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Home→Categories Home→Construction

Category Archives: Construction

Detour to the Driveway

Holly Doyne Posted on 2018-04-06 by Holly2018-04-14  

For the moment, imagine you are not with me on the Brilliance – rather you are back in Berkeley looking at what was – for about a year – a gravely, muddy mess filled with pickup trucks and construction debris. The fact that everything was picked up (without me getting yet another flat tire), ground prepped and base laid down is even more astonishing.

Admittedly, photos taken on a cell phone and passed over to be aren’t always outstanding, but this one does the job. You can see my new fence along the back line. No more worrying about someone backing up a few cm too far and getting dropped backwards down a hill. No worries about potholes in cement that was poured sometime before 1960. What I have are mostly grey pavers (manmade stone) with an occasional hint of some other color). Phots not taken at twilight don’t show the color variation as much.

But it is a definite improvement and the end is in sight!

Meanwhile, this is a sea day. Cross-stitch and audiobooks are the order of the day.

Posted in Construction | Leave a reply

They might be moving

Holly Doyne Posted on 2018-04-03 by Holly2018-04-14  

downstairs yet this month.

a few things moved into the living room

 

The kids are working diligently on sorting out their stuff and figuring out what needs to be stored (seasonal), what needs to get relocated downstairs and what just might go the way of the recycling.

and a few more into the bedroom

 

Their furniture is mostly in, there is stuff on the wall.

Is it evil of me to say that I am looking forward to them, and most especially the dogs, having their own space?

Posted in Construction, family | Leave a reply

Two for one

Holly Doyne Posted on 2018-03-11 by Holly2018-03-11 1

Sunshine + an As win. Ssveral home runs and a pitching staff that msnaged to keep its act together.

The Cub’s fans were stalwart and, with one exception, really nice people. Several were on break from Illinois bad weather while others were able to combine being snowbirds with supporting their team. I can’t say the peobkem person was anything other tgan oblivious. Otherwise why would you think it was alright to stand at the lawn railing directly in front of fans sitting on blankets?

Also in the mix were a couple of Diamondback fans, a guy with an LA Dodgers cap and an avowed Padres fanatic.

Otherwise, it is relax and finish the latest small cross stitch time.

Meanwhile- back in Berkeley

Inspection tomorrow

Posted in Baseball, Construction | 1 Reply

New Window

Holly Doyne Posted on 2018-03-08 by Holly2018-03-16 2

As it turns out, there was dry rot in the framing around our main living room window resulting in a serious additional expensive as this sucker had to be custom made…

the upper of what we had
the rather large hole
boarded up till

But it looks nice

now and will be better once the wood is stained to match the beams….

and the stairs leading to the lower level….

Posted in Construction | 2 Replies

Bathroom Progress

Holly Doyne Posted on 2018-02-13 by Holly2018-02-15  

The tiling in the new bathroom is almost complete –

with the glass to go in last

The floor is done, the cabinet is in. We have the fixtures. All that will remain after the next day or so is the glass for the one section. As this is close to an accessible shower, the floor is slanted toward the back wall. There isn’t a door, making entrance and egress easier.

Neither Dani or I are thrilled with the colors, but they are neutral and inoffensive.

Posted in Construction | Leave a reply

Entry way

Holly Doyne Posted on 2018-02-06 by Holly2018-02-15  

While I was in Sweden, George sent me this picture:

corner bench unit

So, as you imagine, I came home expecting to see it …

and it wasn’t there.

Now to figure out how much longer it is going to be….

Posted in Construction | Leave a reply

Arriving Stockholm

Holly Doyne Posted on 2018-01-16 by Holly2018-01-17  

This is one of those trips where the hours add up to days en route. It was early afternoon on arrival in Copenhagen followed by a rest (SAS has a wonderful lounge at the Copenhagen Airport) before my connecting flight to Stockholm. From there it was the Airport connector bus to the Central Station followed by a taxi to the hotel. My driver was from Turkey. He has family in Germany. We had a lovely chat on the short drive to the hotel.

Taxis are expensive, won’t be doing that again. Excuse is that I was really, really tired and I just didn’t want to deal with finding the “T” and then walking a ways to the hotel.

It is time to sleep.

Before I forget – It feels like progress on the house –

bench in the entry way upstairs

will be shelves next to the utility room down

Posted in Construction, Travel | Leave a reply

Tiling in the New Year

Holly Doyne Posted on 2018-01-02 by Holly2018-01-02  

The break is over. Today we have workman on the foundation downstairs.

getting ready to pour again

Yes the foundation is complete, but they are adding the steps/skirting at the entrances. We looked at ramps, and they can still be added in the future but at this point would take up so much ground space as to eliminate all the green outside the kids front door.

with dump truck out on the main road

At the same time, the large pile of slippery clay is being removed and tile is being laid in the downstairs. I think I mentioned that we put in radiant heat? The subfloor is finished and the gentlemen who did the tiling upstairs in the 2014 renovations are doing the downstairs. Their tile work is amazing.

