Need some motivation...

Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by vrDrew63, Apr 19, 2022.

  1. vrDrew63

    vrDrew63 Active Member

    There's a big-ish project that I want to get done. But I'm having trouble finding the motivation to get started.

    I want to replace the wall-to-wall carpet in my dining room, as well as the vinyl tile flooring in the kitchen area that adjoins it, all with engineered plank wood. Total area is about 24 meters square. I've got the money for the flooring, underlayment, trim, tools, etc. I've done a couple of wood floors previously. So I have a pretty good idea of what I'm getting myself into.

    But I just know its going to be a huge hassle, for a couple of days at best. A week or more if something goes wrong. I'll have to move some large and heavy furniture (an eight foot dining table, a heavy sideboard, a curio cabinet currently filled with delicate pieces of glassware.) I'll also have to empty and move a large refrigerator and lift up the front of a dishwasher. I'll have to lift up and cut into strips several square yards of carpeting and underlayment; lift up a bunch of vinyl floor tiles. Bag up and properly dispose of them. Cut and install the new padded underlayment. And only then get started on laying the engineered plank. Measuring and cutting so that I end up with evenly width planks on each side of the room.

    This is a project that really needs doing. Carpet in a dining room is never something I've been a fan of. And wood flooring will really give the space the luxury look I think it deserves. And will be much easier to keep clean.

    But the more I think this project through, the more I find my mind filled with dread. Just moving the dining table is going to be a task. It will need to be disassembled to get through the door (and reassembled once the project is finished). And that, alone is probably an hour or so of work. But I know if I try and leave it in situ I'll end up regretting it. Ditto with the refrigerator. I've got to run the wood flooring all the way to the back of the wall, or the job will look half-assed.

    No one is nagging me to get this job done. I don't have a customer leaving nasty voice-mails on my phone.

    I kinda wish someone would.
     
  2. Wayners

    Wayners Screwfix Select

    [​IMG]


    Just make a plan and get on with it.
     
  3. vrDrew63

    vrDrew63 Active Member

    OK.

    Double checked my measurements and ordered the flooring and underlayment. Once the materials are in my garage, I'll start moving the furniture.

    I just don't know if I can eat all the frozen fish I've got in my freezer in the next five days........
     
  4. Wayners

    Wayners Screwfix Select

    Always best to draw up a list. Cross off as you go and just get on with it
    It's amazing what you can achieve when you get going.
    Procrastination comes to us all but you just got to rise above it and crack on.
    @vrDrew63

    Maybe report progress here as we all cheer you on. Ha
     
    fff likes this.
  5. masterdiy

    masterdiy Screwfix Select

    Remove all the Freezer draws, re-locate the freezer, refit draws.
    Simple.
     
    fff likes this.
  6. Jord86

    Jord86 Screwfix Select

    A little over two years ago one of my best friends received life changing injuries in his workplace as a result of gross negligence and incompetency by one of his colleagues, pushing buttons and operating very large machinery when he shouldn't have been anywhere near something he had no comprehension of. As a result my friend nearly had his head taken off his shoulders due to blunt force trauma, spent months in hospital and now has a brain injury that restricts his movements, which amongst many other things finished his career aged 33, driving licence revoked, can't peg washing out on the line without needing to lie down for hours if not two days to recover, and is unable to read without a pair of specialist spectacles that allow his brain to transmit the data to his eyes. Still, he was and is astronomically fortunate to be alive.

    I can tell you for an absolute fact that he would give anything to even have the options that you have, let alone the physical and mental abilities to undertake the work without his brain shutting his body down. Just get off your crack and get on with it, we all take our health for granted until it isn't there anymore, then all you're left with is regret, anger, sadness and a whole host of other emotions when it's too late to do anything.
     
  7. fff

    fff Active Member

    Jord I’m so sorry to hear this story and you’ve said really wise words.
     
  8. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    Yep, Drewpy needs to wise up!
     
  9. Roys

    Roys Screwfix Select

    @Jord86, never a truer word said, please let your know your mate we are thinking about him, what a wee shame, to me my 30’s were my prime, you have experience, a bit of wisdom, a bit of cash and body still in good nick.

    @vrDrew63 do you have a mate that can help you for a couple of days, my mate and I always have a project on the go and we give each other a hand almost weekly. It is a great motivator having someone else about both mentally and physically, I always find two people get the work done more than twice as quick with either just giving a hand to lift and lay awkward things or coming up with better ideas on how to do things.
     
    fff likes this.
  10. Sparkielev

    Sparkielev Screwfix Select

    My closest friend of over 40+"years passed away recently I found him at home (brain aneurism) we worked together for 20yr when he wasn't offshore, there isn't a day goes by that I don't think of him, there is stuff still in my van that is his that I can't move, but 1 thing I do know sitting at home will just make things worse, keeping busy active is the best medicine for anyone, sitting around doing nothing will lead to a whole set of problems
     
    fff and stevie22 like this.
  11. vrDrew63

    vrDrew63 Active Member

    Well, the flooring, etc. is ordered. A little surprised by the lead times, but hey, we're all living in post-covid world. Just means I've got more time to get my **** together.

    Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. Even the not-so-nice ones. Kinda deserved those.

    Getting a mate to help me with this project? Yeah. In an ideal world that would be fantastic. But that's not gonna happen for me. There is, quite literally, no male friend with the time, inclination, skills, or availability I'd care to involve in this project. Is that a judgement on modern society, or on me as a human being? That's a question I'd prefer not to delve too deeply into. I'm simply the best person I know for cutting wood accurately, moving heavy bits of stuff, and keeping to a plan.

    Many, many years ago there was this movie: Body Heat, with the late, great William Hurt, along with Kathleen Turner (before the medical problems), Ted Danson (before both Cheers and Whoopie Goldberg), and Mickey Rourke. Before boxing and whatever else. And there was this quote that stuck with me from the Mickey Rourke character: "Any time you try a decent crime, you got fifty ways you can fXXX up. If you think of twenty five of them, then you're a genius. And you ain't no genius."

    I'm not a pro flooring installer. There are all sorts of ways I can fxxx this up. I ain't no genius. I hope I've thought of a lot of them. I'm reasonably confident I can figure out ways around any problems I might run into.

    But Bill Hurt's character still ended up in prison.
     

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