Our River House Fixer Upper - Week 9

Slow house progress this week.  I was busy at my regular job and Captain Man had to work at his PRN job more than usual.  Also, I spent some time with my dear friend who was going through a rough experience, so our time spent on the house this week was limited.  

Captain Man did a bit of sheet rock mudding to repair a few cracks in the walls, plus he moved some plumbing in the kitchen.  We had to do this because as we were measuring for our cabinets, we found the spot for our kitchen sink needed to be moved over about a foot. 

So really no pictures of our work for this week.  Hopefully next week we will have more to report and share.  

A gift

I did have a pleasant surprise however.   This week our neighbor, a few houses down, left us a gift.  We walked up to the house one morning and found this box left by the front door.  It is special because this box and the stuff on top once belonged to Ms. Evelyn.  Who is Ms. Evelyn?  Well, we have never met her, but this was her home many years ago.  Our sweet neighbor is Ms. Evelyn's niece.  Her name is Paula and she has shared so many wonderful stories with us about her aunt and this house.  She also gave us a few photographs of Ms. Evelyn and her father.  It is really interesting...when I met Paula, she told me that I reminded her of her aunt.  And when I saw a picture of her, there is a striking resemblance.  Quite interesting.  The box, plate, and small tea pitcher were used by Ms. Evelyn.  So, I will make sure we keep these treasures in this house where Ms. Evelyn lived for many years.  Such a gift!   Thank you Paula!

As I look back on this week, I am reminded that we must take the time to make wonderful memories and enjoy our moments, for we know not what the next minute has to offer.  

So until next time...

please enjoy each moment!

 

Our River House Fixer Upper - Week 8

Our sheet rock crew completed the new walls and they look great.  Then we looked at the older walls. When we removed the wallpaper, we noticed huge cracks and chips.  We initially thought we would be able to redo these ourselves, but after looking at our new walls and how nicely they were done, we questioned whether or not our job would look as good as the new walls.  So Captain Man called the sheet rock guy and asked if they would re-do the existing walls as well.  And they agreed, but they are doing it late afternoons, after their other scheduled jobs as they are working us in.  THANK YOU sheet rockers!

Old walls with cracks next to new walls that are smooth

They are also going to re-sheet rock the bedroom and hall room ceilings, which would have been a struggle for us, (it's heavy and I am not that strong).

Ceiling prepped for sheet rock application

The weeks are flying by...before we know it another one has passed.  Things are progressing nicely and hopefully we will be able to move in before August.  All will not be completed, but should be livable enough for us to move.   At least that is what we are hoping for.   Keeping our fingers crossed!!!

Until next time...

Enjoy!

Our River House Fixer Upper - Week 7

Our sheet rock workers are here and have been busy installing new walls.   This is a very messy process.  The sheet rock delivers a fine dust when being cut, plus once it is mudded, it must be sanded.  So we have a white film of this stuff EVERYWHERE.  I want to get in there every evening and vacuum the stuff away but Captain Man tells me it is wasted energy, "wait until they are finished" he tells me.   I will be so very glad when this process is finished and I can get rid of this dust.  Wearing a mask in the house is a must.  

A few days before the workers arrived, Captain Man was busy prepping the walls for the workers.  Walls had to be shimmed, holes plugged, backer cement board (for bathroom tile) installed, etc.  After several days, the new walls were in place.

Guest bathroom minus a wall

Guest bathroom with new sheet rock walls

Master bath with old walls

And the bath with new walls

Bedroom with door to living room

And the door is no longer there

Kitchen with old ceiling and no sheet rock on the back wall

New ceiling and walls

We closed and covered the AC vents at the very beginning of this endeavor to keep debris and dirt out of the vents, so the air conditioning has not been on.  It is very hot and humid. It can get stifling in the house.  All involved are consuming lots of water and sweating it out, and getting very dirty.

Sweaty and dirty Captain

Yes, we are working hard,  but things are getting done and we are pleased with the progress thus far.

So, until next time...

Enjoy

Our River House Fixer Upper - Week 6

A few weeks ago, we obtained permission from the Historical Society to proceed with replacing one of the existing at the back of the house.   It was a single window and we wanted to replace it with a triple window to match the other window (match as best as we could, these are not your standard windows).    Also, there was a bit of damage in the wall and floor beams, so with the help of a good friend, the old wall was removed and new wall installed, with an opening for a new triple window.

