Unintended kitchen remodel

Itsdanf

After re-installing the main faucet, Insta-Hot faucet and supply lines, I put in the clamps and gooped everything up with sealant. I let them set for a while, then plopped the sink in the hole. Struggled to get a couple clamps inserted into the notches (tight space to work in), but got everything clamped up. The sink settled in quite well.

Then the rest of the story: I hooked up the water supplies. I mounted the tank for the Insta-Hot. I installed the disposal (which was easier than I expected; just follow the directions). Installed the 2nd basin's drain basket. Hooked up all the drain pipes (quite happy that all came together with minimal trimming). Took a while to get it all done, but...it's done!

Then the moment of truth: Ran water.

Not a drip. Life is good!

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Itsdanf

By the way, in the last photo of my last post, you may notice the existence of a back-splash. The countertop fabricator completed it today, so I took a break to pick it up.

It's just sitting there now. I'll glue it up a little later. (Not tomorrow; Sorry Ghostrider, the pattern is full). There are a couple gentle gaps along the bottom. The fabricator suggested using a piece of 2x between the top of the back-splash and the underside of the wall cabinets to push the back-splash down at the gaps, and to leave it there for a day or two to let the construction adhesive fully set.

Itsdanf

I probably could have rigged up a metal bucket with a garden hose, and she would have been thrilled, just to have a kitchen sink again!

No, seriously, she's definitely happy with it!

cocobolo

A hearty CONGRATULATIONS from the old guy up here!!!

Sheila4467

Beautiful! I like it!

So glad things are going better.

Itsdanf

Thanks all for the kind feedback!

My work in the kitchen is winding down. I installed the back-splash today. Just some construction adhesive on the bottom and back, and clamped in place with wood pieces -- some pressing into the wall, and some pressing down. The wood went where there were gaps in the wall or countertop.

I also did a little touch-up mudding of the wall above the back-splash, as my wife's decided to paint it, instead of tiling.

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Itsdanf

Also, I finally got the cabinet doors back on. Had one major problem: The sink cabinet doors didn't fit right, since I'd screwed up the face frame measurements previously!

Y'know that extra piece of wood I put on the left side of the faceframe, because the face frame was not wide enough (post 134)? If I'd been smart, I would have put it on the right side, not the left! When I positioned the original doors and fake drawer front on the new cabinet, I immediately saw that the doors didnt' center over the center of the face frame.

Of course, a wise man once said "it's only a mistake if you can't fix it." So I fixed it: I installed the right door over as much as I could, then installed the left door as close to the right as possible (forgetting about the 1" reveal that the rest of the cabinets in the room have between two facing doors), making sure the remaining gap had face frame behind it (just barely). To make this work, I had to trim the fake drawer front about 3/8" on each side, so it would remain aligned with the doors beneath.

The result? Visually fine, and unless someone snoops around by opening cabinet doors, highly unlikely to be noticed. My wife's fine with it, too ().

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cocobolo

You do realize that on my next trip to Texas...

Itsdanf

THE END.

This thread started when a water leak forced me to break apart the kitchen cabinets to repair the damage. It was an unintended opportunity to remodel our dated kitchen, so I thought I'd document the effort (with Cocobolo and Dorf Dude's threads as my main inspirations).

It's been an odd journey, with unintended major electrical work, table saw problems that delayed cabinet construction, and finally an earlier-than-expected exit from retirement, which forced me to cancel the "remodel" and simply repair as quick and dirty as possible in the little time I had left.

Now, my time is up, and I head to DC this week to start the new career. I'll be living in apartments around the world for the next 10 years or so, so my DIY days are basically at an end, until I retire again.

I have no trades training/background (didn't even learn any DIY stuff from my father). I'm just a self-taught DIY enthusiast! My main purpose in documenting this project was for fellow non-expert enthusiasts to learn from my successes and benefit from my errors -- and to humor any experts willing to follow my stumbling efforts. Hopefully the folks causing the almost-8,000 hits to this thread have got something useful out of it.

I've gotten more out of DIY Chatroom than you can ever imagine. In addition to the great feedback I've gotten on this thread, I've been invaluably helped (directly, and through research) on the other forums here -- particularly the Electrical forum, which rocks! This site's helped me save huge bucks, given me such increased knowledge, and provided me wonderful entertainment! Great people here.

But I've done all I can with the kitchen now. The rest of the work will be my wife's to accomplish. My DIY days are officially over (for now...)

Thanks to everyone for your help and support!!

My very best,
Dan

cocobolo

Dan...it is we who owe you a vote of thanks.

We knew just what kind of time constraints you were under, and given the circumstances you needed to function in, you have done an exceptionally fine job.

I am 100% certain that everyone who has been enjoying your thread will not be likely to forget you any time soon. And there is absolutely no doubt that you have succeeded admirably in providing inspiration, and indeed hope, to anyone contemplating doing something along the lines of what you have just done.

You have certainly had more than your share of Murphy moments, heaven knows - haven't we all. You just seemed to get more than your fair share.

While I will bid you adieu for now, I hope that we may meet again somewhere on the web in the not too distant future.

So, again, my thanks for an enjoyable ride through all your trials and tribulations.

My very best wishes for your future success as you come out of retirement.

shumakerscott

If your travels bring you to Germany you had better stop by. dorf dude...

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Sheila4467

May your life be even happier than it ever has been before, and may your lovely wife enjoy the kitchen you prepared for her.

I have so enjoyed your posts. Thank you!