Ooh! Another rainbow post! First one of the year.
–Simon
Doorway to Hell!
I didn’t post a followup to this past post:
So here we go…
The door got replaced, at great cost. More than I care to recount, or admit here. And the cost didn’t address the chipped counter from the careless contractor (because contractors are oafish, destructive, and incapable of understanding what’s level (I mentioned this in a prior post, but can’t seem to find it at the moment)), nor did it actually provide a finished door. Nay, it was raw pine.
But Liz and her father finished it, and it looks nice. And I wasn’t involved in that process, so I have no epic tales to recount. Anyway, here it is:
I was much better at this blogging thing when I had more time on my hands to be clever. Alas, just look at my fucking door.
–Simon
Blue Collar Cost
It’s been a while since I added an entry to the Quantitative Philosophy section. And in light of the recent glass door replacement debacle, as well as my growing experience with home-ownership in general, I have enough information now to present a new calculator: The Blue Collar Cost Estimator!
What is this calculator? Well, ever notice how what would seem like an affordable project immediately becomes cost-prohibitive when requiring hired help? So here’s how it works: for any home renovation/repair, input what you think would be the conservative estimate for the raw materials. The calculator will then add the contractor’s up-charge and account for the cost of labor (which is substantial). Here’s the formula:
Estimated Materials Cost * 1.45 * 4 = Final Cost
Here’s the logic. The 1.45x multiplier seems, at least anecdotally, to be the materials’ up-charge. The 4x multiplier seems to be the labor charge, which inexplicably scales directly with the initial cost of the materials. I guess they figure the risk of damage warrants greater skill/care? Dunno.
But that’s it. Nice and simple. For calibration, I tested two expenses. The latest was the door replacement, which I estimated would have a materials cost of $1000. 1000*1.45*4=$5800, the exact amount of the final cost. We also had a garage door spring replaced, which I estimated at $120. 120*1.45*4=$696, which is pretty close to the $700-ish final cost we paid.
There you have it: the scaling cost of blue collar labor. Glad I figured out how to install laminate flooring. The last room I did would have cost us almost $2500. So try to be handy–your wallet depends on it.
–Simon
Crumblin’ Down
I’ve learned a lot about tempered glass. Why? Because when what is essentially a wall to my home shatters and collapses, the inquisitive mind might ponder the reasons, especially after receiving replacement price quotes. Turns out, the tempering process compresses the inner portion of the glass, which makes it stronger than normal glass, but also prone to shattering once compromised.
As for what compromised it, I’m guessing that fell simply to the age of the door. Perhaps the glass could no longer flex properly under temperature fluctuations as the synthetic components hardened with age. But whatever the reason, the fracture was spontaneous and without obvious reason. And I was standing nearby at the counter when it happened. And it was disconcerting.
And expensive–did I mention that?
This will be followed up on, post-fix.
–Simon
Barrels of Fun
A couple years back I wrote about the last rain barrel, which in itself was a sequel to the fate of the first rain barrel, which was an acquisition of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
The in-laws got us another such barrel (though it be a wine barrel, technically), for Christmas. And with the sweltering and rather dry summer under way, I made…wait for it…another rain barrel!
And yes–the Blood Price was paid:
–Simon