Looks the same to me - it just costs a lot of money. Perhaps I am not taking this basement seriously! The french drain has started to go in the basement and so has the "special dirt". It really is special, but I don't know why, and I honestly don't really care. One thing that Eric and I have learned in this process - it is good that I am in new business because it suits my way of thinking rather than the super detailed work of actually accomplishing the project. I guess it is good that I am going in the right career direction!
Upstairs, siding is going up over the previous window holes. Eric and I will have to paint the whole house this summer. Since we can't do the outside right now, we will paint everything just so it is fresh and matching. Then some day we will finish.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Dear Mom...
I know you look every day (some times twice), and I have taken the whole weekend off. I needed a break. And no work occurred. Hopefully you will forgive me!
Love,
Your daughter who does not blog often enough
Love,
Your daughter who does not blog often enough
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope everyone has a great holiday. We will be spending it with Eric's parents, brother and sister. I am so excited! Also I just really want a day off work.
We have much to be thankful for this year. First, of course, the best thing that has happened to us this year is Eric's cochlear implant surgery. One can never overestimate what a life changing surgery that is. Then, we are thankful to be able to work on our house and hopeful that some day it will be more than a shell. Finally, we have the best family ever!
We have much to be thankful for this year. First, of course, the best thing that has happened to us this year is Eric's cochlear implant surgery. One can never overestimate what a life changing surgery that is. Then, we are thankful to be able to work on our house and hopeful that some day it will be more than a shell. Finally, we have the best family ever!
Wednesday status
It has been a bit of a slower week with the holiday. Seriously, it is hard to take good pictures now so you will have to forgive the lack of them.
All the windows are in, and the sliding door in the living room is in. Two more sliding doors remain to be installed. The new windows are so nice.
The electrician is starting today. It will be nice to have more electricity in the house again. The simple things!
The basement is completely dug out now, and the soils engineer is satisified. Our contractor is in Dallas for the holiday so that work won't restart til Monday.
A trench has been started from the main electric line to the house. We will be burying that electric line, which will be nice. Evidently our neighbors have discussed burying the main line in the past, and we are going to try to get them interested in this again. The lines go right through our view so it would be a good change.
All the windows are in, and the sliding door in the living room is in. Two more sliding doors remain to be installed. The new windows are so nice.
The electrician is starting today. It will be nice to have more electricity in the house again. The simple things!
The basement is completely dug out now, and the soils engineer is satisified. Our contractor is in Dallas for the holiday so that work won't restart til Monday.
A trench has been started from the main electric line to the house. We will be burying that electric line, which will be nice. Evidently our neighbors have discussed burying the main line in the past, and we are going to try to get them interested in this again. The lines go right through our view so it would be a good change.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 21: More new windows and a very empty basement
Some of the dirt from the basement in the driveway. I feel like my house is going to be trashed forever.
The basement dug out. They are about 75% done to 18 inches. We have some very hard-working guys helping us out here.
The new windows in the living room and dining room. They are really nice! All 3 sliding doors are left upstairs, the dining room side window, the master bedroom/bathroom windows.
The basement dug out. They are about 75% done to 18 inches. We have some very hard-working guys helping us out here.
The new windows in the living room and dining room. They are really nice! All 3 sliding doors are left upstairs, the dining room side window, the master bedroom/bathroom windows.
Thursday, November 18 - The first windows
Same windows as yesterday except with windows! I am so excited about the windows. They look great, and they actually work!
Eric was excited to see the mountain view out the living room. We miss our view.
Eric was excited to see the mountain view out the living room. We miss our view.
Wednesday, November 17 - getting ready for new windows
Eric looking through the new window in the guest bathroom. Left two windows are in the bathroom and right one is in the stairwell. This window hole was originally the living room window right next to the front door.
Tuesday, November 16
Framed kitchen wall with long expanse of cabinets. Eric is appalled at the number of cabinets. I keep telling him that you can never have enough cabinets (or closet space either!). The main floor is fully framed now.
Breakfast nook to the left (with new sliding door to go in) and living room sliding door to the right (new door but original hole). They have not taken out the outside brick on the new sliding door (although that is all that is left there), which I find silly. Of course I should be thankful for the brick because it blocks some of the wind blowing through our cold house. I will be happy to have the house closed in!
