The work continues

Its been a while since I posted about our remodeling.

Deb has been working on the great room, putting some finishing touches on painting, doinf some trim up to the parts where I need to finish the last board on some walls. It has come together nice so far.

I have been working on the kitchen. Demolition came first, the soffits were the first to go. Then the walls on the north, the west, and the south wall where cabinets were. It has been frustrating, slower progress than I wanted. The house kitchen needed to be shut down, so the RV went to the driveway to be used for dining and some cooking. The decisions to be made for the lighting and receptacle locations, and the rewiring wiring of this has been slow. The trips to town is getting old too, but they have been necessary trips. It always seems like I have missed something, so off I go. Today, I finally came up with the wiring plan,. and started wiring the overhead cans. I have the lights on the generator circuit, and possibly an outlet or 2. Its really touchy business working in the panels, but managed to survive the day. Finally about 6 I quit, tomorrow is a new day. I goofed and forgot to wear a mask when I stuck my head in the attic to run wire, now I dont feel so hot.

I've never taken on this scope of remodeling before, its getting nerve wracking.

Tim and his 2 men worked the last couple days on the pool geothermal, they got most of the duct work installed in the building. The factory goofed, so they had to send me the unit I had ordered, the one that is here has to go back. Another delay, but I want it right. I felt if I kept the one that was here, I would always regret it. I will say the company bent over over backwards to make it right, even though the factory goofed, not Dry-Air. I am pleased with their customer service.

Off to watch a movie, I'll try to post more often about the progress.

Finally re-entered the 21'st century

Today we had the satellite TV and bigscreen TV rehooked up in its new location in the great room. A little moving of furniture, and our couch and 1 recliner is now usable. The kids are thrilled, and it does restore some normalcy to life in the remodeling chaos.

Also, the Geek Squad came out, same one as was here the last time. After some troubleshooting, the router was determined to have fried. A new router and configuring it to match the old one, we had our internet back for the first time since Thursday. It'll take me a week to catch up on e-mail!

As far as the great room, I got one board down to finish the front hallway off, and then finished the rest of the other hallway, except the doorways and the sliver along the south wall of the hallway.

Great Room

More progress yesterday. I got the hallway plywood down, and then started putting down more hardwood. When I got to the point of starting down the hallway, I didn't have to rip cut the first row, the measurement was perfect from the wall. Bill came over and removed unneeded outlets we ended up with by the fireplace and on the east wall. Debby was a busy lady today, she started painting the hallway in the dark green. We changed our mind, and are going to paint more walls in the dark green. We are going to do the front hall, do all of the spindle wall, above the chair rail, the beam, the little jut out on east wall, the bedroom hall, and the wall north of the hallway. It should tie in the colors nice.

After a long day of work, we went up town and bought a match to the present bookcases we have. The front hall will now be filled with bookcases. We also bought an iRobot Roomba. Mandi has one and loves it.

great room-slow progress

I haven't posted in a week, progress was very slow. first, I had to work all week, so time was limited to late afternoon early evening. Then, I had some holes to patch in the 1/2" subfloor, which took time. Then I had to deal with tearout of the old floor in the hallway. Here has been the BIG snag--dealing with the doorways! If I just tear out at will, I run a very high risk of having the particle board chip out under the floors I am keeping. SO the search went on to find a way to score the doorways so when I tear out, it will tear out square. I tried a chisel-no good. I bought a rotozip tool, burned out a bit in 3 feet. After looking at some on-line video, I am going to try a different attachment and see what happens. If I can get this accomplished, then I can put down some more plywood and get to laying more floor.

Great room-more progress, landscaping

A good portion of Friday was spent filling in around the front foyer. With help from Bill, we had to measure backwards on each side of the wall, then measure backwards and draw a line. AFter it was all filled in each side matched exactly. WHEW!!! Then I got hardwood down to where I had to start laying plywood again.

Saturday afternoon furniture was moved around and another section of floor was cut out. After some cleanup, I put in some plywood, but didn't cut the part piece needed.

Deb worked on some maintenance on the landscaping we have done, and also some gardening.

