phoenix / goodwill rebuild

[dablack]

Wow Dennis!  Thanks so much!  Stacey pulled up the thread last night to see if anyone had posted and there were you pictures.  We talked for a while on where it would best be used!

Austin

[dablack]

Almost forgot I have a small update.  The power guys came by on Monday and got us hooked up.  Monday night after work, I spent some time installing the kitchen plugs.  It is nice not to have to run extension cords in from the pole.  Of course that outside pole is now dead, so if I wanted any power, this had to be done!  Tonight I'm going to try and finish the outdoor plugs so I can have power out there. 



 

Austin

[Magicman]

It's nice to have "trick-ah-licity" everywhere.  Just do not forget that what was not.....now is.   

[dablack]

Thanks!
I'm only turning on the main breaker when I'm there.  Even then, I'm only turing on the individual breakers when everything on them is completely done.  I don't want a wire to a switch hanging out and popping someone!

Austin

[dablack]

Got a little more done over the weekend and had a special visit.

Andy and Nancy came by and dropped off most of the kitchen cabinets. 



 

We are obviously blown away by the quality and beauty of the cabinets.  Andy is a top notch craftsman. 

I got a little more wiring done and a little more venting of the upstairs pipes done.  The HVAC guys are coming tomorrow to get the upstairs unit installed.   We are putting off the downstairs unit for a while.  If the summer gets really bad, I can always buy a small window unit to get us through the summer, but I think we will be ok. 

To hold the coming cold air in, I installed the door between the garage and pantry.



 

I also got the door handles installed on the front and back door.  I only got a shot of the front door. 



 

Tonight will be finishing up the pipe vents in the attic so I will be all ready for the HVAC guys tomorrow.

oh yeah!  I figured out that rabbits can get the "deer in headlights" look.  I hadn't mowed in some time and the grass was starting to get high.  So from 8pm to 10pm I got some mowing done.  This guy would not move!  I almost scooped him up with the front end loader!  He and another buddy finally ran off and out of harms way. 



 

Austin

[Magicman]

Thanks for the update on your progress.   8)

That Andy & Nancy are a Class Act.   

[WDH]

C'est un lapin!

Where is Marcell when you need him?

[dablack]

HVAC guys showed up yesterday.  Didn't get finished but that is the way it goes.  They are up there today finishing up.  Stacey is supervising and there to answer any questions. 

While they worked yesterday I was able to get some wiring done.  Also big orange dropped off my hardi plank and some sheetrock.  I hope to get some sheetrock up in the kitchen this weekend, so I can go ahead and install some cabinets next week.  We are running out of space with those cabinets in the middle of the room. 

Hope to have HVAC pictures tomorrow. 

Austin

[grweldon]

Things will go fairly quick from here, won't they Austin?  You could be just a few short months from moving in!  That could be some housewarming party...

[dablack]

I wish I had months.  The faster we can get rid of the trailer, the better off we will be.  Once I finish electrical, get a working bathroom and kitchen, we will move in.  We will have some sheetrock up in the bathroom and master bedroom.  That will be it.  We will then finish each bedroom, one by one.  To finish that bedroom will be sheetrock and a door!  HA!
Oldest girl gets her room finished first.  Then the other two girls (they will be sharing a room) will get theirs done.  Finally my son will get his finished.  I don't think he will really care if there is something on the walls or not! 

We will also need to finish the 2nd bath, and flooring downstairs.  Downstairs still has the pitted concrete slab from the fire. 

Really, before we do all that, i will want to finish the hardie board and exterior. 

Lots to do, but we will have a good roof over our heads, conditioned air, and much more room.  That will be enough for move in. 

Austin

[Andy White]

Austin,
Now you may have some idea of what my shop looked like before we made those deliveries!! That material takes almost no room until it is assembled. I know you will persevere until you have them all out of your way! ;D ;D ;D 8)    Andy

[grweldon]

Really, before we do all that, i will want to finish the hardie board and exterior. 

Oh yeah, I forgot about that.  My house has been without siding for 7 years.  Some of the OSB will need replacing before siding...

[dablack]

Austin,
Now you may have some idea of what my shop looked like before we made those deliveries!! That material takes almost no room until it is assembled. I know you will persevere until you have them all out of your way! ;D ;D ;D 8)    Andy

Andy,

Your shop is big but if you would have held onto everything and waited to deliver, I'm not sure how in the world you would have been able to turn around in there. 

I'm excited to get them on the wall!  With them in the middle of the room, I can't put anything in the kitchen area because i will be putting up drywall in there.  Then I can't work in the living room because all the cabinets are in there.  That leaves the dinning room, so that is the room I wired yesterday while the AC guys were working.  HA!

Austin

[Andy White]

Austin,
A quick update, the kids vanity is complete except the drawer trim and the door panels. I should finish it up tomorrow. If you need it before I finish the island, let me know, and we will schedule another delivery. 8) 8) Andy

[dablack]

I'm not nearly that quick.  We would love to see you again, but won't be needing the kids bath for at least two weeks. 

I'm hoping to start sheetrock in the kitchen tonight but it might be this weekend. 

Austin

[dablack]

Got home a little late yesterday but was able to get a couple of AC shots before it got too dark. 

Here is the unit in the attic.  You can also see how much spray foam went into the attic. 



 


Here is what one of the vents into the 2nd floor looks like.  This one goes to the laundry room. 



