Comments

Just in case you're wondering, I love reading your comments.

I still haven't figured out how to respond short of writing a new post like this one, but I'm going to have my technical advisor (aka Will) check on that today.

Today is full of noise (grinding on the front step, pounding and sawing in the kitchen) and dust (mortar and drywall).

Anyone want to go out for lunch—that is, assuming I can find a way out of this place?

The vent about the vent

Here's an update to the previous "ARGH" post:

We're getting a new furnace and a new water heater. The good news: the new flue can go away entirely. That includes the hideous, large silver vent sticking out of the new roof. The bad news: $$$$$, time, and mess.

Our front step is now being totally rebuilt—it needed quite a bit more work than they originally thought. That means for the next couple of days, we can only go in and out through the back door, which will be tricky when the kitchen is full of sheetrock and workers.

And due to a mis-communication on our part, the electricians have to come back and move the dining room light switch before the sheetrock can go up.

But we're healthy, it's spring, and all of this work needed to happen sooner or later. And despite all the frustrations, I'm determined to remember how lucky we are that this is really happening.

That's all for tonight. Thanks for letting me vent.

Totally my fault

Minutes after I posted the previous "wonder what other surprises are out there" entry, I learned that we need a new furnace. They discovered a cracked heat exchanger when redoing the venting. The furnace is old enough that it doesn't make sense to try to repair it; it just needs to be replaced.

ARGH!

Flue season

The giant flue is gone, courtesy of this morning's crew, and the new, smaller one is on its way in as I write.

So far, that flue has been the biggest surprise of this whole project. We didn't know it was there until we moved some walls—it had been hidden in the old wall near the stair landing.

This little added project is anything but cheap, but it's worth it to me to not lose half of a floor-to-ceiling cupboard. That's a lot of room to give up.

This got me started thinking about everything we've added to this project since we started:

1. We made the back bumpout 8' wide instead of 5.5'. No regrets there.

2. We added coffers to the kitchen ceiling. If they look as beautiful as I anticipate, this will have been another good addition.

3. We changed the roof flashing to copper. This was a wash financially. The roofing budget included new sheathing wherever it was needed, and we didn't need any.

4. We resided the dormer and moved the window. I'm so glad we did this, and I love the new window location centered on the upper step of the landing.

5. We're likely adding heat under the back entry tile to make that north-facing space cozier and help shoes and boots dry faster. Anyone have experience with heated tile floors?

6. We're having the front step re-built this week. The same mason who did such a great job on the new foundations will be rebuilding it using the old brick. Nelson knows the best subcontractors—it's such a comfort to know that whatever our house needs in years to come, we can count on him to recommend someone who'll do a wonderful job.

7. Thanks to Ringo's carpet demolition, we're either refinishing the living room floor or getting new carpet. This isn't really related to the kitchen project, except that he's been confined to the living room instead of the kitchen during this process.

I think that's all for now. But I'm guessing there are at least a few more additions lurking.

What to expect when you're remodeling

On September 14, 2009, I ended my first blog entry with the words, "I just hope it doesn't take nine months."

On March 14, our kitchen remodel entered its third trimester.

To be fair, the project includes two additions and a complete roof replacement. Nevertheless, I can understand why friends, neighbors or observers might feel it's taking forever.

There is good news, though, and lots of it.

First, we're completely happy with the work so far, and have truly enjoyed Nelson and all his workers and subs. That's far more important to me than getting it done quickly.

Second, the basement kitchen is a godsend. Although we are not eating elaborate meals (it's hard to get too complicated when working with 18" of counter space on either side of the sink), I love being able to make a pork roast or bake cookies in the oven, or just steam vegetables in the microwave. Every time we sit down for dinner, I appreciate eating off real plates with real silverware, instead of endless paper and plastic.

Finally, we're at a point where I believe the progress will be more visible to all of us. The insulation went in today (I was impressed by the guy's stilt-walking ability), the vent pipe will be removed and the new one installed on Monday, and the drywallers will start Tuesday.

