STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Sometimes, guys eyes are just bigger than their ... biceps?  Brains?  Anyway, I would go ahead with it.  A project like that would take one person weeks to complete, especially if they're trying to work a regular job as well.  And, you're right that it can be dangerous, especially if there are large branches, power lines, and unpredictable dead trees in the mix. 

Assuming the company is leaving you the fire wood, I'd do it.  You can always rebudget to accomodate the cost - personally, I'd tackle the painting yourselves.  The equipment is minimal, it can be broken up into smaller projects along the way, and it's not terribly dangerous assuming one of you has decent balance and a sturdy ladder!  We repainted our house (1200 sq ft plus a 2 car garage) inside and out in less than a week, with no prior painting experience, and it was definitely not just straight full days of painting.  Would selling the firewood be an option to recoup some of your costs?

There will be plenty of other projects your husband can DIY, if he wishes.  Leave the large, dangerous, or exceptionally dirty ones to the pros.  My husband insisted on tearing off 5 layers of ashphalt roofing in 105 degree heat by himself.  And had a heat stroke.  Because he ripped off more than 9 tons of roofing with a tiny freaking spikey shovel!  Sometimes you have to just save them from themselves, you know?  Which is why we hired someone to pour our new driveway, instead of him stopping around in wet cement with his galloshes on for 12 hours.

I'd just act like it's a surprise thing you did for him - it's harder to be upset at someone who is giving you a gift !

Elle wrote:

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Sometimes, guys eyes are just bigger than their ... biceps?  Brains?  Anyway, I would go ahead with it.  A project like that would take one person weeks to complete, especially if they're trying to work a regular job as well.  And, you're right that it can be dangerous, especially if there are large branches, power lines, and unpredictable dead trees in the mix. 

Assuming the company is leaving you the fire wood, I'd do it.  You can always rebudget to accomodate the cost - personally, I'd tackle the painting yourselves.  The equipment is minimal, it can be broken up into smaller projects along the way, and it's not terribly dangerous assuming one of you has decent balance and a sturdy ladder!  We repainted our house (1200 sq ft plus a 2 car garage) inside and out in less than a week, with no prior painting experience, and it was definitely not just straight full days of painting.  Would selling the firewood be an option to recoup some of your costs?

There will be plenty of other projects your husband can DIY, if he wishes.  Leave the large, dangerous, or exceptionally dirty ones to the pros.  My husband insisted on tearing off 5 layers of ashphalt roofing in 105 degree heat by himself.  And had a heat stroke.  Because he ripped off more than 9 tons of roofing with a tiny freaking spikey shovel!  Sometimes you have to just save them from themselves, you know?  Which is why we hired someone to pour our new driveway, instead of him stopping around in wet cement with his galloshes on for 12 hours.

I'd just act like it's a surprise thing you did for him - it's harder to be upset at someone who is giving you a gift !

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Usually, I would paint, but the entire 2300+ square feet needs to be primed - all walls and ceilings.  I'm still on the fence about it, but I'm getting quotes for primer, ceiling paint and labor.  Perhaps I can suck it up and do all the priming/painting to make up for the bold financial move on yard work...

And it would be a huge surprise -- a huge burden lifted. Enormous.  It would also have a huge impact on how the house looks from the street.  Right now, it's terribly overgrown and creepy looking. We also have to do the tree and overgrowth removal around the house to fix up the windows -- both of which are required to get the occupancy permit.

Right now, completing the things we need to take care of to get the occupancy permit are top priority.  I'm feeling better about that part at least.

 

itsapinkthing wrote:

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D if it were me I'd leave the tree removal to the pros, I agree with Elle, it can be very dangerous, both for your husband and your house. I'm sure your husband would hate to start and realize he's in over his head, or worse have something happen to damage your house and cause further need for repairs.
My MIL and I agree on this, they (the men) have the best intentions in wanting to do it themselves, but coming home to a completed project almost always equals a sense of relief. Perhaps if you start the painting/priming project when he gets home he'll have something to jump into and that might help ease the blow of deciding without him, and he can redirect his DIY energy?

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I agree, best of intentions but overwhelming endeavors.  Hopefully he'll feel the relief I do.  I am starting to think this will have such a profound visual impact on the property, he has to appreciate it.

I like the idea of getting started on the primer.  That would offset the cost for sure. However, he's going to be sleeping for the next couple of days from the jet lag.  Maybe that will be to my benefit too...

 

Okay as much as I hate to say it, you must lie to him. Give the tree company $1500 in cash and ask them to invoice you for $1750. Tell DH you got a fantastic deal but the guy had to start asap. To make it up to him he can help with the priming (that you've already started).

It's very dangerous work. Someone killed himself with a chainsaw cutting down a tree on my in-laws' property.

Well, I was busted due to not hiding emails quickly enough.  Plus, the job was called off by the tree service because we're having thunderstorms all day.  Husband was not happy, so I called the tree guy and told him to hold off until my husband had time to review the contract and scope of work.  Tree guy offered to come out on Sunday and walk the property with us to address all that needs to be done.  I think once my husband gets a better grasp on the scope I'll at least be able to get him to concede to the larger stuff.

I shared this thread with my husband (thank you all so much for your input.)  I think a compromise is on the horizon. 

Also, when I was walking the property with the tree guy, he patted on the dead twin of a twin birch (the other twin is still alive) and said the dead one should be removed.  I looked up and saw a little critter looking down at us from a hole in the top of the dead tree, and he scrambled back in when I pointed him out.  I'm 99.9% sure it's a flying squirrel.  I don't want to take his home away   I am trying to get some feedback on what to do on the web, but my inclination is to leave the dead portion of the birch.  I guess I'm grateful for the additional time to address the flying squirrel issue.

Anyway - my plans were foiled.  I'll let you know what happens over the weekend...

In the meantime, did you know flying squirrels like chunky peanut butter?

Kelly wrote:

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Honestly, if I were him I would be pissed. I'm totally on your side here about hiring someone else to do it, but if he knows that you know that this isn't what he wants, and you just do it anyway behind his back, I can't see that working out well. He will feel like you don't respect his opinion or his equal weight in decisions like this.

But it is easier to ask for forgiveness...

-- Edited by Kelly on Wednesday 12th of May 2010 05:50:28 PM

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Kelly nailed it. 

 

gossipgirl wrote:

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Kelly wrote:

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Honestly, if I were him I would be pissed. I'm totally on your side here about hiring someone else to do it, but if he knows that you know that this isn't what he wants, and you just do it anyway behind his back, I can't see that working out well. He will feel like you don't respect his opinion or his equal weight in decisions like this.

But it is easier to ask for forgiveness...

-- Edited by Kelly on Wednesday 12th of May 2010 05:50:28 PM

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Kelly nailed it. 

 

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yes she did!

 

OMGosh! I love your pics! They are SO cute! I really hope you can save their house

ohh those are so cute, I think they are also called sugar gliders, a teenaged girl in my neighborhood has one for a pet!

well, it sounds like it's all worked out, but my advice would have been to wait until he gets back to make the arrangement and basically let him explain his point about doing it himself, but standing your ground.. as you clearly had a lot more ground to stand on anyway. Overall, have to compromise. I'm glad he came to his senses.