 


Here is the return in the middle of the 2nd floor ceiling.  Bathroom is to the left and Benjamin's room is to the right.  At the end of the hall is the master bedroom. 



 


Here is the thermostat below the return. 



 


The Ac works great.  I was really impressed with how quiet it was.  I was up in the attic checking it all out and it turned on.  I thought it was some sort of start up hum but that it wasn't running yet.  Then I went downstairs and felt the cool air pouring out of the vents.  Crazy quiet.  Didn't stay on very long at all to maintain that 69F. 

Austin

[dablack]

Spent Friday night and Saturday morning doing drywall in the kitchen area so I could install cabinets.  Got that all done and let the mud dry for a while.  Saturday afternoon a buddy and I were going to lift the huge upper cabinet in place and let the wife screw it in.  Sure enough, right on time, Dennis shows up to drop off some 8x8 posts for the front porch.  He offers help lifting and we gladly take it.  The three of us lift the upper and then Dennis screwed it in place.  Later that night the wife and I installed the oven box and the other upper cabinet. 



 

Andy found out I was installing cabinet and couldn't help himself.  He and Nancy came by Sunday to see the product in place.  As an excuse to satisfy his curiosity, he also brought the kids bathroom vanity. 

I will get a picture of the vanity installed after I do sheetrock in there.  I did get a shot of Andy's "brand".  His mark of excellence. 



 

I was going to install the lower cabinets Sunday afternoon but I was beat!  They will have to wait for another day. 

This morning didn't help me get some rest at all.  I woke up to lots of lightning and thunder.  Living in a trailer, you tend to notice those things more.  Sure enough, a HUGE storm was blowing in on us and we were under a tornado warning.  Luckily, the worst of the storm blew around us but due to down trees on the road and flooding, I wasn't able to get to work until late but I've been up since 3am.  I doubt I will get much done today after work except rest. 



 



 

We are still without power. 

Austin

[Magicman]

Congrats on getting the cabinets hung.  Looking good.   

[Andy White]

Austin,
Everything looks great in the pictures, but better in person. Those storms were tough on us too! Lost power at 5.40 AM and it came back on at 10.05 last night. A full day without the Forum had me a Grumpy soul. Lost a full day on the island, and helped me make a decision we have been discussing for a while. Today, we are getting a Generac whole house system to avoid this in the future. Hope your power comes back on soon, and keep up the work, It's looking great!!!    >:( >:( :( :( 8)    Andy

[dablack]

Thanks Andy!  Power came on last night about 6pm.  So, it was a little more than 12 hours without power.  We are at the "end of the line" (old saying) so it takes them a while to get to us.  I'm just glad the cleared the roads so quickly.  Gotta be a tough job and high pressure. 

I didn't know until yesterday off work, but the tires on top of the foam weren't enough to hold it down.  Sure enough a bunch of pieces got broken.  I hate that!  It is a big mess to clean up too!  I'm thinking of moving the foam to the garage until I need it. 

Last night the next big storm rolled through and shook the house.  Luckily, I was so tired, I fell right back asleep.  No tornado warning or hail with this one. 

So I'm feeling a little more rested and should get back to house work today after work. 

Austin

[dablack]

Got a little more done over the weekend.  We did a big clean up downstairs and got the rest of the main kitchen cabinets installed. 



 


I've been doing sheetrock in the kids bathroom so I can get their vanity installed.  It was getting dark up there and I was tired of dragging an extension cord up the stairs so I went ahead and got the bathroom plus and light installed. That also got me light out in the hallway. 

Next drywall delivery, I'm going to see if I can bribe the guys into carrying it up the stairs.  Maybe HD can deliver it upstairs.  I would have to pull a window but it would be worth it. 

This week will be working on the bathroom.  I'm hoping to have it functioning by the end of the week.  It will depend on how long it takes me to get the drywall done. 

Austin

[Andy White]

Austin,
Is that the dish washer in that hole? If it is, give me the distance from the top of the washer cabinet, to the top of the cabinet frame, for the closure panel. Don't forget the flooring thickness under the washer. Those cabinets look like they were custom built for that wall!! You are really making headway now. I think I can see a light at the end of the tunnel! [old saying]. Things on my end are really ramping up for the finish of this really FUN project. We will try for a delivery for the weekend if the weather looks ok. I will get my neighbor to help me get the island loaded! That thing is heavy!     8) 8) 8)   Andy

[dablack]

Hey Andy,

Yes, it looks like they were custom built for sure. 

Yes, I put the dishwasher in there to get it out of the way.  I don't have it level yet but I would say 1" will do it.  Cut it 24 3/4" long and I will trim it to fit just right. 

We will have to watch the weather this weekend.  This week looks rough!  Nothing got done last night.  I needed the night off.  Mondays are always tough.  3pm coffee usually comes around 1pm on Monday. 

[Andy White]

Finally Did It,
Yesterday was a really good "forum day" for Nancy and me. We looked closely at the weather, loaded the island, and headed to Austin and Stacey's. All went well, and we got the island in the house without a single drop of rain in sight. Shortly after lunch, Austin said that Den-Den was bringing some pine boards. Four forum members in the same room at one time! It was great meeting Dennis in person. I read all his posts, and admire his lathe work
projects. Had a great visit, and admired the "denim pine " boards. Like all the other members I've met, he is a "real "person. Looking forward to spending more time with him again. These forum people are the greatest!    Andy

[Magicman]

Forestry Forum members are the "bestest".  Congrats on getting the latest addition to the "Rebuild" done and delivered.