Priceless, one would say.
Or at least as much as you sell it for.
I was thinking about that wasted time when, yesterday, while I was finishing the renovation of my neighbors' terrace, I got into an argument with an elderly lady, who was passing by, curious, and stopped to ask me: "And how much does it cost to fix things up for the neighbors, I should do the same...".
"I'm sorry, but I wouldn't know to tell you, because I don't charge "these" my neighbors for this work".
They owed me a lot in my life and this is just a small act, to repay them at least a little 🙂
"Well, yes", the elderly lady continued her story, "There are no masters today and they are very expensive. They charge for painting the walls
as if Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raffaello were together".
"And how much do you, think that painting should be paid for? You can always, if you don't like the price the craftsman said, use your hardworking and capable hands and do what you asked him for."
If you even know what needs to be done and how much time a craftsman will actually spend on the work he needs to do.
Only the one who once performed any craft work on his own can understand how laborious and time-consuming this work actually is.
I started this job, Repairing the terrace, at the beginning of October.
I posted the pictures of the first day, when I was removing the old cracked facade, in this post.
Was it difficult? It didn't (probably because it wasn't a large area).
Did the dust bother me? No, I was outdoors.
Was I afraid of the insects, bugs, and spiders I encountered while removing pieces of rotten wall? Not much 🙂. I don't like spiders, but I'm not really afraid of them.
Although these were a big one.
Did I finish my work quickly that day? I did, but it was necessary to return to the same place many more times.
Let me count.
1.Removal of old paint and rotten plaster
No pause
2.Smearing the walls with an impregnation agent
One day break.
3.Filling large cracks with construction adhesive
One day break
4.Placing the mesh and construction adhesive, the first layer
One day break
5.Second layer of construction adhesive
One day break
6.Coating the surface with waterproofing material, the first layer
One day break
7.Coating with waterproofing layer, second layer
One day break
8a.Painting with acrylic paint, first layer
Half day break
8b.Painting with acrylic paint, second layer
Finished.
Considering that this is a hobby of mine, which I can only do on weekends and, since it's outside, only when it's not raining, it's no wonder why it took me a month.
However, if I were a craftsman for whom this is the primary job, and if I could work continuously, I would have to return to that terrace for 8 whole days, all while only staying for two or three hours during the day...
And then some lady dares to say that the service offer is expensive.
Everyone tries to cash in as much as possible with their time.
When it happens that, as in this case, it is necessary to spend several days for an activity, and in addition, it requires hard and skillful hands (and very little knowledge), it should not be surprising that the price is high.
The craftsman's time, in addition to knowledge and experience, should be paid fairly.
It is not right that the price of the time (and the service) he sells to us is reflected to him, and that we value our time as priceless.
If we really think so, tools in hand, then let's go to work 🙂
In this case (fixing the terrace), the neighbors could not find an available handyman, who would charge more for the visits 8 times, than for the repair work itself, so I offered to do it for them.
Partly because I felt an obligation, and partly because I like to make something concrete with my hands.
I've dabbled with paint brushes and rollers in the past, and my hands still hold the precise movements of a master.
After the last, eighth day of work on the terrace, painting, which was the easiest part of the entire job, brought the final beautification of the terrace.
The neighbors are satisfied, I am satisfied, the terrace turned out beautifully.
My free time given to my neighbors who deserved it and didn't have to pay for it.
Job well done, congrats!
!BEER
!invest_vote
Thanks 🙂
They didn't want to listen to me for a color suggestion, they took a little more red 😀
Excellent gesture! It's so nice when we have good neighbors and can lend a hand. Congratulations, the balcony has a great transformation! Best regards 😊
Sometimes a good neighbor is more valuable than gold, because he is always nearby, when he is most needed.
You did a great job! 🤗 Your neighbours are lucky to have you.
They would agree with you 🙂
Only the color, which they chose themselves, is not exactly to their liking 🙂
They made a mistake in the tone card.
As they say, "It's not the first time we messed up with the color choice"😅
Every third man in Serbia choose that "parizer" color for house, it is what it is is what it is 😁😆
Bitno samo da nisu ćaci 🙂
da l imaju pozitivan influens na vrsnjake, pitam se :D Nadam se da da 😄
You have a good neighbour
And you have done a great work