Framing complete!

For the first time something is actually on schedule!  The new piers were built up on Friday – one day ahead of schedule – and the framing was completed on time today (Saturday).  The kitchen has been doubled, the new linen closet in the master bath is complete, the linen closet in the new 2nd bathroom is complete and the archway between the living room and kitchen have been expanded to create the more open floorplan we were looking to accomplish with this remodel.

The expanded kitchen floorplan: 

The new archway:

The new master bath linen closet:

The new 2nd bath linen closet:

Again, our motto is…

…When in doubt, rip it out!

Given that the house is about 60 years old there are some areas of the house, specifically the kitchen, that have multiple layers of flooring material.  Some prybars, a flat front shovel and some elbow grease and we’ve gotten down past laminate flooring, vinyl, particle board and plywood, and tile to get to the original hardwood flooring.  The subflooring looks great, so once we remove the rest of the particle board, replace it with some high grade pressure treated materials to level out the flooring we should be good to go. 

We’ve found a lot of things during the demolition – extra building materials in the walls, old newspapers in between the insulation – but this takes the cake.  To cover up holes in the floor in the kitchen where old plumbing must have been located a previous owner used this tin “Bazooka” game.  I’m not sure this is what Bazooka Joe had in mind when he encouraged kids to save those gum wrappers all those years ago.  We’re tempted to clean it up and frame it just for nostalgic purposes!

Power outtage!

With the insulation out and the framing in progress it is time for some more demo…

 

This time we’re tearing out all the electrical in the house and completely rewiring it.  With the new interior walls it made much more sense to gut the house of wires and start over again to ensure the proper placement of switches and outlets, not to mention ensure the house is completely up to code.

Let the framing begin!

The framing of the new interior walls has begun.  The framers made tremendous progress in the first day.  They cut out the larger door opening, as we are increasing the size of the entrance to 36″ from 32″.  They cleaned up the framing around the addition that was put on the front and have framed in the mudroom, new 2nd bathroom, master bedroom closet, 2nd bedroom closet and opened up the entry way inside the master bedroom.  By Saturday the new front door will be completely hung and shimmed and the new header beams doubling the size of the kitchen will be complete.  With any luck the 4 new piers will also be built under the new interior wall load points and we’ll be ready for the plumbing to commence!

The new mudroom:

The new front door:

The new entryway coat closet:

The new second bathroom:

The new closet for the 2nd bedroom:

The new walk in closet for the master bedroom:

The new archway for the master bedroom:

Good thing its 60 and sunny…

…in Charlotte in December…44 bags full of insulation and its only about 80% out.