January 2013 - Where We Are Now

So… things are temporarily slowing down since I was away and contractors were taking Christmas holidays and vacations.  Currently arranging for our hardwood floors to be delivered and acclimatized so they can be installed.  While I was in New York Stephen put the board & batten paneling in the Sangria Room – looks great!  It will be decorated like a screened-in porch.  The baseboards and doors will be ordered now. 

 

And tile to be delivered later this week and Tony can start on the bathrooms.  Once the floors are in the kitchen can be installed.  The countertops are not ordered until after the cabinet installation so that the measurements are perfect.  Now that the ceilings are painted the electrician can put the lights up.  Permanent furnace can come any time now, and an inspection scheduled.  Then of course trimwork and the painters return for the final coat.  Getting phone, TV, and internet reactivated too.

 

Of course, everything we’ve done to date has been quality work.  But as someone pointed out to me, what we’re doing now is what will show.  And if this final finishing part is rushed and corners don’t quite meet up, etc, it will just give a “cheap” feel to the whole house.  Although we’re anxious to see our furniture again and get settled, we’ve come so far that it’s not worth rushing now.

 

That’s it for a while.  Will update again once floors are in!

January 2013 - New York, New York!

On January 9^th, Judy and I took off for New York for a mini-getaway.  Skating at Rockefeller Centre was on our “bucket list” and over a year ago we had vowed to make this happen on her sabbatical year.  Went skating the very first day – I think there were way more photo shoots than skating going on!  Not just us, but everybody. 

 

 

In the evening we saw a great new Tony-winning musical called “Once” – a bittersweet story about Irish musicians and a Czech love interest.  There was no orchestra and the actors all played their own music right on the stage which I really enjoyed.  Before the play started the bar was on the stage (the set background) with all the musicians playing Celtic music, then it just kind of morphed into the start of the play.  Heck, any place where I can get a glass of wine in a sippy cup is good by me!   http://www.oncemusical.com/

 

 

Next day we did some knock-off shopping which was quite the experience.  You stand on a street corner and select your new purse from a laminated brochure, then runners go back to the secret warehouse and get it for you, all the while watching for cops.  If you want a bracelet they roll up their coat sleeve and display their wares and you “shop from their wrist”.  Rather surreal.  Pastrami on rye lunch at Katz’s Deli (where Harry Met Sally - "I'll have what she's having!") then saw the World Trade Centre Memorial.  That night we saw a stand-up comedy show in the place you would recognize from the start of Seinfeld episodes.

Last day there we took the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  Parts of the ferry terminal were closed due to damage from Hurricane Sandy, as well as the Statue of Liberty (you couldn’t disembark at the statue itself).  Afternoon lined up again at the same-day ticket booth, and then we were seen on one of the huge screens in Times Square! 

 

 

Early supper at Bubba Gump’s and then saw the Gershwin play “Nice Work If You Can Get It” starring Matthew Broderick and featuring Blythe Danner.  http://niceworkonbroadway.com/   It was nice to have a mixture of comedy, a new show, and a classic on our trip – all of which neither of us had already seen.  Late night slice of New York cheesecake from Juniors and back to bed for us!  Although on such a mild Saturday night in January, Times Square was absolutely packed with crazies at midnight!

 

 

Great deal on airfare that first week after the kids had to be back to school.  Our hotel was conveniently located a block from Macy’s (at the opposite end of Times Square from Central Park).  We became subway experts and didn’t take a cab once.  Lots of walking though!  We were thankful for the warm weather.

 

 

Got home just in time to get my niece Angiee and we met Jaime and his housemates to see Monsters Inc in 3D.  Out of anyone she was always the one to make the effort to interact with Jaime.  The next day Angiee and I volunteered in Jaime’s classroom so she got to see the different kids and varying abilities.  Angiee is going to university for a special needs career, and right now does individual therapy for 3 autistic children.  We’re so proud of her.  Quick trip up to see the cottage then back out to the airport for her.

January 2013 - Happy New Year!

The year started off insanely busy.  The drywall guys discovered a leak in the roof around where the chimney went out.  We had a couple people out to check – both the roofers and chimney installers – and nobody could find anything but it seems to have stopped now.  Leaf guard was installed on the gutters and there was some ice building up there, causing a dam that backed up as far as the chimney.  After much brainstorming all around, Randy the drywaller suggested putting some insulation in the chimney pipe (the actual woodstove underneath is not yet installed so it’s just open).  Not sure if stopping that heat loss – and melting snow / freezing ice – was what cured it, but we’re keeping an eye on it.

We also had a backed up septic system, so my flushing toilet was unfortunately short lived.  Again after a few days of troubleshooting and having the plumber & Mr. Rooter come out, it was discovered that tree roots had crushed and cracked part of the septic line.  A section of the original line that leads from the house to the tank outside, before it gets pumped back to the treatment station.  This was the one section from our old system that was re-used and not replaced a year ago.  The septic guys came out and dug frozen ground to get that replaced and running again.

 

Drywall was finished right after New Years, and the first weekend in January Ibby & I spent hours and hours cleaning drywall dust.  Sweeping, vacuuming outlets and window sills and even the walls, and scrubbing down the floors.  We found out that apparently that final clean-up is also a job of the General Contractor. 

 

 

 

We were on deadline, because the painters started the following Monday morning.  The painting ladies have already done the primer coat everywhere, 2 coats on the ceilings, and the initial colour coat on the walls.  So it’s really taking shape!  They will come back for the final coat and trimwork when that’s all in place.

