| The Process cont. Pg. 28 |
| February 16, 2009 3 Years and 156 Days |
Since the last entry the builders have finished pretty much everything they were scheduled to do except install the
door leading into the existing house. That door was the wrong size. It seems back when I first framed everything (
several years ago) I was planning on a 32 inch door and framed that out. Now when I ordered the new door I went
with a 36 inch door. Oops! So now I have an extra door as you can not return special ordered doors. I am sure we
will use it somewhere else in the future, most likely in Pattie potting shed.
During the last few weeks I have been busy. I varnished the entire banister and only have a small section (one days
work) to finish a second coat on and then I will be done with that project. I also drilled all the holes for the electrician
to run the wiring through, cut through the old exterior wall to connect the Breezeway to the Music room. Then I
started to frame the interior walls. The closet and the wall that separates the attic from Patties room above the
garage in the Carriage house. I also started to build and paint the outside trim work for the windows and doors in
the breezeway. This way we can insulate the room once the wiring is done as it is cold in the music room being
connected to an unheated and uninsulated room with no door. We currently have a double folded comforter
keeping some of the cold air out of house.
So tomorrow promises to be a busy day either the electrician will show up and we will be wiring or I will be working
on outdoor trim work and then trying to finish the staircase. Now that is a project i am looking forward to finishing!
door leading into the existing house. That door was the wrong size. It seems back when I first framed everything (
several years ago) I was planning on a 32 inch door and framed that out. Now when I ordered the new door I went
with a 36 inch door. Oops! So now I have an extra door as you can not return special ordered doors. I am sure we
will use it somewhere else in the future, most likely in Pattie potting shed.
During the last few weeks I have been busy. I varnished the entire banister and only have a small section (one days
work) to finish a second coat on and then I will be done with that project. I also drilled all the holes for the electrician
to run the wiring through, cut through the old exterior wall to connect the Breezeway to the Music room. Then I
started to frame the interior walls. The closet and the wall that separates the attic from Patties room above the
garage in the Carriage house. I also started to build and paint the outside trim work for the windows and doors in
the breezeway. This way we can insulate the room once the wiring is done as it is cold in the music room being
connected to an unheated and uninsulated room with no door. We currently have a double folded comforter
keeping some of the cold air out of house.
So tomorrow promises to be a busy day either the electrician will show up and we will be wiring or I will be working
on outdoor trim work and then trying to finish the staircase. Now that is a project i am looking forward to finishing!
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| February 18,2009 3 Years and 158 Days |
I am entering this note on the process to officially announce the completion of the staircase. As with the plaster
finishing this boring and long project was the highlight of the project. I am now busy painting the trim in the Media
Room which is another job I am not looking forward to. It seems I am always painting and yet I hate painting. If I ever
win the lottery I will hire out all painting from that day on. The media room has seven windows, three window seats
and trim work covering a room that is 20 feet wide by 38 feet long. This too will be a long process but once finished
I will be only a week or two away from finishing Phase One. Now that will be a cause for a celebration and at least a
beer or two!
finishing this boring and long project was the highlight of the project. I am now busy painting the trim in the Media
Room which is another job I am not looking forward to. It seems I am always painting and yet I hate painting. If I ever
win the lottery I will hire out all painting from that day on. The media room has seven windows, three window seats
and trim work covering a room that is 20 feet wide by 38 feet long. This too will be a long process but once finished
I will be only a week or two away from finishing Phase One. Now that will be a cause for a celebration and at least a
beer or two!
| February 25, 2009 3 Years and 165 days |
The only problem with saying something will only take a week or two is that sometimes it takes several weeks before I
am able to work on that particular project again. Thus is the case with painting the remaining trim work. I have been
spending the last few free days working on the Breezeway and Carriage House. Yesterday I spent the entire day
working with the Electrician drilling holes and running wires. We did get a lot accomplished yesterday. A little tip if
phone and kept him working at a full pace all day long.
