Banbury Lane

2009-11-08T05:34:00.000-08:00

Landscaping and painting done.

Got everything done except the pergolas and the grass is growing!

Back at It!

2009-07-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Back to work...

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T13:25:00.001-08:00

Window Seat

2007-07-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

I have started trimming out the window seat in the family room.

2007-06-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

The brick looks new:

Green grass and plants again!

Inside update

2007-05-17T03:01:00.000-07:00

No pictures today.

Kitchen cabinet man stopped by yesterday and measured up. Peninsula should be installed around June 1st. Joe has provided a nice design for the fireplace. He is trying to convince us to use soapstone. Got a third bid for refinishing the wood floors upstairs.

More pictures soon!

Grass at last!

2007-05-10T03:38:00.000-07:00

Planted the grass finally. See my new car?

Details

2007-04-22T03:22:00.000-07:00

I am trying my best to match the existing door casings in the house.

Third year of constuction

2007-04-14T03:19:00.000-07:00

I just realized that we started this project in April of 2005. We will finish soon.

The kitchen addition is trimmed and ready for the new peninsula.

Better Pictures

2006-07-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to play golf with Nathan yesterday. He had asked me to bring up his bike and I surprised him with his clubs also. We played the Blue Course at University Park. He mentioned that I should be updating the blog more often and get a better camera.

Well... how does this look:

Enzo Ferrari Leaves No Marks

2006-07-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

See Enzo.

See the new floor (with the finish).

See Enzo walk on the new floor.

See Enzo on the window seat.

Wood Flooring

2006-07-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

The walnut flooring has started. It looks like they will be done installing the floors by Thursday. I started putting the first of four coats of tung oil in the dining room (shown) and the kitchen nook.

It looks a bit splotchy right now but I know it will look great when its all done.

It's been one whole year since we started!

2006-07-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

From across the street the house looks pretty big now.

The old dining room floor has been removed.

Progress - wood base just about complete upstairs and downstairs. Walnut flooring delivered. Jim is working on beam ceiling in Family Room.

Last Dumpster?

2006-06-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

With big blue:

Sans big blue:

Laundry Room Progress

2006-06-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

The master bathroom tile has arrived.

The laundry room cabinets are installed. Need to get the countertop and order knobs.

The existing north gable has the new hardi-shingles on.

Graduation Day

2006-06-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

Nathan is graduating high school tonight.

Outside work almost done:

Gotta pick some paint colors (pallete of about 7 or 8 color samples shown):

52 Plynth Blocks

2006-05-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

Had 52 plynth blocks made and picked them up today

Here is a picture ot the back shaping up. The deck is done and the hardi-shingles have started

The picture below shows the granite fabricator's computer which was used to measure the oval for the tub cutout. The fabricator's guy said this was much better than using the template supplied with the tub.

Brick, At Last!

2006-05-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

New brick, old brick. Can you tell the difference?

Beams?

2006-05-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

The box beam ceiling in the Family Room has started!

Rain, rain, rain!

2006-05-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

The new doors and wood base got delivered. Its been raining steadily for about a week now and we are priming the trim so that Jim has "rainy day" work.

All of the doors are hung and all of the wood base has been delivered.

The masons got started but can't do much until it stops raining!

May 8th Update

2006-05-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Had to repaint the kitchen cabinets to get them to match the Santorini Bisque trim color. Back deck started:
Front window exterior trim started (brick delivered in background):
View from dining room through new patio doors:

What happened to April?

2006-05-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

We are still painting!

Brick should be on this week.

Moved into our new bedroom. Getting used to having a lot of closet space!

Painting has begun

2006-04-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

Our kitchen doubled in size!
Nathan and Olivia are helping paint the windows!

BREAKTHROUGH!

2006-03-31T14:32:00.000-08:00

The kitchen wall is gone. In this photo the plastic is still up.

Drywall is now 99% hung and should be complete and hardcoated by Monday.

More pictures over the weekend.

March 24th

2006-03-24T14:12:00.000-08:00

No pictures today.

We got the plumbing roughin inspection today! Jim framed in the tub and they got it into place yesterday!

Ed Lagnese will be back Monday to finish hanging the drywall.

March 21st

2006-03-21T14:05:00.000-08:00

Got some drywall started and got the laundry room plumbed in.

The 440 pound tub was lifted up by Wayne the Crane and thrown in through the window.

Met with Bill Power last night to review bulkheads and transitions between the kitchen and the hallway.

Lakewood is coming back tomorrow to finish the roughins?

March 10th

2006-03-10T14:25:00.000-08:00

The power company fixed their line (see how they re-attached it). Jim finished up (almost) all of the window trims and roof rakes (see front gable above). Jim also finished up the framing upstairs. The picture above shows the new hallway extension into the master bedroom suite.

Drywall next week!

March 3rd

2006-03-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

No pictures this week. Jim continues to do an excellent job matching the new trim details to the existing. He told me today that he would create a template for the curved crown mold piece that transitions from the roof rake to the box gutter.

Talked to Rick Gregor today - he will be back Monday to follow up on shingle installationwhere Jim is ready.

