The Master Bathroom.
Loft Area, the new dormer seen in a previous post.
The masterbedroom. Cieling looks low because door is so tall but room is spacious 8ft.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Some Attic photos as it progresses
The Master Bathroom.
Loft Area, the new dormer seen in a previous post.
The masterbedroom. Cieling looks low because door is so tall but room is spacious 8ft.
What happened to the attic?
Sometimes things do change. The attic project has dragged on for fifteen months. Sometimes it has moved along and at a couple points I threw my hands up in disgust in private and said I quit. At one time I'd thought we could be done by the 4th of July which came and went. After spending what seemed like every spare minute up there and feeling helpless I would get very frustrated.
Occasionally a brother would come by and help and a small burst of progress would occur. The long and the short of it was I needed someone to help me lift and shlep drywall. I couldn't manhandle 4 by 8 and 4 by 10, not to mention 4 by 12 5/8th thick drywall by myself.
When I had to rip out the tile floor that my mother and I had layed in the bathroom because of mistakes I had made I went into a depressive tail spin. I shut the door on the attic and walked away pretending it did not exist.
Then my nephew introduced me to a friend of his and I had an employee to help me on Saturdays. My new friend Dave and I got most of the drywall up and began taping. My friend Steve also came by and did some mudding too. Things were looking better and hope returned.
A few weekends ago I went up to see my Amish door maker fearing the doors would have been done long ago. They were not but my visit appears to have spurred him on as he has called two or three times with clarifying questions regarding trim work. So I began to worry that I was going to need to find a place to store the doors until things were ready to go in.
Last Wednesday after two previous false starts my brother and two of his crew came up to help out. The two crew have put in two long days and I have been retired to role of onlooker and contractor. It is easier and suits me well. The crew have drywalled the attic crevices far better than I would have and used up much of the scrap. A layer of mud or plaster has been applied almost everywhere.
The space is looking like rooms and the attic is disappearing. We are shopping for paint and flooring tomorrow.
Occasionally a brother would come by and help and a small burst of progress would occur. The long and the short of it was I needed someone to help me lift and shlep drywall. I couldn't manhandle 4 by 8 and 4 by 10, not to mention 4 by 12 5/8th thick drywall by myself.
When I had to rip out the tile floor that my mother and I had layed in the bathroom because of mistakes I had made I went into a depressive tail spin. I shut the door on the attic and walked away pretending it did not exist.
Then my nephew introduced me to a friend of his and I had an employee to help me on Saturdays. My new friend Dave and I got most of the drywall up and began taping. My friend Steve also came by and did some mudding too. Things were looking better and hope returned.
A few weekends ago I went up to see my Amish door maker fearing the doors would have been done long ago. They were not but my visit appears to have spurred him on as he has called two or three times with clarifying questions regarding trim work. So I began to worry that I was going to need to find a place to store the doors until things were ready to go in.
Last Wednesday after two previous false starts my brother and two of his crew came up to help out. The two crew have put in two long days and I have been retired to role of onlooker and contractor. It is easier and suits me well. The crew have drywalled the attic crevices far better than I would have and used up much of the scrap. A layer of mud or plaster has been applied almost everywhere.
The space is looking like rooms and the attic is disappearing. We are shopping for paint and flooring tomorrow.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Hurry up and wait is contagious
February is flying by and life continues to be busy. The attic project is stalled sort of. We are ready to drywall--except duct work needs to be run before it goes up. So it is kind of hurry up and wait. it took a while to get the recommended guy in town over then his quote was late. All that makes me a bit uneasy. In any case We said make it so. I have wired everything that I can except for putting in the fire alarm boxes and two plugs.
They aren't done simply because of laziness. The logic goes, "Well the furnace and air handling system isn't in so there is no rush as once I call the brothers to drywall it is going to take awhile to get on the radar." Brian called and said he would bring a couple of his workers an tools. I suspect that we will be able to finish hanging the dry wall in the weekend. Might even get the tape up if enough relatives show up.
Motivation is further dampened by the fact that it is hurry up and wait on the quote for replacement windows in what will be the master bedroom. I thought these might be difficulty to get as I want to preserve the small triangle pattern in the look. We may also be seeing our first somewhat unforeseen/unplanned increase in scope as the window guy said something like, "I could get you a quote on opening casements to replace those rotting fixed windows." And someone else said, "Ooh cross ventilation. I love it! Lets check it out."
Claire on the other hand has already redecorated and furnished the place in her head. In fact she may already be renovating the renovation.
They aren't done simply because of laziness. The logic goes, "Well the furnace and air handling system isn't in so there is no rush as once I call the brothers to drywall it is going to take awhile to get on the radar." Brian called and said he would bring a couple of his workers an tools. I suspect that we will be able to finish hanging the dry wall in the weekend. Might even get the tape up if enough relatives show up.