We received the correct size door yesterday and the new window sash. I installed the new sash yesterday afternoon
and now we have a six over six window on the second floor of the Carriage House like I designed.
The plumber also showed up yesterday although much later than planned and then forgot his tools at another job
site, so needless to say he did not accomplish much He now is scheduled to try again next Tuesday.
I hope to be able to start insulating on Sunday, however that depends on the electrician finishing up and how quickly
I can get to work on the project since my Mom is coming up to visit Sunday afternoon.
am able to work on that particular project again. Thus is the case with painting the remaining trim work. I have been
spending the last few free days working on the Breezeway and Carriage House. Yesterday I spent the entire day
working with the Electrician drilling holes and running wires. We did get a lot accomplished yesterday. A little tip if
phone and kept him working at a full pace all day long.
We received the correct size door yesterday and the new window sash. I installed the new sash yesterday afternoon
and now we have a six over six window on the second floor of the Carriage House like I designed.
The plumber also showed up yesterday although much later than planned and then forgot his tools at another job
site, so needless to say he did not accomplish much He now is scheduled to try again next Tuesday.
I hope to be able to start insulating on Sunday, however that depends on the electrician finishing up and how quickly
I can get to work on the project since my Mom is coming up to visit Sunday afternoon.
| March 2, 2009 3 Years & 170 Days |
We now have power in the garage part of the Carriage House. All the rough electrical has been wired throughout
the addition and I have insulated as much of the breezeway as I can. I am waiting to hear from the security company
to set up a time to wire the alarms and then I will be able to finish insulating. John the sheet rocker came over
Sunday to measure and will get back to me with a price. Julien was suppose to be here today to install the door and
finish up with the steps etc. But it is snowing at 2 inches an hour so I do not expect them to make the trip today. I
was planning on painting the stairway in the original house on Tuesday in prep for the carpet that is on order, but
thanks to this storm I will be at work clearing the lot. I am anxious to get this project completed, but in some ways I
would like to take it a bit slower. One being the tightening economy and the other being I really do not need a lot of
stress added to my life needlessly right at this moment. So I am not pushing any of the contractors and I am just
moving along at their pace. What ever that may be.
the addition and I have insulated as much of the breezeway as I can. I am waiting to hear from the security company
to set up a time to wire the alarms and then I will be able to finish insulating. John the sheet rocker came over
Sunday to measure and will get back to me with a price. Julien was suppose to be here today to install the door and
finish up with the steps etc. But it is snowing at 2 inches an hour so I do not expect them to make the trip today. I
was planning on painting the stairway in the original house on Tuesday in prep for the carpet that is on order, but
thanks to this storm I will be at work clearing the lot. I am anxious to get this project completed, but in some ways I
would like to take it a bit slower. One being the tightening economy and the other being I really do not need a lot of
stress added to my life needlessly right at this moment. So I am not pushing any of the contractors and I am just
moving along at their pace. What ever that may be.
| March 4, 2009 Day 1268 |
Yesterday was not one of the better days, but we have had worse. The Security people showed up and they are all
set to install the system but we are still waiting on the date they can install.
Julien's crew showed up to install the door and while they were doing that I heard noises from the Carriage House
and found one of the workers getting ready to install the extra banister which we never got a price quote on from
Julien nor did we say to go ahead and build it. We had decided to go a different route, but there it was already to be
installed so I had to stop that project. I was fortunate to catch him before any holes were cut in the floor Etc. Then
they had not been told about the supports needed under the entry doors and did not have the pressure treated
wood needed for that. Luckily I was able to find some pressure treated wood in my barn that we were able to use.
After they left I noticed they never chipped out the drain in the garage floor so now I will have to try and locate the
exact spot and chip it out myself.
The plumber showed up around 1:00PM a little later than promised again but it is their busy time(winter). He made a
joke saying he guaranteed to get more work done this time than his last visit (since he got nothing done at all last
time) and I joked back "unless you take something a part and don't put it back together it should be a pretty safe
guarantee". This morning we had no hot water and I had to call him to come fix the work that he had done.
