The budget hits the wall...
Sean and I have a long talk about budget and project time lines. We both agree that the tiling is going very, very slowly and that I've already paid way more than it should cost to tile a shower enclosure. Although Sean does a great job of tiling... his tendency towards perfectionism is slowing him down. In order to be fair, he agrees to finish the rest of the shower enclosure for free. We still need to negotiate the cost of finishing the backsplash and the faucet and lighting installation.
And suddenly, the wall sprouts tile!
I must admit that at first
I had to wonder why suddenly (when it's on his dime) the tile is flying onto the wall --
but after a long and honest discussion with Sean, we both realized that his creative
side had taken possession of him and he had because so focused on the tiny details that he
had lost a sense of time and let himself get lost in the perfect placement of each tile. While
I'm not happy to have paid for this experience, I understand the sentiment (having fallen
into that trap myself on many occasions) -- and so, Sean will finish the tiling for free and seek out
other jobs to pay the bills.
Anyway - Sean only works part of the day as he networks to find other work...and the tiling continues...
I present Sean with a list of other things that need to get fixed around my house and ask him to give me a fixed bid for each item. We agree on a small list of things he'll do for me (like installing a new light pole in my front yard, fixing a problem with my kitchen drain and installing a new kitchen faucet). It's really handyman work, and kind of beneath his talents -- but it pays and he's willing to do it -- so it works out for both of us.
He spends part of the day trying to rustle up other work... and then does more tile and installs the Hardibacker board on the backsplash.
Light fixtures, faucets and more tile...
The week is finished up with a bit of the backsplash... and more tile!
