priorities...

... ah, the life of a dog... lounging on the couch, all day long (Charlevoix seriously sits on the couch like this for HOURS, I kid you not...), except for when the mailman comes by... then it's time to go all Cujo...

... and the door is in!

The door is in and everything has been sealed and caulked, so we are now ready to start installing the insulation this week.

Initially, we were planning on having an 8'-0" tall exterior door, with windows at the same height. However, during demolition, we discovered that the original back door and window had been infilled (very poorly) with brick, so we decided to use the original openings and size the new window and door to fit those dimensions. We lost height and ended up with a small metal transom above the door, since the original door was arched but an arched door wasn't in our budget. It's okay though since we now have great light in back AND, soon, a back door in the kitchen. Yippee!

the windows are in!

When we ordered the windows and door from Home Depot, back in September, Home Depot told us that they would be delivered October 14th. We figured no problem - we'll have everything in place and completed so that they could be installed starting October 15th.

Well, the first hiccup occurred when Home Depot 'accidently' sent the order to a 3rd party delivery service (surprise surprise). As a result, they were delivered a week late (October 21st).

Second hiccup was that the electrician was several days late in starting... and since the space is so small, the framers couldn't work alongside the electrician... someone would drop something on someone's head or foot or trip and fall out of a window opening and then we'd lose the house to a bunch of ambulance chasing lawyers... so, installation got put off ANOTHER several days.

In the meanwhile, Chicago turned into Anchorage, Alaska... and, of course, our furnace could not be turned on until it was serviced... and, of course, I scheduled the service appointment for today, October 24th because this is Chicago, and it would still be around 60 or 50 degrees. So even if we still have 5 huge gaping holes in our brick walls, no big deal. It won't be THAT cold...

Lessons learned this week:
1) Home Depot deliveries are guaranteed MESSED-UP.
2) Nothing is ever on-schedule. Except bills and that train you just missed...
3) Get your furnace serviced in August.

Anyway, long story long, the windows are finally in... the door goes in tomorrow... and the furnace has been serviced and can now be turned on.

revised first floor phase one plan

weekend masonry project - part one

In order to get more daylight into the house, we decided to install a glass back door plus a few windows in the new kitchen area - since we are completely gut-rehabbing the space anyway, why not cut some holes in the exterior wall while we're at it?

We purchased the door and windows (a double casement plus 3 awning windows) thru The Home Depot (all Andersen) about a month ago and they should be delivered this week... The door and double casement window also should be installed this week!!! The masonry openings for the awning windows will only be finished next Saturday, so we'll have to wait a week to install those...

dining room framing update

in progress...