702 McKinley - A Remodeling Journey

Gimme Shelter

It has officially been a month since I last wrote...WOW, we were really busy there for awhile...actually, who am I kidding, we're STILL really busy! Here are a few things we've been up to: a new roof, new electric throughout the house, new plumbing, more demo, new stairs, new lights, leveling of floors, new ceilings, cleaning up, organizing tools, removing nails, squaring out the walls, and more! Sean and I sat down a few weeks ago and came up with a week by week schedule. They are merely goals we've set for ourselves so that we can keep pushing forward with the remodel. It seems we'll be ready to move in sometime near the end of February/beginning of March. Despite tearing out walls not being a part of the original plan, the new floor plan of the house and the updates on all of the electric, plumbing and heating are going to make a huge difference! Not to mention the fact that we'll be able to insulate the whole house properly!

One thing I've noticed is how my daily vocabulary has changed to include: LVL beams, 2x4's, drills, screws, nails, hammer, sledge, stud, joist, drywall, sawzall, circular saw, plywood, sub floor, square footage, rise, tread, stringers, soffet, fascia, etc. Last week it even included door sizes! We updated the 2nd story porch (removed old aluminum flooring, removed old boards, put in new plywood, leveled it all out, removed old railing and posts, and just yesterday, put on new rubber over the top of the plywood. Sean is in the process of installing the new posts and railing!) and that update included a new door! It's beautiful! It'll be even more beautiful once it's painted and has a door handle and such! Baby steps.

So here are some photos to show we've been busy!

The Living Room:

The ceiling tiles (though light weight) came crashing down on my father like dominoes! 

Yay! Almost there...a couple weeks later that next layer of floor came off. It was vinyl that looked like cork!

The Stairs:

Have no fear, this was actually VERY sturdy & safe! Plus, Chad's middle name is DANGER! 

The last of the nasty carpet! Now say bye-bye to the extremely steep stairs!

Such a sad mess of stair scraps!

From the front door- Sean & Chad are stading in the basement stairway door. Still more to do!

Oh so beautiful, new and easy to ascend! YAY!

Upstairs:

Thanks to Mom & Kaylin for all the help with the upstairs hallway! Notice the old door! That get replaced!

Looking into the bathroom upstairs.

Dad & I were inovative in getting the drywall off the walls- roofing shovel!

Sean had to make some adjustments in order to compensate for head height on the stairs...so why not make the master closet a couple feet bigger while he's at it!!!!!

And then one night ALL of the walls upstairs came tumbling down! Bye-bye plaster! 

Roof:

I have more to share, but I think that will be all for now! It's coming along and if you're in the area and want to stop by, we love company! Be prepared, it's a shell with some bones....no organs or guts yet! We hope to have organs (insulation, plumbing, heat ducts and electricity finished by the next few weeks!

We really hope Santa puts up drywall for Christmas! Love to all who have helped thus far!

Beam-ing: Hello Open Space!

I was in the middle of composing the post that will follow this one when I realized, I had only thought about writing this post and never followed through. And gosh, now it seems so long ago that all of this happened. It's hard to think of the house NOT like it is now.

We removed a supporting wall and put in its place, a beam. The wall we removed was the wall between the kitchen and dining room/office (we still haven't determined which it will be). I believe this was the first full week in October.

This is the view from the dining room/office into the kitchen. Chad is taking down the shelves and preparing to knock the crap out of that wall!

With Sean, Mitch, Chad, Brad & Mitch H, it doesn't take long for a wall to be gone. Now on to the fun stuff!

Creating temporary supports for the ceiling (2nd story)...there are some floor jacks in the basement to support the floor! Scary stuff!

Brad kicked out the supports!

A tiny bit nerve wracking!

Preparing for the beam!

 

Way to cheese it up, Mitch! Getting the beam temporarily set!

The un-insured girl standing under the temporary support as we jack up the house!

Same view as the first picture...what a difference!