Pic of back wall with one small window

Wall removed and temporary beams up to hold up roof

Another view of no wall

Outside view

Another view

In the picture above, you can see there is a triple window on one side, but the other side only had a single window.  We wanted to open up the back room and the larger window on the left side will allow more light and a expanded view of the river!

 

Ready for the new window and wall is repaired!

The window had to be ordered and is scheduled to arrive within the next few weeks, so the opening is temporarily closed waiting for the window installation.

All done for now

Also, this past week, Captain Man had someone come mow our back yard. The property is narrow, but long and extends past the railroad track to the river.  The grass was taking over, and was knee to waist high.   I cannot mow something like this.  Too afraid of swamp critters and I know this must have been a haven for them.  So thank you Mr. Lawn Guy for getting this done!

Yard finally mowed

You can see the railroad track going thru our back yard.  We eventually want the bushes on either side of the track to be removed, so that more of the river can be seen and enjoyed.  Hopefully once we stop working on the house, we will be able to walk to the river's edge and use our paddle board.  This area has a lot of paddle boarders, and they usually get together frequently during the summer for "paddle cruises".  About once a month, they have a sunset paddle cruise, which would be fun.

Sunset on the Pamlico

So, what are my jobs during this renovation...when I am not working at my regular job.  That depends on what Captain Man needs me doing.   And the chores go something like this...run to Lowes and pick up such and such, clean this area so we can do this or that, cut this piece of lumber X amount of inches, hand me the whatchamacallit tool...oh, and what might we be having for dinner tonight? 😃😃😃😃 Yes, I am smiling.  Remember, I really wanted this house.

When there are no other assigned chores for me, I pick up the stripping gel and start to work on removing the old paint from the trim.  Remember I stated in an earlier post there is a lot of trim in this house that was painted with latex over oil based paint.  Most of which is falling off.  So, I have the pleasure of trying to get the remaining latex off.  Little by little and it is messy!  But I am hoping once completed, and repainted correctly, it will have been worth it.  

Paint stripping one of many windows

We are now waiting for sheet rock installer estimates.  I cannot wait for this to be done.  Once that is completed, we can clean up and paint and then move in time will be right around the corner!! Woo Hoo!

So far now, it's back to work.

Until next time....

Enjoy!

Our River House Fixer Upper - Week 5

Our electrician is still busy working on switching out the old and installing the new wiring.  So while he was busy getting this done, I opted to work on the upstairs spare room.  There are two smaller rooms up there, and one will be the guest bedroom and the other will be a storage/workroom.  Since the electrical re-do was done in this particular room, I decided I would start with it.

First...I needed to sand all the whole room.  So, on went the respirator mask and off to work with the sander and scraper.  It was HOT!!! and NASTY!!! But I completed this step in a few hours.

All sanded

Other side of room

Next step...clean up.  A thorough vacuum, wipe down with tack cloth to ensure no dust or particles in my paint.  Then I started with the primer.  We went with Zinsser primer and we decided one coat was sufficient.  Once that dried, I applied the paint, and thought it had too much of a pink undertone.  At the store the chip did not appear to have any pink tones, but on the wall, it does look pinkish.  The color?  Birchwood White.  Oh well, the paint is purchased and can't take it back, so that is the color it will be.  However, I am not going to use this color on the rest of the upstairs. 

My pinkish workroom

Not bad, but not exactly the color I was hoping for

After the paint job, I cleaned the floors.  I already have rods and curtains purchased for this room, but no install of that until the rest of the house is dust-free!  My plan is to have a work table for possibly some sewing and also space for jewelry making.  It will be a great space with great light coming in through those cute Craftsman windows.  

So, for now...the door is closed on this room.  And it is something I can check off my to do list.  Now on to the next few hundred items on the list.

Until next time...

Enjoy!

Our River House Fixer Upper - Week 4

 Our house has new plumbing, all new lines under the house and everything in "roughed in"!  We had the plumbers install two outside water spigots, on either side of the house, for my future gardening water needs!  Inside, we opted to go with a tank-less, on demand hot water heater.  The plumbers worked quickly and finished in a couple of days. 

