Renovation short list

I've updated the most recent to-do list with all the stuff I've accomplished and crossed off my list. I'm really on task when my classes aren't keeping me from it. I decided to make a short list for the timeline between now and when my family arrives for Thanksgiving.

Kitchen:
- recut removable back panel for water-meter cabinet
- sand, caulk, prime, and paint all trim molding
- prime and paint windows

Dining room:
- putty, sand, prime, caulk, and paint all trim moldings
- prime, and paint windows
- install guide rails on window jambs

Bed room:
- prime and repaint window sashes (partially done)

and if there's time:
- touch up the wall paint here and there because of general carelessness.
- prime and paint doors
- install guide rails on window jambs and reinstall windows

probably won't get to these:
- finish sand and oil sink area butcherblock
- caulk, and seal/waterproof thresholds

New Renovation To-Do list

Ok, first here's the old list, updated for clarification.

and here's the new list:

Kitchen:
- bevel the front edge of the window shelf above the sink to accommodate the faucet handle in the hot position
- install window-shelf behind sink
- caulk joints around sink area
- finish sand and oil sink area butcherblock
- box around cabinet legs with bamboo flooring (Richie says the inspector will want this)
- recut removable back panel for water-meter cabinet because I messed it up. This one is tricky.
- install final window trim piece above sink (need window-shelf done first)
- re-glaze, prime, and paint windows
- strip (partially done), prime, and paint doors
- install guide rails on window jambs and reinstall windows
- putty, sand, caulk, prime, and paint all trim molding
- touch up the wall paint here and there because of general carelessness.
- assemble cabinet drawers
- install cabinet shelves, and doors (only 1 cabinet left to go!)
- install drawer pulls on remaining cabinets
- caulk, and seal/waterproof thresholds

Dining room:
- re-glaze, prime, and paint windows
- install guide rails on window jambs
- putty, sand, prime and paint all trim moldings

Basically we haven't touched the diningroom because it has been used as storage/work space for the kitchen appliances and cabinets. Once the cabinets are completely out of the way I'm finished using it as my wood shop, we can really get down to business.

Bed room:
- re-glaze, prime, and repaint window sashes (partially done)

Renovation To-Do list

Kitchen:
- adjust cabinet openings for appliances
- install appliance platforms
- install counter-tops
- route out bottom of water-meter cabinet
- install bolts for removable-backed cabinets
- install remaining baseboard and quarter round
- buy and install foundation wall cap
- install thresholds for front door, bath room door, and living room door
- stain, caulk, and seal/waterproof thresholds
- install end panel on penninsula
- have plumber in to install sink and dishwasher
- finish backsplash/window-shelf framing behind sink (need sink installed first) (the framing is done, just need butcherblock shelf installed)
- install trim pieces above sink (need window-shelf done first)
- remove doors from hinges (The hinge pins are stubbornly fused in place. I'm not sure how it's possible considering that the doors still swing, but apparently it is. Also, the screws that hold the hinges to the door and doorjamb are also impossible to extricate)
- strip, prime, and paint windows
- strip (partially done), prime, and paint doors
- rehang doors (see above)
- install guide rails on window jambs and reinstall windows
- putty, sand, caulk, prime, and paint all trim molding
- assemble cabinet drawers (mostly done)
- install cabinet shelves, doors, drawers (partially done)
- have electrician come and finish electrical work

Dining room:
- buy and install trim pieces for window aprons
- strip, prime, and paint windows
- install guide rails on window jambs
- putty, sand, prime and paint all trim moldings
- buy and install smoke detector

Bed room:
- cut and reinstall doorjamb
- buy and install trim moldings for support beam
- install healing duct and vent cover
- strip paint on window muttons, prime, and repaint
- remove closet door, prime, paint and rehang
- putty, sand, caulk, prime, and paint all remaining trim
- install door threshold
- buy and install smoke/CO detector
- install puck lights in closets

Primed and ready to paint

This is the dining room with the tinted primer on the walls and the ceiling already painted.

I think my camera hates blue. This picture doesn't really do it justice. It's sort of a zen periwinkle. Very calming. I can't wait to see the actual paint.

Here is the kitchen with the tinted primer up on the wall.

This is the second coat of primer since it goes up a little splotchy. I think I'll do one more coat of primer and then paint the real color.

Plight of the Fremen

This is what drywall sanding makes Paul look like:

I know it seems like it's taking us forever, because it is. Painting the bedroom made me realize just how noticeable all those little imperfections are once it's all a field of solid color. So we're going back over every inch of wall and smoothing everything out as much as possible. It is by far the suckiest part of the job. By Far. I can't wait to be done with the dust and on to the paint. Really.

Connect the Dots

So it's been a while, and I don't have new pictures of the renovation to share. There has been progress. We've done the joint compound and smoothed it over with a damp mop. It's actually pretty amazing how much the sponge mop acts like an eraser or a sanding block to remove the excess joint compound. It's almost finished, but there are still a few places around light fixtures and heating vents that need attention.

I've already bought the paint for the kitchen. It's Rapture by Glidden. Yes, it's really that red. The chosen color for the diningroom is Magic Spell by Behr, but when I looked at the paint chip it looked far more gray than I remembered so I didn't buy it yet. I thought I'd give the paint chip one more viewing in the room first.

So why haven't I been blogging?

1. I sprained/strained my wrist doing the joint compound and wanted to rest it for reason number 2.


2. My first Grad class in Applied Math, which lead to reason number 3.


3. An unplanned calculus review, because I couldn't seem to get the derivatives right. I forgot all about the product rule and quotient rule.


4. I celebrated turning 3-cubed years old (after a shock to find out that I've been thinking I was already 27, and then realizing that I was only 26!)


5. My sister is getting married and I spent 2 days trying on bridesmaid dresses to find a style that I could live with in a color that I could live with, and then trying on shoes to go with the dress.

Do I really need more reasons?

Drywall, Gypsum, Sheetrock

After a full weekend of hanging drywall, we're almost finished with the 2 front rooms. All that's left is 4 pieces in the kitchen. Once that is finished, we'll start doing the joint compound.

A Patchwork Ceiling

Last night, Paul and I got one sheet of drywall up and then decided halfway through positioning the second sheet that it was really a 3 person job. My brother was kind enough to come over and lend both his hands. Hopefully he doesn't have a concussion from when the drywall hit him on the forehead. Also, no matter how careful you are with these things, you will measure wrong (even twice!) and you will get smutz in your eyes. In fact the exhaust from the drill will blow it there at high speeds.

Thank you Jimmy!







And I got to see My String Bean, and her puppy Rocco who did his best to behave despite the very unhappy kitties who didn't want to share their home with him.

48 sheets of drywall in my diningroom

This past Saturday I rented a van, went to Home Depot and spent about 2 hours waiting for them to bring a forklift around to get my drywall down from the stack. Then my poor dad and Paul loaded them into the house. I'm still prepping the walls but I can't wait for the stack to get smaller as the drywall goes up.