Back to the floor. We are being simple, attractive and extremely easy to clean. The tiles when laid give you the appearance of a wooded plank floor without the upkeep or scratching that is going to occur with two rather good size dogs living in the place. Not quite drain in the floor – hose it down, but easy to sweep, mop or vacuum.

looking like aged wooden planks

 

meanwhile, today has been busy – Dani to work at 0500 and bailed out at 1230 – Alex dropped off at 1300, run to the lighting store for a fixture for the front entry and cabinet hardware. Dani had asked a reasonable question this morning – how am I going to get the drawers open. Answer? We need to by handles. Only took two stops – those at the first were lovely but extremely overpriced so we went to the main hardware store used by our contractor, found something just as nice and 1/2 the price (before builder’s discount.)

otherwise, I am cranking away on my version of Illumine knit from two alternating balls of Katia Infinity

up to row 78

Posted in Construction, Knitting | Leave a reply

Construction update

Holly Doyne Posted on 2017-09-14 by Holly2017-09-14 1

It has been a while since I have bored everyone else, much less myself with the current status of the ongoing renovation/construction.

There was progress while we were gone. Most of it isn’t visible to the eye involving foundation, heating coils, more concrete, and wooden uprights. And then there is the wiring and plumbing. Where before there were wires hanging and occasional circuits in the house not functioning there are now two breaker boxes on the wall of what will become my utility room. There are pipes with valves where there will be plumbing fixtures and sinks There are the beginnings of walls.

The front entry revision has been started.

The windows have been delivered, we have counter tops, tiles and flooring on order along with kitchen appliances. I think we still have to get the majority of the bathroom fixtures and fittings ordered.

Perhaps I need a check list?

In any case, I think there is an end in sight. In fact, I think an end is actually going to happen…

Pictures? Oh, yes. Just have to get them off my phone….

Posted in Construction | 1 Reply

back to the ordinary

Holly Doyne Posted on 2017-09-12 by Holly2017-09-13  

other than the fact that we have no power today, it feels like I am falling right back into the routine. And no power? Well, this is a construction zone…

What has changed while I was gone?

The foundation is finished, the outer walls are up and the sunporch is framed. There are wires and plumbing and the actual outline of rooms. There is no longer a front entry way to the house, at least during the day as there is now a gaping hole between the front steps and the top of the stairs. A temporary ramp takes its place in the evening so we have access instead of having to go out through the living room and down the deck stairs (which also involves transversing the construction zone and prepositioned supplies. Eventually we will have a new entry in the front complete with a set of stairs goign down to the lower level.

Imagine that! I won’t have to go outside to get to the laundry room! ‘

Meanwhile, it is errands, drop offs, and all the usual things that fall to the only person in the house currently with both a valid driver’s license and an ability to drive a standard transmission.

Posted in Construction | Leave a reply

While I still have power

Holly Doyne Posted on 2017-09-11 by Holly2017-09-13 1

House renovations are still going gangbusters. What that translates is that there are large amounts of each day this week where we will have neither power nor water. Given that – thought I would just drop a quick note.

The cement pouring is complete as is most of the framing. The temperatures will continue to be elevated today which won’t be fun for either the dogs or the human beings working in and around the house. My plans are relatively simple – try to get some work done, run errands and not to fry.

George is still in Germany and won’t be flying home till Wednesday.

We were also in Heidelberg 16 years ago. I was at work, 1500 in the afternoon. The kids were finishing up in school.

Please, stop and think. Observe a minute or more of silence and reflection today both for all of those who died. More importantly also have that moment for the survivors who had to struggle through a world which had irrevocably changed for them personally as well as their surroundings in a new world order that seems to have lead to even more death and destruction.

 

 

Posted in Construction | 1 Reply

Choosing stuff

Holly Doyne Posted on 2017-07-27 by Holly2017-08-13 1

I missed most of the challenges from the upstairs and bathroom renovations since we were still living in Germany. This time? It is amazing how many details have to be decided.

tiles

and counter tops –

none of which thrill me

so it is going to be another trip for Dani and I to find something that is reasonable, sturdy and won’t look like it is dirty all the time.

and we still have sinks and faucets and ….. to go.

Posted in Construction, Home | 1 Reply

Another day

Holly Doyne Posted on 2017-06-10 by Holly2017-06-10  

and another pile of debris –

todays dig out

which provides a slightly different view than out and down from the living room window. The smeary glass is obviously the result of dog noses…

down on the right side toward the steps

toward the left and the debris pile

and lastly a bit more toward the middle featuring steel beams and the top of one of the stacks

I took it easy today, mostly reading but also back at the fractal-54 after organizing a few supplies –

10 June 2017

Posted in Construction, Cross-Stitch | Leave a reply

Gaping Hole

Holly Doyne Posted on 2017-06-09 by Holly2017-06-09 1

We have this gaping hole where the lower level and foundation used to be.

From the driveway it doesn’t look that bad –

Upper level, bracers below

It is just when you get up close and personal –

and see the water and sewer lines

just sort of hanging free that a slight chill starts creeping up the back.

I guess it is comforting to know that there is plenty of bracing, altho it doesn’t look all that sturdy to me

the last of the foundation on the forward corner

I would not advise walking under the house –

the back corder
clear shot out the front

unless you are comfortable with also seeing electrical connections reminiscent of the snarls one saw in Delhi or Kathmandu, just on a smaller scale.

but we do have lights and wifi!

 

You can also see the steel beams across the tops of the bracers. Me? I did play with Lincoln logs but still…

The noise is getting to me. Time to escape to the upper floor. I just try not to think about the house accidentally coming down….

Posted in Construction, Home | 1 Reply
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