Got brick samples from Friday. Based on the samples we are tempted to paint the whole house!

Friday, February 24th

2006-02-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

Jim started the exterior trim. It's been slow going as Hardi board is very hard to work with. It looks great though! Jim needs to get the electric service moved to complete the trim around the southwest corner.

Ed Lagnese gave me the best price for blueboard and plaster and I told him that I was going to give him the job. I am going to schedule him for the week of March 13th as the fireplace is due that week.

Sent out requests for quotes for wood doors and only got one bid back so far. Homestead Hardwoods quoted maple and poplar for us.

Monday, February 20th

2006-02-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

No work this past weekend, it was the coldest it's been all year (3 degrees above zero on Sunday morning.

Jim Alexander got started on the soffit and fascia trim today. I am going to let him get a little ahead before getting Rick Gregor back to finish the roofing.

Jim's buddy, Ed Lagnese, visited the house today to look at the blueboard/plaste veneer scope. I should have three prices by this Wednesday.

Sent out door takeoff to five door companies. We'll see who gets back to me.

Next update on Friday!

February 17th

2006-02-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

Gregor Roofing started this week. He started on the existing side since the trim isn't installed on the addition yet. Jim is trying to get the Hardi trim. Got 100 feet of crown trim delived and primed (see photo). Met with Joe Fox who is working on a bid for the Hardi shingle installation. The fireplace is scheduled to be installed on March 14th. Reviewed the details on insulating the shaft with Ed from the Fireplace. Sent out a Pipeline invitation for blueboard and plaster veneer. Asking for bids by February 22nd. Pictures of lighting in breakfast area and hallway shown.

Talked to Mike Chieffe about mixing two brick (one rough, one not so rough). He is get some bricks to show us.

It's been way too long!

2006-02-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

Well I'm finally back.

It's time to finish up the project. Over the fall and winter I've only managed to complete the wall demo, start the insulating, and start the wiring.

Gregor Roofing is going to get started tomorrow.

Promise two updates every week. One on Monday and one on Friday.

Need to get pictures.

Windows Installed

2005-09-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the long period of time with no posts but there hasn't been much of anything to write about. On top of that I deleted (accidently) the pictures I took last week of the windows. They are all installed now (save one upstairs) and look great! Some problems with the grilles and the screens that I am working out with the supplier. I promise to have pictures tomorrow.

Stoop's Up

2005-08-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

The front window is framed!

The porch stoop has a roof!

Front Window

2005-08-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

No picture today. Jim stopped this morning and figured out how much lumber he needs to frame the front window. He stopped by later with a load of wood.

Got some temporary lights and hung them up in the basement so we can see!

Cleaned Up

2005-08-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

All cleaned up in the master bedroom. The picture below is of the master bath. Jan is pleased with the size.

Under Roof?

2005-08-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

We are dried in (more or less).

Oops!

2005-08-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Jim's demo man got carried away with a sawzall and put a hole through the dining room wall. We told Jim not to worry about it since we were going to have to patch the window anyway.

The new bedroom takes shape.

Front Dormer

2005-08-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

The front dormer takes shape.

Gambrels & Golfing

2005-08-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

The gambrel roof is taking shape. Couldn't resist the picture of Nate lying 2 on No. 5 hole on the "Links" course at the Lake Placid Club (No. 1 handicap, 526 yards). He "skulled" the second shot too!

We're Back!

2005-08-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

Good neighbor Dick took these pictures while we vacationed at "The Farm".

Vacation Time

2005-08-06T02:55:00.000-07:00

It's vacation time for both Jim and us. Jim and two of his guys worked today installing all of the second floor floor deck and laying out the walls for the bedroom and bathroom. We made some minor adjustments with the location of the door to the bathroom and skinnied the support walls to 2x4's to get a little more room.

Since we will be on vacation there won't be any more posts until the 14th.

Second Story Floor Framing

2005-08-05T02:51:00.000-07:00

They set the glue lam beams and just about finished all of the second floor rafters today.

In the Dry

2005-08-04T02:47:00.000-07:00

Jim and the guys got the hip and shed roofs at the back "dried in". They also worked a little on the framing at the family room getting ready to set the second story rafters. I re-ordered the windows after going over the jamb depths one more time with Jim. We decided to skinny the wall at the front to make the window seat a little wider.

Brick Cleaning

2005-08-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Nathan got back on cleaning the bricks. Jim continued to frame the roofs behind the kitchen and dining room. The mud room/powder room area is taking shape. Really need a dumpster!

Roof Framing

2005-08-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Jim started framing the hip roof above the kitchen nook today. He also started the walls in the mud room area. Jan and I spent the evening trying to size the fireplace.

Window Decision Time

2005-08-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

More walls up. Jim and two of his guys finished the west wall (the back of the house) and started the north wall (the fireplace side). Many changes on the windows. I'm going to try to fax a revised window order to Wholesale Builders and see what happens.

Walls Up

2005-07-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

Jim worked today on the walls at the kitchen nook. We decided to change the dimension of the windows in the nook shrinking them 4" in width so that we could match the casing in the existing house when we trim them.

