No, no, I did not fall off the plank and down a flight of stairs while painting the upstairs hallway ceiling. That sound you just heard must have been my entire body finally hitting a wall of exhaustion, face first.
This isn’t a surprise. Every Saturday and Sunday that I’ve been up before 6 AM climbing around on the roof, or painting the outside of the house, or some other such house-related nonsense that any sane person who got 4 hours of sleep wouldn’t be doing at that hour, I knew that I was working on borrowed time. That the big old wave of adrenaline I was riding on would crest, break, and eventually I’d be staring at the blinking cursor on my computer screen, unable to come up with the right words to explain what the hell is going on in this picture…
Actually, wait. Nevermind. There really are no words.
Suffice it to say, I’m still working on stuff around the house, I’m just not doing it efficiently, or particularly effectively. And I’m suffering from a little bit of writers suck. It’s not quite writers block, cause I can still get the words out, it’s just, uh, well… suck. So I’m not going to subject you guys to 700 unentertaining words on why I painted the least important room in the house this weekend (downstairs hallway) and why I don’t have pictures of it to share (couldn’t get my act together enough to take pics before dark.)
If you want to see pictures of something, however, some of my shots from last weeks Photo Treasure Hunt are on DIYlife.
And listen, I’m not complaining about the lack of energy or general disorganization around my life right now because I had a really good run of progress. I just think it’s important to tell you guys the authentic story– that, yes, sometimes I get an amazing amount of stuff done, and sometimes I’m a complete wreck.
The good news is, I’m getting a garage door installed on the future workshop tomorrow, which means I can finally move some of the big tools out there without the fear of some 65-pound raccoon running off with them (this is the country, you don’t eff around with the wildlife). Getting some of the tools and sawdust out of the house is going to help with some of my organization issues right now, I’m sure.
Also, I’ve come to the realization that painting– specifically painting trim– is just not an energizing activity for me. I like building things. I do not like painting the same piece of wood five times. So I’ve also put a call into a couple of local painters to give me quotes on 1.) finishing up the trim work downstairs, and 2.) painting cabinets and wood paneling in the kitchen.
For reference, here’s what that entails:
I already got one quote on the kitchen, and, I’ll tell you what… you deserve something for making it this far through through a post full of nothing but rambling nonsense, so let’s play a little DIY version of the Price is Right. I’m going to give away a $50 Lowe’s gift card to the person that guesses closest to the dollar amount to the first quote I got on painting the kitchen (all the wood walls, trim, and cabinets) without going over.
Yup. I just decided that right now. Lowe’s isn’t sponsoring this post, I just feel like contributing to somebody elses tool fund this week. One comment per person please, and I’m probably going to pick the winner Wednesday night if I’m not in bed before the sun goes down, so get your guess in before then. (Also, friends and family who I’ve already told about the quote, you can’t play this game, but since I love you all I’ll buy you a beer next time we’re out.)
Okay, awkward picture of me carrying a cabinet around in my pajamas? Check. Lack-of-progress update? Check. Spur-of-the-moment giveaway? Check.
I think that’s about all I’ve got in me today guys. Happy guessing, I’m going to take a 10 hour nap.
169 Responses
$3420 i think!
probably 4,780 sounds about right to me.
3499.00 final answer………..
Out here in my area, i’d say they’d want at least $4k for the cabinets and priming and painting all that wood is a ton of work, so probably another $2k, so my final answer is $5,800… trying not to go over. 😉
$2,200.00
Oh, I’d say that you’d need at least a primer and three coats to cover all that orangey goodness in there (lol), so let’s go with 4,568.76. Totally arbitrary number, but, considering the estimate my parents just got for their house, not totally out of the realm of possibility.
This is a job that I wouldn’t want to tackle (I also hate painting the same spot multiple times). My guess is that most people feel this way, so the price automatically goes up… $6650. I hope I’m wrong for the sake of any budget you are working with.
$5,300.00
$1,550, but only because that’s what I would charge. Which says a lot about the state of my finances. :-p
Me, I’d shellac the lot, but that’s my obsession.
