In this video update, we got our first renovation surprise. The balcony that wrapped around the house in the courtyard needed to be replaced. Taking it down and rebuilding it took the focus away from inside the house and hurt our budget.
What You See in the Video
- See the original balcony wrap around the house.
- We had planned to use it as a quasi-hallway for another way to get to the line of back-to-back bedrooms.
- The builder took it down and rebuilt it with new beams and marble.
The Story Behind-the-Scenes
One of our favorite features of the house was this balcony so it was such a gut-punch to find out from our engineer that it had to come down. Even though she’d inspected the house many times, it wasn’t obvious what was happening with the beams until plaster removal started and the problems were exposed.
We weren’t sure where we’d find the money but we knew it had to be rebuilt. The balcony served a functional standpoint because the bedrooms all have doors leading outside. But also, it was such a big element for how we envisioned incorporating the outdoor space into everyday living space.
As the one overseeing the project, this surprise made me more cautious in some of the day-to-day decisions. Deep down, I knew there could be surprises when we started. But seeing how much this surprise cost us did cause a sense of uneasiness knowing we still had a long renovation journey ahead of us.
Where To Next?
See all the renovation updates in order by heading back to this renovation journey page.
Or watch more now using the navigation links below.
Previous update: Renovation Update Part 3: Structural Work & Discoveries
Next update: Renovation Update Part 4: Plaster, Electric & Plumbing
