Communication Is Key

The siding is up on the kitchen bump out.

This post originally appeared on the Hermit Haus Redevelopment website on 2016-02-03.

The Blue Ridge project is still running behind schedule, and there were a couple of developments that will put it farther over its budget this week.

First the good news: the cabinets and countertops are in in the kitchen and both bathrooms. The granite countertops really pop against the white cabinets, which are not quite Shaker style. We even had the folding table in the laundry room topped with the granite.

And the siding is up on the kitchen bump out—the one where we had to remove the brick facade last week. Part of it got knocked down, and it was safer to remove the rest of the brick than to repair the remainder. The horizontal HardiePlanks echo the siding on the other three sides of the house. It looks good, even in the weird default primer color. It will look even better painted to match the house.

That brings us to the bad news and the title of this post. Last week, we messaged the contractor, Chris, a picture of the color fan showing the color we wanted matched against a wall. The contractor asked if we were sure, and we responded that we were without really understanding what he was asking. The problem is that each blade of the color fan has a range of shades of the color ranging from very pale to dark. We had used the lightest at a different house, and that one had a note written on it. Chris thought we wanted the color with the note, and we thought he would understand we wanted the one that matched the background against which we took the picture of the color fan blade. Neither of us actually mentioned the name or color code.

So when I showed up to inspect the property today, I asked in all innocence if they had just sprayed the house with primer. “No. That’s the actual color you guys chose.” Argh! The whole exterior of the house is the wrong color. So we get to buy more paint and pay to repaint the house: More money over budget and more time lost!

The bottom line is this: when you are talking with your contractors (or human beings in general), be as specific as you can. If you’re talking about paint, talk color codes and names. It’s an easy mistake to make and a difficult lesson to learn—again. Get Sue Ann to tell you about the time I had her house painted orange.