Great room progress

I worked on the great room again today. I would have done better but had to make 3 trips to town to get little but necessary items. Try as I might, I just cant think of everything at once, or unexpected things turn up, causing a change in plans and needed items. I have 2 rows of plywood down, and about 3 ft wide of the floor is down. Debs Dad Bill helped most of the day, Debby helped me later in the day. Getting the first row in is critical, and takes a lot of time! One I got 3 rows in, I had to cut out the heat vents, thats done now. Bill or Deb lays out the rosin paper and the rows of wood, I install it. Boy Deb and I are so happy with the looks of the floor--the Hickory hardwood is beautiful! I bought a hardwood floor stapler-boy does that ever work good! Makes the job easier, other than the bending and kneeling. My muscles are really sore again tonight, its time for bed to rest up for tomorrow.

Great room-saga of the screw gun

I worked on the great room again today, but didn't make very good progress. A friend of ours bought a screw gun, then let me use it. I could NOT get this to work, would just sit and spin, wouldnt countersink screws, it was frustrating. I went to a store on my own, ended up buying a Makita, with a Quick Drive attachment. I had trouble with it, so went back, and he had trouble with it too. After some work with it--it turned out I had it set up wrong--boy will this ever put the screws in. I only got 1 row of plywood in, but look forward to getting a good day in Thursday on the floor. I want to get another row of plywood down, then start on the hardwood part. That gives me some room where I can move a little furniture to make room to demolish the other half.

Chris and Larry started breaking up the ceramic tile in the kitchen before the dumpster goes away. It is a chore, and makes a mess!

Debby worked all day on the garden and landscaping before it rains.

The supply duct was basically finished today, he will be back Friday or Saturday to work again.

Great room today

I worked on the great room again. It took a long time to demolish the wood floor in the front hallway. I had to go get a 6 ft bar to do it. The rest of the day I spent getting prepared to put down plywood. The satellite TV installer came and moved the wire for me also. Tomorrow I hope to get a good day in installing plywood and hardwood.

Deb worked on mulching today, it looks better every day.

Great room progress

Worked on the floor all day today. Demolition of the carpeted area was in order. I sawed the particle board into smaller sections, then used a crowbar to pry it off the subfloor. Boy I cannot describe how I hate particle board. It would not stay together in order to pry it up, just broke into little pieces. It was late, but I did get all the old carpeted area done. I found I have some patching to do around the heat vents, not really sure how I am going to do it right now. Anyway, a new day tomorrow, I hope to get some plywood and hickory floor down tomorrow.

While I was doing that, Deb got the rets of the plants for the 2 front areas in. It looks nice, we are pleased.

Tim got some more supply duct in today, he will be back tomorrow to work on the geothermal for the house.

Great room

Big weekend on the great room. Deb and I got the ceiling primed Saturday, then painted the ceiling today. We like the off white color we picked for the ceiling. We have a decision to make when we start on the wall painting. The beam runs through the middle of the room. The beam is flat against one wall, but sits on a slight jut out on the other wall. We have been trying to decide to paint the beam off white like the ceiling or lt green like the wall. We have concluded that it needs to be light green because of the jut out on the wall. It can always be repainted if it turns out wrong. This afternoon I went up town to prepare for the floor demolition and replacement starting Monday. I picked some needed tools, the plywood and the hickory hardwood floor. I thought I would never get home. It took a long time to load, and a long time to get it strapped down properly. The load was top heavy, so a slow trip home through town was in order. After a swim with the family and supper, and with Chris and Larry's help, it all was unloaded in the garage before dark. I had planned to start in the middle and go each way, but after reading the directions, I have to start against one wall. We picked the North wall to start. I'm pretty sore tonight, and have very sore feet, just want to get some good rest and then hit it early and often tomorrow. Getting old I guess.

House geothermal now running, great room and landscaping

We now have the house geothermal up and running. A hearty thanks goes to Tim. He worked until almost 10pm last night to get the supply ducting ran where we could get AC for the weekend. We have no return ducting yet, and the supply is not final by any means, but at least now we can cool the house. Considering the rain and storms last night and this morning and the heat forecast for the weekend, we are really grateful. Not many contractors would have done what Tim did, working so late to get us air, especially when the day starts early. Our family gives a big thumbs up to him! And wow! Even on a somewhat crippled basis, does this unit ever cool a house fast! I started it up, and in no time, it had dropped 4 degrees to the set point. The 2 stage system works like a charm. I'm impressed, and its going to be interesting to see the performance when all the ducting is fully operational.

