Spring Thaw

Well, we were wondering if they construction had any effect on the amount of water in our basement, and I think we received our answer this morning.  We have just about the same about of water as usual.  I think the addition and the drainage will help with summer thunderstorm seepage (no more water squirting out of the walls).  Unfortunately there is a lot of water that comes down off the hill.

The real problem is that the hole that our sump pump tube went through to get outside is gone.

For now, the water will have to go out through the bulk head.

Train Layout

With the dust vacuumed and the tools gone, the kids have been playing in the unfinished rooms.  Evelyn wanted to work with Colin on the little table in the living room.  We gave permission to Alistair to build a Lego train layout in the dining room.

Last Day of Major Work

Today was the last day of major work on the house.  While we're gone over spring break, Justin is going to sand and stain the floors and install some doors upstairs.  Valley Floors also has to come back and finish the shower walls. But that's about it.  Justin and Keefe came to the back door to say goodbye, and it was sad to see them go.  They have been great working with, and we are really happy with their work.

Obviously we have a lot that we still need to do - painting, finish carpentry, tiling, and electrical.  I think that will progress much more slowly.  

New Oak Floor

The weather was lovely yesterday so the guys worked on siding and trim.  Today they installed the new, beautiful oak floor.

Subfloor Issues and Remedies

The floor under the hardwood floor in the playroom is in bad shape.  There is some rot, Justin thinks was caused by a kitchen sink (there are plumbing holes by the rotted area).  There are some strange wear patterns that hint to a completely different configuration of the room.  (Note that the varnish where Evelyn is standing is still intact, and the floor around it worn lower.)

The other issue is that the playroom floor and the new addition don't line up exactly.  If left alone, the new plywood floor would be 1/4" lower than the addition plywood at one end and 3/4" higher at the other end.  Justin decided it would best to remove the subfloor in one section to be able to create a level floor.  (It was the rotten bit anyway.)

Hello basement.

Justin had to install new sistered joists (carefully over Colin's wiring), especially near the wall because the joist is under the living room wall.

Beautifully level and all ready for new oak flooring.

New Baseboard Heaters

Today Matt Piper's apprentice installed the new baseboard heaters upstairs and downstairs.  On Friday they started to install heaters downstairs that were way too tall to be compatible with the paneling that we will be installing. They were nearly eleven inches tall.  At just over nine inches, these new heaters are still taller than the other ones in our house, but they will fit with the paneling. 

Meanwhile, outside Justin and Keefe worked on the siding the trim. 

Sanding the Drywall (with some Tool Envy)

Justin has this really cool drywall sander/vacuum that he used to sand the mud, and it didn't make much of a mess. 

Alyssa has tennis elbow (from downhill skiing oddly enough) so priming is going to have to wait a little bit.

Siding Nearly Compete

Justin and Keefe worked some more on the siding today (before some forecasted snow tomorrow).  It's just about done, and it looks great.  People have asked us if we are going to keep the gray, but it's just the primer color.

Siding

 It is amazing how the mud gets everywhere.  There are globs on door frames and smears on walls.

The new wood floors came yesterday.  They need to acclimatize before installation.  Evelyn wants to pretend that they are stepping stones and walk from pile to pile.

Justin and Keefe worked outside yesterday today on the siding and window trim.

This picture is from around lunchtime today (yeah sunshine!).

And here are some from the end of the day.

First Pieces of Siding

Justin finished up mudding inside, including a final coat  on the corners. 

Outside, they worked on the corner boards and the first pieces of siding. Looks great.

Birthday Dinner in the Dining Room

We celebrated Colin's birthday by having a candlelit dinner in the new dining room.  Our little table was dwarfed in the room.  Alistair played Happy Birthday on the cello.

More Mud and Beginning of Siding

With temperatures above 50 today it really felt like spring.  We even sat outside on the back porch.  Meanwhile Keefe worked on the siding above the living room addition, and Justin put on another coat of mud.

Mudding and Cutting Exterior Trim

Today Justin continued mudding the drywall. 

Keefe was outside all day (in the sunshine) finishing the siding above the roof as well as cutting and rabbiting the trim and giving it a coat of primer.

Taping

With the roof done, Justin came back inside to tape and apply the first coat of mud.  Evelyn likes the way her room looks.  (You can see where Colin is running the wires up from the basement.)

Meanwhile, Justin worked outside on the siding above the back roof.