Port City flooring called to let us know that the tile we wanted was discontinued. Now we need to find something else
and everything in the room was planned on that tile which is a 3/4 inch thickness, so that will throw everything off if
we can not find a tile which is at least 5/8 inch thick. Plus the whole design was based off that tile so that put things in
a bit off a tail spin yesterday.
On the bright side I was able to get a primer coat and first coat of paint on the second floor stairs and a final coat of
paint of the first floor stairs. So they are ready for the carpet which hopefully will go in Tuesday.
Here is to a better day the next time I work on the place and to us finding a tile that will work.
set to install the system but we are still waiting on the date they can install.
Julien's crew showed up to install the door and while they were doing that I heard noises from the Carriage House
and found one of the workers getting ready to install the extra banister which we never got a price quote on from
Julien nor did we say to go ahead and build it. We had decided to go a different route, but there it was already to be
installed so I had to stop that project. I was fortunate to catch him before any holes were cut in the floor Etc. Then
they had not been told about the supports needed under the entry doors and did not have the pressure treated
wood needed for that. Luckily I was able to find some pressure treated wood in my barn that we were able to use.
After they left I noticed they never chipped out the drain in the garage floor so now I will have to try and locate the
exact spot and chip it out myself.
The plumber showed up around 1:00PM a little later than promised again but it is their busy time(winter). He made a
joke saying he guaranteed to get more work done this time than his last visit (since he got nothing done at all last
time) and I joked back "unless you take something a part and don't put it back together it should be a pretty safe
guarantee". This morning we had no hot water and I had to call him to come fix the work that he had done.
Port City flooring called to let us know that the tile we wanted was discontinued. Now we need to find something else
and everything in the room was planned on that tile which is a 3/4 inch thickness, so that will throw everything off if
we can not find a tile which is at least 5/8 inch thick. Plus the whole design was based off that tile so that put things in
a bit off a tail spin yesterday.
On the bright side I was able to get a primer coat and first coat of paint on the second floor stairs and a final coat of
paint of the first floor stairs. So they are ready for the carpet which hopefully will go in Tuesday.
Here is to a better day the next time I work on the place and to us finding a tile that will work.
| March 8, 2009 3 years and 176 Days |
Today I was able to officially declare the stairways done. Friday and Saturday night I painted the stairway to the third
floor and today I repainted the second floor hallway as the paint was thin in some areas and I was not satisfied with
the quality. So now the entire route up the two sets of stairs is done with the carpet being installed on Tuesday. I
hope to provide some pictures on Wednesday. As with every project it is a mild victory when it is finished and now I
move on to the next project. I am directing my attention to finishing the original house and then I will move to the
Carriage House.
As for the Carriage House even when I am not working on it full force there is still work being done. The plumber has
begun hooking up the pipes for the drain in the garage area which I will use for washing our cars. He is also
expected to get us some heat in the Breezeway soon.
The Security people are scheduled to be here Tuesday for wiring the alarm system and then I will be able to finish
the insulating. I still need to talk with Julien as he has to tell me where the exact area of the drain is because they left
with out chipping out the cement and I will need to do that and I do not want to chip away in the wrong area.
floor and today I repainted the second floor hallway as the paint was thin in some areas and I was not satisfied with
the quality. So now the entire route up the two sets of stairs is done with the carpet being installed on Tuesday. I
hope to provide some pictures on Wednesday. As with every project it is a mild victory when it is finished and now I
move on to the next project. I am directing my attention to finishing the original house and then I will move to the
Carriage House.
As for the Carriage House even when I am not working on it full force there is still work being done. The plumber has
begun hooking up the pipes for the drain in the garage area which I will use for washing our cars. He is also
expected to get us some heat in the Breezeway soon.
The Security people are scheduled to be here Tuesday for wiring the alarm system and then I will be able to finish
the insulating. I still need to talk with Julien as he has to tell me where the exact area of the drain is because they left
with out chipping out the cement and I will need to do that and I do not want to chip away in the wrong area.
