Another Quiet Day Today

Nothing happening today, but the good news is that tomorrow they will begin to lay the cement foundation. Our permit was approved on Tuesday, but they couldn't get someone out from the county to inspect our home until tomorrow morning. Without the county's involvement, I would have had a foundation a week and a half ago! That's okay--as long as they can start that this week, I'll be happy. The builder said that the foundation should take about two weeks before they can begin building the upper level. I'll update more tomorrow.

Week 3 and 4-The "Death Drop"

You know you are an official construction zone when you have a porta-potty in your front yard and trucks parked in your yard.









During week 3 of the renovation, I was in Vancouver with my 3 nephews and my niece having a fabulous time. I came home to what we now jokingly refer to as the "death drop" out our front door. Since it looks like a swimming pool, I've contemplated just making it one--throw some floating stairs across the pool to the front door. It would definitely be original. Though who wants to skinny dip in their front yard and isn't that the biggest benefit of a private pool? Oops! I really wrote that.

I'll get back to the remodel. Here are the pictures from the third week of remodeling. The footings for the new deck and front addition are in place and the water line has been moved. The progress was slowed a bit with permit delays. They better sign-off the last few items for the permit soon because our front yard has become a pretty dangerous zone.

As for this week, we are hoping to have the permit signed off tomorrow so they can begin to lay the foundation on Wednesday morning. That means a quiet morning tomorrow. Yeah!!

Out of town and out of the loop!

So, I am in Vancouver, Washington with my niece and nephews while my sister and her husband go to Cancun. I brought Tyler along so it'll be a fun week. I will, however, be unable to update the progress of the remodel. I've asked Pete, my husband, to take pictures each morning and night, so I should have pictures to show next week when I get home. We are anticipating that the permit will have come through on Monday so that the basement excavation can begin. Despite the mess, this part of the plan is really not so bad, since our living has not been inhibited in any way. I think when the headaches will begin is when they tear through the living room wall to connect the office space with the existing house and the cement cutting in the basement. Our kids have been troupers though. They just shrug and go on with life. My oldest son asked if he could invite some friends over on Thursday, and I said, do you think our house is the best house to play at right now? He looked around and said, "Yeah, I'll see if I can play at someone else's house."

The issue that I still question is the finish on the house. Do I incorporate shake shingle or stick with a more European/French style with stone, stucco and brick? I don't want the house to be too busy, but I don't want it to be boring either. I know, I know . . . I have plenty of time to make those kinds of decisions. My dad asked me what brought about all of these changes and I said, "I guess just because I wanted to." Yes we gain storage space and a main floor office, but the truth is, none of it is necessary . . . just nice and satisfies my need to design and change things up. The one necessity is that our porch was a previously a slab that had sunken with time, causing the roof of the porch to swagger a big. This addition will give us a nice porch with cold storage beneath--something that needed to be replaced eventually. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel lucky, in a time of a hard economy, to have the opportunity to do this remodel. I put a lot of time and effort into deciding whether to buy an already existing home, or stay where we are and take advantage of our great lot. I feel like we made the best decision for us, so I hope all goes well! I will update the blog on Thursday or Friday when I get home.

And then it snowed . . .

The past two days have been very productive. All of our patios are heaps of cement piled in the snowy front yard. We officially have one way to enter our home--every other door has a "death drop." Pictures tell a thousand words, so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Week 2, Day 3--A surprisingly quiet day.

I left the house at 8:30 am this morning, expecting another day of loud construction, came home at noon to quiet. No work today--I'm sure that made Tyler happy. The noise is already starting to bother him, so I suppose we really ought to get out of the house tomorrow when they plan to jack-hammer away the cement on our porch and back patio. I'm taking down pictures and some of my decorations in fear that the vibration will cause things to fall. I'll be sure to post pictures tomorrow evening. On Friday, I look forward to the gas line being changed, so that on Monday of next week, they can begin digging the new foundation for the library/office and new cold storage. My house looks like its been hit by a tornado, but I don't mind! Its exciting to see the changes. I'm writing that down now, as I anticipate that as the project goes on, I may have my days of frustration! Its always good to write down the good days, to help you remember on the not so good ones! Happy remodeling!

Day 2 and 3 of Remodel

After a 3 day start on our remodel, we are less a deck, the southside of the house has been torn apart and rocks delivered for the new patio/walk-out basement, 2 large trees are gone and the stone is stripped from the front pillars. At this stage of the project, I've realized how much destruction has to occur before the project will be done. The sprinkling system will be completely destroyed in our yard and since we've opted to do this project in phases, I need to think through how we want to do the yard. Should we replace as we go or begin work on the landscape layout to save money in the long run? We'll see how that goes.

The timeline so far, the next two weeks will be demolition while we wait for the permit. Our water line and gas line need to be moved, so there are definitely items to think about as we go. Once we can start the actual construction project, the builder thinks we'll be about 3 1/2 to 4 months to finish this part of the project.

Here are some photos of what's taken place in the last 2 days (the trees coming down where the first day).

Day 2: The deck comes down





Day 2/3: South side of House is going to be a walk-out to the yard. The stone stairs were delivered and the rock removed to make a larger patio area.




Day 3: The stone from the front pillars is removed and put on pallets to be reused for chimney's, wainscot and possibly patios.

Let the Remodel Begin!

Day 1

Today begins the actual physical part of our home remodel. We have been working on plans with an architect since last April. I've gone from extremely elaborate, to finally scaling it down to a reasonable remodel without sacrificing the space I desired. Our permits were submitted last week, and should take another couple of weeks to be approved. In the meantime, the builders are going to change a gas line and waterlines, dig out a walk-out basement area, and tore down our giant pine tree in front of our house. Although I love the tree, it blocked light and access to our house, so it had to go. Anyway, here are the first photos of the trees coming down and the before pictures of the front of the house.

In this first phase we are adding an office space with a fireplace, a walkout basement door, and a basement exercise room and cold storage. Phase two will give us a new, two level deck off the back of our house and french doors from the dining room to the back yard.

I am so excited. Here's to happy remodeling!!