First Floor Completed

2005-07-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

The deck for the first floor is complete and Jim has started to throw up walls. He started with the outside of the chimney. Jan and I spent the evening reviewing the wall layouts and made some minor changes in the mud room area after seeing how the layout works. We eliminated (for now) two doors in the mud room. The one nearest the outside door was completely eliminated forming a nook adjacent to the outside door. The door between the mud room and the hallway was changed to a 30" cased opening. We also decided to add a 36" cased opening at the entrance to the family room.

Jim will be back tomorrow to work on walls.

The Hallway Takes Shape

2005-07-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

More floor framing today. Jim managed to sneak the framing of the hallway under the existing cantilevered framing from the dining room without having to tear it down.

Floor Framing

2005-07-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

Floor framing has commenced. The kitchen nook begins to take shape.

Nothing Happened Today

2005-07-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

Except it rained (quite a violent thunderstorm) this evening. Blew up our temporary electric service over at the Target Store we're building.

98 Degrees in the Shade

2005-07-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Today was HOT!

Good day. The photo, courtesy of neighbor Dick, shows them grouting the basement walls. Jim called me and gave me the good news that the foundation is not out as level as earlier reported. Jim's next mission is to frame up the back bumps and get a new roof over the kitchen and dining room areas. Sounds like a good plan.

Old Foundation

2005-07-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

Worked on the existing foundation this weekend cleaning off the soil. As you can see it needs to be repointed.

I think I'll try to do it myself.

This Old House

2005-07-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

Talked to Jim today about the next step. He said he would be back on Monday to set the beams and start framing. He also said we have a problem with floor levels. He measured everything up and the north west corner of the house is down about an inch and a quarter. He wants to meet me tomorrow to review how we will adjust.

Blockwork Complete

2005-07-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

The mason came back today and finished the blockwork at the porch. Ready for Jim to set the beams and start floor framing.

Foundation Pictures

2005-07-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

Things are shaping up!

Block's Up

2005-07-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

The mason started today but didn't quite finish. Starting to get a good sense of the space we are creating. It's cool!

Pictures tomorrow!

Gas Leak!

2005-07-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

Got back from a fantastic (wet) weekend backpacking Dolly Sods with four ten year old girls (Olivia and three friends and their parents) to discover that Jan and Nathan had been without gas all weekend!

The old line (which Jim's excavator had uncovered) was leaking. Nathan discovered this Saturday morning. When the gas company was contacted they shut off the service!!

Lakewood Mechanical took care of the problem and we are waiting for the gas company to come back tomorrow to turn the service back on.

No work progress other than the gas line repair.

Kind of a bummer to come back from a backpacking weekend and not be able to take a hot shower.

2005-07-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

For those of you wondering what we are up to the drawing above is a portion of the addition showing the family room on the first floor.

Block Delivery

2005-07-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

The block was delivered today. After this picture was taken Olivia and her friend Hanna got mud all over their shoes.

Pumping

2005-07-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

Jim called and asked about hooking back up the GFI receptacle that used to be part of the deck. I had disconnected it since it ran out to the garage also. Tonight I tried reconnecting it so Jim would have an outside power source but it was tripping off. I hooked up an extension cord to the an outlet in the kitchen and fired up Jim's pump and drained out the water from today's rainstorm.

No progress today.

Layout for Mason

2005-07-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

Not much progress today. Jim came by at some point and layed out for the mason. He was going to let me know when he will start.

No picture today.

Foundations Complete!

2005-07-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

First thing this morning Jim and the boys poured the footers. Talked to Jim this afternoon and he was going to stop by and see if he could start pinning the layout for the mason. He will let me know when the mason will start.

It will be great to see the walls going up!

Progress on Foundation

2005-07-09T04:23:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday morning and Jim and his crew just got here to complete forming the footers. Yesterday was a good day. The excavator loaded out the spoils and started bringing in the gravel. Jim also got started on the footer forming. We lucked out with the spoils removal; as it turns out the Animal Friends project right down on Camp Horne Road needed dirt so Jim's excavator had a very short haul. Jan suggested we claim it as a charitable deduction.

Jim plans on pouring Monday morning. Supposedly the hurricane is going to miss us!

The aftermath...

2005-07-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

The excavator has started to load out the dirt.

This is after a day of drying out. The day before it was probably about a foot deep.

Despite the mess, Jan is extremely happy that something (anything) is finally happening.

It's been very dry - until now!

2005-07-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it figures. Now that we have started excavation, the rains have begun. Yesterday they dug out the entire north end of the footprint. Around 4Pm we were blasted with a howling thunderstorm. About a 1/2" of rain fell in about 45 minutes. Now we have a swimming pool!

Due to my inabality to synchronize my Treo 650 at home the pictures will be lagging somewhat. More news tomorrow on today's events.

First Picture

2005-07-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken last Thursday after the contractor had removed the brick from the north and west elevations. Now that I've figured out how to upload the pictures I will have a new one every day.

The Fourth of July

2005-07-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

I've just started this blog. Will have to upload the pictures I've taken so far to document progress. So far we have removed the deck (me and Nathan), and the contractor (Jim Alexander) has removed the brick veneer and layed out for the excavation.