New windows ordered

After much research, bids, sales calls, and hand wringing, we ordered WeatherShield windows.  They beat out Pella and Andersen.  We ordered “hurricane” glass so we can do away with our security bars–it will also reduce the noice in the master bedroom (which faces the street).  Final cost for about 26 windows and 2 doors will be around $27,000–that includes new sills for the rotted out ones, a storm window over the stained glass window, rubbed bronze hardware on the dining room and kitchen windows.  Most of the windows will be double-hung with black aluminum cladding over the outside.  We won’t have to worry about painting three stories up on a ladder.

The goal of getting some contractors in here to do messy work while we were on our honeymoon–well, that’s not going to happen.

Good news:  Emily researched the house two doors down that just sprouted a For Sale sign.  They want $699k for it (and it is a “beater”).  That’s $125k more than we paid for ours. 

Runaway boiler

Our boiler is old and we knew it going into the venture.  Probably built in 1940, the boiler guy told me.   Our plan has always been to replace it.  Well, last week we came close to having to do it then and there:  the boiler twice stuck it the “on” position, which eventually could have led to a release from the pressure relief valve. 

On the first occasion I woke up at 4 in the morning sweating (normally the boiler is off during the night).  The second time, Emily came home and found the house so hot (around 85) that she had to open a window; it was like summer here.  I went downstairs and turned off all the power–which normally turns the flames off, too.  Nothing.  The gauges were redlined, so I turned off the gas by hand.

My repair guy visited last week and said the “solenoid” was sticking.  And of course, the boiler is so old that this part is no longer available.  For $600, he could fashion a different option.   But that’s one-tenth the cost of a NEW boiler.  Since we know how to safely operate the unit, and because heating season is almost over, we’re going to limp by for two more weeks.  We’ll replace the unit when it’s warm and we can negotiate a better price with the heating contractors.  It’s been so cold lately, they’re in their element–and can charge full price and get it.

Two things: Ice Dams, and Blogger

I hate to start this new blog off on a negative note, but here it is:  Blogger.com sucks!  Owned by Google, they switched to a new software filled with bugs.  I spent two hours trying to log in–just not worth my time.  Sorry, Google, but you lost me–and my hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of readers.  Now, back to blogging on the home renovation project.  Today’s topic:  ice dams.

 I was doing the laundry today when I heard water dripping down the stairs–not a good sound!  Anyway, for about several hours we had a goodly number of drips.  We had, I’m sure, ice dams–when heat from a house melts the snow on a roof.  The runoff hits a cold spot and refreezes, and then the “dam” backs up later melt water.  We’ve had perfect conditions for ice dam formation:  several inches of snow, below freezing temps for days on end, and absolutely NO insulation in our attic.

I’m back

Well, as always, lots has happened. Been writing a brief for the Supreme Court; planning a wedding; you know, simple kind of stuff. And the new version of Blogger didn’t let me log in! But here I am, filled with stories (like the Pella window guy who dropped the price $12,000–33%–trying to get our business).

So anyway, here are some photos:

* A closeup of our repointing job
* A closeup of our neighbor’s awful job–can you tell the difference? Problem is, I get to look at my neighbor’s bricks, and he gets to look at mine.
* Raul, one of the masons, raising the sill so that the new rear kitchen window is above the new countertop
* The rear of our house, before and after. Note how the second floor porch door has been partially bricked up–it’s becoming a window.

Weirdness

Ok, it’s just weird when contractors dominate your life. Things just aren’t as predictable when someone else (whom you haven’t even met) is in your space.

Today, my reciprocating saw blade was missing (I used it yesterday to cut a pipe that’s in the way of the brickwork). Someone’s car is in our parking space (I think it’s the neighbor’s contractor’s car). My recycle bin that I put out in the alley is missing. Dust and workers’ shoeprints are noticeable inside (but that was expected).

Anyway, the crew is dissembling an unused chimney to harvest the bricks for the patch jobs. I’ll take some photos this weekend.