another update

As promised another update. Not much more done since the last update.

I set out to install my new back door and porch door last Thursday. I started with the porch door, which went in easy breezy. Because I got a late start I decided to wait on the back door and spent the rest of the day doing some more mudding.

Friday I got to the house and dug in to the back door. I got the old one out no problem, but in doing so I found I was going to have to build up the sill. I also realized I had no pressure treated wood to do so. I made a quick trip to Menard's and bought the 2x8 I needed. Got home, cut the piece to the correct length, and set it in place. I then got ready to set the frame in place, at which time I found I had measured incorrectly. Oops! Oh well, at least it was too small and not too big. It made it a bit harder to get everything plumb and level but after struggling with it for an hour I got it set and secured.

Saturday I planned on running rg6 cable to the bedrooms for cable TV, along with new telephone lines to each bedroom. I made my daily trip to Home Depot and bought everything I needed. I got the rg6 taken care of with little problem, I just ran it from the bedrooms up to a signal splitter in the attic, clamped the connectors on to each end, and I was set. I then went to put the telephone lines in and realized I needed to figure out how I was going to split it, or if I was even going to be able to split it. I really didn't want to have to run four separate lines from the basement all the way up to the attic and down to each room. I decided to end the day there and go home to do some research. In doing so I found that its best I install cat5e cable, I had bought cat3. I took Sunday off to watch some football and play some soccer, so I made my trip back to Home Depot today to buy the cat5e, and will dive into all that on Wednesday.

Last week while at Home Depot I went ahead and ordered the rest of the sheet rock I will be needing. All 60 pieces of 4x8 sheet rock arrived and is sitting in the living room and kitchen. Seeing it all there made me realize that I'm coming much closer to being done than I had thought. It's a great feeling, but I'm not getting too excited just yet.

Here's the pics of the doors and today's delivery.

the latest

Slowly but surely it feels like everything is starting to come together. Some more random updates for you bullet point style:

• Still haven't had the electrical re-inspection. My electrician has been busy with his day job, but he did get in and fixed everything. I'm just waiting on the inspection until I have the bathroom heated floor in (they need to check that too apparently). And also to take care of the next bullet point.
• I spent today running cable to the bedrooms. Was kind of fun to play electrician for the day, it always helps when there is no chance to shock myself. Started to run phone cable as well but ran into some problems, hopefully that will get resolved tomorrow.
• Mud and taped the hardie board in the bathroom. Also mud and taped the little drywall I've hung. Taping and mudding is a much more involved process than I thought. I figured one day, I'll bang it out. No such luck, its a four day process, adding layer after layer of mud.

I think thats it, here's the most recent pictures. More to follow in the next day or two.

Long, long over due update

I've been busy working on the house, throw the day job and the holidays in the mix, and you get a two month delay in updating the blog.

I've done so much on the house since I last posted, I'm not to sure where to start. Due to the same reason, I think I'll keep this post as short as possible. Here is what I've accomplished over the last two months bullet point style:

• Demo: Its all done. Six dumpsters later I have demoed the entire second floor, the kitchen, and one wall in the living room/dining room.
• Framing: Done! Laundry, new closets, bathroom all framed in. Also replaced a few walls here and there due to the 2x4's being cut in half and then secured together with other pieces of wood. I figured I probably should play it safe and start fresh.
• Kitchen floor: Linoleum removed, thanks to my mother who spent a ton of time getting it up so the floors can be sanded and refinished.
• New back door ordered and delivered, same goes for a new door leading from master bath to second floor porch. They were delivered last week, I'm waiting until it gets above 10 to install (purely so I can be semi comfortable while doing so).
• Attic insulated, this was an interesting process. Kneeling on the beems and rolling out 18 rolls of insulation. Took much longer than I thought, and left me itchy despite wearing gloves and a long sleeve shirt.
• Finished insulating second floor walls. Again, an itchy adventure but a necessary one. Hopefully this and the attic will lead to reduced energy bills (last months topped $200).
• Electrician finished his rough-in, or did he? We thought he did so I had the inspector come out, and of course he found things to nit pick about. So the electrician is at the house as I type fixing the issues so I can get the drywall up.
• Started hanging drywall on walls with no electrical outlets/switches or walls the inspector said were fine.
• Hung backer board in the master bath (with the help of my mother, who was kind enough to hold the pieces up long enough for me to secure them to the wall). The plan is to mud and tape tomorrow, and possibly start tiling Thursday. Bought myself a wet saw so I'm looking forward to getting that thing going.
• Kitchen cabinets were delivered and are now occupying the dining room.
• Found a great deal on floor sanding and refinishing.

As soon as the electrical inspector ok's the rough in, I'll hang the drywall in the kitchen, get the floors done, and install the cabinets.

I think that just about does it for now. I'll do my best to be more prompt with my updates. Heres some photo's of the progress.