Kitchen step 3 and Hire a HANDYMAN!!

 

Our kitchen is done! It's been an interesting experience that has definitely been more positive than negative!! 

We met a "handyman" last spring who said he could do what we wanted done and that he charged by the hour- not the job. He said he would be available in the fall and to let him know when we had the supplies picked out and ordered. 

In August he said that the job was still on his list, so I ordered Formica from Lowes and tile from The Tile Shop. 

He started Nov 1st and was done on Nov 14. 

Our "handyman" is very particular about his work so nothing happens too quickly but it certainly gets done well. 

He told us that neither the old formica nor the old tiles would be ripped out but that he would glue the new over the old. We were a bit skeptical but he said that was what most were doing these days. So the old counter did not have to be removed and rebuilt but just prepped. The old tile could stay but the row of accent tiles that were not even with the wall tile had to be removed. 

The prep-work was time consuming and so well done! 

Our garage was the workshop and our cars were outside for the duration. 

The Formica was installed, the tiles were in and grouted and sealed -all steps in this long process! LOL

We are happy as can be with the result. 

The unexpected benefits of having a handyman do the work were numerous.  He fixed the electrical issues encountered along the way.  He installed the new kitchen faucet and could trouble shoot the issues it had. He repaired a lamp-post out in front of the house. He cut pieces of leftover formica and installed that in various places the most important of which was under the kitchen sink making so much cleaner looking and so much easier to keep clean. 

In the closet under the stairs.

Under the bathroom sink!

He and his family raise chickens so he brought over some farm fresh eggs! Bonus!

Now I have to clean the house since there is a fine layer of dust EVERYWHERE!! 

 eggs...SO yummy!