Saturday 9:00 AM

My eyes sprang open and I glanced at the time.  I had not meant to sleep this late, but at least I was feeling rested and motivated.  So motivated, in fact, I decided to get at least two items off the “Honey do” list, mow the yard, and then take the family on a short geocaching hike.

I headed upstairs to start the coffee.  (Motivated or not, nothing is getting done without coffee!)  After getting dressed and sipping on a cup of coffee, I was ready to get my Saturday projects started.

-Project 1 – Install a peep-hole in the front door

About a year ago, we replaced the old warped wooden front door with a nice steel door that actually sealed around the edges to keep out the elements.  I removed the peep-hole from the old door, but never got around to putting it in the new door.  Well, today was the day.  This should only take about twenty minutes and then I can move on the next project.

I looked in my drill case for my hole saw and realized it is missing!!!  I must have put it in my tool box.  NOPE!  I spent the next hour searching in every possible location to find my hole saw with no luck.

Looks like I will have to put this project off until later.  It might mean a trip to Lowe’s, but I have another project so it will wait.

Saturday 11:00 AM

Project 2 – Install New Faucet in the downstairs bathroom

About five years ago, I noticed a puddle of water in front of the sink.  I opened the cabinet to find a steady stream of water flowing from the hot water side of the faucet.  I shut the hot water valve off and the leak stopped.  Emergency handled!  Upon further investigation, I determined a new faucet would probably solve the problem.

This was a busy time for me. We had just moved my Father-in-Law in with us and we were working on getting his house(that was two hours away) ready to put on the market.  I was in the first semester of my Junior year of online classes at Western Governor’s University.  I decided the faucet could wait until things calmed down a bit and I would just have to live with cold water for the time being.

Somewhere along the line, we did get out to Lowe’s to select a new faucet, but I hadn’t replace it, yet.  Today was the day.  After five years of cold water, I have had enough!

This, too, was a fairly simple project and would only take about an hour even if I ran into problems.

I gathered up the tools I though I would need and got started!  I shut off the cold water valve, detached both the hot and cold water lines from the sink.  All is going well and I should have this job done in no time.

Then, I ran into a problem.  The old faucet had very thin metal washers and nuts holding it in place and the faucet was also metal.  This whole setup had rusted over badly in the five years since the leak.  I tried and tried to break them loose, but was only successful in punching a hole through the bottom of the cabinet. (It had apparently rotted through due to the previously mention leak.)

Saturday 12:00 PM

What is happening to my Saturday?  I am now running into the afternoon without completing even one of my “simple” projects!

Okay, plan B.  I decided to remove the drain pipe and then detach the entire sink basin.  Then I can flip it over and just saw the faucet off.

As I started to loosen the metal drain pipe, it split in two!  (More rust!)

I continued with plan B anyway.  I removed the sink and flipped it over.  What I saw was not good.  Upon inspection, I realized that there was no way that I would be able to cut the faucet off without damaging the sink itself which is also metal!!

Saturday 1:00 PM

I think I am going to loose this battle.  So far I have busted the bottom of the cabinet, broken the drain pipe and removed the sink basin, but I still have not replace the faucet!

Oh and I just remembered that I forgot to eat today.  Time to re-evaluate my plans for the day.

While eating a pizza from the freezer and watching an episode of “Supernatural” on Netflix, I decided the best course of action would be to head to Lowe’s.

Saturday 2:00 PM

Laura and I headed out to Lowe’s to select a new vanity and sink top to replace the old one and to grab some tools to install the peep-hole (still hopeful).

We spent about an hour picking out the perfect sink, found out that it was more expensive than we thought, and then pick the best one we could in our price range.  I went ahead and picked up a package of paddle bits for my drill to put in the peep-hole.

Saturday 4:00 PM

We are finally back home with our new sink and vanity. Now to finish removing the old and replacing it with the new.  This shouldn’t be much of a problem, but a little manual labor and we’ll be good.

Well, not so easy!

I removed the screws that held the old vanity to the wall and finally broke it loose from the wall and floor that it was adhered to after so many years. I carried it out and came back to clean the area around where it had been. (You’d be amazed at how nasty it gets under a bathroom sink vanity!)

Next, I removed the new vanity from the packaging and slid it into place.  It required a bit of leveling up and then I attached it to the wall.  This vanity was not quite as wide as the old one and was a little taller. (No big deal, right?)

Saturday 6:00 PM

The vanity is now in place and I prepare to put the sink top on.  This is when I realize the mirror is now too low on the wall and will have to be moved.  I took down the mirror and place the sink on top of the vanity.

Now to hook up all of the plumbing and we will be good to go…..

I installed the faucet, which was the whole reason for this project, in the first place.  I connected the water lines.  All looks good.  I installed the drain and aligned the stopper.  Now we’re on a roll, I might even have time to install the peep-hole before going to bed.  Woohoo!!

Saturday 7:30 PM

Wait!!  Not so fast!!

I noticed that the drain pipe on the sink appeared to be smaller than the drain pipe exiting through the wall.  After measuring, I found there was a 1/4 inch difference in the size, enough to flood our bathroom again.

Time for another trip to…you guessed it….Lowe’s!

Saturday 9:00 PM

I returned home with a nice little nut with two compression washers to seal up the gap and we were back in business.  I  installed the pipe in to the wall but suddenly noticed that the pipes weren’t lining up with the drain lines on the sink.  I spent the next hour trying to figure out a way to “make it work” but it wasn’t going to happen.

Remember when I said this sink was a couple of inches taller?  And that it wasn’t as wide?

I could have detached it from the wall and slid it down a few inches, but that still wasn’t going to fix the height issue.

This was supposed to be a quick one to two-hour job.  Just one of two items that I was going to get off my “Honey Do” list.  Now I can’t even use the cold water!!

What a day!!

Saturday 10:30 PM

I can’t think anymore!!! I’m going to bed!!!!

Sunday 1:00 PM

Here I go to Lowe’s again.  I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for, but I had to find some way to lower the pipe two inches and put two elbows in a three to four-inch space.

After several minutes of looking, I think I have found what I need.  It is a flexible down spout, designed to allow you to lengthen the drain pipe and shift it to the side a little.  I quickly purchase my find and head home to finish this “simple” project.

Sunday 2:30 PM

I know this is going to come as a big surprise, but it didn’t work!!

When I added the extension, the height was perfect, but it became too long when I flexed it to the right position.  I decided I am NOT going back to Lowe’s for this project!

I thought about it for a few minutes and moved the flexible pipe to the other end of the drain pipe.  I was able to make the necessary adjustments to get the drain pipe to the drain in the wall.  I know this is probably not right and it will probably clog more often due to the waves in the pipe.  But it works!!

I made sure all of my pipes were tightly sealed and turned on the cold and hot water and waited for leaks.  I couldn’t believe it, NO LEAKS.  I turned on the faucet and waited for the drain to start leaking.  IT DIDN’T!!!

Sunday 4:00 PM

I am finally done with this quick, simple project.

Expected time – one to two hours

Actual time – two long days

Expected costs – $ 0

Actual costs – about  $300

I know this was a long drawn out post, but trust me, you got the short version.  In the end, I hope you were a little entertained with my tortuous adventures in plumbing.

The moral of the story – If you want to see God laugh, tell Him your plans.

If you have ever had a day (or two) like mine, tell us about it in the comments section.  We love to hear from you.