Busy (and expensive) summer.

[projectnut]

Haven't had much time in the shop summer, but that doesn't mean things haven't been happening. We've had dogs all of our married lives and they were always the top priority. Sadly, the last two passed away earlier in the year. Now that we're (temporarily) dogless we decided it's time to move a bunch of projects from the back burner to the front.

It started with projects at the family cottage. In February we had 2 giant trees removed. In July we had to have 5 more removed due to storm damage. That same month we had contractors remove the paneling from the main living area add new drywall where necessary and repaint the whole interior. Once that was finished, we started "repairing the existing garage. The garage was originally built in the 1930's out of leftover rough-cut lumber. We intended to replace it in 1980's, but once again life got in the way, and it only got enough repairs to keep it from falling down.

We finally started 'repairing" it a few weeks ago because trying to get permits to replace it is now all but impossible. The repairs so far consist of a concrete floor to replace the old dirt one, raise the roof to eliminate the sway, all new rafters, and several new studs. Yet to come is new sheathing on all sides and the roof, new siding, new shingles, new overhead door, new pedestrian door, and new lights and outlets, inside and out. If all goes well, we should finish by the end of August.

By that time the painters should arrive to stain the outside of both the cottage and the garage. The final job before the snow flies will be to make a stone fence along the roadside and do a major landscape update of the existing garden areas.

Things have been equally busy on the home front. Contractors just finished up installing a second zone for the heating and cooling systems. With a single zone we could all but hang beef on the main floor before the second floor would get below 80*F. A few years ago, we installed a new furnace and AC thinking that would solve the problem. It did help some, but not enough. This summer we finally had to bite the bullet and do the second zone.

In the next couple weeks contractors should start trimming up the trees. It's funny we're even going through this phase because when we built the house, it was in the middle of a corn field. We planted 50 trees to eventually get some shade. 35 years later we've removed over 2 dozen trees and planted a dozen or so more. Now the oldest ones are in serious need of trimming.

Once the jobs currently in progress and those scheduled are completed it's time to look for a couple new puppies. It's been over 6 months since the first one passed, and over 4 months since the second one went over the rainbow bridge. We've decided we don't want to be without the companionship they provide so once the projects are completed it's time to begin the search.

 

[Deleted member 69715]

Wow! Talk about a full plate!

 

[MrWhoopee]

Things have been equally busy on the home front. Contractors just finished up installing a second zone for the heating and cooling systems. With a single zone we could all but hang beef on the main floor before the second floor would get below 80*F. A few years ago, we installed a new furnace and AC thinking that would solve the problem. It did help some, but not enough. This summer we finally had to bite the bullet and do the second zone.

When we bought our 20s vintage craftsman style home, it had no A/C and the original furnace in the basement was non-functional. The bedrooms were on the top floor and in the basement, with none on the ground floor. During the summer, the basement (where our girls lived) remained quite comfortable. The ground floor was tolerable, the top floor much less so. I replaced the original furnace (which heated the basement and ground floor) and added a second zone heat/AC for the top floor. I insisted (against contractors recommendation) on a return at the furthest point in the basement, which happened to be right next to the furnace. On completion, he admitted I was right to insist. Upstairs, I failed to insist on a return in the stairwell. Closed bedroom doors created zones of different temps, with some rooms cold and others hot.

 

[projectnut]

When we bought our 20s vintage craftsman style home, it had no A/C and the original furnace in the basement was non-functional. The bedrooms were on the top floor and in the basement, with none on the ground floor. During the summer, the basement (where our girls lived) remained quite comfortable. The ground floor was tolerable, the top floor much less so. I replaced the original furnace (which heated the basement and ground floor) and added a second zone heat/AC for the top floor. I insisted (against contractors recommendation) on a return at the furthest point in the basement, which happened to be right next to the furnace. On completion, he admitted I was right to insist. Upstairs, I failed to insist on a return in the stairwell. Closed bedroom doors created zones of different temps, with some rooms cold and others hot.

We haven't had the chance to even try the new second zone yet. The contractor no more than finished the job and we headed back to the cottage. We left the system off with the intention of trying it out when we return the Sunday. This week we got a couple walls on the garage sheathed and went to Menards to pick up the doors, get siding and soffit material.

When we return home Sunday, it will only be for a couple days. Tuesday, we head to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN to get some test done on my back. Over the last few years things have deteriorated to the point that it's impairing my ability to lift anything heavy or walk more than a short distance without severe pain. If all goes well, we'll be back home by the weekend and ready to start the work cycle one more time.

 

[projectnut]

Well, the summer projects are finally winding down. The new AC zone is working like a charm. The upper level can now be cooled to the mid 70's without freezing the pipes on the main floor. The trees are all trimmed. The cottage is painted, and the garage repairs are near completion.

There are a few things left on the garage that will hopefully be finished within the next week or so. The shingles, facia, and trim need to be installed. Once that's done everything will get a final coat of paint. The only remaining thing inside is to install the lights and outlets. Once that's done, we can start moving in all the tools and equipment we've been stashing in all those "special places". That should take an additional week. If everything goes according to plan all the summer projects should be complete by the end of the month.

Here are a few pictures of the "repairs". The first two are as it looks today. The last two are what it looked like as the repairs were taking place.

 

[woodchucker]

what did you do at the front left corner where the 6x6 was removed both horizontally and vertically? was a new piece put in?

 

[projectnut]

Yes, a new piece was put in on the overhead door end. The original configuration had a large sliding door and a pedestrian door next to it. As you can see we moved the pedestrian door to the side.

There was no concrete under the original doors or corner posts. The block was temporary, and removed when the concrete was poured. Then the whole building was lifted slightly to take the sag out of the roof.

Once the roof was straight they added a number of joists and replaced the sill plate where necessary before lowering it.

I’m sure they would have preferred to take down the old structure and start from scratch. However getting permits to do that would have taken years. No permits were necessary to “repair” the existing structure.

 

[woodchucker]

yea, the permit process everywhere is x%?& crazy.
it looks good.. hope you seal it all up b4 the weather turns.