Last summer, a storm hit Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California, causing more than just a little inconvenience for us. While we were out of town, a leak developed in our roof. We returned home to warped floors and something mysterious growing out of the ceiling in our dining room. Welcome home, right?

Our home, built in 1942, has seen many updates over the years, sometimes twice. However, the dining room is at the center of our house and enduring heavy foot traffic, so was overdue for a flooring upgrade. It was the perfect opportunity to install the herringbone hardwood floors I’ve always wanted. So, the search for the right contractor began.

After interviewing several hardwood floor experts, one highly recommended professional suggested a half-inch thickness for the new floors. My immediate concern? Would that be level with the other floors in the house? I’m not a fan of multiple levels and reducers in doorways, especially in such a central area. After what felt like months of searching, I finally found materials that could be milled to 3/8”, which was suitable and avoided the reducers. Win!

I received a referral for a new hardwood floor guy, and I was thrilled with his work ethic and approach. We ordered the material, and after life’s usual interruptions, the day to install the new floors finally arrived. But not without some planning and challenges.

We live in the house, so I had a detailed discussion with the contractor about how long we’d need to be out of the space, when we could walk on the floors, and other logistics. We ended up renting storage bins to move out all the furniture from the living room and dining room. Since these rooms are adjacent, they needed to match in color, and we even decided to include a couple of hallways in the project.

When the storage bins arrived, they were not up to my standard. Nails and shards of wood were sticking out, posing a risk to our furnishings. Yet another speed bump, but we managed it with grace. Everything was moved out, and the project was moving forward. Whew.

Almost daily, I reviewed the schedule with the crew, emphasizing our need to be back in the house by Friday evening due to our lifestyle. I was assured that we wouldn’t need to leave the house, just stay off the floors. It seemed all was under control.

Then, at the last minute, they informed me they were applying lacquer, and the odor would be unbearable. We had to vacate the house in three hours. Wait, what??!! In all our scheduling discussions, no one mentioned the odor, the headaches it could cause, or that we’d need to turn off the AC to prevent dust and fumes from circulating. This was August. In Los Angeles. No AC was not an option.

Why didn't they tell me this before? The crew had pivoted to using oil-based products to finish the wood because of the 3/8” thickness. Otherwise, the wood could warp. 

On top of that, finding a hotel room for four people on short notice in the summer was a challenge. After several online searches turned up full hotels, we got lucky. A dear friend, who is the events director at the Luxe Hotel Sunset, managed to secure a room for us with enough space, ready in two hours. She took such good care of us, and we were able to weather this unexpected storm.

We returned home to our new herringbone hardwood floors - and they're sturdy, clean, pristine - and designer-level stunning. Everything I’d hoped for.

What did I learn from this process? Even with all the preparation and planning, it’s essential to expect the unexpected. I was reminded of the importance of being able to pivot quickly and always having a contingency plan. As it turned out, the unexpected time away from home became an impromptu corporate retreat, where I worked on my business plan for Q4 and into 2025. A silver lining, indeed.

**Post Script:** I left out the painful parts about dealing with the insurance company and having both their team and mine determine the source of the leak. That was hugely difficult and emotionally exhausting. As a realtor, I know how much damage mold can do to a home, and I lost plenty of sleep over those weeks. Eventually, it occurred to me, (during one of my sleepless nights) to have someone inspect the attic on a rainy day. BOOM! The source was found in an unchecked part of the roof, and it was repaired on the next dry day. Hallelujah!

An essential part of homeownership is reinvesting in your property both to maintain its integrity and enjoy it. My next project? Probably a garage organization system by the end of the year. It never ends, does it?