 

 

Our big garden doors in the walkout basement were replaced by Jeld-Wen.  The glass was “torqued” down too much during manufacture and there were indents all along the frame.  We also selected our baseboards and trimwork.  Nice deep baseboards and architectural headers above doors and windows.  We’re going for a casual Craftsman style.  Our friend and neighbour Stephen is a real artist with wood and is not only doing a fabulous job, but has also been invaluable the entire past year with advice and ideas.

December 2012 - More Progress!

Someone once questioned why I spent so much time at the site and asked if I was swinging a hammer myself.  Doesn’t seem like people understand exactly how involved we are with this build.  To clarify, I am the General Contractor for the project.  Which means every decision and every individual trade I’m responsible for researching and hiring.  It’s far more involved than just picking out the maple or cherry cupboards from the builders standard selection for the predetermined kitchen layout.  Hiring trades – not just the major plumbing, electrical, and HVAC – but also insulation, drywall, painting, backframing, trim carpentry, even welders.  Working through scheduling.  Arranging for materials delivery and being there to receive it (and find a place for it!).  Picking out lighting, cabinets, flooring, tiles, baseboards, plumbing.  Getting the right folks to troubleshoot a leaky roof and cracked septic pipes.  Chief accountant and bill payer.  Not that we would have it any other way, but it’s much more involved than some seem to appreciate.  Many long days and late nights researching online, sending emails or making phone calls.  So thankful I am able to take time off work and make these personal decisions.  This is a full-time job, and then some! 

 

December was a real turn-around seeing walls go up and rooms taking shape.  We passed our inspection with Ken from the Township, who has been a huge help from Day 1. 

 

 

 

Chimney was installed for the woodstove, taking a sliver out of our bedroom closet but gaining a linen closet in the end.  

 

 

 

Insulation was blown in all the walls.  

 

 

 

Then finally we could have the heat turned on!  A few hiccups with the loaner furnace took about a week to sort out, but eventually all worked out.  The furnace is temporary until the drywall – and all associated dust! – is finished.  And with heat came plumbing and a flushing toilet! 

 

 

Woo-hoo!  BEST Christmas present EVER!

 

Pierre from Bill’s crew came and did the back-framing (which means framing that goes around all the ductwork).  

 

 

Drywall delivered (with a big crane!) and installed by Roger & Randy. 

 

 

 

 

Kitchen appliances were delivered and are stored in the basement, and we bought a cash & carry washer & dryer on sale at Home Depot – thank goodness for our 2 little SUV’s!  More lighting fixtures bought – found a great fixture for the closet at the Habitat ReStore.   And gallons and gallons of paint.  We needed 16 gallons of primer alone!

It was discovered that our little toilet room within the main bathroom is mighty tight.  Guess I just trusted that the toilet room was actually designed large enough for a toilet…  More online research to find an alternative.  Ibby had to return the toilet he bought and get another 2” shorter.  We’ll also likely modify the door to be swinging “saloon style” doors.  It truly is coming down to a matter of inches, and size matters! 

 

My man Tony came to look at the bathroom and tilework, and of course had a great idea for revising the shower entrance area.  Which meant in a perfect world, a different vanity would look better.  Thank goodness I must live in a perfect world, because production hadn’t yet started so we were able to revise that.  It was quite a scramble Christmas Eve Day and a few sheets of drywall had to be taken down to revise both the plumbing and lighting.  Tony also helped pick out tile for both the kitchen and bathroom – we laid them out on the back of his pick-up truck. 

 

 

 

Once the tile was picked out, we were then able to pick out our countertops for both kitchen and bath. 

 

On the home front, we had a quiet Christmas with Jaime.  We needed a break!  He was happy to receive the latest superhero action figures, and he loved Dad’s pancake brunch and turkey dinner.  Jaime’s house also hosted a nice family Christmas dinner for everyone earlier in the month.  On Boxing Day we were able to visit Ibby’s Uncle Lou & Aunt Fran who had moved into a retirement complex this summer.  Traditionally we have spent the past few New Year’s up at the cottage around a bonfire, but since we didn’t want to sleep on plywood floors and stumble down to the toilet in the basement we stayed at the condo.  Saw Les Miserables with Ibby’s Aunts Helen & Marion (it was excellent!) then back to Uncle Frank & Marion’s for good conversation.

 

Needless to say, Christmas cards just didn’t happen this year, so please consider this lengthy blog as our substitute Christmas letter!  May 2013 hold good things for everyone!

November 2012 - Catch Up Blog

Boy, if I thought it was crazy before, it got worse!  Will break my building updates into a couple of postings for everyone.

So friends, on our last episode (this is sounding like the opening to Rocky & Bullwinkle) we found the framing done and some of the exterior started.  Our missing window was replaced and siding completely finished.  Gutters and downspouts installed. 

 

The rubber membrane on the flat roof over the top of the garage was burned on, and the deck finished off. 

Outside deck railing was ordered.  On the interior, plumbing, heating & electrical was all run.  And the order placed for our kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanity.

 

 

I took some time off and drove to the States for US Thanksgiving.  Felt it was important to be there for the first holiday without my Dad.  Was able to catch up with Uncle Peter & Aunt Linda for dinner too which was a nice bonus.  My friend Judy hitched a ride and I dropped her off in Chicago for some sightseeing, then we caught up and drove back together.  It was nice to have company in the car.