Project update, Day 8 (and videos)

It has been a week and a half since starting the bathroom, and the once-overwhelming task of gutting a bathroom is now coming under control.  Since my last update, I have been spending my time working on the mechanicals - the new circuits are complete, with additional lighting and outlets.  New supply lines have been run upstairs so that there will be adequate water pressure (I hope).  Yesterday I started on the shower/bath hookups, which I should be able to finish up today.  The big hold-up has been the new waste line that I have to run for the new bath.  The plan is to run the line down to the basement, parallel to the current stack.  Logistically this works out but there is limited space in the floor to plumb the trap and connections to new venting.  Rachel suggested that we use up some of the space above the drop ceiling in the main bath.  I will investigate this today, and hopefully install those drains.

Andrew has been getting very quick lately.  His walking skills have progressed considerably, so he is able to walk from room to room.  This has led to increased mischief, such as yesterday when Rachel was cooking and discovered that he had left his toys and quietly found his way to the toilet.  Yuck.  Thus begins 2+ years of chasing him around.

But he is still very cute and fun to play with.  Here a couple of recent videos.

Back to work!

-alan

Summer projects: Day 4

It is easy for my mind to get lost in these big projects.  There are a thousand little things to get done, and a few big things... and my thoughts can easily stray as I think of the other things I need to be doing.  I do not think that I am dreaming about construction yet, but I am sure that will come soon.

In the attic bath, I have nearly completed the electrical work.  I had to additional circuits, because all the current load would be too high for people living full time upstairs.  Now there should be plenty of juice to handle the A/C, computers, lights, hair dryers, etc.

The more difficult part is adding additional lighting.  I had to learn how to install recessed lighting, since the ceiling is so low and lighting woefully inadequate.  The bathroom lighting is set up, but I need to work a little more on the rest of the attic.  The bathroom fan is installed, and the necessary holes have been cut in preparation for new waste lines for the bath.

Speaking of, we do not yet have the fixtures - bathtub, shower head, vanity, toilet, faucet....but we should be able to fill that in during the next week between visits to second-hand warehouses and the big box stores.

It has not been all work; last night Rachel and I went downtown to watch a Chinese dance performance.  I received some free tickets from my school's Chinese teacher (via a student who did not want them!).  While I am not the biggest dance aficionado, the price was right and we are more cultured as a result.

And today we went to Wrigley to watch the Tigers beat up on the Cubs.  I think there were as many Tigers fans there as Cubs fans - and certainly there were more Tigers fans in the upper deck.  It was Andrew's first baseball game, and overall it was a successful trip.  He was an angel all the way through the 7th inning stretch...and he was tolerable after that.  Pictures to come.

-alan

Summer begins: Bathroom reno, Day 1 - Demo

Summer is here!

With all the time we have to spend together, whatever will our family do?

Don't stress Andrew, summer will be fun.  You probably do not remember much from last summer, but I will be home a lot more often, the weather is warm, and we will go out and do fun things :)

Last week Rachel gave me a nasty sinus infection (nice birthday present, right??) so I was knocked out for most of the last week of school.  Thankfully, most of my work was already done so I was able to sleepwalk right into summer.

Today was my first weekday off from school, and it felt pretty sweet.  No alarm (other than Andrew), a leisurely breakfast, time to Skype with Mom, a few hours of work upstairs/outside, and a walk around the block before hitting up the neighborhood ice cream social.  Ahhhh...this is the life.

But there is work to be done...

2 big projects for the summer: upstairs bath renovation, and the basement renovation.  The upstairs bath is the priority, because Sarah and Dave will be moving in at the end of the month.  It started out looking like this:

Nothing pretty, but nothing hideous.  Problem is, there is no shower/bath.  And there will be upwards of 7 people in this house at various times in the coming months, so 1 shower will not do. 

First things first: see how this place is put together. 

Much better!  The framing is solid, thankfully, and no sign of mold.  The fixtures we not worth keeping, and the drywall was nailed instead of screwed, so there were enough ugly nail pops to convince me to start over.

What's the next step?  Good question... unfortunately, I do not have as good a plan in place for the bath as I do for the basement.  I need to work hard tonight to design this place, so that I make the necessary purchases and starting piecing it back together.  The clock is ticking!

-alan