(Sigh) and quiet falls across the house....

The roofers are (finally) done.  Shingles installed, new flashing and drip edge, new ventilation, and gutters/downspouts.  I doubled the number of downspouts from the gutters in hopes of preventing the massive overflows I've had in the past plus with the new roof configuration I have smaller sections of gutters so had to plan in some new downspouts anyway.  I added one in the back on the old gutter and hope that will help with the overflow there.  The roof looks really nice...and it makes me feel safe.  So, now time to repaint the ceilings where I have some "leak" spotting and wash down the log walls where the drips left watermarks.  Not for sure what I'll do when it rains if I have no pots and pans to put down!  I need to get downspout run-outs in place now and keep the water moving away from the house and out to the gardens and trees...

The electrical crew arrived and (of course) are having to install an additional box to handle the circuits since the present ones are a little goofy.  (hmmmm..... )  So change order in hand I'm getting accustomed to sorting out what I want and need and at the same time making sure to get as much advice and input from the "professionals" before saying "go ahead".  I would rather pay for it now when it's easier to do than have to pay someone to come back later and add it in knowing it will be far more expensive later....but yikes!  I changed a few things around- moving a wall sconce to an overhead position and adding in more wall outlets but all in all, not that much different from my original proposal.  I need to chisel out one more outlet on the log wall for a dimmer switch requiring a larger box... gotta love sweat equity.

Met with HVAC and electrical so have made final decisions on where placement of ventilation, light switches, fixtures, etc. all go.  I had made a preliminary plan and call sheet to list everything when getting the bids but this makes it seem all too real.  Actually being in the space it makes you stop and really think what do I need and what do I want.  Two totally different things but both driven by the urgency of the sub-contractor who will be here on Monday to start the install.

I am so glad I put in the crawl space.  It is allowing a level of freedom in making small adjustments I would not have been allowed had I simply done the suspended floor.  But that is also why I chose to go with this company over the other company in the bidding process.  I'm trying to anticipate everything which might go wrong in the future and plan for how I can access it or fix it if and when....an option I did not have in my previous kitchen.  It's also going to be REALLY varmit proof.  I had my pest management folks out today and they did a full inspection, and sprayed the inside and the outside for ants and other crawly things, checked my "rodent rocks" and refilled them outside- everything looks great.

I am tired of having contractors in the house.  It will be good to have a weekend.  I have a small list of "to do" this weekend in order to be prepared for Monday.... rip down cedar and paint it for the trim on the flashing on the roof (4.5 inches wide x 80'), take out the chinking in two spots for electrical access, relocate the temperature control for the living room, and chisel out a spot in the log wall for the electrical box for the entry hall.  (sigh)  Gotta love sweat equity.....

This is that cool driveway treatment I saw and want to know more about.... maybe a solution for my drive access up to the house.....

So standing about half way down the hill in the "woods" out from the house this is the view UP the hill to the house.   If you turn around 180º then you would see the picture below.  This is kind of rubble, stone, wild flowers, and trees right now but I think it's where the path to the parking area may finally end up.... I'm thinking to keep the same look as before- gravel with some kind of edge treatment.  The land is fairly evenly sloped until right at the end and then I may need to put in a few steps to help make the transition down more graceful.... and that's a problem for some people....steps.   

So if you are standing about half way up the hill and look down toward the parking area this is the view..... most folks park beside the large rock you see just left of center.  You can kind of see where the old path used to be- see the pink metallic tape center right marking off where the contractors are not allowed to walk- that's the old path.

This is the "drive access" running from the garden area up to the house.  I've used it for years to  back the car up to the front porch when unloading groceries or other heavy items (like my dad-LOL) for the main floor of the house so as to avoid the long trek and the stairs.  It ends right at the new front door..... but the access is between the two "parking" areas and it's also a major water flood zone when raining....but perhaps some kind of treatment would allow it to serve dual purposes for those folks who can't do steps and for me to still back my car up when I need to unload something heavy to the first floor level.  It would be nice to have something down to slow the water as well..... I saw this really cool parking area at the lighthouse at Wind Point made from concrete but with holes to allow water thru, kind of like an expanded web thing or honeycomb.  Very cool.  Had grass growing in the holes and yet obviously allowed water to pass thru and it was easy to walk on.... and cars drove on it as well.  Anyone know what it's called???

