House Diaries 2

[mapsedge]

The first pair of windows took, all told, fourteen and a half hours from the time I started taking off the exterior trim to the time my father-in-law and I finished putting away the tools. 8:00 in the morning to 10:30 that night. That saga can be read about here.

What a difference, this time around. Two more windows, finishing our bedroom and our daughter's room. Because the new windows were slightly smaller and going into the same locations, and because there was no damage to the walls in question, it was a simple matter to fill in the openings to the correct size and do the installation.

Between mljm and I, start to finish, about seven hours, when you include exterior trim and putting away the tools. Leaving off the extras and counting just the window installation it came to five hours. I did the first Friday evening after work, done in time to shower and watch Iron Chef. The window in K's room was finished by ten-thirty Saturday morning.

So now, before the onset of cold weather, new, double pane windows, weather tight, done.

All that's left of this project is the interior work, drywall, painting, trim, which will take a couple more weeks. The exterior of the house looks like hell as I haven't been able to put any of the siding back. The siding will be primed front and back prior to installation, since it's too cold to paint, and that takes time.

For the sake of speed, all the debris created by this project was tossed to the nearest convenient location, which turned out to be a pile along the fence at the north side of the property. Old siding, studs, sheathing, insulation, tarpaper, all of it. That pile swiftly reached a height of four feet or so, about eight feet long.

Last night after supper, in an effort to clean up that pile I dragged the old rolling firebox into the middle of the yard and started a fire. It's a small metal screen box on legs with wheels, designed for "hours of fun for the whole family", that is, if you like sitting on the deck around a fire in the evening chill, which we do. Fifty year old cedar siding and studs burn like you've soaked them gasoline, and for about two hours we warmed the neighborhood and contributed to global warming with a fire there and in the newer fireplace that actually is on the deck. While Michelle cleaned the deck of leaves and accumulated junk, K enjoyed tossing small pieces into the blaze when I'd let her.

Happily, there's still plenty more to burn, piled nearby and ready to go.


The remaining debris is either too large for either fireplace, or so coated with paint that burning it would precipitate an EPA disaster call, or is simply not flammable at all, like old insulation. That will, over the course of the next week and possibly two, find its way into the dumpster at work in doses small enough for the trunk of my Civic.

Comments

good luck!

[themadblonde]

Hope you get your project completed soon. It was LOVELY to see you & your lady & kidlets. THANK YOU for staying until I arrived.

Re: good luck!

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we did! My only regret is that we couldn't stay longer: we've a lot of catching up to do. Next time you're down KC way you must come over - we live, just for reference, about 30-45 minutes from Star's place in Independence. And of course, if you need a place to stay, the hide-a-bed is always available.

thank you, sweetie!

[themadblonde]

I'm starting to see that I need to get down there more often, a few times a year rather than once every few years. Having places to crash makes it more possible, though having the gas prices over $2 a gallon hurts.

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

It was sooo good to see you guys Saturday night. Thank you for being here and bringing your children to bless my home!

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

We were blessed in turn. I have to admit to some reservation about a party so long a drive away when there are bedtimes to consider, but I'm glad we went. There was such an incredible energy there. Thank you for inviting us over, for making all those little reunions possible, for sharing your tequila, and most of all for sharing your spirit and home.

Awww,

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

shucks. (scuffs toe in carpet)

You are easy to share with.