Now we can commence painting the great room! I want to get that going, I have a big job ahead of me on the floor especially, and the painting is not going to be an easy job working around the furniture.

We went up town yesterday and bought some more plants for the front area and the shade garden under the hawthorn.

Off to get started now!

Busy day

Tim came to work on the geothermal unit. He worked almost all day till about 4.

Durbin Enterprises came about 9am to do a flush and fill after hooking up the lines. It was almost 730 before they were done.

The drywall finishers came about 4 to put another coat of mud on. Tomorrow he said he is going to sand and spray the ceilings in the great room.

During the day, I got the ornamental grass area done on the SW corner of the house. Lots of cleanup and work was done out there, but glad its done

I have to get up at 4am tomorrow to go to work, so off to bed now.

Geothermal and great room

Tim came and worked some on the geothermal system, doing some piping hookups,and working on the ductwork for the house.

The drywall finisher came and put some mud on.. He will be back tomorrow.

Delays....

The geothermal will be starting today at 715am. The contractor had delays on his previous job, which carried over into my job. Its been a long wait, and am excited its finally here!!

I dont know what happened on the great room, nothing happened for 2 days now, and no contact with the contractor. I'm frustrated, I want to get to work on painting and putting the hickory floor down. I'm excited to see the final result, but as with the geothermal, it always seems to be well into the future.

My day off wasn't a total waste however. I worked several hours on the landscaping, and got a large area graded and seeded. I guess I'm getting older than I want to admit. A few years ago, that kind of work would not bother me that much. Last night, I was so sore I could hardly move, totally spent and used up. I'm really draggy this morning as well. I want to get the grading and seeding done, its been hanging over me for a couple years, and need to get it done!

Geothermal, greatroom, and landscaping

The geothermal unit for the house is being delivered, and the installation should start today. Tuesday, the electrician came and started some of the wiring, and hopefully will be back today as well. I cant wait to see how much difference in operating cost this makes. SHould be interesting.

Great room-Tuesday some patching was done on the drywall. I expected them back yesterday, but no one showed. Hopefully today as well.

Landscaping-After I got home yesterday at 4, I measured and set the corner posts for the yard and garden. After that, I graded and prepared to seed some more yard.

By that time I was pretty tired, so went in and watched a CSI-NY with the kids.

Great room and geothermal-preparing for Tuesday

Deb, Chris and I are tired tonight! We had a big day preparing the great room for the drywall finishers. We took the faux beans out of the old family room, that was a chore in itself. All the books on the bookshelves are now piled in tall stacks in the office.

Then, to prepare for the electrician, the garage sale items went to Mandi's garage.

During breaks, Deb worked on potting plants in the poolroom and preparing them for the yard/garden.

I had some work to do on the mower, then Deb mowed while I trimmed. By that time we were spent, so showers, supper, TV and blogging became the priorities for the day.

Great room and Kitchen

The drywall was put on the beam today, and all the other places that were left open were patched. We finally got to take down the plastic corridor, and uncovered and moved some furniture around so we can watch TV the next couple nights. We have a LOT of work to do before Tuesday! The drywall finishers are coming in, so we have to take all the fake beams down from the old family room. One of the hardest decisions we have to make is the color of the walls, 2'nd will be what we want the lighting plan to be. I might let the 2 boys start tearing out the floor also. We have floors at all different levels, so I am going to go down to the original subfloor, put down plywood and then the hardwood. That will be later, after the drywall is finished and walls painted!

Kitchen-they installed the LDL laminated beams in the basement, there was a section of the floor sagged very bad. They got most of the sag out, its hard to get 100% of it out. Its much better than before!

Great room-good progress

Good progress was made on the great room today. They took the drywall off, built a temporary wall, and then put in the 2 LDL laminated beams. The electrician came and unhooked all power in the circuits that was in the wall. When Deb came home she marveled at how much different the room looked and seemed pleased. We still have our plastic corridors, but should lose that by tomorrow night.

Great room project is starting.

The wall tearout was supposed to start today, but they ran late on the previous job. Thursday at 730 they will start tearing out the wall. they plan on building temporary walls on each side of the wall that will be removed, remove the wall, put the support beams in, then remove the temporary walls. Right now, we just have narrow corridors between the plastic protection walls, trying to contain the drywall dust.