Shopping and Building on a budget - Chapter 14

Howdy Y’all!!! Welcome back. Last time I left y’all with My Cowboy and Tile Story. I haven't finished my kitchen project yet, so the Cowboy Tile story will have to wait. 

The installers arrived. It was just two guys and they were great. Man, they were professional and efficient. I let them both know about my keeping the Formica back splash. I also told them how I cut the seam all the way across the kitchen counter top. No worries, they said. They were very careful and there was no damage to my back splash. 🤠 The cuts were perfect and the granite butted right up against the Formica. No gaps anywhere across the kitchen counter. 😮‍💨

We cut the 11 ½ inch overhang down to 7 inches. There is a seam on this piece that we can’t even see. The guys did a great job. 👍🤠

Look closely. Not for the seam silly, at the formica back splash. 🤠 I did good, didn’t I? 

I can’t thank my installers enough. 🤠 They did a great job. The new granite counter looks awesome! There is more granite story I’ll share later when I get back to my shop project. 

The guys placed the stove top in its cut out area and it fit perfectly. 

I had already seen the wire attachments that I was going to have to connect. No problem. First, turn off the main breaker. I made my connections very carefully. Wires from the stove top to the attachment plug. I wired it all together using wire nuts from Home Depot, (click on the “what can we help you find today”) and then I safely taped it together using black electrical tape. Now to plug it in and turn on the breaker / main power source. Viola! She works. 🤠

Let's keep an eye on it for a while. I’ll try one power knob at a time. Just double checking all the connections. Everything works, everything looks good, everything IS good! Yahoo!!! 🤠

Further down from the stove top, y’all can see the black built-in oven and microwave. I installed that combo a few years back. If you look closely, y’all can see that I built a wooden box, 6 inches high Lowes. "click on the what can we help you find".   for the oven to sit on top of. It sucks how insurance companies work. When the old oven part of the combo went out, our insurance would pay for a new oven / microwave combination, but would NOT pay for any carpentry adjustments to the cabinet. 😡

Interesting how they do not explain all that small print on the contract. 😡 These characters wouldn't even search for a combo that would FIT. They said that was all that was available to them. The other option is cash out. 😡 The price offer wouldn’t pay for any combo at any retailer in town or on line. 😡To make this long story short,  I had them deliver the new combo, I made sure it worked and then… I FIRED THEM!!!  Never again! 😡

“God works in mysterious ways.” The old oven combo was kind of bulky. The old microwave was really bulky. We didn’t lose any room in the interior of either the oven or microwave. Technology just made things smaller without giving up the interior space or power. The oven sitting 6 inches higher is actually better. We don’t have to bend down so far. 🤠 Yep!  “God works in mysterious ways.”

That 6 inch box that I built under the oven blends in pretty well. It kind of looks like a hidden drawer above the big drawer. 🤠

The undermount sink had to cure for at least 24 hours. They use an awesome glue that can hold a ton or more. 😮 

Randy’s Rooter and my Culligan Man came out as scheduled. Everything was attached and no leaks. 🤠

I’m very impressed with the job the granite installers did. They also did it in a timely manner. They sealed the granite where it meets the formica back splash. It looks awesome. 

Again, the guys did a great job. Earlier, before they brought in that long slab where the stove top goes, they actually had to finish the cut out. It was barely hanging on at each corner. They made their cut and there was one big 19 x 29 inch square of granite left. So I asked, “can I have that”?

The guys said “sure”. ☺️ ️

After all the installments, the guys were cleaning up and I was helping as much as I could without getting in the way. Then the guys asked me, “you want that big piece of granite in the back of the trailer”? I said “SURE”. We went to look at it and it was an older counter top that they took out of another job. I’m sure they just dispose of it.  “The sink too”?? They asked me. “Heck yea!” I replied with a great big smile. ☺️🤠 I helped them unload that big piece and we placed it up against the wall in the Shop. I carried the little piece of granite, the sink and placed both up against the Office wall. 

Y’all thinking what I’m thinking??? 🤔Remember I want to build a counter, shelving and or a work bench in the shop and a small counter in the office. The big piece is going to work great on the right hand corner of the shop. The little piece I will use in the office. 

Oh no! Look! 😮 Boss had me buy new area rugs.  Check out Amazon here.  

Caution: Please pay extra attention to the “care” of your new Granite top. Do not use harsh cleaners. We prefer this Method Daily Granite Cleaner. I found this bottle  at Target.  No bleaches, alcohol or ammonia. Y’all can also purchase this item at any of my other retailers like  Lowes ,  Home Depot  ,  Amazon ,   Walmart  and even H.E.B. 🤠 Unfortunately, H.E.B. is not one of my Links, but I’m hoping and praying,  that in the future, they will be. I have to support my H.E.B., not only because they are a great Company, but I also worked for HEB for 44 years before my retirement. “Got to keep my money growing!” 🤑 That story, I’m gonna touch on next time. 🤠

For now, I love FREE. With that big granite slab the guys gave me, I can just build a counter frame and get one of my sons to help me place the granite slab on top. Viola!!!  A NEW GRANITE COUNTER IN THE SHOP!  🤠😮😅 God does work in mysterious ways. The small piece of granite I will utilize in the office. I will share that story / project when I get to it, later. 

Well, I think I have done enough damage for one day. 🤣

Join me next time for the rest of the story. Don’t forget to click on my LINKS to save time and money. Tap the LIKE button👍, send feedback, ask questions and definitely SUBSCRIBE by placing your email on the home page, to receive a notice of NEW Chapters at the DURON RANCH. Until next time, stay safe, make good choices and we’ll see y’all soon!!! 🤠