Fireplace Conundrums and Prepping for Drywall

This morning started with a long conversation with the fireplace salesman.  He seemed to think that running the vent through the gap between the front room closet ceiling and original ceiling would be no problem, but Justin stepped in and pointed out some issues with clearances and specifications that would not work.  We were planning on running the vent through the dropped ceiling in the front room closet.  But the vent pipe must be 12 inches from the inside corner and the closet is not deep enough to contain the pipe. He brainstormed other alternatives including venting through Charlotte's closet and even through the corner of Charlotte's room.  Neither of those were ideal, so the best option was to put the fireplace in the front room closet and rebuilt the wall.  (The salesman was completely lost through most of Justin's brainstorming, and I think if Justin wasn't there, we would have figured out thesse issues once the fireplace was there.)  We were going to convert this shallow closet into a little office space, with a desk and some shelves above.  If we move the fireplace into this space, and move the wall out a few inches, this allows for the vent pipe to be 12 inches from the inside corner. We would still have some space to put bookshelves in.  This new plan will be a lot more work than what is in the contract, so it might have to wait.

Also today, Justin and Keefe spray foamed the window gaps, leveled Evelyn's floor and finished getting ready for drywall.  Colin spent some time wiring, which needs to be done before they can start hanging drywall.

Even More Windows

We are all so excited to see the windows installed and the demolition of wall between the old playroom and the addition.  It is unbelievably bright, even on this overcast day.  We can visualize our having coffee/tea in the morning and looking out into the garden.

Windows!

Today was another "wow" day.  Alyssa went upstairs for something and was surprised to see the exterior wall in the 'blue room" gone.  By the end of the day Evelyn's room had all three windows installed.

 

We met with Berne this morning too.  Things are going to be moving quickly the next few weeks.  Tomorrow more demo and more windows.  Next week is interior framing upstairs and spray foam insulation on Friday.  Plumbing the week after.

Window Rough Openings

Today was kind of an exciting day of construction.  Just as we have started to become a little stressed out from the disruption and dust, a ray literal of light shown through - window openings! All the windows are fully opened, so we can see what amazing light our new space will have.

Charlotte was amazed when she came home from school and saw the new window openings.  You can truly visualize what the house will look like with the addition.  We can't believe how big the window in the living room in.  That room will be transformed.

Charlotte of course wanted to climb inside and see what it was like to walk around.  You can see the difference in the close up picture of Charlotte.  Where there is currently only one window, there will be a triple window and two side windows.

The Beginnings of Evelyn's Room

Progress is visually quick on framing days.  Where there were no walls yesterday, today Evelyn's bedroom has walls and openings for windows.  This afternoon, they brought the new header beam up on top of the framing, ready to install tomorrow.

After school we climbed out through the bedroom window to see Evelyn's room.  They all thought it was pretty fun.  I think Evelyn is finally understanding what all this disruptive construction is all about.  She was excited about her new room. 

We wonder how much that Evelyn will remember.  One of Colin's earliest memories is of the addition to his house when he was four.  Alyssa remembers her dad leveling and reseeding her backyard when she was about the same age.

First Window

While waiting for the decking to arrive, Colin installed the first window.  They are sash windows with screens - to keep those pesky mosquitoes out of the playhouse.

Window Trim Started

We've been plugging away at things upstairs.  Colin has started to trim the windows.  There are 10 windows in total, including the triple at the back.  Here is the west in the blue room, with trim 95% complete.  The hallway has also been painted (Concord Ivory to continue the yellow from the front hall), and Charlotte's room is just about ready for paint.

Exterior View of Upstairs Construction

We haven't posted an exterior picture of our new upstairs windows, so here it it.  To be honest, we haven't really had a chance to look at the exterior.  The two pieces of siding below the middle window are from the old dryer vent.

New Master Suite Windows

The windows are in, and we can't get over how much light there is upstairs. We know that the light will be different once the walls are up, but in the meantime we are enjoying the light.

The bathroom window is nearly the width of the bathroom, which is kind of crazy.  Again, not what we were envisioning at the beginning of our design process, but the large window will create a bright room.

Here is a view of the future master bedroom of the bathroom, hall, and closet.

New Window Preparations

Yesterday, they prepped the walls for the new windows (you can see the headers).  We have the bathroom window already (since we ordered it for Charlotte's room before we realized that we it wasn't an egress window) and the bedroom window is due tomorrow.

Porch Progress

The porch is coming along quickly. They are starting to put on the trim on the back porch. The side porch was in pretty bad shape, so they stipped off the old standing seam roof, the shingles underneath, and the rotten clapboards below the windows. Both windows over the side porch have also been replaced. The back of the house is done. The triple window looks great with the new siding and trim.

New Siding

It was a cold and snowy morning this morning when Chris, Dennis and Brian arrived. Dennis said that he had about six inches of snow where he lives. We had just over an inch. (You can see some on the roof of the porch.) They brought in the scaffolding boards so they would melt before they started working on the siding around Charlotte's window. They also trimmed out the triple window.

Here is a picture of the underneath side of the porch roof. To add the feeling of space, we are keeping the rafter exposed. The rafters and the boards have already been painted Maritime White to match the trim on the rest of the house.

Triple Window

Today was an exciting day. This morning they removed the upstairs door, made a huge hole, framed out the window rough opening and installed the window. It looks great from the outside, and the view from the upstairs is amazing, especially with the fall color.
The porch ceiling is also up, painted, and weatherized.

Dormer Window Framed

The window in the new dormer is all framed, and they are nearly done framing the new ceiling.

Window Delivery

Our new upstairs windows were delivered today. Alistair was excited to see a big truck in our driveway. We are excited to have windows that will stay open without props, screens that will actually keep out the insects (instead of poorly fitted storms that allow wasps to make nests inbetween the storm and the window), and glass that does not turn our upstairs into a green house.

Although Alistair was excited about the truck, he was also a little scared. "Mommy, come up here. You not be scared," he told Alyssa.