Standing on my front porch this is the view down to the garden.  The "drive access" up the hill is going off down to your left and you can just see the rocks by the parking area on the right side of the screen....

Roofers stripping away the old shingles.... no fall arrest or harness of any kind....OSHA where are U????  But they seem fearless and I never felt they were taking unnecessary risks, just working on a very steep slope very high up!

The door to the screen porch is in~ view is from the screen porch looking towards the new kitchen.

View from inside the entry looking to where my fabulous new front door will soon be placed.  The height of the ceiling is really great...now I have to find just the perfect hanging light.....

View of the pantry and the guest clothes closet - sliding door hardware installed to enter into the "pantry".... and NO that is not the new floor but my old floor.  They still need to remove the heating run as well.... moving along!

It's been a weird week- very hot and RAIN!  But I have two windows installed and a beautiful patio door in to the screen porch, deck boards on the screen porch connecting the porch to the new kitchen, the front entry all framed in and ready for porch boards, the interior completely framed for the pocket door and all interior walls in the entry and pantry areas, and yesterday the roofers showed up (once the rain finally stopped) and did major tear-off on the roof- all shingles removed on the lower roof.... and then it RAINED AGAIN- bucket loads and high winds.  This morning...beautiful but humid.  Roofers back and did tear-off on the little house south side and big house north side....and then got north side water shielded, tarpapered and shingled!  Started on little house south side when clouds blew up but everything was tarpapered so dry and safe.  RAINED like crazy so they quit for the day....to return tomorrow.

The new shingle color is beautiful.  I chose a tabbed shingle with variation of color in the "tabs" so it appears as a random grey, brown, drk gry mix of color.  With the grey cedar siding and the brown gutters and flashing it really looks sharp.  Standing on the ground looking up at the newly completed roof it finally looks "right" instead of the odd brown color we had before..... note to self- only one person should be in charge of selecting the colors used on a house, especially the exteriors where you live with those choices for a LONG TIME!!!

I will have photos up soon...
Sandy

North side of house with new entry porch.... door will go in space that appears brown.  Not sure where the path will go to get to parking area or how it all works but time enough to consider all that....

You can tell it's the end of the week and these guys have been working hard... a lot accomplished but aarrrrghhhh!   The kitchen area is all ice and water membraned now and roof is connected to the screen porch- all good!  but, I still have "open roof".

This is end-of-the-day yesterday.  Pretty much everything is framed out on the entry but we are waiting on the concrete to cure so can't put the last beams in place and sheath the roof over the entry.  We put up roofing membrane and tarps so hopefully it WON'T rain at least until Tuesday because they should be "roofed" and ice and water membrane complete after Monday workday.  

The entry finally makes sense to me.  I had been worried it wouldn't fit into the flow of the house but it actually creates a "landing" for the front door celebrating the entry to the house and creates this "circle" of architecture pulling the little house into better relationship with the main house.  My sister's idea - brilliant.  She must be an architect....AND an engineer.

Had good meetings with Irv who brought cabinet guy in to do measurements and final drawings- those all got approved.  Talked with the roof folks to confirm shingle color and flashing colors so think that is all moving along...roof stripping and fixing should all start to hit in here next week and Irv says his plumbing and electrical folks will be moving in as well to start running things.... fast and furious!

My friend Lisa with one of her bats to release off the deck on the south side of the house..... this one was a BIG one with an almost full grown "baby".... They flew off into the night while we had a glass of wine with supper and talked.  Lisa is a very good friend and an amazing woman- kind, intelligent, and funny.....and a dedicated bat re-habilitation volunteer.  She "saves" these sweet creatures and returns them to the wild once strong enough to fly.  She has released dozens on my property and I love watching them fly in the clearing over the pond at dusk.

We've had some weather setbacks....first the terrible heat.  It's been over 100º for the last two days as the guys worked on the roof.  I don't know how they did it.

