Porch remodel begins

Porch Remodel

We have begun our Porch remodel by building a 5 tiered retaining wall. The wall will help with the steep grade of the yard. Knock-out roses and Shasta daisy’s are planted in front and on top are lovely begonias and some tall grasses.

Tips from Lowes.com

The blocks for this project have a locking flange — which makes the installation easy. The interlocking blocks can be used to build walls up to 28 inches high. Follow the block manufacturer’s instructions concerning wall height limits.

Plan your layout. Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and, if it’s against the house, keep soil and mulch well below the siding.

Your retaining wall design will determine how you mark the area. To mark a freeform layout, use a rope or hose to outline the shape. Then use a shovel to mark the outline. For straight lines, mark the entire bed area with stakes, string and marking paint. Mark curved corners by tying a string to a stake that’s equidistant to the edge — creating a compass — and spraying the curves with marking paint.

To determine how many blocks you’ll need per row, divide the total length of the wall by the length of the block. To see how many rows you’ll need, divide the ideal wall height by the height of the block — account for the first row to be half-buried. See Planning for a Block Retaining Wall for more information on estimating project materials.

Before you buy materials or begin work, check local building codes and your homeowner’s association regulations to see if there are any restrictions or requirements you need to follow. A permit may be mandatory in some areas.

Floor Refinishing

After three days of sanding, staining, and buffing, our floors came out great.

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Ever think you’d find buried treasure in your own home? Years ago, homeowners decided to go for a more “modern” look and covered their hardwood floors with vinyl or carpet. These days, with hardwood back in style, it might be worthwhile to look into Floor Refinishing. If it turns out that your floor was among those treasures that were buried, we can help you put it back on display. Be warned, though: this project takes a lot of time, patience and elbow grease.

Before You Start:

1.Check the gaps between the floor planks. If they’re widening and you can see the nails that hold the floor down, don’t bother trying to refinish the floor.
2.Some newer hardwood floors are only 1/4 inch thick with a laminate coating on top. These floors can’t be sanded and refinished. If you try, you’re likely to wear away the entire floor!
3.Some floors are easier to refinish than others. Pine and oak, the most common, are fairly easy to work with. Harder woods such as maple, mahogany and walnut take more time.

Materials:

pry bar
pliers
stiff, wide-blade putty knife
utility knife
hammer
nail set
flat-head screwdriver
power floor sander
edge sander
power floor buffer
industrial-grade vacuum cleaner
box fan
plastic sheeting
painter’s tape
box fan
4″ Chinese bristle brush
large lamb’s-wool paint/stain applicator
polyurethane floor sealant
safety glasses
work gloves
breathing protection
hearing protection

Warning: Some older vinyl floors contain asbestos, either in the backing or in the adhesive. Before you begin removing a vinyl floor, check with a licensed asbestos contractor to make sure your floor is safe for you to remove.

Laundry Room Remodel

Laundry Room Remodel
Laundry Room Remodel

The Laundry room project is finally underway. The removal of the floor took two nights, but will be well worth it when the new tile floor goes down. New electric and plumbing completes the room. More pictures are available over to the right under Slideshows.

Stairs refaced with Red Oak

Stairs refaced with Red Oak
Stairs refaced with Red Oak

It amazing what was done with the old stairs. The new treads are both durable and look awesome. We opted to just clear coat which brought out the beauty of the wood.

 

 

 

 

 

Dave’s Computer Center

Dave's Computer Center
Dave’s Computer Center

This is where Dave’s computer desk, gaming computer, two servers, network modem, router, and switch is going to be. I’m very excited to have my very own electrical circuit and properly terminated network, phone and cable outlets.

It doesn’t take too much to make me happy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of Storage is available

Plenty of Storage is available
Plenty of Storage is available

The closet doors have been painted and are ready to be “doorknobbed.” We have two large rolling storage shelving units that are going to look great in there. The last “half” closet on the end is specifically for computer items and has a hidden surprise inside.

Our rolling shelving units fit perfectly inside of each closet and keep everything nice and organized.

 

 

Half a ceiling is better than no ceiling!

Half a ceiling is better than no ceiling
Half a ceiling is better than no ceiling

The ceiling tile we picked is simple and clean. We didn’t want to get too fancy and make it look lower than it is. Btw, my head does fit under the bulk-way without touching. So, beware, if you are taller than 6’2″.

We also opted for all new lighting and electrical. Lots and lots of outlets and the dimmers for the lighting are great!