Respite

The internal structural work of new ceilings, walls, and lighting has finished.  This encompasses every room of the house except the bathroom (to be done later) and laundry (to remain as is).  Both Pauls have withdrawn and left it to me to deal with the enormous amount of sanding and painting ahead of me.

I used the title to this blog entry because the next few weeks will be a respite to my battered bank account.  To date I have spent a total of $38,860 on the renovation.  Of this, labour accounted for $16395, the kitchen (excluding lighting, electrical work, painting, and labour) was $9222.  Materials, tools, and electrical services (about $1,000) made up the balance.  I'm not crying poor because I've managed to fund the renovation from my monthly income (sort of: I'm $10,000 behind but will recover that during the coming respite).

As Brenda has pointed out, the true cost of the renovation is higher because of my efforts in the project.  Over a period of approximately 5 months (21 weeks), 6 days per week of about 7 actual hours of work, and imputing a labour cost of $50/hr (I am paying the Pauls $65/hr), my contribution to the project is worth an amazing $44,000.  Even ascribing a very modest worth of my labour of $30/hr the result is a significant $26,000.

So much for a leisurely retirement.