November 2007, Part V

After putting in the new window, we wrapped the back in "housewrap". The next day it rained and water started running down on the INSIDE of the walls! Hmm, that's not supposed to happen!

So I went to a roofing supplier and asked if more or less customers come in on rainy days. The counterperson said: "On rainy days we get less trades, but more homeowners". Well, I guess I was in the homeowner category!

I asked what to do when there is water leaking through somewhere in the roof and running down the inside walls. They said that any patch would be temporary and the only proper thing to do was to strip the whole roof of shingles (in my case 4-5 layers), put down new sheathing, then "Water & Ice Shield", then new shingles.

So that's what I did on the eve of winter. Storms were forcast for "any day now"

Here's what the roof looked like after I started stripping the shingles. There was layers of shingles, layers of flat roll-roofing, then more shingles:

Then I put down new sheathing over the whole roof:

Here's the Water & Ice shield down, and the start of the shingles:

Jordan was here for the shingles also.

And here I'm finishing up. I was able to borrow the nailer.

I finally finished, and this is what it looked like the very next day! (I guess it's time for indoor work)

November 2007, Part IV

Nov 25th...Still in progress, the re-hab of the back room...here's the start of the filling in at the back of yet another entrance door.

 Lianne, in a toque!

Andreas' outdoor construction winter jacket

 TO BE CONTINUED

November 2007, Part III

For the longest time, we had still not decided what to do with the 'back room'.   It's a one-storey addition, somewhat shabby with still some boarded up doors and a leaky roof.   Once we installed the double french garden doors, it suddenly became a focus for us and the source of many discussions.  Activity ensued, and here we are on the 18th of November, installing a south-facing window in a previous side door opening.

What was funny, is that we started with a 2' x 4', but took that back and exchanged it for a 3' x 4' and I'm glad we did!

Here is the inside, note that it had collected some renovation parts and pieces...we are intending for the window to go in the wall behind this stuff. 

Here is the outside view 

November 2007, Part II

Insulation might be a good thing! We took the opportunity to use Klaus' van and picked up a couple of bales of insulation. And a shower unit for the basement.

Jesse dropped by one Sunday and we put him to work, of course!

Later that week, Klaus helped Andreas install the long anticipated porch railings!

Baby it's cold outside ~ November 2007, Part I

Yes, it is getting colder by the day, however we are still trying to get the 'outside' spruced up. Our current schedule of two renovations and wedding planning plus regular jobs have left us a little short on time...but we did have Klaus, Andreas' dad with us for a number of days. We put him to work while Andreas' Mum Donna lounged about in hospital (j/k, it was a hip replacement).

Here's what we've been up to this month of November 2007.

Painting the porch floor - quite the challenge when it's chilly. Our solution was to drape a hugmongeous tarp over the front of the house to the great curiosit of the neighbours. Darn it if we did not get any pictures! But anyway, we tarped & heated to make the space paint-ready. First the primer coat then two coats of the colour.

This is the knot-cover

Then Lianne starts the primer coat

Andreas gets in on the act

Finished primer

Finished top coats

The friends and family came to see

We had a few visitors this past weekend so it was nice that they got a chance to see the changes in the house.  And, of course, the inside that has not changed!

Here is Andreas, tamping back in the sod. Raccoons will come during the night and flip up the corners looking for grubs...we did know this so we check every morning!

Here is a picture of some of them going into the house and I am still amazed at what a little bit of grass can do!

It's like Magic

Sometimes, when you deal with a renovation like this one, you forget how quickly and easily projects *can* get done. We decided that we hadn't the time, muscle (or equipment) for lansdcaping, despite it only being grass and interlock...so we hired this great guy Rod, and his able assistant Dan. Envirotech Construction did a great job and we love the results!

(many pictures)

First the back:

The side walkway got asphalt-ed

And the front got a new interlock pathway in addition to the grass! Those are two slabs of Wiarton Limestone that weigh around 500 pounds each. The bobcat could barely lift two of them at once!

Now here's that curb appeal!

Whose big pine idea was this?

October 28th, 2007...

'Oh', I say one day, 'wouldn't a pine ceiling on the porch look really nice?' And maybe some pot lights?...Poor Andreas actually agreed.

So, first you find the wood (many moons ago). Then you realize, that before it gets cold, we ought to install it; so weather proofing is needed.

Did I mention that Andreas is not really fond of painting...but he will engineer a drying rack so that I could be so lucky as to varathane inside.

Many, many coats of varathane later and voila, a pine ceiling ready for installation.

(it really does look good I must admit, and we've got orders to repeat the same at a friend's house next summer!)

Pot lights are forthcoming!

The "pining" begins...

a little bit more...

Ta-Daaaaaa!

Just a "little" trimming

October 20th, 2007

After a full day's work on the house, Andreas decides he'll pop out back to 'take just a little off' the overgrown, unmaintained trees at the back of the house. (on advice from the landscaper, in order to let some light in for future grass).

Up he goes at dusk and before you can say Bob's you uncle, I find myself pulling an awfully large branch sideways - or at least attempting to. The branch actually pulled me, but in the end, we won the battle.

Here are a couple of shots of Andreas 'the TreeMan' Bach at work.