demo day and septic tanks

Welcome to part 5. {Backstory with more links into our crazy adventure/main living plans/the cesspool/upstairs plans/basement – see organized page under the category: Money Pit. It basically makes it easier to keep up with our train wreck}

We also covered things to consider when buying an older home, which chronicles all the things we’ve been dealing with in the background.

But there’s a toilet in our yard, and we’ve never been happier, because demo has officially begun.

Well, kind of, at least.

Because we left you last with our plans, but all that stuff going on in the background, is a little crazy. Local people with experience warned us about inspections and codes and permissions and all the stuff that keeps people like us safe. We get it. But these things vary by area, and are pretty hardcore in our county. We’ve heard real nightmare stories because while there are inspections for a reason, we have been left with the honest impression that a lot of it is kind of just laid out there, without much reason.

What they didn’t warn us about, was getting different versions of a story with zero explanation, and nothing making much sense at all with really insane waiting periods.

So I guess you could say this is one of those reality posts. Brace yourselves.

I think I mentioned our septic tank. This has been a thing from the beginning. Because from the beginning, we had it cleaned and inspected. We were good to go. Two thumbs up. This inspection was performed with the knowledge by the inspector of what we intended to do, which was rehab the home. We could move forward with the house.

But when we began the process of pulling permits, the same inspector came back and told us we needed a new septic, because it wasn’t up to code. Suddenly.

At this point, we were now officially a few weeks behind construction schedule because we waited on this additional inspection when the permit was pulled. There’s a basic rule we’ve now learned that we mentioned in our post here… but once you touch something in the world of construction, it must be brought up to code. Just go ahead and count on it. So 7k later… and we will have a new septic system. This was not in our budget.

We were ready for this kind of thing because it’s what happens. But it still hurts a little. Because when we spoke to the inspector initially, he said we were good. We could have just started the ball rolling in the right direction on this septic issue from the beginning, but we were not told this.

We thought we did our homework. We thought we’d processed and researched and all things due diligence.

So the next step was to find a new location for the new septic. Because once you’ve moved the old septic, you can not replace it in the same location. Basically because science and poop. This new revelation would potentially affect our plans for the future on each side of the house. {See: addition for the master suite, carriage house garage}. We were relieved, in the meantime, to find out that we may place it in the front yard, and that the acre lot will perc for a four bedroom. Which is great, because the master suite is coming in the future.

Lemons. Lemonade. We will prevail. Maybe.

But in order to be even approved for the new septic, we must wait to do any construction. The waiting period will take around three months.

We can not do any construction in the meantime.

What?! You mean, we can’t do it simultaneously? Install the septic while we do the house? No demo anywhere until you can approve us for a new septic even though we’re ready to go?

No. We must sit and wait until we can be approved for a septic.

Wait. I thought we were already approved?

No. That was just to make sure they could do a septic in that location. They must come back and perform a separate inspection. Even if we only rehab the main and upper level, which are technically not adding any additional square footage. We are more than willing to wait on the basement. We would just like some working bathrooms and a kitchen.

According to them, we are adding square footage. An extra foot. Because we are knocking out a wall on the main level.

What?

So we had to pull a separate permit, just to begin the upstairs. Which is frustrating, because we are homeless, and a lot of people are being held up over this one issue. Workers and contractors and the professionals we booked… would like to be paid. We would like to give my parents their living quarters back. They’re being very gracious and we are grateful for that, but they’e also just relocated, and we also want them to feel normal again.

Most importantly, we would like to get our children settled and feeling okay with this entire transition.

I know it was our choice to do this. And that we need to be flexible. We are willing to do what it takes.

But our main concern is our children’s health through all this. Because this stuff really needed to come up. There were years of water damage and gross floors and mold underneath all these layers of years. So this was what was best for this house, and a healthy home.

Side note: There were also some pretty rad layers of linoleum underneath, which we totally love. Next to the mold, you can see the green…

And this in the hallway bathroom. It was not salvageable, but needed to be documented for sure.

So, we are stuck with the possibility of living upstairs in the house half finished, which we are grateful for. But the idea was to get in once ALL the initial demo was finito and out of the way so that little lungs were not exposed to all the dust demo creates, as well as our existing furnishings in the house that will be moved in. It takes about two weeks for this stuff to officially settle. But it’s looking like it’s plastic coverings and leaving for a while when the dust on the main level settles after we’ve moved in. Three months later.

We kind of hoped our health would matter on that level, with our children beyond blanket laws that don’t really apply to our particular situation.

Basically, septic regulations suck and we’re exhausted.

I told Jamin from the moment we put our home up for sale, this entire process has been the most ridiculous thing we’ve ever been through. We’re sunny side kinda people, but my children are our top priority and we just want them settled. I’m definitely feeling my limits on this one.

But not to be a total Debbie Downer, we are excited. Because at least we have some progress. See? Cue the roller coaster of emotions. And children are resilient – this is just one big adventure. We will just use lots of plastic and leave the house during the day when they finally get to that main level. One could argue that we chose to do this, but the house also needed it after decades of use …and some neglect.

There’s just a lot. Thus the reality post.

I’ll be covering each space and the plans for each one as we go… I can’t wait to show you guys some of the fun materials and changes we’ve picked. It’s a lot like putting a puzzle back together, and it’s kind of exciting to rise to the challenge to bring functionality and beauty back to each room.

The old materials that were salvageable have been donated to good homes, so we’re also glad about that. It always makes me feel better to save what can  be saved and reused in places where this is possible and wanted.

In the meantime, the cesspool is being pumped, and we hope to have it up and running in just a few days and in time for the heat wave coming our way. So while all of this has been going on, we are prepping that back porch area. Along with all our furniture and freshening up our outdoor fabrics… It’s the little things that will make the pool area nice and homey with all the chaos on the inside.

Hey, at least we have options and a nice little escape.

First world problems, we know. This project has taken on a life of it’s own when all the other major elements like living quarters and children are thrown into the mix. I just wish a little bit of consideration could be given to our specific situation. We’re just a family trying to make a change and build something. We’ve tried speaking personally and kindly to the inspectors, but so far, no good.

Eventually, that back covering will become a screened in porch, but in the meantime, this totally works… so pressure washing and draining and prepping for all the things, we have been doing.

I even tackled that little grey/purple shed area in the back. Which was once upon a time an outhouse. Yep. That’s another story for another day, and something we were afraid the inspectors would need to handle, but it was taken care of before we even moved in because we almost walked. Again, long story. But I did it all by myself. There was some screaming and running away from various insects who swarmed my face, but the pool supplies are at least grouped and then flooring is cleaned and we’re kind of tackling it all while we get ready to open. Small victories.

There’s even a sweet little rabbit family that lives underneath said shed that Rigby and Fitz have not eaten, so there’s that.

Bright sides, y’all. Bright sides.

And that’s where we are. TADA! Have we bitten off more than we can chew? Will you find me in the corner a-la the fetal position, gnawing on some mold covered linoleum humming creepy nursery songs to myself? Probably.

We’re still glad to be here. One day at a time, y’all. One day at a time.