Tuesday afternoon I was at the library when the wind hit rattling the windows.  I packed up and ran to the hardware store to get a tarp hoping I could cover the opening I knew the guys had left in the roof since they needed some plywood to finish it off.

 I managed to get home just as it started sprinkling and nailed the tarp in place over the hole.  We got about five minutes of rain and the tarp didn't cover the roof- only the "hole" so some water inside....but nothing like what we got yesterday....yes, the hole was covered with plywood by then but the roof didn't have the ice and water on it yet so when it rained last night- and I mean it RAINED- the kitchen got soaked....water standing inside and dripping everywhere!

This morning John and Matthew arrived early and spent some time sweeping out the water and getting everything clean- no sawdust to hold the water.  I put on the big fan to move the air and by the end of the evening the floor was mostly dry and the roof looked like it was drying out as well.  I realize todays lumber can withstand getting drenched and the rain is not going to be a problem but arrrrgh..... I just wish they could have had the ice and water put on to protect the roof and prevent the interior from getting wet.  I've had enough difficulty with mold this past year.....

Joh sorted out the entry gable so Matthew dug the holes for the foundation....three sonotubes goinog down 4 '....and of course one of the holes was right over the water line running down to the garden hydrant and the electrical to the barn.  Fortunately the electrical was encased in a plastic pipe for protection.  They were able to move the hole to one side and work around the pipe....waited on the inspector to show up and the concrete to be delivered.... finally the inspector called saying he wouldn't be coming out-he trusted the holes were four feet deep...but too late to call for the concrete so delayed again.  Hopefully John can get concrete mixed first thing Friday morning and (I'm hoping) complete the framing on the entry roof and door opening.  Right now the only thing between me and the outside is a sheet of plastic...and nothing in the gables.  Fortunately it's so dry I don't have to worry about bugs-only raccoons.    And they're saying it going to be a hot weekend so I'm hoping I get some filled in walls and a full roof.  If it's hot...... the good news- my roof will dry out and the kitchen should be nice and dry by Monday...bad news- the air conditioner will be useless and I don't do heat all that well.... argghh....

Success!  After some scratching of heads, an agreement between Irv, my general contractor, John, my head framer, and the engineer at the lumber yard doing some math to sort out beam dimensions, we cut down the beams and using the "string" placements, were able to make the cabinet fit in.... at least we think so.  Of course, we still have to add in the floor and the drywall on the ceiling but if we measured right (and we did it at least a dozen times) everything should fit.  

John and Matthew managed to get most of the rafters in place on the kitchen area- just got stuck on the "repeat" of the cabinet gable and will do that tomorrow.  They wanted to bury the beams in the wall so I wouldn't see them breaking thru and coming out onto the screen porch...and that takes some additional demolition.  They also are missing some lumber to complete the job so "on hold" for now....and when I mentioned the front door gable they didn't know anything about it.... Arrgh.... having communication difficulties with this group.  Kevin, the saleperson for Image, negotiated the contract and knows all the details.  Irv, the owner, needs to "be in charge" but doesn't know what has been agreed upon and hasn't an understanding of the who what when and where or the why.  In the framing case, John's brother talked with Kevin and did the bid but John is doing the work.... It's a bit like the telephone game and somewhere along the line everything is getting a bit off.

View of the kitchen addition as the roof rafters go in...

John, on roof, assisted by his nephew, Matthew- my framing crew!

Kitchen interior- the big window is for the sink area- stove is to the right on the other wall.

Stick frame I built to demonstrate size and height of cabinet.... we make it by about 2 1/2 "!

Standing on the north side of kitchen looking towards the screen porch.

String theory

                                                         STRING THEORY

     So after framer John's pronouncement about the cabinet fitting into the gable end, yesterday I stick framed out a "cabinet" shape and nailed it up to the existing framed wall.  Then I plotted the proposed beam placements and with string, dropped the roof into place.  Indeed, the beams (and hence the ceiling) will not allow the cabinet to fit.  Arrrgh.... I admit, it was 94º out and hot so I don't think my best when hot and sweaty.... I retreated to the house and armed with my scale rule and the plans sat and tried to sort out where things went so wrong.  One thing I discovered is on the floorplan the ridge beam is placed one foot off from where it is on the elevation....and that one foot proved to be critical.  By adjusting the placement on the house and centering the cabinet in that space, and by NOT using 11 1/4 LVL beams but altering them to something smaller... I think....we can make it work.

