We have access to the basement through the rear stairs!

Certain things excite me–like being able to access our basement from the rear yard.  As previously described, a relatively new deck covered the rear steps–and I need the rear steps, among other reasons, to carry a washer and dryer for our new laundry.  The front stairs are only about 20″ wide–too narrow for appliances.  Even the back access is narrow–26″ at the new door we had put in last year.   Luckily we can find a handful of appliances that are 25.5″ deep and will fit through the door yet still feel larger than “apartment” appliances.

Here are pics of our steps that haven’t seen the sun for years:

 

 

Obviously, before I cut the deck away, I had to shore up the framing–which was actually kind of fun.  Our backyard–even though far from complete–is much more interesting now that it has three levels spanning about 14 vertical feet.

Photos of our renovation

Here are some photos to show you what’s up.  The kitchen is almost done–just some minor details, cosmetic details left to do.  We have shut down the “2-burner hotplate and a microwave” kitchen and are no longer schlepping dishes upstairs to wash in our utility sinks.   Ahhh, a dishwasher is a wonderful thing.

 

We put plywood on the ceiling to accept a “tin ceiling” –which is really a collection of 2×4′ “thermoplastic panels” which cost about $700 ($38 each):

 

As you know, the laundry room is almost done (Emily has put up samples of yellow, off-white, blue, and green).  Obviously, to be operational, the room will need a washer/dryer.  Unfortunately, access to the back basement door was blocked years ago by construction of a deck.  Well, the deck has to go.

The decking is plastic lumber.  I tried to save it, but was unsuccessful unscrewing it off the support joists.  In the end, I found that it was brittle and rapidly succumbed to my sledge hammer.

RIF’d Renovation

Got “RIF’d” today.  Laid off, as in “reduction in force.”  Good news is that I’ll have more time to finish some of our projects.  But as brother Greg pointed out, having time to finish is not the same as having money to finish.  We’ll definitely try to cut costs where we can.  I’ll probably do more of the jobs I hired Jose to do.

Home is where the heart is

I was just reading an article on cnn.com about happiness coming more from experiences than possessions.  I think that is one main reason I can handle living in a renovation war zone:  happiness is more a state of mind than a function of new furniture and dust-free cabinets.   I’m sure some millionaires are unhappy in their fancy houses.  Not me.  I would live under a picnic bench if I had my wife to kiss at night.

Drip drip drip

Our house is–or maybe we are–dysfunctional.   Our show faucet has started to leak badly.  Plus we have a 5-gallon bucket in the downstairs parlor that collects drips from the leaking shower waste line above.  We (or at least I) don’t think much about it (unless guests are coming).  I know the bucket is temporary; both of us can’t wait to demolish the master bath and get the new plumbing in ASAP.  We’re aware of the problem and plan to fix it.

One good thing that comes from renovation is awareness.  The renovator has the chance to know where every wire goes, what every sound is, why something works or not.  Awareness is a good thing.  Our world could use more of it.  How about being aware of water quality degradation from increased pavement in urban areas?  Seeing all the extra deer as a sign that the forest needs more predators?

Drip, drip, drip–something needs to be fixed.

Progress and mass destruction

Powder room is done–waiting for Em to hang some artwork (some of her beautiful prints put into silver frames).  Small bath–done, and has been used by several guests already; waiting for Em to hang some artwork.  Kitchen almost done; put up 1/4″ plywood ceiling two weeks ago; need to order “tin” ceiling tiles (click here for an example–they’re 2/4′ plastic, look great, and get glued to the plywood with “FRP (fiberglass reinforced panel” glue .

Hung the ceiling fan in the guest room today.  Primed the laundry room yesterday, installed recessed lights and painted ceiling today (used Glidden ceiling paint, which goes on pink so you can see where you have painted, then dries white–but I just told Emily I bought pink paint by mistake so I could watch her jaw drop).  Need to choose some kind of floor treatmentthat is not too expensive and works well on a concrete slab that sometimes has moisture in it.  Seal (“drylock”) then paint?  Tile?  Indoor/outdoor carpet?

Before we can use our new laundry, we have to buy <26″ wide machines (which limits our selection).  Even before that, we need to open up the backstair well–which has been decked over for years by the previous owners.  They even poured a 5′ retaining wall over the original patio and backfilled with tons of dirt.  Now that all has to go–about 35-45 cubic yards.  Though it would be fun to rent and operate a mini-excavator, I would still need a truck and somewhere to haul the excavated material.   We’re getting bids right now (and even asked Jose if he had a friend with a truck)–stay tuned.  In any case, yesterday was destruction-day for much of the back porch; it is built onto and around the retaining wall and must be removed so that the excavator can get in).   I tried to use my drill/screwdriver to backout the deck screws, but quickly determined that half of the screwheads were stripped and would take forever to get out that way.  Instead, I took my sledgehammer and shattered the plastic lumber decking.  I wanted to salvage it, but it just wasn’t feasible.  Anyway, sun is shining down to the lower level like it hasn’t done in years; it will be such a change–I’ll post photos soon!