Just Added : Photo's 46 - 48 - July 21 2009 : Wrapping It All Up
In this section, we have a few projects that must be done. Hardwood Floor, Kitchen Tiles, Installing New Doors throughout the Home, Paint and a few touchups here and there. Basically, General Home Renovations.
Snag 01 : We were supposed to remove the closet and entry opening to widen the floor space - but we ran into a few hidden problems. The people that installed the furnace took a little shortcut and ran the vent through the wall, instead of running it flat down an inside wall. We were wondering how mesh drywall tape was in the walls, when mesh wasn't even invented at the time this building was created. This would also explain the double drywall.
In my opinion, the walls should stay as they are. To remove the vent and re direct it would require alot of work and even more holes in the walls. Not to mention - it would have to be done by a specialist due to the airflow. Also, the bathroom sits directly above. The supports that exist are helping support the weight of the tub. There is also a large cast metal pipe in the ceiling that would also have to be re-routed - a plumbers nightmare. This cast metal pipe then runs down the back of the closet making it impossible to have all backwalls even. It's too bad we didn't have x-ray vision :(
Vent 02 : Here's a look at the vent we discovered after removing the drywall. It goes straight up into the bathroom above and starts from the basement below. To repair this would really open up a new can of worms.
Cast Pipe 03 : Here's obstical number 2 - The cast pipe. I won't even get into what kind of work it would be to reroute this.
Frustrated 04 : Grrr ... Well, at least we tried. That's the problem with these old buildings, there is always a surprise waiting to be found. The only real thing we can do is - rebuild the entryway and closet. It will look good either way when we are done.
Kitchen Floor 05 : Demolition Day. Here's a photo of the old original oil cloth kitchen floor. It will soon be replaced with beautiful tile. Some work around the vents will also have to be done.
Attick 06 : We noticed there was no vapor barrier in the attick and the original insulation was finished. It's time to remove the new and reinstall first the vapor barrier and then new insulation. There are also a few holes that need to be filled to stop the draft that escapes into the home.
Kitchen Floor 07 : lol There is one thing about NDG - the homes are made tough and they are full of surprises. As you can see in this photo, I have to remove not 1 - but 3 layers of oil cloth - all glues ontop of each other. You can't expect many breaks in NDG :)
Kitchen Floor 08 : Whew - A ton of scrape-ing later - a floor :) After I add a few hundred wood screws to the floor - we are good to go. Before we add the tile I must make sure there are no soft-spots. Soft-spots will cause the tile to crack as soon as you put any type of presure on them. This time - We did get a break - The floor is solid :)
Sunroom 09 : The carpeting is now gone. Soon, we will install beautifull hardwood flooring here. I didn't include the photo - but the step from the kitchen to the sunroom has also been removed.
Attick 10 : lol When John exited the attick after removing the old insulation, he looked like a raccoon once his mask was removed. Today was a good day! We got alot done and we are ready to start rebuilding :)
Entryway 11 : Here is a photo of the supporting wall in the entryway. In the ceiling - is the upstairs bathroom plumbing and cast main drain. The drain itself then runs into the closet and straight down into the basement. The wall I have exposed shows the supporting beams that keep the bathroom on the 2nd floor - solid. The beams on both sides, go straight up to the 2nd floor and down into the basement.
Closet 12 : I exposed the ceiling in the closet to give you a better look at how crucial these beams are. As you can see, they are supporting the bathroom floor. Removing these beams without major work - is not the best idea.
Water Damage 13 : In a few sections around the home - water damage has peeled away some paint and created a few cracks. Before we paint, they all have to be repaired. Water damage is alot like the rust on a car, once you peel away the bubble - that's when you see just how much must be removed
Water Damage 14 : The water damage has been removed in all the rooms. As you can see, we also v-grooved a few cracks we found really stuck out. We v-groove to allow the plaster to bond and seal the existing crack. Paper and Mesh tape is used to prevent the crack from spreading and reinforcing the existing crack. One more plaster pass and we are good for paint :)
Attick 15 : When we removed the old insulation, no vapor barrier was used. We are doing it properly. Here is your new vapor barrier.
Closet 16 : Here's a more detailed explanation on our entryway issue. Sorry for the bad photo's - but my BlackBerry does not take the best pics. I used "Text" in the photo's to show you were the pipes and vents are.
Entryway 17 : Pretty much the same as above - but I brightened the photo to give you a better look.
Attic 18 : Now - The Attick is insulated.
Entryway 19 : I rebuilt the entryway and closet. I also made the 2 door slots the same height so that we can try to match the closet door with the existing doors. Before, the doorway was much too high and looked awkword.
Paint Prep 20 : lol - This photo is too funny! John is doing a little sanding and paint prime. Doesn't he look like one of the undead? I think I should tell him, he has a little dust on his face ..... naaaaaa :P
Paint Prep 21 : Even though we usually have very little sanding to do after we plaster, we try to take every pre-caution to avoid any dust. While we work in one room, we tape off the others. We also use dustless poles which are about 90 % effective. It helps make the cleanup easier in the end :)
Keeping Clean 21 : Even though we usually have very little sanding to do after we plaster, we try to take every pre-caution to avoid any dust. While we work in one room, we tape off the others. We also use dustless poles which are about 90 % effective. It helps make the cleanup easier in the end :)
Kitchen 22 : After screwing in a few hundred wood screws, to try to keep the floor as solid as possible and avoid future tile breakage. I start laying tiles.
Kitchen 23 : Another shot of the same. These particular tiles are not 100% the same size. Some eye lines and lazer help keep these babies in line. I always do a chalk line guide just in case - then follow with the lazer. Some people ask me why all tiles are not the exact same size ... well - it depends on the type of tile. Clay type tiles will almost always have imperfections. After all - they are tiles, not granite or slates.
Master Bedroom 24 : We have color :) The photo does not do this color any justice. In reality, it's got a salmon/pinkish hue. We'll only know for sure what it will look like tomorrow once it's dry. Looks really good though :)
Mow The Lawn 25 : Full Service Contracting :P Why not? We're already here so we figured an extra 20 minutes won't kill us - and it looks good :)
Painting Doors 26 : We finally have a good day :) We decided to paint the doors outside - and the open air and sun speeds up the drying time.
Paint Baseboards 27 : Why not do the baseboards outside at the same time and let them dry quicker.
New Seperation 28 : Before, there was an seperation between the kitchen and the sunroom. I removed the seperation and created a single small step instead. I didn't want the concrete to show, so I refinished it.
Entryway Tile 29 : I precut the entryway tiles. Love the new look - sure beats the vinyl tile that was here originally :) Grout Day Tomorrow :)
Painting Hall 30 : We lost our Monday due to truck break issues, but today, the color continues to hit the walls. What a difference :)
Kitchen Tile 31 : The grouting is done. The fridge we had to move was still full and very heavy. When we placed the fridge back, it cracked a few tiles. lol Another delay - but it's to be expected in renovations.
Upstairs Paint 32 : The majority of the 2nd floor is ready and the change is incredible. A few issues such as the closet and entryway reconstruction, the covering of a vent hole and other issues have delayed us - but progress is really looking good :) I even mopped the floors today :P
Updates Tomorrow : :) Things are looking Good! We are working the long weekend to try and finish this. We are also setting up and cleaning as we move along. I'm very tired today - so I'll post the play by plays tomorrow - but, I did post the latest pics. Have A Great Day :) |