And now...on with the next post!

Cabinets, Walls & Floors, BYE BYE!

It's hard to believe it's been two weeks since Sean has closed...considering how much has changed! When I say so much has changed, we've completely gutted the kitchen, laundry room, 1/2 bath and the back room which may or may not be the dining room or office. Additionally, we've gutted the upstairs bathroom, AND removed a supporting wall!

Sean's been working hard on a variety of other stuff, like lighting, outlets, plumbing, etc, while family, friends and I tear out walls. In the pictures you're about to see, this old house goes from being a house with some meat to just skin & bones. (Some rooms are still in tact.)

Here are photos from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom demos!

Hauling out the cabinets.

Yep, our neighbors love us! We totally white-trashed up the backyard in a matter of days!

A MUST-HAVE for any major demolition!

Doing what he does best- telling other people what to do! : ) No, really, I think he posed for this...that or he's pointing out to Chad the linoleum squares attached with staples on the ceiling.

Brother Mitch & Ross Miller...Demo-ing the laundry room! Actually, they may be looking at the wasp nest in the wall. There was another in the ceiling in the kitchen!

Ross with my pink hammer. Tomboy Tools! (the pink one benefits breast cancer research)

Taking a break! A much needed break!

Brothers working together.

A disaster! 

The happy homeowner!

An almost completely demo-ed kitchen.

 The demo-ed laundry room and bathroom.

So all of this demo was completed in just under two evenings, with the help of friends and family members. Thanks to Mom, Chad, Ross, Mitch (brother), Mitch H., Brad, Dad, Kaylin, Stephanie, Barb, and Doug! 

Tools necessary for demo-ing a room like this: laborers (just provide beer!), sledge hammers, regular hammers, pry bars, giant shovels, face masks, protective eye wear (if you can stand them), and a nice large dumpster trailer!

Don't forget, when doing renovations this deep (ie., going down to the studs), get a building permit! Also, be mindful of any electrical that may be in the walls!

Working Hard

And sometimes I'm hardly working...Here are just a few action shots to prove demo and construction is happening. I still have the kitchen demo/construction post to share, but again...I'm working for a slave driver! (Did I mention I love cheesing for photos?)

Here I am showing off my TBT Hammer! My job for two days was to remove (or hammer in) nails from where the slats (that held the plaster) were nailed. Mind you, a slat is no more than 3 inches wide. So on each vertical 2x4" were two nails every three inches in a room that is 9 to 10 feet in height! Oh yeah, the ceiling beams had a ton of nails too.

Drilling holes for the electrical to go through! Yep, I drilled about 5 holes! And then the battery died! 

Bye bye purple toilet! 

Mmm, cheeseburger! Thanks, Dad!

 
Cheese! I'm working hard holding this support!

Lackluster & Fancy-free!

* Tomboy Tools represent!  Gloves, Hammer & Knee Pads! (I also used my mini crowbar & Sean used my screwdriver)

FYI, if you wondering why my hair looks a little dull and maybe slightly gray, it's because I just can't wash my hair 5 times in one shower in order to get all of the plaster dust out...my limit is 4 washes!

Needless to say, for the past two (nearly 3 days), Sean, friends, family and I have been busy demolishing the kitchen, laundry and 1/2 bath...Post to follow! I promise...I have half of it done! If only Sean would give me a night off, maybe I could update you on the process....and put up some before & demo photos!

No rest for the weary! Sean's a slave driver...at least he provides beer and let's us take breaks!

The hardworking crew of Thursday night!
Clockwise from top left: Chad Geuy, Ross Miller, Me (double masking it!) Sean, & Mitch Rank (*not pictured is my dear mother...she was a huge help too!)

By the way, I'm going to start working on a design to make a mask without bands that go around the whole head...that mushroom head thing I've got going on with my hair is NOT attractive! 

So much love for those who have volunteered/continue to volunteer their evenings to helping Sean & I! THANK YOU!