      This morning John arrived and then Irv (general contractor) and with much scratching of heads and hmmmm'ing (and a certain level of being amused by my strings and cabinet frame work method)  Irv is off to the lumber yard to talk "load" and cutting down the LVL to a smaller size based on the length of the span and what we need to do to get the cabinet to fit and maximize headroom.

     Working on old buildings seems to present especially challenging problems.  The loft window prevents us from raising the shed roofs any taller.  The floor creates the other defining plane.  Between the two the wall and roof must live and it's a very tight fit.  For those of you who've been in my home, you know the low ceiling heights, especially against the exterior walls, in my lean-to addition spaces- guest bedroom, study, and what was the old kitchen.  Well...THIS kitchen is struggling with the same issues only now I want to put a 7'1" tall cabinet against a 6'6" tall wall....hence the gable end.....the gable end ridge beam meets the log wall at the same point where the shed roof joins.  The floor must be the same as what is in the cabin....Those measurements can't really change...so the trick is making the gable no taller and still get the cabinet to fit.  We will be putting lumber in the air soon..... stay tuned!

The point where the gable and the cabinet clash.......somethings gotta give!

                                                         

Greetings blog watchers!

          A productive couple of days as the rough framers, Matthew and John, (something biblical going on there...) arrived to put in the subfloor, lay the base floor and erect the walls.  Now it's really easy to see the shape of the kitchen.  Standing in the space, after they left, looking out my window holes I can see the wonderful views I had plotted standing on the porch last year.  This kitchen will be full of light and restful vistas. 

        I took off the last of the siding around the house and moved it to the barn for sorting and clean-up.  The table saw needs a new blade so another trip to Menards is in my future.  Salvaging the cedar siding will save me a fortune.  For the pieces that were split or have end deterioration I plan on ripping down to use for trim around windows or in soffit areas.  Fortunately I still have siding in the barn from the previous "little house" addition.

      I also need to get a grinder so I can grind off the nail heads holding the truss hangers on my large beams pulled from the old construction.  I've tried knocking things, using the nail puller, crowbar- nothing will remove them.....bloody ringshanks!

       We did get a little rain but not enough to cause a problem (I hope).... at least the crawl space was covered or else I would have had a swimming pool.  I managed to find enough tarps and old rubber roof membrane to cover all the lumber stacked outside so that's all safe from the rain but I don't think we got enough to dampen much more than a sprinkle.  The ground still kicks up in dust clouds when you walk over it and under the trees the grass is crispy brown.  I'm sure the trees (and my garden) appreciated at least the little rain we did get.  We are to have more rain Tuesday evening so that gives them two days to sort out the roof....

      John, the head framer, believes the architect was on drugs and the proposed angle of the roof where my antique cabinet is to sit will NOT allow the cabinet to set against the outside wall.  I am going to build a frame the size of the cabinet and we will solve the problem on Monday by just playing with the beams but ARRRGggghhh!   It's frustrating when you pay someone to solve a problem and they fail to do the work right.... As John said, "This guy is an architect but no engineer...this isn't going to work."  I've poured over the drawing and worked side elevations and fear he may be right.  We will know on Monday....

Laying the subfloor over the floor rafters.... I don't want any squeaks in this floor!

The stud walls are up and the exterior sheathing and Tyvek is going on....windows and door openings define the views.

Standing in the kitchen looking to my screen porch and the entry to the dining room (white door).  I'll need to clean the logs soon and sort out the removal of the foam insulation mess where the old wall connected to the cabin.  I anticipate some chisel and sandpaper time coming up soon.

Since I've had several inquiries from those of you who know my home and can't visualize the proposed new kitchen....here's the floor plan.  Below is the OLD kitchen (marked with the giant X)....as you can see, I'm taking over the old front porch and adding on a new entry.  The design was the inspiration of my sister, Cindy Browne, who proposed it to me along with some other amazing choices.  The others would have been far more involved and were certainly food for thought....but I think this one is "just right".  