Breakfast nook to the left (with new sliding door to go in) and living room sliding door to the right (new door but original hole). They have not taken out the outside brick on the new sliding door (although that is all that is left there), which I find silly. Of course I should be thankful for the brick because it blocks some of the wind blowing through our cold house. I will be happy to have the house closed in!
A couple of days
In remodeling time, being off the blog for a couple of days probably feels like an eternity. It was a hard week with work stresses and big house decisions to be made. I think it all just affected me.
Eric and I have done remodeling on our own before we were married. The pace of having a general contractor is quite remarkable - both good and bad. I think we were quite naive about the effects of this on us mentally. I suppose if one did know though they would never do it!
Last week we decided to take out the basement floor and have a soils engineer come look at our soil to try to make a good slab that will last well. Not surprisingly at all, he did not like our soil. So we have had to dig out 18 inches of the soil in the basement. Then they will refill with "good" dirt and install and french drain (I have no idea what that means!) with radon mitigation system. It is the right thing to do given the work we are doing to the house, but it is stressful to hear these things about our house.
I have taken some pictures this week so I include those next.
Eric and I have done remodeling on our own before we were married. The pace of having a general contractor is quite remarkable - both good and bad. I think we were quite naive about the effects of this on us mentally. I suppose if one did know though they would never do it!
Last week we decided to take out the basement floor and have a soils engineer come look at our soil to try to make a good slab that will last well. Not surprisingly at all, he did not like our soil. So we have had to dig out 18 inches of the soil in the basement. Then they will refill with "good" dirt and install and french drain (I have no idea what that means!) with radon mitigation system. It is the right thing to do given the work we are doing to the house, but it is stressful to hear these things about our house.
I have taken some pictures this week so I include those next.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
New Windows
This morning on the way to work we saw the Marvin semi at the window store. And our windows were on the semi!! They will be delivered on Thursday. I am sure all the guys will look forward to have the house closed in - it is super cold in there now.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday's progress
Progress is not so dramatic today although I expect that our real dramatic days are mostly done. Plywood was put on the outside of the house where the new windows will be smaller. Inside the informal dining the interior wall was taken out. There will be a new sliding door to the deck in that room rather than a window. Seeing the exterior brick on the inside is funny. Downstairs the rafters were cut in preparation for the family room beam. That beam will be in the ceiling. In the shop the beam will be lower.
In principle, the new windows and sliding glass doors should come in tomorrow. This project started because we wanted new windows, and we thought it would be a good idea to have a full house plan before we did that. Ha - we were so innocent then!
In principle, the new windows and sliding glass doors should come in tomorrow. This project started because we wanted new windows, and we thought it would be a good idea to have a full house plan before we did that. Ha - we were so innocent then!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Pictures: Sunday November 14
Master bathroom, my closet (!!) and coat closet as viewed from informal dining room.
The rubble that is our basement. The walls are actually holding up the main floor right now until the new beams go in. I am remarkably calm about this stuff!
The cleanest our driveway has looked in the last 2 weeks!
The rubble that is our basement. The walls are actually holding up the main floor right now until the new beams go in. I am remarkably calm about this stuff!
The cleanest our driveway has looked in the last 2 weeks!
Pictures: Friday November 12
Framed walls for the powder room and guest bedroom. Note those window sizes will change.
View of the back of the house with newly framed window openings
View of the back of the house with newly framed window openings
Weekend progress
Eric is over working at the very cold house, and I am at work. Darn!
Yesterday, we got some more walls - master bathroom, my closet, coat closet. We now see the shape of the foyer, which is exciting. The big wall along the back length for the kitchen has not gone up yet, which is why the full master bedroom is not done. We have to be exact in that wall with the refrigerator placement as it will be recessed (to create the look of a built-in refrigerator without the $$ for it!).
The basement wall is also fully out between the original house and the shop. New beams will go in there, and the shop/family room will flip 90 degrees from original plan. This will allow an outside door to the family room plus a wider family room.
Without any walls in the house, the house seemed small. It was a very strange feeling. It is so, so exciting to see the walls go up and get a sense of the size of the spaces.
Yesterday, Eric and I had a more relaxing day. We finally rearranged the basement a little bit. I brought way too much stuff over, but it is really hard to pack for 4 months! And we cleaned up (laundry, vacuum etc). I know that does not sound fun (well it wasn't fun!), but it is much more liveable down there now. We also went to a lighting store to get started on a lighting design. Electrician is to start after Thankgiving so we need to get that done. It was a good visit, and it was good to get started!
