Renovations at The Observer's Log

Archive for the ‘Renovations’ Category

Basement renovation almost complete

9 Jun 2008

Sigh. Just in time for us to leave the house, too. Oh well, at least it’ll improve the overall value of the place, right?

Here are the before/after pictures. Because it’s important to know what we’ve done here. We started off with a 70s reno gone wrong. We’ve ended up with a nice, modern space ready for almost anything.

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Renovations nearing completion!

4 Jun 2008

It’s been a long, hard slog since all this began a year ago. Demolition, plumbing, heating, framing, electrical, gas, contractor nightmares, self-realisation, and now the end of the tunnel is fully lit. This weekend, barring disaster, the basement will be done.

Just in time for us to leave the house and let someone else enjoy it. I’ve still not really come to grips with that part.

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Renovations Update

30 Apr 2008

Since we went off world-hopping, a lot has happened. That’s not to say the basement is done yet. Sadly, we had hoped for completion by May. A couple of starting delays, and then a labour disruption with our contractor led to a bit of a slowdown. It’s almost the end of April, which means it’ll be an Act of God to get the basement done by May.

I think we’re okay with that. But it can’t go on much longer. Time’s a-runnin’ out.

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Renovations renewed

14 Mar 2008

Well, as you already know, I’ve accepted the fact that I cannot renovate my own home. I’m neither skilled enough, nor have the time to handle it. (As it stands, there is considerable discussion that I’m not spending enough time with my family as it is.)

Anyway, we finally decided it was necessary to get a contractor to come in and finish the job.

No, scratch that.

To undo the mess I made, and do it right.

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My father, I am not

21 Jan 2008

Sorry, Dad, but there are some things that I will not be able to live up to. Some things that I realise I cannot do. Some things that I cannot be.

Today, I had my ego carved out of me with a dull spoon and splayed out on my poorly-installed laminate floor. Mike Holmes couldn’t have done a better job.

Ouch.

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2007, A Year in Review

2 Jan 2008

I just realised — after I’d already posted this year’s review — that this is the 10th one I’ve done. Ten years already! Man… I’ve been doing this longer than I’d thought!

It’s that time of the year again — to look back on the year passed, and reflect on the things I’ve done. Where did I go? What did I do? What have I honestly got to show for myself. It’s been an insanely long year. Sure, it was still 365 (and 1/4) days, but it felt at least three times longer…

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My baby’s back!

5 Dec 2007

Over the last week-and-a-bit, I’ve been without my family. Alex and the wee one were out in BC visiting with family. Me? On self-imposed exile in the basement to try and wrap up as much of the renovations as possible.

Yes, I need to provide pictures of progress. But you’ll understand why I can’t in a moment…

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Drywall ain’t light

29 Nov 2007

After work tonight, I zipped down to the Home Depot to get more building supplies. Namely, sheetrock. I’m almost ready to start putting the stuff up (I might even start tonight, if I can get all the insulation in place), and I’m running out of time before Alex gets back.

This is sort of my own private “While You Were Out”. The problem is that this is a one-man job. I don’t have any help. That means I have to do everything myself. Including lugging 30 sheets of sheetrock.

And this stuff ain’t light.

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Laminate flooring sucks

27 Nov 2007

I state this now: I will never use laminate flooring again. Ever. I don’t care how inexpensive and near-indestructable it is — the stuff simply is not well-designed and is far too cumbersome for one person to install alone. The need for a second person is ridiculous and if nothing else points out the usability of the product.

I’m ranting because I’m on night #2 trying to get this stuff into the basement while Alex and the wee one are out of town. I’m pulling long nights, spending virtually every moment downstairs wrestling with a Tarkett laminate we purchased a couple of weekends ago.

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The heating system is complete

11 Oct 2007

It’s taken a bit longer to get this one sorted out than I would have liked, but the house is finally completely heated — upstairs and down — and with all the sensors needed to make sure it’s comfortable. Added bonus: we have continual fresh air to eliminate all the foul odours that periodically permeate the inside.

The biggest hurdle has just been getting the heated floors to work with our fancy new HRV-cum-fancoil. A problem because we had two different vendors do the install.

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