Week 43: More progress!

I took my annual "staycation" this week and worked on the house..unpacking and cleaning and puttery stuff. I certainly won't lack for things to do for the foreseeable future!

My friends, Lynn and Michael, came over to help me install a garage door and I took the opportunity to set up the grill my parent's sent me. We had a great cookout with burgers and brats and corn on the cob. Took me awhile to get the grill up and runnig but it works like a dream now!

My custom garage doors are in (for the street level garage) but the installers haven't called to schedule yet. I've got my blinds on order and at some point in the next few weeks a crew will show up to start on exterior trim painting.

 
 
 
 

Weeks 40-42: Home Sweet Home

Forty one weeks after the start of the renovation project I finally received my occupancy permit! The replacement windows look and work pretty good even though I'm not that fond of casement style windows. Bottom line is that I'm in the house and that's a good thing!

The project is far from over. There is still plenty of work to be done. The downstairs porch and apartment are yet to be started and my deck won't be started for at least another year. In the meantime I have lots of interior work to do in addition to unpacking and sorting my "stuff".

I really like the house and the neighborhood is great. Very quiet and lots of friendly folks. Feels great to have made it this far.

 
 
 

Week 39: A couple of steps closer

 
 
 

This week the trim on the porch was finished the rest of the interior door hardware was installed and the master bath is finally functional! While we wait for the replacement windows, which should arrive next week, Matt will work on the door trim and other odds and ends. If all goes well I should be ready for another occupancy inspection next week!

Week 38: Interior doors

 
 
 

The big change to the house this week was the installation of interior doors. One of the doors was too small for the opening so it will be used in the downstairs apartment and I've ordered a wider door for the front entry closet which should be here in a few weeks.

The master bath did not get completed this week but it isn't urgent since I can't move in for a few weeks until my replacement windows arrive.

Next week the plan will be to trim out the columns on the front porch, get trim around the new doors, and a few other smallish finish projects. If it all works and the master bath gets finished then I can start some serious cleaning and furniture moving to get ready for when I do get my occupancy permit!!

Week 37: Screeching Halt!

 
 
 
 

I was hoping that I would be writing this week about moving in to my new house. But that plan ended when the code enforcement officer informed me that two of my windows did not meet life safety code. In rooms that could serve as bedrooms, I need at least one window with 5.7 sq ft of clear opening. The windows that are currently installed have 5.3 sq ft. of clear opening. Sigh. After some negotiation with the building supplier I have new windows ordered but there will be some window framing changes required and it will take about 3 weeks to get the new windows in. Fortunately I have a place to stay for now... but it sure will be nice to unpack and get everything organized again.

My front porch is finished and the shower door in the master bath was installed. Both look great! I picked up my interior doors over the weekend and they will be installed next week. The master bath vanity is also due to be delivered and the garage door installer will be by to do a final measure of the doors to be sure that the ones I ordered are the right size.

Week 36: Countdown to Inspection

 
 
 
 

The front porch is still not complete but there was incredible amount of finish work this week aimed at getting the house ready for an occupancy permit inspection. The stairs and handrail are complete and the tiling in the master bath is done! Next week the shower door will be installed and the plumbing will be finished. On Wednesday I'll get my inspection for occupancy and if all goes well I'll start moving in at the end of the week! Hurrah!

There is still a fair amount of little stuff left. The interior doors won't arrive until June 1 and the baseboard trim needs to be installed. On the exterior the porch needs to be finished and I'll have to get a painter to do the trim pain and caulk the joints of the siding. I also have a lot of stuff that we saved from the demo phase of the project that I put aside "just in case" and I've now got to sort through all of that and toss most of it in the dumpster..while I still have a dumpster handy!!!

It will be great to be living in the house and to have all my stuff in one place at last!!!!

Week 35: Finishing touches

 
 
 

We had a good weather week and an extra person on the crew so the work on the front of the house moved right along this week. The siding is done and the front porch will only take another day to finish off.

On the interior, the eletrical work is complete and Matt trimmed out most of the windows. Next week everyone moves inside to work on the master bath tiling, stairs, handrail, and final work on the plumbing. I should be able to get an inspection for an occupancy permit by the end of the week!