Lastly, I know everyone (MOM) wants pictures. I will download tonight. I still have not found the camera cord - could be anywhere!
Yesterday, we got some more walls - master bathroom, my closet, coat closet. We now see the shape of the foyer, which is exciting. The big wall along the back length for the kitchen has not gone up yet, which is why the full master bedroom is not done. We have to be exact in that wall with the refrigerator placement as it will be recessed (to create the look of a built-in refrigerator without the $$ for it!).
The basement wall is also fully out between the original house and the shop. New beams will go in there, and the shop/family room will flip 90 degrees from original plan. This will allow an outside door to the family room plus a wider family room.
Without any walls in the house, the house seemed small. It was a very strange feeling. It is so, so exciting to see the walls go up and get a sense of the size of the spaces.
Yesterday, Eric and I had a more relaxing day. We finally rearranged the basement a little bit. I brought way too much stuff over, but it is really hard to pack for 4 months! And we cleaned up (laundry, vacuum etc). I know that does not sound fun (well it wasn't fun!), but it is much more liveable down there now. We also went to a lighting store to get started on a lighting design. Electrician is to start after Thankgiving so we need to get that done. It was a good visit, and it was good to get started!
Lastly, I know everyone (MOM) wants pictures. I will download tonight. I still have not found the camera cord - could be anywhere!
Friday, November 12, 2010
We have walls!
I have been having a real cruddy day at work so I asked Eric to take me to our house. And... we have walls! Okay a few walls. So the guest room and powder room have been framed upstairs. Tomorrow they will frame the master suite side of the house. It is so exciting to see stuff going up.
On the down side, the basement is still a very scary place. I have never been in love with basements, and right now, ours is living up to that feeling! The wall however between the house and the workshop is coming out. Still lots of work to get to the point of framing down there.
On the down side, the basement is still a very scary place. I have never been in love with basements, and right now, ours is living up to that feeling! The wall however between the house and the workshop is coming out. Still lots of work to get to the point of framing down there.
Thursday's progress
Eric and I went over about 4 yesterday so we could actually see the house in some light. Much better than going after work! The new subfloor is done upstairs, and it is very nice. The basement floor demo is done. WOW - that is messy business. The windows in the carport are framed (to be removed - yippeee! I hated having windows into the carport). Framing for the living room/dining room windows is done. Those windows are actually going to be smaller (they were floor to ceiling) so that we can actually have some insulation in those rooms and to make the floor plan more useable. Given my love of the sun, I was a bit worried that I would not like the smaller windows. Seeing the framing though I am completely happy with our decision to go smaller (Thankfully!).
I must say we are really glad that 1. we are doing the inside all at once and 2. we are not living there. I don't think one really appreciates how messy remodeling is until you see it like this!
I must say we are really glad that 1. we are doing the inside all at once and 2. we are not living there. I don't think one really appreciates how messy remodeling is until you see it like this!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Last Crazy Angle - GONE!!!
Lots of work done yesterday. First, the stairs were taken out. So the last crazy angle in that house is gone! For those of you who were never in our old home, the entryway was filled with about 5 different and strange angles. New subfloor was started upstairs. Location for the new stairs was laid out. About half the basement floor was jackhammered out. Yikes! The three back facing windows in the living room were reframed. The sliding door in the living room was taken out.
We have gotten a bit of snow here, and it is cold. We like to call our house open and airy right now and it is!
We have gotten a bit of snow here, and it is cold. We like to call our house open and airy right now and it is!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A Big Crane
Pictures of the big crane for our big beam. The crane was a big hit with the two-year-old across the street.
Crane in the driveway
Crane view from the back
Crane in the driveway
Crane view from the back
New Beam
The beam is in between the kitchen and sunroom, and thankfully, the roof is back up on the sunroom because we are currently getting our first snowstorm. The guys are going to be chilly this week while working! I did get some pictures of the crane that came on Monday to install the beam, which I will try to download tonight. It will be harder to do pictures now with the time change. I am so excited to have the sunroom be part of the house because it really is the best room in the house.
So then the question comes - when do we start changing the names of rooms from the old to the new. Since we have no walls, we are starting now. The old sunroom is the new living room and dining room. Anyway, it is confusing!
So then the question comes - when do we start changing the names of rooms from the old to the new. Since we have no walls, we are starting now. The old sunroom is the new living room and dining room. Anyway, it is confusing!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
New Photos
No work this weekend except that first draft of our kitchen design. We are quite happy with it. I can't wait to have a new kitchen (even if it will be awhile!).
