Some progress

It dipped to freezing this morning. Although we set the furnace to 58 (and later to 55), there's so much of the upstairs ceiling exposed to the uninsulated roof, it's just COLD upstairs. The furnace came on more frequently than I expected, leaving us reasonably warm in the well-insulated downstairs. I have a couple of water-filled radiators here and there to help cut down on furnace use.

Today the plumbing inspector is (hopefully) checking on the vast maze of new plumbing put in upstairs and will give it his seal of approval. After an unexpected leak in the jungle of plumbing in the spa shower on Tuesday when the plumber thought he was done, that was fixed after there was yet another leak into the laundry room (kitchen). Good thing they had already (accidentally) knocked a hole in the ceiling there so the water had somewhere to go.

About 75% of the electrical is done as far as I can estimate. Literally everything had to be rewired and relocated somewhere in the master bath and kitchen. It is SO convoluted, but all to code. Yesterday, the electrician found that the wires for the (former) double oven and electric cooktop were aluminum and also needed to be replaced. Actually only for the cooktop location, since that's where the new dual fuel range is going. I thought 1960 was before the somewhat brief period when aluminum was used for wiring, but maybe not.

But we now have functioning can lights in the kitchen, with rough in for the undercounter lights, rope lights over the cabinets, a can over the to-be-relocated sink and two lights over the dining room table. There are SO many holes in the kitchen ceiling, I'll be amazed if it can all be patched without showing.

We could have had more lighting put into the living room, but because we think we're sneaking up on the end of the budget, we're deferring that.

We've been debating what to do about all the skylights in the upstairs. The contractor thought we should remove the wood trim, melamine interior siding, and the translucent covers and drywall them all, making them a feature up to the roof, but I think we'll just paint the trim after they are reassembled, install new panels and call it a day.

Danny's taking a mental health day off today after the rough week he's had. But already when I was leaving for work, he was immersed in dealing with the plumber and electrician that had arrived at 8. Some rest.

More shopping either tonight or this weekend for yet more items for the house. Waterproof lighting for over the bath and showers, tile for the guest bath. What have I forgotten?

The microwave supposedly arrives today to be picked up. We had waited too late to order the vanities, since expected shipping is a month from when they were ordered--maybe arriving by 11/28--when we'll be in Vancouver.

Theoretically, the new subfloors will go in tomorrow, the tub will be installed soon and the drywalling will commence next week. Cabinetry and flooring sometime after that. Knock on wood.

Some progress

It dipped to freezing this morning. Although we set the furnace to 58 (and later to 55), there's so much of the upstairs ceiling exposed to the uninsulated roof, it's just COLD upstairs. The furnace came on more frequently than I expected, leaving us reasonably warm in the well-insulated downstairs. I have a couple of water-filled radiators here and there to help cut down on furnace use.

Today the plumbing inspector is (hopefully) checking on the vast maze of new plumbing put in upstairs and will give it his seal of approval. After an unexpected leak in the jungle of plumbing in the spa shower on Tuesday when the plumber thought he was done, that was fixed after there was yet another leak into the laundry room (kitchen). Good thing they had already (accidentally) knocked a hole in the ceiling there so the water had somewhere to go.

About 75% of the electrical is done as far as I can estimate. Literally everything had to be rewired and relocated somewhere in the master bath and kitchen. It is SO convoluted, but all to code. Yesterday, the electrician found that the wires for the (former) double oven and electric cooktop were aluminum and also needed to be replaced. Actually only for the cooktop location, since that's where the new dual fuel range is going. I thought 1960 was before the somewhat brief period when aluminum was used for wiring, but maybe not.

But we now have functioning can lights in the kitchen, with rough in for the undercounter lights, rope lights over the cabinets, a can over the to-be-relocated sink and two lights over the dining room table. There are SO many holes in the kitchen ceiling, I'll be amazed if it can all be patched without showing.

We could have had more lighting put into the living room, but because we think we're sneaking up on the end of the budget, we're deferring that.

We've been debating what to do about all the skylights in the upstairs. The contractor thought we should remove the wood trim, melamine interior siding, and the translucent covers and drywall them all, making them a feature up to the roof, but I think we'll just paint the trim after they are reassembled, install new panels and call it a day.

Danny's taking a mental health day off today after the rough week he's had. But already when I was leaving for work, he was immersed in dealing with the plumber and electrician that had arrived at 8. Some rest.

More shopping either tonight or this weekend for yet more items for the house. Waterproof lighting for over the bath and showers, tile for the guest bath. What have I forgotten?

The microwave supposedly arrives today to be picked up. We had waited too late to order the vanities, since expected shipping is a month from when they were ordered--maybe arriving by 11/28--when we'll be in Vancouver.

Theoretically, the new subfloors will go in tomorrow, the tub will be installed soon and the drywalling will commence next week. Cabinetry and flooring sometime after that. Knock on wood.

addendum

Ugh.

AFTER the plumber left, Danny nearly immediately identified three leaks from the new plumbing. The general contractor had just shown up, so he called the plumbing company and immediately started ragging on the manager. Back came the plumber, doing new welds and glue and all that.

So the long and short of this is that we're going to have to wait through the weekend while the plumbing is tested for pressurization. Then on Monday the new subfloors will go in. If there are no more leaks.

I don't know when the new gas line pressurization will be checked and green tagged by an inspector. Apparently the new water heater installed two years ago doesn't have appropriate pipes, and of course that was installed by a reputable plumber. They all go on about each other ad nauseum.

Sigh.

addendum

Ugh.

AFTER the plumber left, Danny nearly immediately identified three leaks from the new plumbing. The general contractor had just shown up, so he called the plumbing company and immediately started ragging on the manager. Back came the plumber, doing new welds and glue and all that.

So the long and short of this is that we're going to have to wait through the weekend while the plumbing is tested for pressurization. Then on Monday the new subfloors will go in. If there are no more leaks.

I don't know when the new gas line pressurization will be checked and green tagged by an inspector. Apparently the new water heater installed two years ago doesn't have appropriate pipes, and of course that was installed by a reputable plumber. They all go on about each other ad nauseum.

Sigh.