Old House Renovation Journal

[mbb308]

More reframing

Off for another day of framing in new walls for closets and room rearrangements. It's hard and slow, but the old place is slowly beginning to resemble the plan drawn for its new configuration. From an archaic plan of three-plus-one bedrooms with an awkward bath, it will become a modern layout with three large bedroom and two full baths upstaiars and a powder room downstairs.

 

[mbb308]

Well, we've had a fairly productive week on the old house. Nothing does my old heart good like seeing new walls take shape in the configuration that the customer seeks.

There was a small fourth bedroon/trunk room/nursery over the foyer. These rooms are fairly common in front-to-rear townhouse design, and they're way too little to have much use. I've been telling these guys for a while that they really need to install a second full bathroom also - it's the modern thing to do, and we are supposed to be modernizing the design of the structure. They elected to go with the two full baths idea in this house, and they chose to use the too-little front room as the site for them.

We started there Monday. We split the room, and padded out one wall in the Master side to make it the right width (60 1/4") for a bathtub to fit. the other side (the hall bath) we framed at 60 1/4" across for the entire room - it's narrow, but perfectly functional.

We then moved on to the front bedroom to close in the fireplace and build the closets. The house originally had four fireplaces in two chimneys - two f/p's up, and two down. All will be eliminated in the new design because of the high cost of bringing the flues and fireboxes up to modern standards. The mantels will stay, except the one in the front bedroom. That fireplace is centered in the outside wall. We built a wall from side to side, covering the chimney, and installing a closet on either side of it. This house had one closet in the original layout - a closet in the dinky now-bath bedroom. People had and used armoires then.

We changed the door from that closet to the hall for a linen closet. We also closed the door from the front bedroom to the middle bedroom. We cut out for the door for the Master bath thru the wall central partition running front to rear, placing the door near the front wall of the house. This wall is a bearing wall, so we had to put a larger header (small beam) in that opening. We also had to repair some rot in the front wall top plate, where the old built-in gutter had leaked and the water had rotted it out. We also had to repair holes in the floor where the old heating ducts had been cut.

The original framing material in the house is all yellow pine. It is all now a very dark brown. Our new wall material is spruce - it is somewhat softer than pine, but it comes straighter and stays that way - pine can warp terribly. We spent some time this afternoon straightening some crooked original wall studs. This is done by sawing a notch in the back side of the crook, about halfway up, pushing it back in line, and nailing a new straight stud next to it. Crooked studs show through the wallboard if there is a piece of furniture against the wall - it's a lot easier to fix while the house is gutted.

We have applied for the building permit. According to the city, the house was built in 1920. We suspect that the house may be older. I'll have to check and see if the city annexed that part of town from the neighbor county - in my spare time.

 

[hotNnasty]

WOW mbb!

How fascinating!
I'll keep dropping in to read the progress. I bet you get great satisfaction from this
((HUGS))

 

[wildrose70]

He sure did have a busy day and then had time to come home and *play*...saying so long for a few weeks...keep this going dear so I can check the progress and hope you have some pics when i get back.....

 

[mbb308]

He sure did have a busy day and then had time to come home and *play*...saying so long for a few weeks...keep this going dear so I can check the progress and hope you have some pics when i get back.....

Busy couple of days.

It's raining today, so it will be dark in the old house. Bring on the artificial light. We'll get to see how badly the old roof is leaking.

 

[mbb308]

WOW mbb!

How fascinating!
I'll keep dropping in to read the progress. I bet you get great satisfaction from this
((HUGS))

Thank you, Dear. I do enjoy my job.

 

[Cipher]

Hey mbb

Is there anything i can knock down or repaint???


How are ya mbb???

Maybe later you can take me on a tour and show me around a bit

 

[mbb308]

Re: Hey mbb

Is there anything i can knock down or repaint???


How are ya mbb???

Maybe later you can take me on a tour and show me around a bit

I'm hoping to get the pics back soon and get them up on here. This place is a wreak.

We've started rebuilding.

Going next door to watch "Silverado" - I've never seen it.

Back after that.

 

[Linedrive]

Sounds like the progress is moving along. Interesting reading mbb.

 

[mbb308]

Sounds like the progress is moving along. Interesting reading mbb.

Thank you. Progress is a good thing. It all takes time, however.

So does posting about it.

