It started with ‘doing anything this weekend, lets tear down the kitchen wall’. This project was very necessary since the kitchen window could be pushed out of the wall and the wall was wobbly. The siding was loosly attached and osb plywood and a vapor barrier had never been installed. So we tore everything down to the frame, strenthened the frame, installed a header (one never existed), osb, felt and put the french doors in. Took about two afternoons.

The doors are outswing to make more room in the kitchen. These changed the entire look and feel of the kitchen and will make grilling on the back porch (doesnt currently exist) very nice.

This was replaced in April. The floor needed replacement and the wall wasnt very sturdy. Tighted everything up and put in the new door.

The outside of the house was looking a little rough, so we decided to step outside, enjoy the dust free air and tear down the asbestos siding and install the pine clapboard.

Wow, probably the most satifying job at the house thus far. Saturday Dana, Kandice and I worked on the entry floors. We got the wood match in with the old wood floors in the living and dining rooms. No transition needed. All in all it took about 4 hours, today we will finish the kitchen floors.

Dana got a free lesson from a carpenter and learned how to install crown, picture molding and base. They also got the finish trim around the kitchen header opening. All of this, as expected, really makes these rooms look BEAUTIFUL. Over the last two weeks they got it installed in the master bedroom, entry, living and dining rooms.

Last weekend Judy showed up at the house to help with the painting. She was happy to finally be included, well at least happy when the day started. Every crack of the new trim and crown was calked and most of it primed.

This week:

Finish plumbing including all copper water lines - Finished 4/17 – we put a pressure gauge on the water lines. 40 pounds of pressure and next day had 40 pounds of pressure NO LEAKS on the first try, which I hear doesnt always happen.

Finish prep for wood floors / Install 15 pound felt & leveling low areas which includes crawling under the house (against everyones advice) to meticulously level every possible low or uneven area: - Finished 4/18 and it was worth every horendous minute in the crawl space at 9pm with the cave crickets.

Pickup custom wood siding from moldings unlimited for the addition side of the house. (this never had siding like the cedar on the old part of the house) - Picked up 4/19

Rent floor stapler and install wood floors: – in progress…

Intall cement board on bath and laundry floors:

Here’s a few photos of the finished plumbing. Not much to look at, but represents whats been going on.

Having removed all the old wires and boxes last week the attic is a better place. It could still use a little vacuuming. But besides that, the wires are organized and safety is no longer a concern. Insulation can now be installed when we are ready.

Update for this week.

Electrical: The electrician came out Tuesday and Dana assisted for the afternoon and finished wiring all the baseboard outlets. That leaves us to add a few more circuits in the kitchen, put the outlets on the boxes, pigtails on the remaining ceiling lights, wire for the hot water heater and connect the front porch lights. That will finish our electrical, bringing the whole house up to code. – About 4 hours of extras to be finished in the next week 4/20

Plumbing: I never did include the story of the plumber, basically he showed up quite late one Sunday Dana and I were tired and about finished. When I told him we were done, I believe he thought I was mad and didnt come back. I could have called him except that he prefers to be free of modern distractions, such as a phone, checking account and personal address. You can reach him by radio or personal contacts…so while sending out signals to get him back we interviewed a few more plumbers. One after the other showed up with prices of $300 to $400 per water hookup. Having 10 hookups thats well $3000 to $4000. Most of these guys had no work for the next day, but refused to lower their prices, which is fine for them, not for us. After 2 weeks our plumber got the message, called me from Home Depot and showed up to continue. As of tonight we will have all of the water hookups below the house. And this coming week we will be connecting them together below the house.

This means our showers, toilets and sinks are roughed in inside the house. And will be completely roughed in when they are connected below. – Finished 4/17