Holy Moly, yesterday was a DOOSEY! I accomplished a lot, but it was NOT a fun day. (I’m not complaining, just stating the facts.)
I installed some of these in my library.
About the only thing that went smoothly was my little trick to shove a wire hanger with a “flag” on the end up through the a hole where I want my light to be so that when I get up into the attic I can locate the location where I want to locate my lights! (After measuring and remeasuring before I decide EXACTLY where I want the light to REALLY go.)
Yeah baby! Works like a charm.
…and it was all down hill from there.
I hate DIY’ing when:
- I have to swim around in blown insulation in a hot attic
- I sweat
- I have to wear a headlamp on my sweaty forehead because it slips down constantly
- I sweat into my face mask which I have to wear to keep the insulation out of my lungs
- My glasses fog up because I’m sweating in a face mask
- I take my glasses off because I can’t see anything and I LOSE my glasses in the insulation
- I give my thumb a blood blister because I pinched it HARD with pliers while trying to manipulate a 12 ga wire into doing what it clearly does NOT want to do
- I cut my other thumb on SOMETHING and it won’t stop bleeding while I’m up in a hot, itchy, stuffy, STUPID attic and I’m dirty and sweaty and bloody and irritated.
- You install two light switches — that are the same brand and both new (as in one is not a decade old so maybe they changed their design in the mean time) — and they don’t line up! Not even close to lining up. The screw holes … What the FFFFFlip!
Not to complain…just stating the facts! 🙂
I basically hate electrical work! I swear a little bit on those days. But I keep plugging away and that’s what really counts, right?
So, when do YOU hate DIY’ing? What is your least favorite job?
Chantelle - ThousandSquareFeet says
I installed those exact pot lights in our house. I loved how easy they were to add the electrical wires into them. But I did it while standing on a ladder with my head in the trusses pre-drywall. I usually send hubby up into the attic post-drywall.
Sandra says
It is insanely easy to shove the wires into the color coded wire housing thingamabob…and I start to wonder why electricians charge $120/hour until I go sweat in the attic for an hour and itch all over from the insulation and sweat and scrape and hands and sweat. Then I remember that it is sometimes worth it to pay someone else to do things that I clearly hate doing. Just for happiness sake. LOL
LynnR says
I hate diy’ing when I start a small project and it grows like it is on steroids and I don’t know how to proceed. Oh wait. Isn’t that ALL DIY PROJECTS?!?!?!?!
Sandra says
That’s always what happens in my house. But I don’t mind as long as I’m excited about where the steroids are taking us! (As long as there isn’t more attic access electrical that needs to be done.) 😀
Ronda Batchelor says
I agree electrical in the attic is the worst! I always get that yucky job. So I have to really want the lights or it’s a no go! Good job! Doesn’t your shower seem extra great on days like that!!
Sandra says
Wes would like me to hire everything out but he doesn’t realize that then we’d only get to do one room instead of the whole house because I’d have to PAY them. I keep explaining it to him but he keeps forgetting. Or maybe it’s just his way of reminding me that I’M the one choosing to get into all this crap. He’s fine with the house the way it is. LOL
Jake's a Girl says
That sounds bloody awful! Poor thing.
I hate all of the above, been there..done that kind of hate. Well not the switch lining up thing cause I leave the electrical to the hubby. The sweating, insulation, fogging up glasses *the absolute worst* and it make my eyes sting when the sweat runs into them. Oh and lets don’t talk about the smell of the mask that stays in your nose for days. ick. I really hate the mask.
I don’t swear but i’ve been known to jump up and down whilst screaming. 😀
Sandra says
You have more self control than I do, apparently. In the attic, it’s hard to jump up and down or lay down and throw a tizzy fit (which is generally what I like to do when things get that ridiculous) so I have to try to get it all out verbally. And to expend THAT kind of frustrated energy verbally –has to get REALLY colorful!
Rachel says
Sandra,
Anything in the attic is a no no for me. I get claustrophobic and angry when I get hot, especially if I am feeling confined. Kudos to you for doing that electrical work yourself…
I can’t even move boxes into the attic without having a rage blackout! ugh!
Just discovered Saw Dust and Paper Scraps, I’m looking forward to your future posts!
Maureen says
I HATE TO PAINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maureen
Vic Hubbard says
That’s easy! Sheetrock and mudding sheetrock seams. Hate, hate, HATE it!!
Kim says
I’m so envious you know how to do this stuff. I worry and fret and it takes me so long just to install a light fixture or change an outlet. I’m always afraid I’m going to mess something up.
Karen says
I had to laugh and cringe at this post. I can empathize with you. I still have a light in our kitchen that I haven’t hooked up yet in dread of going into the attic.
Mindy says
Last week I did the exact same thing! I loved this post. It was like you were writing out my experience for me so I didn’t have to. 🙂 The insulation and heat is horrible. The absolute worst was when I got all the way up to the attic and realized I had forgotten a tool I needed. I had to trek up and down the ladder so many times. I love that we had similar experiences. You are my hero!
Carol says
Insulation. Doing it right this minute on my second floor addition and hating every single second.