Day 18, and I’d like to say that the drywall install went down like a wild west showdown. Screw-guns slung, tape at the ready, spurs on the little drywall shoe/stilts that they wear, whistley-western music encouraging them… but, it wasn’t quite like that. After a brief interlude where Eric injured himself (merely a flesh wound!), work cruised along at a calm pace. The music selection was pleasant and soothing (it was, in fact, somewhat western, for most of the day) and everyone was focused on the task at hand. The humidity had blown away overnight, so the mud dried quickly, as had been hoped for, making prep for the next coat even better. All in all, a successful day.
Author Archives: kati
(Pink panther theme song)…
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Day 17 (still in Phase 2-A) started off slowly, but ended with a dramatic visual change. We began our day (and by we, I mean they) by rushing in to finish insulating the master bath in time for our inspection (scheduled for 8:30am). The inspector rolled up around 10:30-ish. (What IS it with inspectors?) Lucky for everyone, Dave expected as much, and had a little play with the schedule. So, everyone took an early lunch in order to maintain a steady flow post-lunch. Sensible, thoughtful and correct – just what I want out of a team of experienced professionals!
Drywall is dusty stuff. Add to that the humidity and heat and you’ve got the makings for a very unpleasant experience. (Lucky for me I had to be absent for part of the day bringing Bec to the vet to get her sutures removed. Success!) But, the Team powered through, seemingly enjoying it, laughing, smiling and tolerating my interrupting camera from time to time. I am forever impressed with how happy everyone is on this project. We really are so lucky.
Let’s get it started in here…
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Day 15 (last Friday) came and went, and no, you didn’t miss a post. We had our building inspection, and passed (hooray!) but the inspector wants to come back after insulation install (he’s due tomorrow morning). And then we had our field trip to Ashfield Stone to get some preliminary estimates and appointments set up, and to get some general information. I decided not to take any pictures until we actually go to choose the slabs. Delayed gratification.
It’s electric (dut-dut-duh-do-doo-tuh-doo-do-doo)…
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Day 14, humid, sweaty, rainy, done. Today was a simple day with simple needs: get inspected and pass. The electrical inspector DID show up today, and did give us a passing grade! Woo hoo! The plumbing inspector also showed up, early, and waited in his car until the appointed time (I thought he was being polite). Turns out HE was being stood up by the electrical inspector who was supposed to meet him here! The electrical inspector had already come and gone by then. Well, the plumbing inspector wasn’t too pleased, but he was able to remain rather pleasant to me. We have to add some sort of “future vent” in the basement, but other than that, things are looking good! (If I get more information on what exactly a future vent is, I will let you know.)
Duh-nuh, duh-nuh, duh-nuh…
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Day 13, and now I’m superstitious. Ok, not really, but the electrical inspector stood us up. Didn’t call, didn’t send flowers, just never showed. After three calls (and a few HOURS waiting) we learned that he was “really busy” that morning. How nice for him. How nice for him to make an appointment and then totally ignore it. Grr. He’s supposed to come tomorrow. We’ll see about that. I’m sure this humid, sticky, return-to-summer weather isn’t helping our patience. At least the electrical is ready to be inspected (high five, Brad!).
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
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Day 12. Can you stand it? I can’t really believe we’ve made it this far: our first inspection is tomorrow! The framing is done, for all intents and purposes, until if/when the building inspector wants to take a look, and the electrical rough-in is complete. Today was mainly a day to finish any lingering tasks, and to clean up after the framing stage. Saws were put away, everything was swept and vacuumed, trash was removed, bits were tidied. Jeff and I ran errands to get specs on the framing for the shower door, and to seek out some more tile for a decorative element in the kitchen. All in all, a mellow, but productive day.
So lucky, to be loving you…
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Day 11 started off week 3 with a gentle whoosh toward the next goal: inspections! It was as if we were sailing along all last week, and are now coasting toward the shore, but we must slow down so we don’t crash into the dock (sails IN!). Steady, measured (literally) building and light hanging/electrical work hummed along in the house all day, ending with a recap of our overages to date. Nothing shocking, nothing that we didn’t discuss as it happened – just a moment to touch base, and to connect regarding the budget. A good builder/general contractor has your wallet in their mind, and won’t leave these discussions until the last day. If you’re about to embark on a project of this (or any) scope, make sure your team is really working for YOU.
Baby, baby, sweet, baby…
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Day 10 went by so fast, it’s almost a blur in my mind. In fact, it almost seems like it’s still happening. Ok, well, it is. We’re on day 10-B now, as the plumbers are working part of today to make up for the time they lost when they had to (last minute, and unexpectedly) postpone their start day earlier in the week. (What professionalism! Dedication! We have such a good crew!) But, man, oh, man, did everyone get tons done Friday. Framing of the closet? Check. Framing of the pantry? Check. Framing for powder room door? Check. Recess built for radiator? Check. Lights hung and awaiting our approval? Check. Bathroom fan hung and vented? Check. Preliminary venting done for range hood? Check. Plumbing – ok, I don’t know what any of the plumbing is called, and the plumbers are such hard workers that I daren’t stop them to ask- but, plumbing stuff? Check!
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it…
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Day 9! Wow, what a day! We had some rain early on in the day – ideal weather for ripping windows out of houses, right? – which luckily rolled through speedily enough to usher in an absolutely beautiful day (perfect for window work). The guys came in (nail) guns blazing today, and managed to remove and replace FOUR windows in one day! The change to the feeling of the space is unbelievable. The rooms are starting to look like rooms, and feel like rooms. I can’t quite explain it. The volumes of space are starting to become defined, both by the lighting placement, and now by the windows, and the personalities of the spaces are starting to emerge. Views to the outdoors have been framed in lovely, chunky classic details with Marvin windows that were a worthy splurge.
It really is darkest before the dawn…
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Day 8, Wednesday, contained an unexpected mini-pause in the schedule. The plumbers couldn’t come as the crew had hoped (they’re coming Friday), but the windows arrived earlier than the original order had predicted (score!). That meant some construction (fixed the hole-y subfloor in the kitchen and finished framing the ceiling in the area where the tiny pitch change will be) but mainly more planning for the guys, and more electrical work for Brad (previously identified as The Electrician). With the carpentry crew off on tasks unknown to me (I had to leave earlier than they arrived, and returned after they left), Brad had the opportunity to continue rescuing the house from its 1920’s past, eradicating more knob and tube from the belly of the basement. He pulled wires from here to there, snaked things through hidden pockets of space, transforming the workings of the previously convoluted wiring schematic in the laundry room. Most of what he did was completely un-photographable (but believe me, NOT unnoticed).