I've been warned that the space will temporarily look much smaller with drywall in place—has anyone else had that experience?

When the drywall is finished, Nelson will measure and begin building the cabinets—base cabinets first. The granite fabricators will need to measure them before turning the slab into counters, a process that takes about three weeks.

Our best estimate for completion (aka due date) is sometime late May to mid-June.

Maybe when we see the new kitchen, we'll even say some of the same things we said upon meeting Will and Anna as newborns: Look how big you are! You look just like I pictured you! Look at all that hair!

Well, maybe not that last one.

That was easy

Nelson just stopped by for an update, and said he thinks handles would work better than knobs on the big drawers.

He also said everyone who has worked on the house has said how much they like it. The word "cute" seems to come up a lot, along with "cottagey." That makes me smile.

After a successful heating and cooling inspection today (despite an over-excited Ringo christening the inspector's shoes), we have a general inspection scheduled for tomorrow. Then within a day or two, the insulators should arrive, followed by the sheetrockers.

Is it just me, or does it sound like a name for a band: Ringo and the Sheetrockers?

Knobs versus handles

We don't have any drywall, the new floor, cabinets or countertops ... but for some reason I am thinking about hardware today.

I love the idea of glass knobs, and found some at Restoration Hardware in Kansas City that feel good in your hand.

But I'm wondering whether the two oversized drawers along the bottom of the island should have knobs as well, or glass pulls instead. The other drawers are standard width, and I think they'd be fine with just one knob.

I know it's all right to have a mixture—I'm just not sure if I'd prefer that or two knobs on the larger drawers.

Thoughts? Advice? Anyone? Bueller?

Isn't it ironic?

Spring is finally here, after one of the longest and most painful winters I can remember.

So I'm enjoying the irony of today's accomplishment: the addition of heating ducts.

We've been comfortable all winter with help from a couple of large space heaters. But it's still amusing to me that the heating ducts are being installed on a day that's 50 and sunny.

Next up: Another inspection, some insulation, and the big kahuna: Drywall!

I can't wait.

Leftovers

The roof is almost finished and looks beautiful! Although the shingles took up a massive amount of space on the driveway, the workers didn't have quite enough to finish the job. This afternoon, they regretfully told Doyle, who's home for spring break, that they would need to special-order more of them.

But wait! In the garage, waiting patiently since that project was completed in 2001, were the six extra packets of matching shingles! Doyle showed them to the workers and within minutes we heard the irregular pound-pound pounding resume up on the roof.

I don't want to sound like a case study from "Hoarders," but sometimes it's good to hang on to things.

A new roof over our heads

The past two weeks have been all about the new roof.

Choosing shingles is a lot like picking out carpeting—provided it's very, very expensive carpeting you plan to live with for the next 40 or 50 years. We really like these CertainTeed "Gatehouse Slate" asphalt shingles, which offer the look of slate and are supposed to last half a century.

When Nelson and I were discussing that fact, he said, "This could be the last roof you ever do!"

Maybe--maybe not. My grandmother lived to be 107, after all.

A not-so-chance encounter

Curious about lighting options and the place in general, I paid a visit to the Habitat ReStore the other day. It was full of stuff, much of it brand new and still in boxes, and staffed by cheerful volunteers who couldn't have been more helpful.

While I didn't find any lights that were right for us, I did spy an antique wooden door, complete with glass doorknobs, for just $75. The door to our basement music room is broken, and this could be a replacement -- or the knob might work for another door. I need to look into that.

In the next room over, I encountered something truly strange: My old kitchen cabinets, neatly lined up with random Post-it note prices on each. (One small section was $56 -- why not an even $50?) The whole set was still there. Each cupboard and drawer was deeply familiar (that's where I stored the dishes!), but at the same time, they seemed like relics from a distant past.

One of the volunteers noticed me checking out the cabinets. I told him I had donated them recently, and was hoping they would find a new home.

He shook his head. "They're nice and heavy, but (tactful pause) nobody really likes the way they look. Maybe if they were painted white ... "

My thoughts exactly.