Remodel day 36: A big haul

We bought the rest of the windows, the front door, more kilz primer, and paint for most of the interior and the master suite (taking advantage of a memorial day paint rebate yay!). We have now reached the bronze level of our Home Depot pro rewards. :) We're ready for work!

Remodel day 35: Grout

I thought grouting would be easier than tiling... I thought wrong.

Remodel day 34: Tiling Project #1

After a considerable amount of talk and research into tiling, we took on the first tiling project at the house. We started at noon at Home Depot picking up a few tools (rubber gloves, trowel, grout float, sponges) and finished at 9pm... Novices.

At the house we first had to scrape the remaining adhesive off the floor with a razor edge. It was terrible but a great workout. That was the first hiccup. The second hiccup was that the wet saw a friend lent us did not work. We mixed up the thin-set mortar which was a lot harder than it sounds. We did a small dry lay of tiles while we waited. Finally, we were ready to spread the mortar and begin laying tiles. It was very hard work!

After the initial tiles were laid down minus the ones that needed cuts, we took a much needed lunch break before hitting Home Depot again. Brandon rented a wet saw while I gave Ashton and JP (who had met us there) a tour of finishes we like for the house. Then it was time to make a few cuts and finish the floors! The hardest cut was the hole for the toilet. Well done Brandon! (Brandon's add in: Jenny did an awesome job on this project and it wouldn't have been completed without her. So thankful for her!)There are some minor imperfections with a few grout lines being slightly wider, but it looks great for our first time!

Also pictured is a piece of the closet shelf that Brandon removed this week. It was a small serendipity to encourage us on this journey and to let us know that not all the former residents were sad and hopeless like the ones who created the "mural" art. It says, "Ken Deaton 11/28/81 added shelf. This house is about 7 years old now. We sure do like it, had thanksgiving turkey yesterday need this exercise today". Another meaningful part of the inscription is the date, 1981 is the year Brandon was born and November 28 is our anniversary. Thank you, God for that encouragement.

Remodel day 31: Added garage door

The side exterior walls of the house were closed up with new insulation and OSB today. A completely new garage door and landing were added where there was only a wall previously.

Lots of help from Super Joe and Neil today, especially on rewiring the garage and beginning to outfit our switches with flat plates instead of the old toggle ones (off white shown, but we're going with white). Meanwhile, Brandon did his first solo window install today.

Now we're heading to Home Depot with bathroom measurements in hand to get ready for tiling!

Remodel day 30: Detail work

Today was a full work day for Brandon and Super Joe. Brandon spent the day putting new drywall in the house in a few spots while Joe ground down part of the slab foundation that was once just part of the exterior garage wall and will become a side garage door. Tomorrow the concrete landing outside the door will be poured and the door will be installed! Brandon is very excited that the garage is taking shape. The next project that Brandon is looking forward to is wiring the house. He has drawn his wiring grid and has ordered some speaker wire and Ethernet cable to bring the house into the 21st century.

Remodel day 27: Deciding and De-siding

When you replace everything in a house, it's great to make all the decisions and make it your own, but you have to choose EVERYTHING. It's incredible to find out how many elements need to mesh together.

We are getting ready to work on the master bath so we have been comparing the tile options online. I love the tumbled natural stone mosaic pieces, but there's no way we're paying $19/square foot for 50 feet plus of shower wall space. Our trip to Home Depot was comical. During our shopping and talking with my "consultant" Ashton, we kept changing our minds and asking the employees about different tile maintenance/installation. We were in that section for an hour! We finally went with white subway tile to match the shower pan and a sea foam green accent for the walls (we only bought one piece of each so we could make sure we like them). We went with cool tone ceramic tile for the floor.

Then we tore off more siding, this time on the sides of the house--the front will be last.

Remodel day 25: Plumbing

Today we mainly focused on the work that makes us money. :) But we did have the plumber come out. He installed a lovely new shower pan, new valves for shower and tub, and raised the shower head so we don't have to shower like Elf! Now I can start looking for tile, a vanity, toilet, shower door, faucet...

Brandon and I were able to walk through the house after Young marrieds group tonight. It was very poignant as we considered our marriage and what we are building together in that respect and how it connects to our house project. Renovating a house is not for everyone and could put a strain on any marriage, we are blessed to find joy and adventure in the process. There are stressful moments, but on the whole it is a fun project to work on together.

Tonight it was exciting to walk in and start to feel that feeling of "home". This house will have a new life, it all starts with a vision.

Remodel day 24: Changing the footprint

We had lots of help at the house today! Thanks to Super Joe, Daniel, Jacob, and Neil!

The day started at Home Depot at 6:30 am for Brandon and Joe. Brandon is excited to add a nail gun to his tool artillery. The plywood paneling went up to prepare for windows and siding. The new back windows and french doors went in. We took out the slider and replaced it with a large window, the back window in the living room became French doors. The difference is huge! The light and the flow are completely different.

A great day of work... With a few creepy crawly discoveries, including a red racer snake hiding under some insulation in one of the garage walls.

Remodel day 23: Rebuilding begins

(From yesterday, hopefully to follow with a post from today's work)

Yesterday Brandon went to work on a few things at the house but ended up getting a lot more done than he anticipated!

The first delivery of a portion of the siding and windows arrived. We can't wait to put the French doors in where an uninspired window used to be.

Later in the day, Super Joe and Matt came to take out the back windows and help Brandon prep for siding... It took them all of 10 minutes to pull them out! They cut the wall below the window to prep for the French doors.

Work started at 6:30 am today. I can't wait to see the progress later!!!

Remodel day 20: Back to Work

After many days of focusing on other life events, measuring walls, and working on the budget, we were able to get back to work on Saturday. A portion of the siding was ordered and Dad and Brandon went to work ripping off 35 year old siding. Hot, dirty work. I helped by pulling out nails.

This part of our project is probably the largest and most overwhelming to me. After seeing the remnants of current and former wall tenants (former-rodents, current-spiders) and crab grass growing up and into the insulation, I took about 5 full minutes to stare into what we had uncovered and feel a bit overwhelmed. Then I turned around and admired one of the best parts of our new house--the awesome K-3 school behind us. Brandon finally has his baseball field!

Stay tuned...

Remodel day 13: Research

With 2 birthdays and 1 memorial this week, the house hasn't seen a lot of action. The past few days we've been walking home depot, comparing prices, taking measurements, and creating lists and budgets.

Our next step is windows and exterior. Hopefully we can start on Sunday or Monday. :)

Remodel day 9: Prime it up

Super Joe and Brandon painted Kilz primer on all the walls. What a difference!!!!! And the HVAC is operational. :)