 

[hotNnasty]

With picnic basket in hand, filled with french bread, salami, cheese and a great bottle of champagne.......... I spread out a blanket and blop down across the street watching mbb hard at work

 

[mbb308]

With picnic basket in hand, filled with french bread, salami, cheese and a great bottle of champagne.......... I spread out a blanket and blop down across the street watching mbb hard at work

Shoot, Hun, there's a whole lot more grass in the back yard, and a whole lot less concrete.

The place is open for guided tours any time - just let me know.

 

[mbb308]

Our house's "style"

I just found out, by accident, this afternoon that our house is of the "Colonial Revival" style of architecture. This would pertain to its exterior appearance, and applies to the shape of design and the type and appearance of the garnish used.

Sounds impressive, doesn't it?

I don't get it, either.

 

[hotNnasty]

Shoot, Hun, there's a whole lot more grass in the back yard, and a whole lot less concrete.

The place is open for guided tours any time - just let me know.

Well hell...... *Picks up everything and heads for the backyard*

Thanks mbb This is much nicer on the grass. If you find time for lunch it's all ready for ya

Guided tours? Hmmm after hours?

((Hugs))

 

[Cipher]

Hey mbb, what are you working on this evening???

Hey hotNnasty, i was wondering if i could have some of your wine??? LoL


After hours tours..I'll be leaving in a bit..you 2 can "tour" all you want..LoL

 

[mbb308]

Well hell...... *Picks up everything and heads for the backyard*

Thanks mbb This is much nicer on the grass. If you find time for lunch it's all ready for ya

Guided tours? Hmmm after hours?

((Hugs))

During hours - after hours - it's your call.

I think of these long jobs as my home away from home. I might as well live there, although it would be a bit primitive at the moment.

 

[mbb308]

Hey mbb, what are you working on this evening???

Hey hotNnasty, i was wondering if i could have some of your wine??? LoL


After hours tours..I'll be leaving in a bit..you 2 can "tour" all you want..LoL

Working on resting up after this workweek. My hips and knees and feet are all a bit sore. My body keeps reminding that I'm not 22 anymore.

Looking forward to sleeping in a bit tomorrow.

 

[Celtic Warrior]

huh?

mbb308
No contest over the tools.Milwaukie way better than (jap crap) makita in taking abuse, but my old Rockwell beltsander (4x24) is
over 25 years old and still going strong, yeah I replaced the brushes. My new power tools are pretty much all Porter Cable. The best in my opinion. Porter Cable rules. I have a couple old drills that are Milwauks and the only replacement was trigger switch and brushes. Hilti made a kick ass drill too. I have an old 3/4 hp Hilti drill. I used Makitas before and they burned up under constant use. I have a new Dewalt drill and it seemed to hold up pretty good so far. Yeah I kept all my tools after I went into drivin' big trucks. I still do stuff for myself.

 

[Batch]

Re: Re: Hey mbb

I'm hoping to get the pics back soon and get them up on here. This place is a wreak.

We've started rebuilding.

Going next door to watch "Silverado" - I've never seen it.

Back after that.

You went and did it....
well, well...

 

[mbb308]

Re: Re: Re: Hey mbb

You went and did it....
well, well...

That I did. I was thoroughly underwhelmed, too.

 

[mbb308]

Re: huh?

mbb308
No contest over the tools.Milwaukie way better than (jap crap) makita in taking abuse, but my old Rockwell beltsander (4x24) is
over 25 years old and still going strong, yeah I replaced the brushes. My new power tools are pretty much all Porter Cable. The best in my opinion. Porter Cable rules. I have a couple old drills that are Milwauks and the only replacement was trigger switch and brushes. Hilti made a kick ass drill too. I have an old 3/4 hp Hilti drill. I used Makitas before and they burned up under constant use. I have a new Dewalt drill and it seemed to hold up pretty good so far. Yeah I kept all my tools after I went into drivin' big trucks. I still do stuff for myself.

I've never been a fan of Japanese tools, but I did buy an Hitachi circular saw about 6 years ago, and I got a great deal because it was on clearance. I have never cut it any slack - that saw has been made to cut all the crappy stuff. It has never caused a minutes trouble, either.

