Stair well up - Done

Started the day digging a trench for the electrical wiring that has to go out to the septic tank pump. Moved on to working on the stairwell again, and completed most of it, the walls going down to basement are all that are left to do there.
Yes, I will get to the vapor barrier tomorrow. I set up the scaffolding at the end of today, so that I am ready for first thing in the am to get on with that step. Builder Bob knows all about the process as the same steps were carried out by him in the main house area. I first have to cut plywood fillers and nail them in between the floor joist and then cover them with poly as I have to drop the ceiling down for the R40 insulation to be installed.

Banister Day-2

Completed the banister today and most of the loft.


































I have to leave these two small areas until I complete the ceiling in the garage as I have to connect the two vapor barriers together first.



















Tomorrow is install vapor barrier in ceiling of garage and finish the down stair case to the basement in drywall.

Difficult Day

It was a difficult day . I was working on putting drywall up in the stair well. Which was very slow and frustrating, trying to hold the sheets up in place and then screw them in at the same time, while standing on a plank over a stair not as simple as you would hope. The lower stairs should go easier as I get to use my scaffold (in photo). I received it as a retirement present from my military co workers in the Air Div HQ on my retirement 3 years ago. They knew I was going to build a house some day and I wanted this type of scaffold.

Banister day

Successful day, as I completed the flooring in the basement, which will now allow me to safely work on the electrical panels wiring.
















Then worked on the final steps/angles in building the banister for the upper stair well.


















Finished the day completing the garage door entrance walls with drywall.

Put the Old Dolly on a Dolly

Worked on the stairwell rail and dividing wall this morning. Kathleen came out in the pm to give me a hand with laying more of the wood floor in the basement. She is sitting on a car dolly we were using to move drywall. A little more floor to put down tomorrow and then back to installing drywall in the stairwell.

I see Jim has captured yet another unflattering pose...foolish, foolish man. I will get even. However, the car dolly worked very well for screwing down the floor and saving both my back and knees. I need a better cushion, though...his two, balled-up sweatshirts left a lot to be desired.

More Drywall -2

Still working on drywall, but first had to frame in the side of the stairwell to take it. - Done
















Worked the rest of the day on the master bedroom bath entrance and sealing the two remaining window opening, etc.

Plan is to work on the vapor barrier that must be put up on part of the ceiling of the garage and then finish the laundry room and garage entrance ceilings and walls.

Drywall update

Well since Kathleen did the last post I have not done an update, as I do not have her story telling flair, making my posts plain and boring. Sorry but here is my update anyways.
Monday took the morning off to help Kathleen water plants at her green house job. The afternoon was spent working on the bedroom closets. Tuesday completed both bedroom closets, the bathroom and the two hall closets and the west hallway. Small areas but they take a lot of time to complete. Note: For Ian - I had to move the bedroom doorways over to centre them properly. Yes, I made a mistake, but it is corrected now. Wednesday installed board on the kitchen west and south walls. Thursday installed on the south wall of the hallway and the north wall of living room and the entrance way.

Voyeurism Here We Come!

Sunday, May 17

It's Jim's birthday and for a gift both of the boys and Coreen came out to the house to help get the last of the windows installed and do some boarding. Even I (Kathleen) joined in and between all of us we managed to get lots done. Of course, both Jim and I forgot to take the camera but the kids all whipped out their cell phones and snapped some shots...brains, brawn AND cell phone plans!

The weather started out beautiful in the morning but by afternoon had deteriorated. Luckily, we were able to get the windows in place between wind squalls. We have been hoping for rain, as this part of the country has been drought ridden for the past couple of years. Even though it is normally a dry area, this year we have been faced with several wild fires in the region. Spring, so far, has provided us with quite cool temperatures, a few snow flurries and spits and spots of rain but no real relief.

As you can see from the pictures, we can now look out the sunroom windows into the pasture. Sorry, no cows today...they must have gone camping for the long weekend. Next to the sunroom, facing south, is the diningroom with it's new window. Even on a cloudy day, it's BRIGHT! The kids decided to leave Jim to his boarding in the loft and started on the walls on the main floor. All the bedrooms (minus closets) are done as are part of the kitchen, dining and living rooms.

Short Memory

You figure I would remember how big the loft area is and take that into account when I plan my work schedule, but NO! So, I am still working on the loft, walls are soon,I promise.
















Bob's birthday present arrived today, and was put to immediate use. It is a fantastic tool. Thank you ever so much, Bob. It works like a third arm when holding things. You are able to adjust its height and lock it in place with one hand. I think everyone should have one.

More Drywall

Completed the main floor ceilings, except for the closets. I plan on doing them last as I may be able to use some of the cut off pieces.


















Moved on to working on the loft ceiling in the pm. Had to build new T supports as Ian and Allan were to tall. So built a new set and I am calling them Uncle Bob and Uncle David. This will be the only time in my life that I can put them in their place. (My little funny)
































Hope to have the loft completed tomorrow. Plan for Friday, is to complete the stairwell stub walls and then start dry walling the main floor walls.

Ceilings Going Up

Continued installing drywall on the ceilings, just have the hallways and entrance left to do, should be done by noon tomorrow and then on to walls.
















When I talked about Kathleen's replacement for lifting drywall, I was meaning this drywall lifter,
I call it my family as along with Kathleen the lifter, I use Ian and Allan the "T" supports so that together we do a heck of a good job, no back talk either.

Ahem...I heard that!

Windows have arrived

The last of the windows arrived today. Now just have to figure out how to lift them into place.











The drywall lift we purchased in Winnipeg, to save poor Kathleen, from having to hold up drywall is working just fine.
















Completed the two bedroom ceilings today, but had to add 1 by 4 's to the one as the ceiling/floor trusses had some varying gaps next to the interior walls and it would have probably shown badly. The result is that rooms ceiling will be 3/4 of an inch closer.

Drywall arrived, parking pad done.

Kenrock delivered the drywall this morning, even carried it up to the loft area, it cost more, but worth every penny.


















George finished the driveway this morning.

















Kathleen came to warn we of the rain that was on its way. That is her in the car ready for the quick get away. I am writing this from home and watching the rain come down from the computer room window.

Glad we had the landscaping completed when we did. We can now see how well we did in keeping the water away from the house.





















Taking tomorrow as a logistics day, have to go see about taps and bathroom fixtures. Then its back to work on Friday, as the sun room windows are to be delivered at 10 am, and all that drywall doesn't go up by itself no matter how much you wish it did. Actually I did part of the second bath today, to see how the 54 inch wide sheets are going to work, answer - just fine. The wider sheet makes for less taping, resulting in only one joint through the centre.

Landscaping

George continued landscaping today and its starting to take shape.































































Arrangements have been made to have the drywall delivered tomorrow, that is if it does not rain. So a big clean up was carried out, Kathleen did most of it on Sunday and I finished it off today.

Insulation/poly Inspection -Done

With a lot of help from Kathleen, Ian and Coreen on the weekend, we completed the majority of the insulation and vapor barrier install and passed inspection on it this afternoon.


Hired Mellenium Trucking- George Henderson to complete the rough grade around the house. We have not had much rain this spring but felt that proper drainage away from the house might be handy just incase the rainy season was to start here any time soon as this area had been in a long drought which means it could come to an end. Best to be prepared!

Inspection - Delayed

I called on Thursday and had the inspection delayed until Monday, to many things to do and so little time.
Completed the install on the master bedroom, bath and around to the main entrance door .
Should be able to get the rest done on Saturday.