House updates: Tuesday and Wednesday

[electricland]

And I'm in them!

Drywalling was fun. Of course, just as I was getting good at it, I had to
go back to work. What interests me is that it physically got easier
as I learned how to do it. You wouldn't think that holding 50-lb sheets of
drywall over (and mostly supported by) your head would get easier as you
went along, but it does. I'm used to brain-related things getting easier
as I get better at them, but I am so unathletic that the notion physical
things could do the same came as a real surprise.

So.

On Tuesday, this happened:

Today for lunch Robin, Dan, John and I had pancakes--this
being Shrove Tuesday--with sausage, bacon and a side of scrambled eggs
with smoked salmon.

Dan and Robin whittled away at green board on Jen's bathroom ceiling.
William skimcoated Jen's bedroom.

John helped Sears move in and place 8 appliances. He also looked
fruitlessly for the missing keys to the truck. (Len will take care of new
lock.) In the meantime, fortunately, getting into the truck will not be a
problem because, when John and the guy from Rona were enthusiastically
loading dry wall last evening, there was a small industrial accident and
one piece went through the back window.

However, as noted earlier, none of our contacts can find a motorcycle gang
member low enough to certify the Ladykiller as emission-tested for the
licence renewal date of March 31. Brief poems and testaments would be
appreciated for the obsequies.

Cheers all, Helen.

Oh god, the appliances. I was walking up from Queen with my coffee and I
saw the Sears truck parked opposite our house and I had a moment of sheer
dread. And I was right. But in a weird way, although they're a pain in the
ass to work around, I'm kind of glad they've arrived because now I don't
have to call the Sears guy ANY MORE.

Still have to track down Jen's fridge though.

On Wednesday, this happened:

Today for lunch Robin, John and I had cheese fondue and salad,
with leeks today being St. David's day. Today also being Ash Wednesday,
Dan is at mass.

Before going, Dan put holes in Jen's bathroom for lights, and helped with
drywall.

This morning Robin worked in solitary splendour sanding on the third
floor, which, she estimates, has 30 separate planes. She sanded them all.
Yesterday afternoon, Rob, Dan and William put up drywall in first floor
kitchen and living room.

John drilled a hole in the back wall for an outside light, and will look
into a porch light.

Jen and Robin can be smug. The attached house, which does not have a
glassed-in porch, sold yesterday. Asking price $540,000; got $582,000.

Cheers, Helen

It is really exciting to see the drywall going up on the ceiling! It gives
a sense of the space which we really didn't have before, when it was just
studs and insulation batts. Jen came by Tuesday evening and was really
excited to see it.

I am almost tempted to rent another portable storage locker and get all
the piles of crap which we bought so prematurely OUT OF THERE, so we can
work.

Looking forward to Saturday.

Comments

[briasoleil.livejournal.com]

Omg! I'm so excited for you! How much longer do you expect the project to take? If you're drywalling, does that mean skimcoating and painting are essentially what's left? Along with all the hardware, which is always the last thing to go in? Or is my squee premature?

[mrs-cake.livejournal.com]

Hurray for progress! It all sounds very promising at the moment, hon. How much longer, do you think? I've got everything crossed for you :) x

[nellisir.livejournal.com]

The (rough) progression is usually: drywall (hang, tape, sand), prime, hardwood floor* (if any), interior trim* & cabinets, tile* (if any), paint, finish electrical & plumbing, carpet, touch-up paint (if any), misc stuff like towelbars & doorstops, clean, move in.

They're clearly at different points in different rooms, though, so who knows when stuff will happen.

*You -should- run hardwood and tile into, not under, the baseboard trim, but it's harder and installers usually whine about it. We usually let the hardwood go under, but the tile has to go up to.

[punmeister.livejournal.com]

Hiya. I finally got the photos from two saturdays ago processed and online. The whole set of them is here

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Wow. John, those are beautiful! I love all the textures you found!

*is awed*

[electricland.livejournal.com]

How much longer? Really, no idea, but we're nearly out of money, so I guess until then. ;)

I'm hoping a month until it's livable. Of course I have been wrong before...

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I think we'll be skipping some of the misc stuff. And most of the tile is done. And I can live without baseboards for a while. And paint, if it comes to that.

Hooking up the plumbing fixtures, though, we'll want to do that.

This is what I mean when I talk about the ever-receding finish line! For months I was thinking "Drywall! The final step!" But... so very much no. Ah well, it'll all get done eventually...

[electricland.livejournal.com]

nellisir has listed most of the things that are left. It's the ever-receding finish line for sure! But I HOPE it'll be, if not done, then at least ready to live in reasonably soon. Like, before our 1-year anniversary!

[punmeister.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you like them. :)

As I was going through the photos I realized that I kind of missed actually taking pictures of a lot of the house, even though I took a fair number of photos. D'oh!

I was thinking that, if I can wake myself at a reasonable time tomorrow, I might pop over and take some more photos, as well as lend a hand if I can.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

you're welcome any time! Come and admire the new ceilings!