While I have to admit that, for the most part, renovation of the trailer has gone well; there have been a couple of tough “I-really-should-have-known-that” lessons I have learned along the way. I am sharing them with you here with the hopes that you’ll avoid them altogether.
Lesson #1: NO surface in a vintage trailer is level, plumb, parallel, or straight.
Lesson #2: See Lesson #1.
When measuring the backsplash piece, for instance, you cannot assume that if you measure the distance between the top of the countertop and the bottom of the cabinet on one side, that the other side is the same. It isn’t. The same goes for the width of the countertop and the cabinet themselves. They appear to be directly on top of each other and the same width. They aren’t. Yes, I know this means that the backsplash won’t be a perfect rectangle. It isn’t.
Deal with it and move on.
Lesson #3: Measure twice, drill once.
Lesson #4: See Lesson #3.
A butcher block countertop is NOT made of forgiving material. If you drill a hole in the wrong place you have to replace the whole countertop, you can’t just put another piece of laminate over the hole. (otherwise known as Plan B) When you go to the store to buy a new countertop only to discover they have discontinued it, and won’t be getting ANY more in, you have to move to Plan C. When you realize the hole you drilled can only be used for only ONE type of faucet and the local camper supply has also discontinued the faucet you need, you have to move on to Plan D. When you finally find a faucet that will fit in the hole, but the supply line you need is a different size than the supply line that store that carries, you need to…yes…move on to Plan E.
Yes, I finally got the water faucet in but…wow….did I learn a HUGE lesson in the meantime. I still need to install the pump faucet for the onboard water supply but I’m not sure I even want to touch the countertop with a drill ever again.
Lesson #5: Trim, caulk, and wood filler is your friend.
If you have to cut a window opening in plywood with a jigsaw, it won’t be pretty. Aluminum window trim is your friend. If you cut the front opening of the cupboard with a jigsaw and sneeze while doing so, resulting in a wave-looking notch near the corner, screen molding is your friend. If you’re drilling a hole for the faucet and accidently tilt the drill bit so damages the lower cabinet wall….well…I’ll let you know how I end up fixing this particular Boo Boo.
It’s still staring at me….
