Moving Right Along

We are feeling a bit tardy with getting another entry written in our old house saga as the winter begins to yield its icy grip here in western pa. We’ve had plenty of cold and the guys are very happy to be inside most all of the time, even though there is minimal heat in the house. We’re trying to avoid making too large a contribution to global warming before the house is fully insulated.

Too cold and snowy to  work on the exterior!

When we left off last they were about to start installing the windows and that has been done successfully, save for three little windows in the attic for which we await some new sashes. The small roofs got their new shingles, the siding (scallops) is up in the gables and is looking good with the dessert sand trim package. The guys have painted the exterior window trim in preparation for installation, but as the weather turned really cold they moved inside.

Windows and doors all installed except for the attic windows above the kitchen.

 We are delighted to have windows that will actually operate and not pour pounds of paint particulates onto their sills. Some windows moved a bit to provide better locations but most went back in the same holes to preserve the look of the house. We removed the double front doors and placed an octagon window at the landing at the bottom of the staircase. The new front door went into the living room window spot. What a different feel the front porch will have, entry on the left and an enlarged seating area to the right.

Redesigned front porch waiting for some posts--adding one to make five.

Much time has been spent on meeting with the good folks at Masterpiece Kitchens where Debbie holds fort as designer and Pete does the installs. Long discussions and multiple visits to various shops led to selecting a slab of granite for the countertops, confirming cabinet measurements, adjusting multitudes of details so that framing could be completed. We are almost ready to hit the order button on the kitchen. The floor and backsplash tile are selected. If I ventured that we are almost done with decisions there I’d be as far off as my first guestimate on cost. At least we’ll have a happy banker friend when we’re all done.

Shopping for the granite countertop proved a challenge, 

but we eventually decided on this one—Renoir.

Kitchen components—granite, cabinet doors, floor and 

backsplash (will be subway) tile.

While we’ve been shopping the guys have been reframing some interior walls, building closets and shoring up some floor joists that had lost way too much material to a mad remodeler trying to put in a bathroom drain pipe. A couple of jack posts in the basement pushed up a sag in the dining room floor beside the stairwell. Looking at the structure of this old house is amazing in so many ways. It really has hung together magnificently for 100 plus years. I’m confident with the changes and improvements we are on track for keeping this old place in good shape for many more. Today the new stairs were installed, and all I can say is, “Wow!” It makes me real eager to see the finished product begin to reveal itself.

This second floor plan shows our changes.

Closets are being added to the studio, master bedroom, 2nd bedroom and attic.

We finally figured out how to fit in a small half bath, too.

No, we don't have termites. These holes were made in the living room rafters 

when a previous owner added the upstairs bathroom. Pretty scary! 

But Keith and Larry got them all patched up.

I’ve taken on one small project, but it’s going to be my little baby. After consulting with the insulation pros and selecting a flash and batt system for the walls, we decided to remove all the beaded board in the attic. I hope to put it all back, but first we redesigned the closet area and hall space between the guest bedroom and attic and I’m going to do a built-in dresser and bookshelf (see second floor plan above). Lots of fun, and a bit of a challenge, too. (That’s code for it’s taking longer than I thought it would.) Oh, flash and batt means they will apply an inch spray foam in the wall cavities and then fill the remainder with fiberglass batts. This should seal up all the air leaks in the walls real nice.

The beaded board in the attic had to all come down, but we'll put it back.

Hope you enjoy this update and when we pop in again we can show a little of the green siding and some interior finish work including the stairs. Have a blessed Lenten season and a Joyous Easter.

peace, bob