I have squirrel brain (also known as monkey mind.) I get distracted by shiny objects. I always think the grass is greener on the other side. And I get bored with projects and leave them uncompleted only to start yet another project that I will probably abandon when its 60% complete. ::cough cough:: master suite ::cough cough::

If you guys follow my page and my stories over on Instagram you’d know that we had major plans to finish the attic turned master suite in our fixer upper by the end of August. Well that obvs didn’t happen or I wouldn’t be writing this update post.

I’m writing this post the first week of November and we still have yet to sand, paint, lay flooring, tile the bathroom, put together the bathroom cabinets or install doors!

I’ll be the first to admit when we didn’t meet our August goal, we became totally lackadaisical about the project for a while. But I immediately regretted it when we came across this beautiful brick home that would have been perfect to move into and do a live in flip. But we decided against the idea simply because we still have so much to do on the fixer upper we’re currently house hacking and brrr-ing. (We did, however, wind up bidding on it as a regular flip and lost by $1,000.. but you gotta have a stopping point.)

The master suite is the biggest thing weighing on my mind (even though we still have siding, windows, garage doors and a shit ton of exterior painting to do) because it’s what will make our 3 bed 1 bath home into a 4 bed 2 bath home. The 4/2 home will get $350-$400 more per month when we rent it out to move somewhere else… which is super important because we’re hoping the rental income from the house will more than cover a new mortgage.

Anyway, this long introduction was all to say that the current state of the master suite is really stressing me out and this blog post is almost acting as my to-do list, and therefore an update for you guys!

What’s been done to the master suite already?

We framed out a dormer addition, framed out for a bathroom, two cosets and three storage areas. We’ve already had the plumber here for rough in plumbing as well as the electrician who installed high hats, receptacles, switches and dedicated lines for baseboard heat.

We’ve completed taping and mudding (which may still need touch up) and installed three new egress windows (code requires windows large enough to escape from.)

We also installed two thirds of the cement board in the tub/shower and I chose and ordered the vanities a while ago so they’ve been sitting in our basement for 3 months now, what else is knew.

What do we need to do to finish the master suite?

First things first, we need to sand the walls and ceiling in the entire master suite. UGH. I HATE SANDING. Not only does the dust suck any and all moisture from all the body parts and hair it touches, but you have to wear a mask the entire time which makes it hard to talk, drinking water and just gets downright uncomfortable after a while.

After sanding I am positive there will be areas we will have to touch up with spackle… resulting in the need to sand again.

After sanding I have to prime and paint the entire suite. I actually don’t mind painting as much as sanding so when I get to this step I’ll be a little happier.

We can simultaneously be working on the bathroom which needs the rest of the cement board in the tub/shower installed, waterproofed and then tiled. Speaking of tile, if you guys were watching my stories a while back you’d know we originally wanted to run the same LVP flooring we’re using in the bedroom into the bathroom. But the plumber couldn’t get his pitch on the toilet piping so he had to keep the flange raised a bit… which means we have no choice but to build up the floor with tile. So unfortunately, we can’t simply run the same flooring throughout.

Then I have to put the two vanities together (because we’re obsessed with RTA cabinets) and of course install them. After that we need to install the countertop that has been sitting on our back porch for two months!

Back in the bedroom we have to install the LVP flooring, install door frames (and doors) and trim everything out.

So for my own sanity, here’s the list in the order of the way things needs to get done. Some steps might be able to be done at the same time, but for sanities sake I need this step by step list for myself.

1. Sanding
2. Touch up spackle
3. Sanding
4. Install cement board in tub/shower
5. Waterproof cement board
6. Install cement board on the floor
7. Tape and thinset the floor
8. Sand stairs
9. Prime all the walls and ceiling in the master suite
10. Paint ceiling
11. Decide on a paint color
12. Paint all the walls in the master suite
13. Install stair treads
14. Lay the floor muffler in the bedroom and hallway
15. Lay the LVP in the bedroom and hallway
16. Choose tub/shower and floor tile as well as grout
17. Tile the tub/shower
18. Grout the tub/shower
19. Tile the floor in the bathroom
20. Grout the floor
21. Install the toilet
22. Put together the vanities
23. Install the vanities
24. Install the countertop
25. Pick sinks for vanities
26. Choose faucets
27. Install the sinks
28. Install faucets
29. Have plumber come and do finishes
30. Install a vanity light
31. Install door frames
32. Install doors
33. Trim everything out
34. Install freaking doorknobs (the master suite has been without a doorknob for a year and half!

 

Whew, that is A LOT of steps. But I actually feel a little better already. Seeing all the tasks laid out before me kinda provides with a remodel road map! Trouble is, I’m not so hot at reading maps. I get distracted, lost and discouraged and often find myself thinking about all the things that aren’t done yet instead of focusing on each small accomplishment.

I know if I follow the steps I laid out above the space will eventually get completed… it’s just a matter of taking it one step a time, not getting discouraged and keeping my eyes on the prize.

What projects are you working on? Do you have a tough time finishing one project before starting another?

Oh, and here are a few other blog posts you might be interested in!!

Master Suite – Update 1

Master Suite – Update 2

The Attic Remodel and The Journey to Start

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