2008: A Look Back on My Projects

I thought I’d give a recap of all projects I completed in 2008, along with my personal grade. All the ones I documented on this site have links to an appropriate post. After compiling this list, I was surprised at how much we got accomplished in 2008. There are still a couple things I know I want to do in 2009, but I fear I won’t have enough to keep me busy!

Driveway Area- put in a new asphalt driveway (moved from other side of house), cleared the strip of land next to it and planted quick-growing privacy shrubs
Grade: B+. I was parking on dirt previously, and having a decent driveway is imperative in my neighborhood. I believe it was money well-spent.

Garden Area- created a few beds and an area with a bench and table.
Grade: B+. I find the area enjoyable to sit in, and the produce saved us some money. However, this year I will be more vigilant about keeping out intruders.

Bathroom Renovation- replaced vanity with double-sink vanity, new mirror, pain, fixtures.
Grade: B-. Everything looks nice and works, but I think I rushed through this and could have had a better outcome had I thought more about the finishing choices.

Furnace/AC Replacement- changed out old, noisy and inefficient equipment for new.
Grade: A (so far). Everything has worked fine and are saving me some money on energy bills.

Bathroom Hallway- closed up a useless closet and painted and decorated the area.
Grade: B. In the end, it came out nicely, but I really messed up on the taping of the new wall, which caused extra cost and time.

Ceiling Fan Replacement- replaced hideous, noisy fan in living room
Grade: A. Makes a major improvement to the look of the room, and was a great learning process for me.