The tank-less water heater mounted under the stairs

Master bath with new plumbing

Our special order bath tub arrived and it is huge.  Captain Man and I are both tall and we like to soak in a nice hot bath after a long day of work.   Most tubs aren't quite long enough for us to stretch out so we bought a six foot tub.  It is also a steeping tub to allow a deeper water fill.

 

Cannot wait to get into this tub!

And here she is placed in the master bath

The guest bath also has the roughed in plumbing completed.  It is going to be small, but functional, with a corner tiled in shower.


 

New plumbing!

There was a new electrical main panel box installed a few weeks prior.   We are now  re-doing all the wiring.  

New panel box installed some time earlier

Lots of new wiring and sockets and switches.   This house did not have any lighting for the stairs, so we are placing some type of wall lighting along the staircase.

Wiring for new hallway sconces

Our washer and dryer will go into existing closet space that is located in kitchen/dining area.  This is a move from where it was located in this house, so all new electric and plumbing!

Washer and dryer closet

Somewhat fuzzy pic of new outlets

Another busy week at our fixer upper!  A friend of ours passed by this week during his daily walk and stopped to ask "how's it going?"  "Working hard and it is going slowly but surely" was our reply.  He then stated "you two sure love a project, and big ones at that".  Captain Man and I looked at each other and thought for a second "no we don't".  We like to relax and enjoy calm and peace.  What are we doing!!! This is anything but!

Until next time....

Enjoy!

Our River House Fixer Upper - Week 3

Another week has flown by...and we are moving along on the house.  To me, there aren't many negatives about this house, but there are a couple of issues that Captain Man and I need to work out.  The house only had one small (itsy bitsy) bathroom.   Both of us wanted another full bath added downstairs, but there just did not seem to be enough room to fit one in.  We vacillated back and forth on where we could squeeze one and finally decided we may be able to fit one in at the foot of the stairs.  It would be centrally located on the main floor but easy enough for guests to access at the bottom of the stairs.  But it would have to be small.  So this past week, Captain Man framed up the new bathroom.  And it will be tiny, but should work fine.  

The new tiny bathroom

Another view of the bathroom to be

A half bath would be a bit more spacious, but we really wanted to have room for a shower.  We think it will work.  I have stressed over the placement of the toilet, sink and shower enough now.  Captain Man tells me it will work, so I am leaving that bit of worrying alone for now.  

The master bath ceiling frame up

We have also completed the ceiling framing for both baths.   We are lowering the ceiling in these rooms by 4 inches to allow for ventilation fan installation.   

Ceiling framing

And I have started on the other negative of this house.  Like I said, there are only like 2 things.... the other-removing paint from the trim.  The trim was painted a couple of years ago, but all of it is flaking off.  Reason...originally the trim was painted with an oil based paint...and then painted over with a latex paint.  Not good.  I have researched this quite a bit and cannot find a easy fix.  All recommendations indicate it will require hard work and a lot of time to get it off!  Good luck with that!

I am not particularly fond of all that toxic crap they have for this sort of project.  So, while in Lowes, I found a "safer" citrus stripper claiming to be less toxic than the rest.  I purchased a good respirator mask and chemical gloves and set out to try this product out on the first of three mantles.   After opening all windows and doors (wanted to have good cross ventilation!), I put on my gear and started on the mantle.  It's a gel like substance and I started off with a frugal amount....did not work so well.   After about an hour, no bubbling noted.  So I reapplied with more and left it for about 2 hours, and that worked.  The paint bubbled up and was easily removed on the flat surfaces.

After the first try

Second time was better

The biggest issue, other than being extremely messy and gross, is the trim in this house has lots of nooks, crannies and ribbed moldings.  It is so hard to get into these places to remove the paint.  It bubbles off fine, but I need something to get the paint off those intricate moldings.  There must be some sort of tool made for this, so I am researching for that now.  

Captain Man is telling me this is way too time consuming and we should just scrape off the peeling part, sand it down and repaint with a latex over oil paint and hope for the best.   I am scared to do that, as most of what I have read states you probably need to get all the old paint off or you may have more peeling paint later  😟 

We will see how this goes.   There is a LOT of trim in this house!

The electrician is coming today, and plumbers should be here on Monday.  Captain Man and I both have returned to work, so we are doing this on our "off work" days.  But we are pleased with progress thus far.

Off to work we go!

Until next post....

Enjoy!