New Look

This weekend we worked on painting the front door and utility room door.  I love the black.  What do you think?  One more coat of paint is in order.  That will be for next week some time.

We have also demolished the front steps and the cement that was beneath the wood.  We will be rebuilding this deck during the week before the final rough inspections.

The neighborhood beach is looking better this year.

I think the house is looking much better from afar.

In case you didn't think I can't do the manuel labor I thought I'd include the following series of photos showing us moving the heavy awkward water heater.  Both R and I ended up scratched up after this job.

Peace!

Downstairs Framing!

Took 3 days to get this all framed up!  How exiting, we now have rooms downstairs.  Looking forward to inspections, insulation and walls going up!

Above you are looking from the living space into the full bath on the right and the spacious laundry room to the left.  On the left side of the laundry room is the door into the utility room that housed the brand new heating system and 80 gallon hot water tank.

This is a view from the fireplace wall looking at the stairs leading to the upper level.  Under the stairs will be additional storage.  On the far side of the stairs you'll find the two bedrooms. 

Here you are looking from the hall into and through the doorway into the laundry room. 

This is the view from the corner of the ocean side downstairs bedroom.  This space was my room as a young girl. 

Here is another view of the ocean side bedroom.  Behind that large Anderson box is a sliding window that will serve as egress if necessary. 

Here we are looking through the door into the front downstairs bedroom.

Bedroom closet, small but sufficient.

Here is a better view of the downstairs full bath.

Above you are looking from the laundry room out into the living area and below you have a better view of the living area downstairs.  

The plan for the rock wall is to clean it with some strong cleaner and then either buff the rocks or treat with a product that brings out the beautiful colors of the beach stone.  The upstairs slate fireplace has undergone one cleaning and is already looking different.  These walls are going to be beautiful. 

Peace!

Looking Good!

So last weekend we worked on painting the concrete exterior walls and chimney.  The chimney has looked sad for a very long time.  With a fresh coat of drylock it looks great.  I spent the day painting the concrete block on the side wall of the house.  For years that area of the yard had been overgrown and no attention was paid to that side of the house.  When we were trying to sell the house last summer the space was cleared by my brother with a machine.  It is still quite a mess and there is much to be done but now the gray block is painted a sparkling white.  I will probably add a second coat.  We'll see.

Before

Before

Before

After

After

After

After

This past week our heating man came and did his thing.  We now have a heating system in place complete with a beautiful new oil tank!  Can an oil tank be beautiful?  I guess it's all in the eyes of the beholder.  It is so exciting to know that the downstairs will be framed out next week and then we'll get the insulation blown in and be able to install the sheetrock and plaster.  

Oh we have also come close to making a decision about the stain for the woodwork.  We were looking at three different colors; natural, ipswich pine and cherry.  I think cherry is going to be the winner.

Ipswich Pine

Natural

Cherry

Cleaning Up

Well last week I spent time over at 40 M cleaning the first floor.  All the supplies are now stored in the master bedroom closet and the main living space is clear and clean with the exception of a couple of bags of construction waste that needs to go to the dump.  I'm especially pleased with the fact that the fireplace and hearth are now clear of all the random debris that had been accumulating there over the last several months.  Mum would be proud.  She always liked that area to be neat and tidy.

Fireplace in Living Room

Looking into kitchen area from living room.

Upstairs full bath

This week we are using the new shop vac to pick up all the debris that has settled into the nooks and crannies.  The heating is going in and should be finished by Monday.  We are also moving forward with drylock painting the chimney as well as the cement block on the northern side of the house.  Next week we'll use some heavy duty cleaning products to strip off 30 years of grime from the fireplace walls.  

Soon the electric and downstairs framing will be completed.  Continued forward progress is what we are working towards.  

Peace!

Buttoned Up and Weather Tight!

So the biggest happening over the past week or so is that we now have siding on the house once again and a new roof.  It was a big expense but it had to be done.

An early before picture that shows the overgrown holly and the old dilapidated garden shed to the right!  Both are gone now leaving a clean slate ready for plantings and patios!

Another early before, showing two of the trees that Mum planted years ago. In order to fix the drainage and driveway these trees had to come down.  Sad but we'll bring in other plantings.  

Ready for Siding

The Work Begins

One Side Down!

Siding Through the Trees

Looking Good

We decided to use vinyl all the way down the ocean side of the house.  

Here you can see the siding as well as the new windows.

The new slider for downstairs is waiting to be installed, but not until all the work is done down there!

Next weekend we'll be painting the chimney.  That will make a huge difference.

Soon we'll have new stairs to go with the new door and siding.  Our heating man will be taking away the oil tank that resides under those stairs and a layer of concrete!

Not bad!

Here I am so happy to be able to open the windows!  Dad would be thrilled!  (Mum too)