Motivation is further dampened by the fact that it is hurry up and wait on the quote for replacement windows in what will be the master bedroom. I thought these might be difficulty to get as I want to preserve the small triangle pattern in the look. We may also be seeing our first somewhat unforeseen/unplanned increase in scope as the window guy said something like, "I could get you a quote on opening casements to replace those rotting fixed windows." And someone else said, "Ooh cross ventilation. I love it! Lets check it out."
Claire on the other hand has already redecorated and furnished the place in her head. In fact she may already be renovating the renovation.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Construction Photos
So this is the South end of the attic. The second photo shows the project after two days of work has been completed by the crew.
This is the view out the new window opening
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Raising the Roof
When we were looking at houses almost nine years ago we looked at two in the neighborhood. I liked the Victorian behind us and my wife liked the bungalow in which we live. I was convinced to accept the bungalow by the walk up attic which I envisioned containing a Master bedroom suite and a spare room/storage.
My wife and I both liked the three dormers on the house and felt an additional one coming off the back of the house would open up, lighten and, provide ventilation to the area. Unfortunately, the three existing dormers had rafters running through the middle of the dormered area.
So after almost eight years and a couple false starts we have started work on my dream. We have hired contractor to raise the rafter cross ties , correct structural flaws, and add the fourth dormer.
The new dormer is now built and roofed. The window goes in tomorrow and siding will start to go up. We went with cedar beveled on the corners to match the other dormers although vinyl might have been lower maintenance.
At this point it looks like I will be using a contractor to get to the point where I can take over doing the work. This project beget a number of other projects when I began laying out the action plan working backwards and reads a bit like the fortunately unfortunately book.
Fortunately I can undertake this project but unfortunately I need structural changes. Fortunately these are doable but unfortunately the chimney is falling apart and must be dealt with, fortunately this means additional space and a conduit for utilities. Unfortunately this means rerouting and replacing the gas water heater. Fortunately my wife wants one of those new fangled on demand hot water heaters which unfortunately are expensive and require rerouting gas and water. Fortunately there is a perfect place for these which will give me more room in the workshop, unfortunately this means removing a concrete cistern with a solid six inch concrete wall and two inch thick concrete roof. Fortunately this will give me access to the basement bathroom supply lines should I need it and the plumbing route for a future master bathroom.
Hey! Aren't we supposed to be working on the attic?
With some luck we can get this work done in time to have foam insulation sprayed in before the winter. I'd like to be in a position to begin erecting walls and drywalling some areas this winter if my money holds out.
I will try and post pictures tomorrow.
My wife and I both liked the three dormers on the house and felt an additional one coming off the back of the house would open up, lighten and, provide ventilation to the area. Unfortunately, the three existing dormers had rafters running through the middle of the dormered area.
So after almost eight years and a couple false starts we have started work on my dream. We have hired contractor to raise the rafter cross ties , correct structural flaws, and add the fourth dormer.
The new dormer is now built and roofed. The window goes in tomorrow and siding will start to go up. We went with cedar beveled on the corners to match the other dormers although vinyl might have been lower maintenance.
At this point it looks like I will be using a contractor to get to the point where I can take over doing the work. This project beget a number of other projects when I began laying out the action plan working backwards and reads a bit like the fortunately unfortunately book.
Fortunately I can undertake this project but unfortunately I need structural changes. Fortunately these are doable but unfortunately the chimney is falling apart and must be dealt with, fortunately this means additional space and a conduit for utilities. Unfortunately this means rerouting and replacing the gas water heater. Fortunately my wife wants one of those new fangled on demand hot water heaters which unfortunately are expensive and require rerouting gas and water. Fortunately there is a perfect place for these which will give me more room in the workshop, unfortunately this means removing a concrete cistern with a solid six inch concrete wall and two inch thick concrete roof. Fortunately this will give me access to the basement bathroom supply lines should I need it and the plumbing route for a future master bathroom.
Hey! Aren't we supposed to be working on the attic?
With some luck we can get this work done in time to have foam insulation sprayed in before the winter. I'd like to be in a position to begin erecting walls and drywalling some areas this winter if my money holds out.
I will try and post pictures tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Why Ford's sales are down
My sister has chided me for not blogging enough and says blog readers everywhere want a new entry. So today I write about her least favorite consumer item—car shopping. She has worked harder than most to avoid utilizing one. An admirable trait as they make up the largest chunk of our environmental carbon footprints.
Now I on the other hand live 40 miles from my office before I even begin making the rounds to see my staff throughout the city. My wife and I own three vehicles all of them getting fairly long in the tooth. Gas prices have been going up and I now carry two large bills with me each week to pay for gas because cash is ten cents cheaper. So I have begun to think about my next move. Although she is a very green tree hugger, my wife doesn’t want to move to the city. I can see her thinking so the next move appears to be fuel efficiency.
