Fireplace insert has been removed. Somehow this was posted somewhere else; not quite comfortable with the intricacies of the process yet.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Clean-up initialization.
Status report:
Two days post commencement of work.
Day one consisted of essential cleaning and stop gaps of critical issues. Severe kitchen scrub. Internal plastic sealing of windows with missing panes. Removal of carpet in bathroom chronically damaged by litter box arrangement. Removal of fireplace insert and ashes in main fireplace.
Day two. Continued kitchen scrub, steam-cleaning and removal of lower cabinets on one
wall, resulting in destruction of numerous small residences. Excision of range hood. Exploration of uncleaned attic. Anyone need travel brochures from the 60's and earlier? Pull down classroom map?
Vintage Christmas items?
Judy's 2 cents...(yes, I was invited!)... OK, let me be on the record that I jumped into this with Jules whole heartedly, actually as usual, as instigator. So as I bitch and moan through this process, deep down I really love it. With that being said, the last 2 days were smelly, gross, filthy, disgusting, well, you get the picture. Let the games begin!
wall, resulting in destruction of numerous small residences. Excision of range hood. Exploration of uncleaned attic. Anyone need travel brochures from the 60's and earlier? Pull down classroom map?
Vintage Christmas items?
Judy's 2 cents...(yes, I was invited!)... OK, let me be on the record that I jumped into this with Jules whole heartedly, actually as usual, as instigator. So as I bitch and moan through this process, deep down I really love it. With that being said, the last 2 days were smelly, gross, filthy, disgusting, well, you get the picture. Let the games begin!
Saturday, September 28, 2013
27Sep13
Through tough negotiations, and after a unanimous decision by the Finance Committee to raise the debt ceiling, we have purchased a new property. It is inland from what is considered the Connecticut Shoreline--the area that begins ostensibly at 'Shtaven(East Haven to non-natives) and runs sort of to the Rhode Island border.
Property in question is a circa 1800 post and beam gambrel colonial. The main house is a classic center-chimney colonial. Massive stone chimney with three fireplaces on the main floor and one in the master bedroom above. There have been two additions. The older and more traditional one is a bump-out to the rear to create a larger kitchen. This includes another fireplace with a brick chimney. The newer addition is sort of a handicapped suite with bedroom, bath, two entrances from outside and a laundry. Oh, and electric heat--just what one looks for in New England.
It is in rough shape. Why else would we have bought it? A blank canvas needing restoration and a creative hand. Most of the main house has its original features--eight over twelve windows that all need attention, wide board floors, classic wide paneled doors in crooked openings, dirt-floored basement and a stone foundation. Previous owner was an elderly animal lover documented via Google and evidenced in various areas in the house.
We will be attempting to restore and bring this to the 21st century. As on our last adventure, we will be doing much of the work ourselves. But there are things that we will be using professionals for. There are issues with some of the framing. There may be basement water issues--two sump pumps are present and the electrical panel needs to have upgrading due to damage from dampness. Windows may be beyond simple repair--seems to be much rot, especially on the north side. Furnace may be at end of its life, and there is no second floor ductwork; although there is central A/C in the main house and a separate system on the addition. Kitchen basically nonexistent--this will be our personal project once the major professional issues have been addressed. Upstairs bath probably predates the 1940s, cast iron tub. This is on a raised floor which allowed for plumbing, also really low ceiling--how to re-do? Currently not part of the curriculum.
Outside. There is a large barn with an attached "garage". No door, no floor. Our structural person said those classic words so beloved by homeowners--"Tear it down". We plan to look at creative ways to have it perpetuate. Most recently, examined structural reinforcement in Venice. Cross braces with turnbuckles. Also two paddocks--she had horses--and a storage shed. All on a little over two acres, half wooded. Speaking of which, numerous dangerous trees must come down, all too close to structures and all unmaintained.
Through tough negotiations, and after a unanimous decision by the Finance Committee to raise the debt ceiling, we have purchased a new property. It is inland from what is considered the Connecticut Shoreline--the area that begins ostensibly at 'Shtaven(East Haven to non-natives) and runs sort of to the Rhode Island border.
Property in question is a circa 1800 post and beam gambrel colonial. The main house is a classic center-chimney colonial. Massive stone chimney with three fireplaces on the main floor and one in the master bedroom above. There have been two additions. The older and more traditional one is a bump-out to the rear to create a larger kitchen. This includes another fireplace with a brick chimney. The newer addition is sort of a handicapped suite with bedroom, bath, two entrances from outside and a laundry. Oh, and electric heat--just what one looks for in New England.
It is in rough shape. Why else would we have bought it? A blank canvas needing restoration and a creative hand. Most of the main house has its original features--eight over twelve windows that all need attention, wide board floors, classic wide paneled doors in crooked openings, dirt-floored basement and a stone foundation. Previous owner was an elderly animal lover documented via Google and evidenced in various areas in the house.
We will be attempting to restore and bring this to the 21st century. As on our last adventure, we will be doing much of the work ourselves. But there are things that we will be using professionals for. There are issues with some of the framing. There may be basement water issues--two sump pumps are present and the electrical panel needs to have upgrading due to damage from dampness. Windows may be beyond simple repair--seems to be much rot, especially on the north side. Furnace may be at end of its life, and there is no second floor ductwork; although there is central A/C in the main house and a separate system on the addition. Kitchen basically nonexistent--this will be our personal project once the major professional issues have been addressed. Upstairs bath probably predates the 1940s, cast iron tub. This is on a raised floor which allowed for plumbing, also really low ceiling--how to re-do? Currently not part of the curriculum.
Outside. There is a large barn with an attached "garage". No door, no floor. Our structural person said those classic words so beloved by homeowners--"Tear it down". We plan to look at creative ways to have it perpetuate. Most recently, examined structural reinforcement in Venice. Cross braces with turnbuckles. Also two paddocks--she had horses--and a storage shed. All on a little over two acres, half wooded. Speaking of which, numerous dangerous trees must come down, all too close to structures and all unmaintained.
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