We Purchase Sink #3

If you recall, we returned the first stainless steal sink for a higher quality stainless steal sink. This weekend we were at a friend's house and saw their sink. I need that sink. They weren't
quite sure of the material but described it to us. Today Brian spoke to Stephanie, our designer, and they determined it's probably Swanstone. So, even though I stayed home sick today I was well enough to go purchase/order a new sink. Swanstone is a middle of the road solid surface material...not as expensive as granite or Corian, but a huge step above stainless steal.

Since the dealer is going to work with our designer and bill her it's a done deal. No more debating! Counter tops are going to be ordered tomorrow or the next day (they are waiting on the specs of the sink, hence why I was well enough to go buy a sink). Our project manager asked me where all the other items were like dishwasher, hood, lights, garbage disposal...maybe the end is in sight?

CABINETS!!!

Friday evening we got a call letting us know that a crew would be out Saturday morning to install our cabinets! This was exciting because we thought the install was Monday (so now maybe something else will happen on Monday?). It's much easier to visualize the finished product now!



Here is where our refrigerator will be housed along with the microwave. The microwave is going to have a "built in" look.
This is one feature that I wanted in our new cabinetry...garbage/recycling bins that are built in. Currently, our garbage is in a hall closet near the "old" back door. While this wasn't terribly inconvenient in the old kitchen, it is a considerable walk from the new kitchen to the old garbage. Ah...yet another closet in this house that will be freed up as a result of the addition! I haven't yet decided what's going to become of that closet.
After seeing how large the corner cabinet is with the lazy Susan, Brian and I both commented on how this is approximately how much space was in our old kitchen. I really believe I could put the contents of the old kitchen on those two shelves!

Last night we were at a friend's newly built house and I took notice of their sink. It's made of a material that I haven't seen before and I think I'm ready to return sink #2 and purchase sink #3. I'm just hoping that if it's something we need to order we'll be able to get it in time so we don't hold anything up in terms of installation. The research begins today to find out what kind of sink it is!

Day 93 - Wednesday

I just got a call from our HVAC guy. They're at the house right now setting up all of the heating ducts, ventilation, A/C and gas pipes. I hope when we come home today we'll have working A/C. What sucks about this right now is that it's been in the 60's all this week, getting down to the low 40's at night. Hello fall!

Perhaps, we'll have one more scorcher so we can use the A/C just to say we did.

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.