Blog Series: Kitchen Remodel in Mexico – Week 5

Hola, amigos! If you are new to our Kitchen Remodel in Mexico series, please start at the beginning. Week 1 was rocky. Week 2 was promising. Week 3 we were undeterred. Week 4 was Opposite-Ville.

Here we are at Week 5. This was supposed to be our final week of the project. We knew that was highly unlikely, but now it sounds like a bad joke. Nevertheless, the show must go on! Here is the daily rundown.

Day 29 – Monday – July 18

Team Hector got the compressors turned in the right direction, but then all of the line connections were in the wrong place. They tried to force their prior work to conform, resulting in coolant lines that looked like a bowl of spaghetti. Once again, Brad did some internet research and asked a series of questions to reveal this was completely wrong. The trainees conceded and agreed to do it the right way. Half day lost.

No visual on Team Miguel, but Miguel did say the wood for our cabinets is scheduled to arrive this Thursday. 

Day 30 – Tuesday – July 19

There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Sir Hector the Invisible actually showed for a couple of hours, which helped tremendously for translation purposes. His team also exerts about 75% more effort when he is here. After finishing the compressor re-wiring project, they advanced the project enough to test units by the end of the day. For the first time, we felt cool air coming from the vents. And the Heavens sang. 

Team Miguel; no show.

Day 31 – Wednesday – July 20

Team Hector started installing the final A/C unit in our guest room. Unfortunately, that is the room where we have been living for the past month. That also meant the A/C unit in our master bedroom had to be operational before they left for the day. 

I had a phone-a-friend ready, as our confidence in this crew is nonexistent. Lo and behold, they did it! It still looks like a job site, but cold air was blowing in our master bedroom. We finally get to sleep in our ill-fated, custom bed tonight!

After Team Hector left for the day, I scrubbed the master bedroom from top to bottom. Let me tell you, it was filthy. All that hard work was rewarded by a great night’s sleep in air-conditioned comfort. 

Team Miguel; no show.

Day 32 – Thursday – July 21

Team Hector showed up and worked most of the day charging the coolant lines and testing. It appears everything is testing okay, but how would we know if it wasn’t? Lest we forget, the guy doing the testing is the same guy who installed the compressors backward.  

Team Miguel’s drywall guys started repairing the devastation created by Team Hector. Still, the plumber and electrician Miguel promised have yet to make an appearance. Each day, we lose more confidence in Miguel and his ability to complete this project. Sorry, I’m too tired for sound effects this week.

The plumber (the one our building maintenance guy hired to fix the leak) arrived to start “breaking it the floor” in our master shower. After the requisite amount of jackhammering (no Mexican job is complete without it), they found the source of the leak and repaired it. 

Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time to start rebuilding the shower. We could literally see through the floor into our neighbor’s condo below. Brad and I knocked knuckles and laughed about how we considered someone hammering a two-foot hole through your bathroom a good day. 

Day 33 – Friday – July 22

Team Hector continued testing the last couple of A/C units. Apparently, they only have enough equipment to do one at a time. My process improvement friends would have a heyday with this bunch.  

Great news – the shower repair is done! We assumed it would take several days and be horribly destructive. Maybe we’re conditioned at this point, but it was a piece of cake (comparatively speaking). 

With all that positive energy coursing through our veins, Brad decided to go ahead and line up someone to replace the hot water tank. More on that later. 

Team Miguel made no appearance. Moreover, we were told the wood for the cabinets did not arrive yesterday. So long, positive energy. If this guy doesn’t get it together soon, I might start accepting those tequila samples they offer at Costco at 10:00 am. 

Day 34 – Saturday – July 23

Team Miguel arrived around 9:00. I assumed they were here to move the outlets and plumbing. They obviously had other ideas, as they spent most of the day sitting out on the curb – solving the world’s problems over a pack of cigarettes.

All was not lost, though. They squeezed in a two-hour “work break” to chisel out a couple of outlets in our concrete wall that they previously overlooked. I have no idea why it took three of them, nor do I know why it took all day to accomplish this task. Some things in life must remain a mystery. This is one of them.

Day 35 – Sunday – July 24

Day Off for the workers — Day On for me. I spent several hours scrubbing every surface of our master bathroom so we could use it again. 

Recap – Week 5, Kitchen Remodel in Mexico

Week 5 could have been better, could have been worse. Miguel’s lack of attention is concerning, so we need to make some adjustments ASAP. On the plus side, we see glimmers of hope that the A/C project is nearing completion. Fingers crossed that week 6 is when things start coming together! 

Weekly Report Card

• Brad gets an “A”. He is killing it with his A/C knowledge and keen supervisory skills.
• Teddy and I also get an “A” this week. I mean, Teddy didn’t spend 5 hours cleaning the bathroom, but we’re a package deal. 
• Team Hector gets a “D.” Their ineptitude is exhausting. 
• Miguel gets an “D” this week, but only because I like the drywall guy.
• Random plumber that fixed our shower leak gets an “A.” It was a freaking mess, but they got in and out in 2-days.