: animo!
It's probably fatigue more than it is rough. This trip, I got slammed from the moment I hit the ground, so I had no time to adjust. Next week I'll have my first visitor actually staying in the house. Which means that truly, we've come a long way! Ultimately what's important is that I love my life and I still truly love this house and this island.
I’d also been wondering about your rooftop, so happy to read this non-formulaic update. Four months ago I purchased a tiny house in Portugal to renovate, and have spent four months listening to warnings and tales of woe from many countries. Work began one month ago, and it’s moving right along. No complaints.
I’m glad you posted an update! I’ve been wondering how this was going. I find this project fascinating. I’m no climber but I do appreciate people that dream of creating communities, make plans and put down roots. Keep on keeping on
I think you purchased shortly after I did (in Sicily). Three and 1/2 years later, with renovations nothing compared to yours, I've declared a moratorium. I'm exhausted. I HAVE to be present any time a worker is here. When I haven't been, there have been disastrous consequences. And even when I HAVE been here, things go wrong.
A few days ago when the new plumber discovered that the masons had installed the pipes incorrectly for the shower, he called me to come look and seemed to indicate this was my problem. "But you were here and okay'd what they were doing," I said. "I know nothing about plumbing. It was up to you to make sure this was done correctly, right?" Then he brushed me off and proceeded to chip away at the newly placed stone tiles. When the contractor (who manages the masons) came back the next day, he and the plumber had words. But they were civilized enough to take it outside and end up still friends. Still, it cost me a few extra tiles and grout that doesn't match the original.
Things are not finished and the kitchen has never been touched. But it has moved past camping and right now that's good enough for me. By the time I leave in mid-May, I will have a living room and a bathroom downstairs to go along with my bedroom and bathroom upstairs and even a newly furbished guest suite. We will have to wait to paint the living room and adjoining bath. New breathable plaster that was put up 4 weeks ago is still not dry (and thank goodness they used the breathable plaster! but they forgot to do a specific anti-salt treatment that helps against salt crystals forming on the walls due to moisture. So naturally, I have salt crystals on my new walls.) Okay. Va bene. At the moment, I don't care. I just want more than anything to relax when I'm here. To entertain family and friends. To NOT be up at 6:30 every day to monitor workers that arrive at 7 and stay until 5.
I speak a lot of "languages", even if my Italian is still poor. But one language that is about as difficult as Sicilian for me is "contractor." It wouldn't matter if my Italian was great - I still would not know what the workers are talking about half of the time. Some of the stuff I feel like I could do, but there are no places that rent equipment, so...
I'm not walking away. I'm making a spritz and sitting in the yard with a book while the sun sets. Someday, come visit. :)
Wow, sounds rough Jan! I am 100% coming to Sicily at some point, I'll be sure to let you know. I suppose the one thing I've got going for me is I kind of DO speak contractor. At least I've done enough plumbing, carpentry and electric to understand the landmines that are around. For me it's mainly cultural / language that's the issue. But language is going ok now adays. So mainly cultural still! As we say here: animo!
It's probably fatigue more than it is rough. This trip, I got slammed from the moment I hit the ground, so I had no time to adjust. Next week I'll have my first visitor actually staying in the house. Which means that truly, we've come a long way! Ultimately what's important is that I love my life and I still truly love this house and this island.
Salute!