A few weeks ago, we decided to purchase a new refrigerator. I did all my heavy duty research on makes, models and features, etc. I narrowed the choices down to present to my wife. I had a modest budget of about $1200. And there were some great appliance promotions going on in November, so I knew I could find a good deal. We had picked out a couple of models and were trying to get a delivery date reasonably soon, but we're not having much luck. I went to another dealer and found an open box model with a scuff so tiny that it took the salesman and me several minutes and a can of cleaner and a bright light to find. I thought I would surprise my wife with a $2800 refrigerator for $1100. She loved it on display. After purchase and setting up delivery, I measured the opening to the kitchen. Great! Half an inch too narrow. I thought oh well, I tried. The other models we picked out would fit, but we're not so fancy or as large. My wife was now disappointed with not getting the super deluxe model. She puts up so much with me, especially with those random firearm acquisitions. So this weekend, I decided to enlarge the entry to the kitchen. I didn't have much room to work with, but now the refrigerator will fit. Delivery is scheduled this week. Of course that prep work probably cost at least another $150. Not counting the flooring issue, but that is going to be replaced this year anyway.
True love.
- Thread starter SamV
- Start date
exavid
Hunter
What can you say? Happy wife, happy house. A little carpentry and you've saved nearly four hundred dollars, got a good deal on the refrigerator that your wife likes. So what's wrong with that?
A happy wife is always a bargain. :mrgreen:
WAYNO.
WAYNO.
You're a good man.
With good priorities.
I'll bet she knows that.....
Jeff
With good priorities.
I'll bet she knows that.....
Jeff
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
If mama is not happy, no one is happy.
If mama IS happy, things can go well with the world.
If mama IS happy, things can go well with the world.
Would it not fit with the door(s) off? Ran into that years ago. Moved into a second story apartment. Got the fridge up the stairs and it wouldn't fit through the door. My wife started to whine. Took the doors off slid it through and into the kitchen, then put the doors back on.
Some times you have to be smarter than the average bear.
Some times you have to be smarter than the average bear.
Jeepnik said:
Nope. Without the refrigerator doors and hinges, it was 29 &1/2 inches. The kitchen doorway was only 29 inches. I was able to increase it to 29 &3/4 inches. It will still be really tight but it should clear. If it doesn't, I hope my wife won't mind a 29 cubic foot refrigerator in the living room. I am not sure why the smallest door in a ten room house was the kitchen door.
exavid
Hunter
Well, if it's your house it's time to get out the tools and put in a 30" door.
Acorn
Hunter
Look at the "brownie points" you have in the bank the next time your wife discovers you next gun purchase.
Use it to your advantage man!
Use it to your advantage man!
contender
Ruger Guru
In my job,, I get to do minor repairs on homes. Usually external, to fix places where critters get in. But what I've learned over the years is that "standards" have changed over time. And in many cases,, MANY homes have been built in such a way as to save money. OR,,, in older homes,,, standard sizes were different compared to modern times. And in the case of interior doors, if a doorway is to be built, w/o an actual door being installed, it may get built in an odd dimension due to wall stud layout.
In any event, by opening up your doorway, you will enjoy the benefits of a better frig, your wife will be very happy, and any future additions will go in easier. I also agree that you should consider opening the doorway to a bit more than 30" to allow for the potential of a different appliance needing replacement.
In my home, a modular to begin with, the "standard" sizes are a bit smaller than conventional homes. When Miss Penny wanted a new frig, we first measured the space, then while shopping, we found one she loved, and it barely fit. We were able to increase the size of our frig, AND get one she wanted. But, thanks to a burglar who had broken in a few years earlier, damaging our back door, causing us to replace it,,, with a bigger (standard,) door, we had no issues getting it in the house. We have also replaced a window that a former tenant had broken. Just a single pane was broken. Yet to replace it, we could only buy an entire window & replace it. Well, I am not crazy about the existing windows, and we'd been talking of a future project of replacing the windows, adding a different siding etc. Well, the window that we needed wasn't a "standard" size for conventional homes, where a much better quality window was easily available. We had to re-frame the opening, and go with a slightly smaller window, OR,,, rip out more sheet rock & enlarge the wall for a wider window. We went with the easier to install, cheaper to purchase, standard conventional window.
Home re-models & repairs can suddenly take serious turns for the worse & cause headaches. I see it weekly!
But, by fixing the doorway, adding a nicer frig, you will truly be a lot happier, and your wife will be very happy as well!
In any event, by opening up your doorway, you will enjoy the benefits of a better frig, your wife will be very happy, and any future additions will go in easier. I also agree that you should consider opening the doorway to a bit more than 30" to allow for the potential of a different appliance needing replacement.
In my home, a modular to begin with, the "standard" sizes are a bit smaller than conventional homes. When Miss Penny wanted a new frig, we first measured the space, then while shopping, we found one she loved, and it barely fit. We were able to increase the size of our frig, AND get one she wanted. But, thanks to a burglar who had broken in a few years earlier, damaging our back door, causing us to replace it,,, with a bigger (standard,) door, we had no issues getting it in the house. We have also replaced a window that a former tenant had broken. Just a single pane was broken. Yet to replace it, we could only buy an entire window & replace it. Well, I am not crazy about the existing windows, and we'd been talking of a future project of replacing the windows, adding a different siding etc. Well, the window that we needed wasn't a "standard" size for conventional homes, where a much better quality window was easily available. We had to re-frame the opening, and go with a slightly smaller window, OR,,, rip out more sheet rock & enlarge the wall for a wider window. We went with the easier to install, cheaper to purchase, standard conventional window.
Home re-models & repairs can suddenly take serious turns for the worse & cause headaches. I see it weekly!
But, by fixing the doorway, adding a nicer frig, you will truly be a lot happier, and your wife will be very happy as well!
Well I can't really go to a 30 " opening without really doing some major work. It is a 90 year old house and clearly the doorway was already customized to fit the kitchen. It was smaller than any other door in the house and the trim work was cut a bit differently also to fit a perpendicular wall. It is not a door but a trimmed opening. Facing the kitchen, it has a perpendicular wall on the right side and a perpendicular wall on the left side in the kitchen. I was able to get it to 29 & 3/4 without really tearing up the wall.To go that extra 1/4 inch would be an exponential increase in the project. So we will have to deal with a new opening of 29&3/4 instead of 30 inches. Hey, the fridge should fit with a little bacon grease.
As far as banking brownie points for new gun finds, I probably still have a negative balance. Fortunately, my wife has generous credit standards. She has only claimed one of my purchases, a GP 100. But she lets me keep it for her.
As far as banking brownie points for new gun finds, I probably still have a negative balance. Fortunately, my wife has generous credit standards. She has only claimed one of my purchases, a GP 100. But she lets me keep it for her.
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
Well, I had to bu y a new refrig for our manufactured home; The doorways were NOT the problem; It was the space they provided for the refrig in the kitchen; An inch or two smaller than the standard size refrigs. Finally found one on sale and bought it. Dang would have loved the bigger , super size models.
protoolman
Service-Sixer
If necessary it should be possible to pull the trim, pull the left right and top jambs and gain 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Then carefully re-install them.
Colonialgirl said:
Both of my sisters had that problem. One was able to have her cabinet maker rebuild the cabinet opening for several hundred dollars. The other sister's situation for her refrigerator's built in space would have added several thousands requiring rebuilding cabinets, reframing walls, moving gas lines, electrical lines, water pipes and removing an reinstalling an overhead gas water heater. Some times you just leave things alone.