$5999
wow – clearly I am not the kind of person who would pay someone to paint if the cost would be near 4K – but I’ll give it a shot, too: 1850.00 Which seems like a lot to me, but then again, painting doesn’t bother me too much!
I swear you are telling my story. Fortunately for my sanity, after a 3 year hiatus, we have 2 rooms of trim and baseboard to finish and I can finally clean my house and move some furniture in. Good luck to you.
My guess for your painting is 4899.00.
I’m going to go with $1200 for the paint.
I think you deserve the break that exhaustion coma will put you in the very near future. Relax!
$3600.
$1,999.99 🙂
Wow, I have no idea and the guesses seem so high, which is why I always wonder how DIYers are able to accomplish so much since I haven’t the money to even fix things, let alone pay someone to do it…which is what happens since I am not handy. How was THAT whine?
But I will guess since I could use the $50 gift card and guessing is free. Hmmm, let’s go for 2,499.00
Knowing you and your energy level (could you give me a transfusion?) I know you will rally again. Hey, you’re only human, relax and kick back.
$2500.00 would be my guess. I just finished painting my kitchen cabinets a month ago. It was actually fun, and I LOVE the results.
$1895.01 😉
$3549
Probably
8 days x 16 man hours x $25 + 5 gal*$35 +3Gal*$45
Wow – these guesses are high. I’m going with $1480.00
I imagine their quote was outrageous but I will pull the Price is Right move of $1 and hope everyone else went over!
A couple of years ago I had painters deal with my 1950’s knotty pine wood paneled basement complete with in-law kitchen cabinets. It cost me about $3,500 in Boston (3 man crew – took them 5 days to get it done). I assume there should be some sort of “country” discount for you so I will guess $2,850?
FYI – best feeling ever once I got over taking that chunk of cash out of savings to just walk into my newly bright and fresh basement and enjoy the space. Good luck with your kitchen!
It’s inside, doesn’t require many death-defying ladder manuevers… I’d have to say about $2550.
$3800
Your post doesn’t say what tools they plan to use but I will say:
$5246.00
and probably worth it in the long run. Can’t wait to see the pictures if you go this direction, of the zip walls up and the spraying being done. The prep alone would have me writing a check! LOL
I have no clue what labor costs where you live, but I will guess $2100
Some days are just not productive, no matter how hard you try, nothing comes together. Rest up and hit it again in a few days!
My guess $3,223.00
$1536.84
I have had quotes for paint before and they are always higher than anticipated, so I’m going to go with $3650.
I also understand where you are coming from on the painting front. I love the building aspect, but as soon as you ask me to paint, I lose all motivation.
$1199 –
Just a total guess, but how about $3,125.00. I’m glad you are taking a break and regrouping. You are an inspiration. 🙂
I guess $3840.
By the way, love love love your blog. Keep up the amazing work.
I’ll go with $4250. I am with you on hiring someone for this part–we painted the cabinets in our last house (twice!) and it sucked. I can’t imagine having all the paneling too!
wild guess based on what our local over priced painter charges, so I’d say $3025.50
$7500
i was kind of shocked at the guesses, but that IS quite the amount of wood to paint over…
$3,550
Painting is ridiculously expensive, which is why I so all the painting in my 1860’s house. I’m going to guess $3750, but I bet I’m low.
Are they going to sand and spray it? Rolling all of that would be complete torture.
I wouldn’t pay more than $2,250 and I live in the rural midwest.
$3206.
I’m guessing the contractor was on the very high side… $3300
$7,200
I’m going with $3,300.
$2400
I’m guessing right at 2640.00 (we’ll throw the 40 in there just in case someone else is around that figure. 🙂 )
Well, we just had some painting done in our house and both quotes included more than my mortgage payment for half of an 8’x5′ bathroom which seemed completely overpriced to me, so I’m going to guess…$7650…at least.
$3599
With the paint included, I’d estimate $3690 + tax. Hope the estimates are within the ballpark you feel comfortable with paying. We finally bit the bullet last year after I spent days and days, painting our front entrance hallway and had the rest of the house done by a professional company. It turned out beautifully!
$4,999.28
$8875.95
Wow, the guesses are all over the board. I have no idea since I’ve never hired someone to paint, but I’ll say $4600.
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