My wife loves the hybrids on principle. I think many of them are over priced. I often think from the pocketbook perspective rather than from the environmentalist’s principled perspective.
Car shopping has always been an unpleasant experience in which the dealer wants to know how much can you pay and does not want to give a bottom line price. As a pocketbook consumer I want to know how much is this thing going to cost and to be left to figure out whether I am willing to break the piggy bank to pay for it.
I am a big guy and Ford’s Escape Hybrid appealed. They cost difference between the hybrid and non hybrid versions did not seem to be as great as with some other brands and I began looking into them.
The first thing I learned is that there are not many of them out there. An internet search showed very few of them in the Midwest and when I expressed interest Ford’s web site offered an “internet price.” Turns out an internet price means they will call and set a “VIP” appointment to discuss price and evaluate your potential trade in. I allowed myself to be set up with a 6:00 appointment and made arrangements for my wife to come.
CNNMoney.com reports that Ford’s sales are down 28% from a year ago and I can see why (http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/01/news/companies/auto_sales/index.htm?cnn=yes).
I showed up for the appointment learning, as we got out of the car, that my daughter had spilled an entire bottle of water on the back seat and my digital camera. I was now officially grumpy.
We go into the dealer, I announce who I am, and they don’t know who I was to see. I am now grumpy and put out. Things do not look good and I am ready to leave. I go out to look at the lot while my wife waits to speak to someone. Eventually my wife comes out reporting they are trying to find the vehicle. As we look around we are struck by what poor mileage the cars Ford sells have compared to Toyota and Hondas etc. Eventually we learn that they have sold the one used hybrid that started this contact but of course we could talk about what I want to pay and initiate a search
I have owned three Fords and I am about to buy something different. I’ll be looking at one of those foreign made gas sippers that don’t require hybrid technology to get high mileage. My wife will again tell me about her sister’s car as she sells the Toyota Prius.
When I was a child kids whose parents owned something else would say FORD stood for, “Fix Or Repair Daily.” I now believe it stands for “Focused On Reducing Deliveries.” I understand why Ford’s sales are down. They don’t know their customers and have lost them.
Now I on the other hand live 40 miles from my office before I even begin making the rounds to see my staff throughout the city. My wife and I own three vehicles all of them getting fairly long in the tooth. Gas prices have been going up and I now carry two large bills with me each week to pay for gas because cash is ten cents cheaper. So I have begun to think about my next move. Although she is a very green tree hugger, my wife doesn’t want to move to the city. I can see her thinking so the next move appears to be fuel efficiency.
My wife loves the hybrids on principle. I think many of them are over priced. I often think from the pocketbook perspective rather than from the environmentalist’s principled perspective.
Car shopping has always been an unpleasant experience in which the dealer wants to know how much can you pay and does not want to give a bottom line price. As a pocketbook consumer I want to know how much is this thing going to cost and to be left to figure out whether I am willing to break the piggy bank to pay for it.
I am a big guy and Ford’s Escape Hybrid appealed. They cost difference between the hybrid and non hybrid versions did not seem to be as great as with some other brands and I began looking into them.
The first thing I learned is that there are not many of them out there. An internet search showed very few of them in the Midwest and when I expressed interest Ford’s web site offered an “internet price.” Turns out an internet price means they will call and set a “VIP” appointment to discuss price and evaluate your potential trade in. I allowed myself to be set up with a 6:00 appointment and made arrangements for my wife to come.
CNNMoney.com reports that Ford’s sales are down 28% from a year ago and I can see why (http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/01/news/companies/auto_sales/index.htm?cnn=yes).
I showed up for the appointment learning, as we got out of the car, that my daughter had spilled an entire bottle of water on the back seat and my digital camera. I was now officially grumpy.
We go into the dealer, I announce who I am, and they don’t know who I was to see. I am now grumpy and put out. Things do not look good and I am ready to leave. I go out to look at the lot while my wife waits to speak to someone. Eventually my wife comes out reporting they are trying to find the vehicle. As we look around we are struck by what poor mileage the cars Ford sells have compared to Toyota and Hondas etc. Eventually we learn that they have sold the one used hybrid that started this contact but of course we could talk about what I want to pay and initiate a search
I have owned three Fords and I am about to buy something different. I’ll be looking at one of those foreign made gas sippers that don’t require hybrid technology to get high mileage. My wife will again tell me about her sister’s car as she sells the Toyota Prius.
When I was a child kids whose parents owned something else would say FORD stood for, “Fix Or Repair Daily.” I now believe it stands for “Focused On Reducing Deliveries.” I understand why Ford’s sales are down. They don’t know their customers and have lost them.
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