Ventless gas logs go in to original fireplace

Now I just need to cover the bricks with tile and this is done.

Some things just not salvagable

I have been storing my household goods moved from Seattle since July 2008 in three on-site storage units.  Two of which were like backs of trucks and a third was a trailer.  I had the furniture and rugs in the trailer as it was newest and the company said the least likely to leak.  Boy, were they wrong.

Water came in the side from the recent rain storms and mold appeared on furniture and rugs.  Some of the furniture I could salvage, some I can do something with like re-finish, some I have to accept the damage (some of the doors on my lawyers bookcases from 1907) but my teak veneer dining table is kaput.  You can see it in the photo above.   Also, several wool rugs were damaged beyond repair but most were from IKEA and not sentimental nor that expensive.  One, however, was purchased by close family friends in Turkey when they made a cruise around the world sometime before 1910.  It was a combination of wool and silk and went with me to college and every place I have lived since.  I wish it was a matter of simply cleaning it to remove the mold but it breaks up in your hand if you move it.

I called the storage company to ask if they had some sort of insurance and of course, they don't.  It is in the fine print of the contract that they don't, yada yada yada.  I called my house insurance representative and maybe I can claim but I have a very high deductible since I am in a special risk pool for house insurance and these are damaged used furniture yada yada yada.  I am in a special risk pool because the original house was not insurable because it was too old and I was new owner.  That is another story.  When I finally get the house done, then I can get regular insurance and if I make a claim now that will push the price of regular insurance  yada yada yada. 

Sad.

Have temporary Certificate of Occupancy

That means there are still items to be done in the house but the safety items are complete.  As you can see in the photo, the breezeway has temporary stairs and stair railings and needs screens and sliding screen doors yet.  After the contractor gives upstairs another coat of polyurethane and paints some trim, I can move things out of the pods and into the house so the garage can be started.  This is big step forward to get rid of those three pods that have been here since July 2008.

Railings going up on breezeway

Breezeway will get sliding screen doors and screens besides railings and permanent steps.  The blue tape is holding the pvc wrap around the pressure treated wood of the posts until the glue dries completely.  Since the day is rainy and warm, the tape should come off tomorrow.

Enjoying the warm weather

Took advantage of the partially railed porch to power wash it and put out an easy chair.  Enjoying the sunshine and warmth and good book.

porch railings going up

The porch looks like a porch now with the railings up.  There is more to go up on the ramp and on the stairs.  I think if tomorrow is nice weather that I will power wash the porch side and put out a chair to enjoy the sunshine from.

The last of the bifold doors is now up in the third bedroom.   A coat of white paint and it will be complete.

Rugs if big are never really cheap

Even if buying inexpensive polypropylene rugs that sort of look like wool but have to cover a large expanse (10 x 12 for one, 6 x 8 for the other), you still must lay out a bit of cash.  There is too much hardwood not to cover them mostly, especially to capture feet as they come in from the breezeway or porch.  So polypropylene to the rescue because mud from grandchildren's sneaks and cat spit up can be washed up fairly easily.  The rugs also help with the echo, making the space feel less like a hall you rent for special occasions.  The dining room area rug on the other side of the fireplace will have a different color scheme that is more neutral but has the same generic persian type pattern.  The rugs fit with the 20's period feel also.

The backsplash in the kitchen got grouted today.   The grout is the same gray used in the back bathroom for the mural of the fishing pier.

More sanding and tiling

One half of the back passage steps have been painted white.  This are the original ones that used to lead up into the kitchen.  

The glass mosiac tile was applied to the kitchen backsplash area.  The paper side goes out to make it easier to handle, since it does not have a mesh backing.   The paper should come off tomorrow and grout should be applied.  

More sanding was completed in the 3rd bedroom, up the stairs to the attic, and the attic itself. 

Small but messy jobs getting completed

Bifold doors on the washer/dryer area, the linen and utility closets were installed.  The "reducer", which really just fills in the gap between the tile of the kitchen and the hardwood of the living/dining room area, was installed.  The lay-on-your-back in the kitchen crawlspace and install the blower assembly for the downdraft of the gas cooktop task was completed.  The suction is amazing and there is still noise from under the floor from the blower.  Imagine that if it were not under the floor, you could barely talk above it without shouting.  Water pipes in the kitchen crawlspace were also insulated.  Another lay on your back and work over your head type chore.

The plumber was here to replace the chrome finished kitchen sink faucet with a stainless steel finished one as had been planned.  Looks much better.

The contractor is having problems sanding the third bedroom floor.  In the seventies, some one glued a foam backed carpet directly to the hardwood.  In the 90
s, someone else installed wall to wall carpet on top of that.  When I removed both carpet layers, the foam had turned to some sort of abrasive substance on top of the glue that turns to black fine grit if you walk on it and gums up the pads of any floor sander.  I had tried many household cleaners to remove it and had given up and put plastic tablecloths on top until it was time to refinish it.  The only thing that had worked at all to remove the grit was olive oil but that leaves the glue. 

1st coat polyurethane in one room

My bedroom - the original living room - got a coat of polyurethane today.  Hopefully, 2nd coat tomorrow.

Also, bifold doors were installed on the entry way closet.

Back Bathroom shower almost ready

The grout was touched up and the glass door was installed.  Also, a bead of silicone was run all around the inside of the door frame and where the wall tiles meet the floor tiles.

door in back passageway to basement stairs

We are reusing the original front door there and the contractor trimmed it out as if it was the front door.  I will like having the extra day light to seep into the basement.

Avalon Fishing Pier Photo Tile Mural going up

Next steps are to grout and then frame out as window.

gutters and original window trim up

There still may be snow on the ground but the house now has guttters and downspouts.

More stain on the doors and windows is going in and saved trim from original windows (photo on right) is going back up.

snow melting away

The weather has improved enough for the stucco to be finished on the front of the house.  It still needs some rosebud parging when it dries and then a coat of gray paint to match the foundation.  Work on trim and floor sanding continued too. 

Two inspections - final electric and final plumbing were held today.  Electrical passed but plumbing did not.  The HVAC subcontractor has items to fix, including wider collars at joints where different ducts join.  Also, all the plumbing lines in the crawl spaces  of the original house have to be insulated because they were closed off with "doors".