Renovation: week 11
I’m a bit behind on posting week 11′s update.
Work continued on the rough-ins and framing. There are now stairs to the lower level (we ended up putting in winders to get a bit more headroom). Coming week should bring us up to 80% completion, then onto drywall and other excitement.
Renovation: week 10
Bit of a setback, last week the crew came down with the flu and one-by-one they were pushed out of service. “Even the electrician got sick!” was in my weekly update from our contractor (guess electricians are normally not susceptible to flu). As a result little progress was made and we’re now about a week behind. We went by on the weekend but couldn’t get in to take pictures, so we’ll have to grab some this week if we can.
Everyone is back now and the hope is to make up the time as we move into the drywall work.
Discussions with the bank re: our construction mortgage financing are now the focus as we near the 80% mark and flip over to that type of financing for the balance of the project.
Renovation: week 9
Week 9 just wrapped up. Duct work and the new furnace was installed and the framing began. The parking pad is also starting to go down in the back (we’re reusing the bricks from the former front driveway). Next week we’ll see the electrical, gas and plumbing rough-ins, and the stairs framed in, then things will really start to move forward. Somewhere around March 30 we’ll be looking to roll into our construction financing with the bank to complete the last bit of the work before moving back in.
On a crappy note, somebody broke into the shed on the site and stole some stuff — notably my bike and my son’s bike. They also broke into the contractor’s trailer stealing some tools. Everything now out and off to better storage.
Renovation: week 8
I’m a bit late with the week 8 update due to a crazy work week…
We have walls now, the house has been dropped back down, the slab poured, the stairs fixed and everything ready to go now for the next steps — framing, electrical, furnace and hot water tank install, drywall, installations, and finishing. That officially puts us past the mid-way point of this 15 week adventure. Things look great and the house is now really solid.
A few people asked me last week via email about where we’re living during all of this work. We’re in a condo downtown, with a nice “bright” view of the new BC Place and its colourful lighted dome room. It’s small (about 800 sq. ft) rental in a tower which is a big change from the 2800 sq. ft. we’re going to have when work is done at the house, but totally workable for the short-term. We moved in with a couple suitcases each, some lego, food, a box of files and a couple computers. Reminds you of how little space you really do need and how little stuff you need access to day in and day out.
Renovation: week 7
We have walls!!
Week 7 the walls went up, the cribs were removed by the house lifters, and the house came back down on its new foundation. In addition all the weeping/drain tile work was completed and signed off by the plumbing inspector. The only excitement was when the cap on the gas line was accidentally broken off. That sent Fortis BC, the police and the fire department over to the house until the gas could be shut off.
Over the coming week the crew will be filling in the backfill around the house and prepping for the pour of the concrete slab in the basement. Then we’ll start motoring along with the plumbing, electrical and interior framing work.