I have tweaked the plan somewhat, mostly in the entry area - sliding door on the pantry and "french doors at the log wall into the dining room instead of the recessed single "inner" door... and I deleted the outside deck and am putting in two 18" wide "sittable" steps....I've had enough trouble with decks and burrowing animals.  I never want to have to trap possums inside my home again....

Proposed floor plan

Old floor plan - the X is the old kitchen

Elevations.... nice....

Mish Mish, our cat, is just exhausted from supervising the work.  Obviously the table is preferable in this weather to a cushioned chair but could someone please bring this girl a drink!?!?!?!

 The lumber arrives....this time with a way to unload it and bring it at least part way up to the house, unlike the concrete block dude who showed up with a huge truck and then had to unload it in the drive (duh!) forcing the concrete guys to load it in the back of their truck and move it load by load up the hill to the kitchen..... I do have a driveway that can be a bit of a challenge to these folks and I frankly have no idea how this guy even got back into here with this size of a truck.....

So....FRAMING STARTS TOMORROW!!!!  I'm going to have a floor, and walls, and windows, and a roof soon!!!!

 Well, it's been a HOT one.... This was from the TV at 5pm and we were somewhere between that 106º and the 103º now but have no idea how hot it actually got here - only it was miserable.  Yes, the air conditioning was on but even then you could feel the oppressive heat just baking the woods and the house.... I water every morning to keep the garden going and to try and help the transplants in the new flower beds but they are really struggling.

Despite the heat, the footings were now all poured, the block delivered and set, insulation installed, and the concrete poured for the floor in the crawl space of the new kitchen.  Looking at this you can see the size and shape the new kitchen will occupy.... it's going to be wonderful.

 In order to access the build site the crew carved a trail up thru the woods from the "guest" parking area and around up to the house.  This photo is taken at the top of the curve in the woods and the next picture is just turning towards the house and the path continues up to the front area.  We had used this access previously when building the house but it had grown over...and I'm sure in a few years you won't be able to tell we had a drive up for this build either.

 This morning (Wednesday, 11th) the excavators arrived to do the stone backfill and final rough grade.  This time I'm having the water run AWAY from the house instead of leaving it to run downhill toward the house...details!  Our soil is so rocky/sandy it really isn't much of an issue but all the same......

In order to get the required height on the backfill I needed to install a retaining wall.  Fortunately I was able to salvage some good timbers from under the old kitchen and toenailed them together, spiked them with rebar into the ground and covered the face with erosion cloth to hold back the dirt.  This morning I've been covering that wooden wall with rocks I've pulled out of the ground as they did the backfill so it will look like a stone wall to match the other walls around the property....and I think I may have "saved" the bush as well.... all good!

It's been a busy few days- first the roofers showed up and stripped the shingles, followed by the rough framers who tore off the roof and walls, then returned the next day and tore off the flooring deck....leaving a really big space....  the excavator arrived with a skid steer and a small back hoe and in a few hours had the foundation and crawl space dug out and all the fill worked into various areas around the property.  Big strides.... and in the unseasonal heat to boot!

Found this note scribbled on one of the foundation 2x10's.... laughable considering we also discovered over dozens of little dead mice mixed in the floor insulation.... yes, all dead... but still...."varmit" proof indeed!

This is the lumber I cleaned after tearing it out of the old porch structure.  It will be re-used for framing and siding the new structure saving me some much needed $$$$.

The kitchen is GONE- roof came down first, then the walls, and finally the floor.  I spent the two days it took to remove the old structure cleaning any salvageable lumber for re-use.  Ohhhhh.... my hands hurt bad.... but I did get a lot of good lumber.  The white door will be the entry to the kitchen from the dining room.  The red door will go away and become the oven, pantry, refrigerator wall in the new kitchen.

The crawl space is dug out and ready for concrete.....

This is my contractor, "Irv" of Image Custom Homes and Remodeling, sorting out the plans- mini back hoe in background.  By the end of the day they had completely dug the hole, smoothed out the steps up to the house, and filled in the drive around to the parking area thru the trees and up to the house.....you can almost drive up to the house now and back down on the other side!