Walls go up

This past weekend was the first time I actually added something to the house. I successfully (sort of) framed in some walls.

I have no idea if they're to code, I know they're not as good as if a professional had done them, but they're in and now the plumber can get in do his rough-ins. The electrician will follow, and shortly after him the insulation guys will go through. Than I can get the drywall up, floors tiled, and before I know it the second floor will be nearing completion.

This was a bit of an adventure trying to get these things built and up. Saturday afternoon mother and I went to the hardware store bought lumber, a box of nails, and set off to piece together a wall or two. We cut some pieces and started to nail them to the floors and wall, at which time I realized we were going about it all wrong. So we tore them up and started anew. This time we cut the pieces and started to assemble them so that we would just have to lift and secure the whole segment of wall. A much better, and probably more correct approach.

We cut the pieces with no issues, but trying to nail those pieces together was more trouble than it was worth. We tried with all our might to hammer those damn nails in but some just didn't want to go. After much cursing and sweat we finally got one section assembled and up. This only took, oh, three hours?! That was enough for one day.

Sunday I went back and bought more lumber and was determined to purchase a nail gun. Nail guns aren't exactly cheap, so I went the more economically viable route and rented one. I got to the house, started cutting lumber and nailing like a mad man and in the matter of an hour I had completed more by myself than what my mother and I had accomplished the day before. Its settled, nail guns are great!

I went back and finished Monday morning. Here's some pictures of the end result.

Dumpster #3 filled

After another long break I spent another weekend in the house tearing it apart. After the second dumpster got filled I made mention of how it felt like I had accomplished so little. This was very frustrating, and made me question whether this house would ever be finished. Well, now after the third dumpster has been filled I finally feel like I'm making progress.

I had my plumber come by last week to, a) refresh his memory, and b) let me know what I needed to do to get it ready for him. He told me to finish gutting whatever I planned on gutting and to frame in what will become the master bath as well as the future laundry area.

So I set out last weekend to finish the demo I had left and to get the framing up. I finished half of it, thanks to a helping hand from my mother. I finished tearing up the master bedroom, what will be the walk through closet and master bathroom, as well as the kitchen. All that is left with the kitchen is tearing up the linoleum floor and tearing off the wallpaper.

I also purchased lumber to start the framing and got a start on cutting some of the pieces. As promised I let my mother play with the power tools, so she was really the one to start cutting the lumber.

I think the cutting of lumber is what gave me the feeling that something was actually being accomplished. Up to this point I've done nothing but tear stuff out, yes my contractor has made some repairs, yes I had a new furnace put in, but I personally hadn't done anything more than demo. After this last round I felt like the project has turned a corner and that its finally heading towards the finish.

To further this feeling, I sat down yesterday and ordered the tub, sink, and toilet for the new bathroom, as well as the new washer and dryer.

So here's some pictures of the progress that was made. More to follow soon.