Day 93 - Tuesday

Our painter came yesterday and stained the windows. They look good. I'll be taking pictures later for this. The window and door trim is supposed to be delivered today which presents some issues we'll have to decide on.

Originally we were going to have the finish prestained, so the painter wouldn't have to worry about that. However, since we went with a different color (trim only was available in four that didn't match our cabinet) they are now going to be unfinished. The painter is coming today to varish the windows and work on the other painting, mudroom, outside door and stairwell.

When the trim comes in, he's going to call me and give me a quoate on the labor for these. Here's the dilema, the trim is straight and easy, but there's going to be a lot. I didn't want to do the windows because they were so intricate. I'll have to decide my breaking point with price, because with he and his partner, they'll be able to stain a lot quicker than I would be able to do.

Rick, from OAR, came by yesterday too. He picked up the check and change in project form. I haven't gone into this, but here's a quick synopsis of our scenario. Our drain tile sucks. It's been building up sediment for years and now is halfway plugged with a concrete like lime deposits. Long story short, if we don't get this fixed, there's a possibility that soon, our drainage won't be able to handle any more water. Supposedly we've been lucky. This is something that needs to get done and the consequences of leaving this for the future just doesn't make sense. I have to tear off one of the 'studded' walls leading up to the sump pump crock.

Update on everything else is that cabinet installation is scheduled for next week, hopefully Monday. Please please please God, let them come and finish. I so want my kitchen back.

On Monday it is Day 92

Well, we are at the three month mark since we broke ground on this adventure in building. Since the last post the drywall was completed and sprayed. On Thursday the subfloor was installed and on Saturday the kitchen and dining area got painted. On Tuesday night he's coming back to stain the windows and tomorrow the cabinet installation is going to be scheduled. Is the end in sight?

Day 86 - Sort of new Bathroom

I thought I would tackle the bathroom this Labor Day and finish it once and for all. Ohhhhh...was I wrong on that whole finishing thing. It didn't actually take that long to remove the sink from the crappy old counter top. It was screwed in with some kind of brackets, there was about 20 of them. Once I discovered that removing the keystone bracket would cause the sink to come crashing down on my beautiful face, I enlisted the help of Andi to assist with it's removal.

Once that was gone, it was really just a matter of yanking a little bit and viola, no more counter top. A lot of that old hard ware was a pain the arse to remove, and I bought some turn of the century (not that century the other one) PVC pipe to replace everything. As expected, the wall wasn't square which meant the counter top would have to be shaved a little bit.

This little shaving was actually about 1/2 inch at the thickest, a little more than my belt sander could chew. !#$%, now what? I know, a call to Papa R for some home fixin' advice. The advice was sound and it turned out great. I made a series of small shallow cuts with my scroll saw, and then used a chisel to cut the pieces off. After that, sanding was no biggie. The top fit perfectly.

Now the drama started. The sink went in good, but by this time the boys were waking up and I didn't want to rush things. It turns out that the back splash on the new top was smaller than the old. As you can see, that left a nice space of whiteness that has to be cleaned up. I decided to do this right so I sanded, mudded, smoothed it out, primed (created my own textured prime) and painted with the new color. This all sounds simple, but what I just described happened in a 24 hour period and required me making two trips to Home Depot.

Once I was ready to install the counter top, that went quickly and the boys even helped to level it off. The sink installation required more drama, as it turns out I bought the wrong size braided hose for the faucet connections (double !#@!%). Also, when I went to install the J-pipe to the drain and wall connector, I discovered that connecting a new sink to old plumbing doesn't always connect so well. Another !#%&en trip to the Depot was in order. I didn't know how I was going to bridge a 2 inch gap between the drain and pipe.

The next day (see Ethan and Logan drama) Logan and I went to the Depot yet again and found some nuts, washers, and a bendy connection. It kind of reminded me of a child pop toy. Well, with some handy connections, I managed to decide I was one part short of completing, which meant another trip to the Depot. Tonight, I am glad to say, I didn't need that trip to the Depot, and I have everything installed. It works, no leaks and looks great.

Next weekend, or the weekend after, Andi and I are now inspired to replace the toilet since that is the last piece (forget the tub) to be done.

Day 80 - More stuff

Well, the dry wallers have been here every day. They've totally mudded and sanded the new dry wall. There is dust everywhere. Every day we sweep up dust and every day there is more and more dust. This isn't much fun to take pictures of since there really isn't that cool of progress to show.

We've had a bit of dramma with the fake/missing window in the bathroom. Andi said we were supposed to get a frame and plexiglass window so that we didn't have to worry about how stupid the tile work looked with a missing window. Well, it looks like the dry wall dudes got a little over zealous. They threw away the window and dry walled up the hole. Now it looks dumb and they've allready mudded and sanded, so apparently we're commited to this now. Kevin (from OAR) seemed to feel bad about this since it wasn't what they told us would happen. It sounds like either way OAR is going to work with us to get it right and that makes me feel good.

Today they also opened up the doorway in the basement and straightened up the edge. Now the opening is a lot cleaner. There's also a giant PVC pipe in the basement, presumably for plumbing.

And, good news! Our cabinets were delivered today. I wanted to post pictures of them, but sadly (and for a good reason) they're all boxed up. They fill up an entire parking space in our garage from floor to cieling. Perhaps when they prime the walls we'll have some pictures.

Day 78 - Dry Wall

Right when we were leaving this morning (6:45am), I noticed a flat bed truck drive by, heading east, with a huge load of dry wall on it. I knew this week they were supposed to deliver the dry wall, but I didn't think anything of it. Then, as we were pulling out of the drive way, the same truck sped past the house, going west.

As we caught up with the truck after our u-turn, they too, performed another u-turn and started heading east again. They pulled over and stopped to check addresses presumably. Andi and I both stopped (in separate cars) and thought that maybe they were looking for our house. Well, we just assumed they would eventually find their way.

They must have found their way, because when we came home, there were walls! Dust too. There are little white foot prints all over the house and dust every where. I imagine the dust will only increase after they mud and sand. However, right now it's looking like it's shaping up rather quickly. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, if anything.
Here's the back door/mudroom.




















The new eating area.














Looking east towards drive way. This will be the majority of cabinets, sink, stove and island.

Living Room Pictures

Here are pics from our painting project on Friday. The light and table are going at some point; we need an area rug, new throw pillows, install the cellular shades; move some furniture and not all the pictures are hung. But, for the most part, everything is done now.

Day 76

We got installation earlier this week (Wednesday) and, well, that's it. I've been told drywall should be expected next week. I guess with the crazy amount of rain that we've gotten in the last week that we got gutters before the drops began to fall. I'm getting anxious for this to get done.

Last week I got it in my head that I was going to get the living room painted and done. We taped at night and during naps (we aren't all that great at painting, taping is necessary and we do it in excess). Friday the boys spent the day with my parents and I painted. Brian came home early and we were pretty much done by bed time. The furniture has been rearranged and it looks awesome. We are so pleased. Tonight we hung the new curtains and I love it. It won't be completely done until we can move the table into the new kitchen and move (or sell) the hutch (haven't made a decision yet on that one), purchase a new area rug, and hang pictures. Most of that won't be done until the kitchen is done.