Office Trauma

Star-Eagle Independent Newspaper JAN 2010

I have recently gone through “Office Trauma” and for those of you
who have an office in your home for business or the family, you know what it
feels like to have everything shut down for a few days. Not good.

My house is undergoing a full on remodel and being the remodeling contractor
that I am, my customer’s projects come first. They pay the bills. Therefore,
my personal remodel is important to me, but limited to the time and energy I
have available. In other words, it is moving slow.

Over the past year, the house has had almost all of the old galvanized pipes
replaced and upgraded to the red, white, and blue plastic pipe. New water heater,
some new faucets, fixtures and toilets. We did a quick makeover and space enhancer
on our master bath, which measures a total of 5 foot by 8 foot.

The old wood burning fireplace insert came out, the stone hearth was lowered
2 inches and a new Quadrafire pellet stove went in for winter. I also learned
a lot as Heating Equipment Company installed a new Lennox heat pump and AC system.
Which lead to all new ducting in the house. We have a two story mid 70’s
home and the ducting soffit running through the center of the house on the main
floor were really bugging me. It made the ceiling feel so low. HEC found a way
to run the second floor ducting through the attic and thereby eliminating all
the main floor soffit build downs. NICE! But a lot of sheetrock removal and
replacement work is in my future.

Rooms are moving around too. We took a game room that was once a two-car garage
that had been converted to living space and carved it up a bit, moved some door
ways, built some new walls, upgraded the windows, revised the electrical to
fit, and leveled the floors. One of these new spaces is the world headquarters
for the Joe Prin Remodeling and HomeFix Broadcasting and Publishing Empire.
It is 10’ x 10’. Not too big of an empire

For months, my office was a desk sitting out in the middle of the construction
zone. Tarps, plastic, extension cords, and files in boxes. What a mess. I hate
paperwork enough, and this made it worse. Trauma is the best word to describe
it.

Today, the office is finished! The walls are textured, the rain-glass full view
pocked door is letting light pass through from the new windows to the other
side of the wall, and there is bright overhead lighting for night and morning
work. All the fancy window and door trim is installed, painted, and a new tile
floor is installed. I even repainted my ugly steel file cabinet to match the
metals and fabrics on a new (used) desk/work station I picked up.

All has been moved in, plugged in, and organized. The boxes are gone. The tarps
and plastic is gone. Work has a home now to start the year off fresh. It is
good. It feels good to get this one room done. DONE. One down and nine or so
more to go.

Joe and Vicki Prin own Joe Prin Remodeling LLC, Idaho Registered Contractor
#RCE-23530, and can be contacted at 573-1082 or by email- joe@joeprin.com. Listen
to the HomeFix Radio show hosted by Joe, Saturdays, 8-10 AM on 580 KIDO