Some new pictures from the house taken in slightly better light. It is really hard to take pictures when the sunroom is so bright and the main house so dark. Tomorrow the new beam between the sunroom and kitchen goes in.
Some new pictures from the house taken in slightly better light. It is really hard to take pictures when the sunroom is so bright and the main house so dark. Tomorrow the new beam between the sunroom and kitchen goes in.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Day 5
No pictures today as there was not exciting progress. Of course that is in comparison to the entire week. WOW!
Lots of cleanup everywhere. Also the windows that are going to change size in the sunroom were taken out. We are actually making some of the windows smaller so that we can control the temperature better while still having the best possible view. I think it will be a good trade. There is not much left to the sunroom right now.
Here's to a restful weekend. We need it now for sure!
Lots of cleanup everywhere. Also the windows that are going to change size in the sunroom were taken out. We are actually making some of the windows smaller so that we can control the temperature better while still having the best possible view. I think it will be a good trade. There is not much left to the sunroom right now.
Here's to a restful weekend. We need it now for sure!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Blue Sky Day (Day 4)
When we first started to work with Elliott, the contractor, he said to me that I needed to be prepared for a day when I would come in our house, and I would see blue sky. Today was the day.
Why do we have blue sky? The sunroom and workshop were an addition done in the early 1990s. However, this addition was never really a part of the house. In our new house, the sunroom will be the living room and dining. A beam will replace the original wall between the house and addition. It is a 27-ft, 2,000 lb beam. The sunroom roof had to be taken off to put in the beam. After the beam is in, then the roof will be replaced.
Today's rubble pile...
In the sunroom looking up and into the house with nice blue sky.
Looking at the sunroom from the front door. Note the new wall studs are currently holding up the house in preparation for the new beam.
Diagonal house picture again from the master bedroom.
Why do we have blue sky? The sunroom and workshop were an addition done in the early 1990s. However, this addition was never really a part of the house. In our new house, the sunroom will be the living room and dining. A beam will replace the original wall between the house and addition. It is a 27-ft, 2,000 lb beam. The sunroom roof had to be taken off to put in the beam. After the beam is in, then the roof will be replaced.
Today's rubble pile...
In the sunroom looking up and into the house with nice blue sky.
Looking at the sunroom from the front door. Note the new wall studs are currently holding up the house in preparation for the new beam.
Diagonal house picture again from the master bedroom.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Third Day
Eric and I were elecction judges yesterday. It was a super long day! Eric did go over to the house while I returned the ballots, but it was too dark to see anything. He did say however that he could see windows in every direction from the front door (so no more walls upstairs!).
So in days 2 and 3 all the rest of the upstairs was taken out. The attic insulation was removed. The biggest change - the removal of the fireplace! This also means that I had a sky view within the house. I am very calm about that though because the house is completely empty.
The remains of the fireplace
Sky picture in the former fireplace!
First floor as viewed from one corner. It is an open floor plan now!
So in days 2 and 3 all the rest of the upstairs was taken out. The attic insulation was removed. The biggest change - the removal of the fireplace! This also means that I had a sky view within the house. I am very calm about that though because the house is completely empty.
The remains of the fireplace
Sky picture in the former fireplace!
First floor as viewed from one corner. It is an open floor plan now!
First Day!
Our fantastic contractor started worked on Monday, November 1. We did move everything out of the house after 4 hard days of work. Only thing left in the house - the furnace! When we got to the house on Monday night, we discovered a completely full dumpster. Everything downstairs was out, and the kitchen was out upstairs (including walls).
Full Dumpster
Kitchen without walls and cabinets
Basement - just before my camera ran out of battery
Full Dumpster
Kitchen without walls and cabinets
Basement - just before my camera ran out of battery
Eric gets into the remodeling action...
First item out of the house - the kitchen island. We had to take out the island in order to get the appliances out. Yes, the previous owners had built the kitchen island after the refrigerator was put in the kitchen. Eric was so excited to get into it.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Work Begins!
Eric and I stopped by our home this morning on the way to work, and the gutting had begun! It is very exciting and dusty too! I took a whole bunch of before pictures yesterday, which I will post eventually. Eric and I are election judges tomorrow, and our day will be from 5:30 AM to after 7 PM. Quite uncivilized.
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