Construction
This section covers the construction stage of our remodel—Day 30 to Day 21.
For previous work see:
Day 30 —Living Room Lights & A Little Tile
August 14, 2008
Frank & Sandy installed the can light fixtures in the living room. They also worked on adding a light to the under the stairs closet. It's an awkward area to light, but really needs decent lighting. Jack has tried all sorts of battery operated lights over the years without finding anything satisfactory. It'll be really nice if this solves the problem.
Then Frank cut pieces of the salvaged kitchen tile and fixed the corner of the entry step where the old cabinets were and tile was never installed. It still needs grout, but it looks good.
Jack and I have gotten used to everything being nice and clean when they leave for the day. We have had a little dust this week with the plastic walls down and the drywall work. They did most of the cutting outside, but some of it, especially for the arch had to be finished in place. To top it off, Frank had to leave before Dave the drywaller yesterday and Dave didn't clean up. Sandy ended up spending a good part of the day cleaning up the mess the drywaller had left and putting down fresh plastic. So much nicer when they left today than last night! Frank really does a great job making sure it is nice for us at the end of the day!
Dave didn't come today. He'll be here tomorrow to finish up so they can do the texture on Monday.
Next week will see lots of changes. Tuesday & Wednesday the cabinets will be installed. Thursday the granite guy will be out to make the templates. I'm really hoping we can keep the "critters" intact and placed in good locations...Then there are some other features of the granite I'd like to see intact, like the "river" and a large area of the purplish color. If that wasn't enough for the week, Hometime will be out on Friday to install the second set of windows. These are all the front windows with the half circles as well as the living room window.
Day 29 —Mud, Wet Bar & Linen Cabinet
August 13, 2008
Frank & Sandy demolished the wet bar and the linen cabinet while the drywaller spent the day prepping and putting the hot mud on the walls.
Day 28 —Another Inspection & more Drywall
August 12, 2008
Frank & Sandy sent the day putting up the rest of the drywall. The inspector came and everything is looking good. Julie came by midday and helped out. It's all starting to come together.
These photos may give an idea how open the house is now.
Day 27 —Inspection & Drywall
August 11, 2008
Mike, the inspector came early today. Everything looks good and he will be back tomorrow after the drywall is installed for another inspection. Frank & Julie installed the insulation and took the shelves and doors off the wet bar.
I had some errands to run midday and when I returned the plastic walls were down. It was exciting to see how open everything looks!
Frank came back in the afternoon and started installing drywall. The ceiling still needs to be done tomorrow before the inspection.
Finishing the walls and ceilings will probably take until Monday. While that is being done, Frank will be installing can lights in the living room and demolishing the wet bar and upstairs linen closet.
Cabinets are still on schedule to be installed starting Tuesday. I can hardly wait!
Day 26 —Preparing for Inspection
August 8, 2008
It was a short day today. Frank finished the third arch for the post and ran the cables into the family room for the lights & speakers. Julie mixed up concrete and filled in around all the pipes. Then they cleaned up and got everything ready for the inspection on Monday. Julie and I discussed cabinet hardware and several other ideas.
Monday should be exciting as the plastic is coming down and we will finally get to really see what it looks like without the wall!
Nick from Hometime Windows came out and measured the next set of windows. This phase includes the 3 windows in front with the half-circles on top and the living room side window which we decided not to change to a slider or french doors. We will have these installed on the 22nd.
That will leave the nook window which they will come out and install when Frank is ready for it and the master bathroom window(s). We will do the master bath once we remodel that room. Right now we are thinking we will make that a double-hung window with privacy glass on the bottom instead of a sliding window.
Our "homework" for the weekend is to clear out the wet bar and linen closet in preparation for their demolition next week.
Day 25 —Chase & Old Window
August 7, 2008
While I was out, Frank worked on sealing up the hole left from resizing the breakfast nook window and built the frames for the arches that will be added to the post.
Day 24 —More Electrical
August 6, 2008
Frank hooked up the new kitchen gas line to the existing gas line. He did some wiring to the boxes in the post. He also ran electrical, etc. to the family room in preparation for adding lights and speakers to that room.
It looks like the inspection will be on Monday.
I picked up the sinks and the faucet today. The metallic grey sink looks nice! I can't wait to see it with the granite. I also ran by Huntington Hardware in Pomona to look at knobs and pulls. They have a large selection and I was able to pick up several catalogs.
Day 22 —Can Lights & Ventilation
August 4, 2008
Frank put in the light fixtures and the roofer came out and finished the roof ventilation for the island hood. While he was on the roof he fixed several broken tiles we had.
Frank had other things to do on August 5th, so no progress. Frank said he should be ready for the rough inspection either Thursday or Monday (the City is closed on Fridays).
Day 21 —Windows
August 2, 2008
Hometime Windows came today and installed the first batch of new windows. We wanted more energy efficient windows as well as better UV protection for our furnishings. Also some of the windows, especially the one in the living room were heavily and permanently water spotted. So we had made the decision to replace all the windows while remodeling. That is with the exception of the sliders we have already replaced, and the full circle windows in the bathrooms. The full circles may be too small for vinyl replacement windows.
Frank will not be ready for them to install the replacement window in the breakfast nook for a while yet and Hometime needed a bit longer to produce all the front windows with the half circles so those will be done in the next batch. We are holding off on the master bathroom window until we finalize our master bath remodel plans. We are also waiting on the window on the side of the living room. We are slightly considering french doors or a slider there. If we make all the final decisions by the time Frank is ready to install the resized window, we will do the rest of the windows in one batch, but if we are still in decision mode, we will wait on the last 2-3 windows until we finalize our plans.
The window replacement went pretty well until they started on the "rakes". These are the trapezoid shaped windows above the kitchen window and the bedroom slider. They had some problems removing the old windows and ended up breaking the one upstairs. There was glass everywhere as both sliders were open! Upstairs on the deck, inside the bedroom, the master bath, downstairs on the patio, inside the family room...
They cleaned up about 90-95% of the glass, but Jack ended up spending the rest of the day going over everything finding more glass. Even after a through cleaning, he found more glass the next day. But the windows do look nice! Especially the picture window--it's really nice to have the unobstructed view!