Current inventory by manufacturor -

Milwaukee: 7 1/4" circular saw, 3/8" regular and angle drills, jig saw, 10" sliding compound miter saw, heat gun (very old), sawzall

Porter Cable: 1/2" hammer drill, trim nailer, narrow crown stapler, pad sander, 3x21 belt sander, compressor, 12v battery drill

Delta: an impressive and very inexpensive 10" miter saw

Hitachi: 7 1/4" circular saw, wide crown stapler

Paslode: Framing nailer

Bosch: a way-too-powerful 3/8" drill - we retired this one.

 

[Celtic Warrior]

Hi mbb, cool, excellent tools. I have a feeling we won't argue
about tools so we will have to find something else to raise hell
about . I have an old Milwaukee worm drive 7 1/4 saw stashed
away somewhere. Bosche makes good stuff. I had one of their
plunge routers. I think I might still have it somewhere. I lose
track of stuff if I don't use it for a while. Delta makes excellent
tools. I used to have a Delta lathe made about 70 years ago.
I have an old Milwaykee sawsall too. cuts through almost
anything. Replaced the trigger switch about 6 years ago and it
keeps on going. I haven't ever used an Hitachi tool. Hmmmm
Is this considered blasphemy? lol Just kidding. I hear they make
some pretty good tools. I have a Delta 24" planer that was
made not long after they stopped being owned by Rockwell.

 

[mbb308]

Hi mbb, cool, excellent tools. I have a feeling we won't argue
about tools so we will have to find something else to raise hell
about . I have an old Milwaukee worm drive 7 1/4 saw stashed
away somewhere. Bosche makes good stuff. I had one of their
plunge routers. I think I might still have it somewhere. I lose
track of stuff if I don't use it for a while. Delta makes excellent
tools. I used to have a Delta lathe made about 70 years ago.
I have an old Milwaykee sawsall too. cuts through almost
anything. Replaced the trigger switch about 6 years ago and it
keeps on going. I haven't ever used an Hitachi tool. Hmmmm
Is this considered blasphemy? lol Just kidding. I hear they make
some pretty good tools. I have a Delta 24" planer that was
made not long after they stopped being owned by Rockwell.

I really should make a list of all of my stuff. I can never remember, and I always forget a few items - like my Porter Cable router, which I use rarely.

I'm not sold on Porter cable's air tools - I suspect, because of the price, that they are Japanese (or worse) tools in Porter Cable clothing. I have one of their framing nailers that didn't serve well. Nailers are like semi-auto firearms - they need to feed well, or they aren't worth the trouble. That PC framer never did work trouble-free, and, when it finally started acting up badly this last time, I went and bought the Pasload - found it on sale, too. It has been a jewel, so I may be switching over as the PC's die out.

The old Delta, and Rockwell, and DeWalt tools were industrial grade, I think, and those are the ones that are worth having. My Delta saw is fine so far - we're using it as a wall stud chop saw now - makes life a wee bit easier, and isn't a pain for what we're doing. I know people who are crazy about DeWalt tools. I had a DeWalt 3x21 belt sander, and it was too slow to suit me. It was light because of the plastic body. It got stolen, and I replaced it with a PC because I had used one that belongs to another guy and liked it.

Tools are supposed to work, and, if yours works for you, then it's probably fine.

 

[Celtic Warrior]

Yeah as far as air Paslode is probably best. PC I like for the
routers and sanders. I had a PC brad gun and it wasn't
worth crap. They all have their specialties where they are
really good. Dewalt makes good drills and saws. I never liked
their sanders too much. Like you said, too light. I like a good
balanced feel like the PC and the real old Rockwells.
Do you ever get into making cabinetry and funiture? Are you
familiar with a magazine called Fine Woodworking? A lot of
cool stuff and well worth the money. I used to have a subscription to it, but got too busy I guess with what I do now.

 

[Arden]

Yeah as far as air Paslode is probably best. PC I like for the
routers and sanders. I had a PC brad gun and it wasn't
worth crap. They all have their specialties where they are
really good. Dewalt makes good drills and saws. I never liked
their sanders too much. Like you said, too light. I like a good
balanced feel like the PC and the real old Rockwells.
Do you ever get into making cabinetry and funiture? Are you
familiar with a magazine called Fine Woodworking? A lot of
cool stuff and well worth the money. I used to have a subscription to it, but got too busy I guess with what I do now.

Oh yeah, Dewalt power tools ROCK!
Ive got two of their drills, a small cordless and a
BIG electric one for the tough jobs!

Ha haha... a chick that gets excited about power tools!
(I'm doing a 125 year old house, myself)

Hi mbb!