My house has a single bathroom and at times that is inconvenient, especially when there are visitors. The utility room is the only space available for another toilet but it is already packed with washer, dryer, and hot water heater. In order to create space I had been thinking about stacking the washer and dryer, and one day this summer I started moving things around.

After convincing myself that stacking was a good idea and fairly easy, I dove right in without a plan, although I did think it through but one step at a time. The project suffered from classic scope creep which was kind of stressful but it all worked out well.

I then started thinking about the next step, i.e., adding a sink and toilet. I do not have a lot of plumbing experience and this is out of my comfort zone. I contacted three plumbers to obtain a quote; two did not respond and one said no thanks. I was reminded of how difficult it is to engage tradespeople here in Garden Bay.

I was also worried about whether I’d have to make other changes to satisfy the building inspector so I called him and he visited to review my situation. He was encouraging and so I decided to take on this renovation project in 2020. Since the building inspector’s visit, I have been researching and planning.

The more I educate myself, the more confident I become and the plan gets better. I had another meeting with the building inspector to find out what’s required for a permit and he has corrected my course as required. I’ve started buying things: a plumbing book, a laundry sink unit, a toilet, Pex installation tools and supplies, etc. Although we leave for Mexico soon, I like the feeling of making progress and being well prepared to continue when I return in March.