The Pass-Through
The finishing crew of two from Indigo Construction yesterday put up more tape and plaster on the walls, including the wall around the basement egress window.
Then, someone from Indigo was supposed to arrive to cut out and finish the pass-through, the 5 inch opening in the wall between the stairwell and the basement. The drywallers mistakenly covered it up and the Neil Kelly people were not aware of the work to create it because the managers abruptly left Neil Kelly (the circumstances of their leaving is shrouded in mystery: I don't know that they left voluntarilly or why they left). So, I have been concerned this would not be done and could feel the absence of this design element (the basement felt darker than I had expected).
He showed up in the afternoon, so I helped him locate the opening and explained its purpose. I said, if he needed, he could line it with drywall, but that if he could maximize the opening that would be ideal.
He instead just coated the drywall with plaster. When I looked at it later I touched it, thinking it was solid, but the plaster was still drying. Whoops.
The Indigo crew, I believe, is to return next week to do the finishing.
Not sure what happens after that. As we get into the period of incessant holiday celebrations, getting crews to do all the installation needed becomes more difficult.
Here is what I think should happen:
* Finishing the drywall to give the textured finish.
* Painting the walls and ceilings.
* Installing the marmoleum floors.
* Adding trim and railing, including putting in fir treads on the stairs and platform...and a surface for the knee-wall and around windows. This includes installing newel posts turned by Poest.
* Final electrical and plumbing--outlets, switches, light fixtures, framing of plumbing fixtures.
My responsibilities at this point:
* measure perimeter segments of rooms for baseboards and baseboard trim.
* get Neil Kelly carpenter meet setup with Poest so he can complete the newel posts.
* clean light fixtures.
* find and purchase 220v plate and make sure all purchased outlets/switches are correct
* put waterproof filler around pipe holes in silt basin.
* Pull out river rock from excavated area.
* Fill in dirt:
-- slope down under the stoop.
-- further slope down between south inside corner and window well.
-- old drainage areas.
* dig five foot deep area for soakage trench.
* scribe soakage trench.
* line trench with landscape fabric.
* add 18 inches of river rock.
* add holey pipe with landscape fabric sleeve and/or re-use flexy pipe from old drainage area.
* connect trench input to silt basin output (dig trench for piping and add pipes and turns).
* once approved, cap soakage trench and fill in pipe trenches.
* put clamps on window well cover, remove plastic film.
* remove plastic film and tape from project windows.
After the project is finished, more tasks!
* stow bits and pieces from construction.
* put back 6x6 for sitting.
* clean gravestones and trim flower bed.
* install baseboard leaving place for trim, starting with area behind washing machine and dryer.
* stain baseboard.
* move washing machine and dryer into place.
* move treadmill to basement.
* fix failed post at south side.
* Fix terra cotta rain barrel spigot (plastic glue).
* Install rain barrels
* Put bark back on north side.
* reinstall scalloped edging.
* add more scalloped edging.
* buy compost from city and prepare soil around the perimeter of the backyard and plant with grass seed.
* remove paint, sand, stain trim.
* install trim above baseboard
* dig and install drainage for window well, add landscape fabric, redo stones.
* stain, protect wood in backroom/basement.
* stain windows frames.
* boil, clean window pulls and install onto new double-hung windows.
* investigate molded trim to glue to new double-hung windows.
* compare old window locks with new and, if possible, clean old window locks and install.
* buy and replace register covers with nicer ones.
Cellar
* move cellar light fixture.
* clean cellar--align paths and storage around duct work.
* make sure leaking pipes do not affect structure wood.
* remove broken, sunken concrete.
* add drain and dig out pipe to go to an area by the south corner.
* add new concrete around drain.
Decoration
* put up washboard, sock hanger, laundry print
* purchase unit to hang coats, hats and stow shoes, umbrellas to go into corner of laundry room
* create structure and hang Theda painting
Plumbing
* hire a plumber to re-pipe area by the new concrete pad in the cellar.
* purchase a sink and stand furniture, faucet and put in place.
* hire a plumber to install.
Better cellar door
* clean-up and sand old backroom door.
* fix bottom section.
* trim to fit cellar frame.
* replace Neil Kelly cellar door with revived door.
South east corner--
* finish area between rain barrels and window well.
* add solar clothes dryer.
* buy and replace plastic vents with nicer ones.
South east siding--
* remove extra siding at south corner
* put in proper sill and trim for kitchen window.
* repair, replace broken siding and weave in old and new siding as needed to eliminate misalignment.
* paint revised siding
* continue this process at least to the bottom of the 2nd story windows.
* redo the south corner up to the bottom of the 2nd story windows.
* heat exchanger--
-- level.
-- put in pebbles, no flowers, around.
-- put in sewer cover.
Fence--
* add new post top to front fence and paint.
* paint all of front fence.
* finish pickets on back fence
* clean, protect back fence
* finish removing byron hill 2 and landscaping birm.
* add one post for back fence.
* connect post to fence with pickets, protection.
* add 2nd post.
* add garden gate.
* add cargate(s).
Other projects to use wood and metal in piles:
* storage under basement stairs: old door, insulation, extra tiles...
* wainscoting panels to replace drywall and provide access for new wiring: fir subfloor.
* attic walkways: plywood.
* storage under stoop: metal roofing, various wood.
* wood rack in basement: old wood rack pieces, other pieces.
* sheds
* fence completion.
The drywell project--the final drainage solution.
* dig drywell hole.
* trench to foundation corner and pick up weeper.
* pick up soakage trench input and bring to drywell.
* establish connection point for drywell.
* fill in drywell.
* pick up window well drainage to connection point.
* install french drain on south side and bring to drywell connection point.
Then, someone from Indigo was supposed to arrive to cut out and finish the pass-through, the 5 inch opening in the wall between the stairwell and the basement. The drywallers mistakenly covered it up and the Neil Kelly people were not aware of the work to create it because the managers abruptly left Neil Kelly (the circumstances of their leaving is shrouded in mystery: I don't know that they left voluntarilly or why they left). So, I have been concerned this would not be done and could feel the absence of this design element (the basement felt darker than I had expected).
He showed up in the afternoon, so I helped him locate the opening and explained its purpose. I said, if he needed, he could line it with drywall, but that if he could maximize the opening that would be ideal.
He instead just coated the drywall with plaster. When I looked at it later I touched it, thinking it was solid, but the plaster was still drying. Whoops.
The Indigo crew, I believe, is to return next week to do the finishing.
Not sure what happens after that. As we get into the period of incessant holiday celebrations, getting crews to do all the installation needed becomes more difficult.
Here is what I think should happen:
* Finishing the drywall to give the textured finish.
* Painting the walls and ceilings.
* Installing the marmoleum floors.
* Adding trim and railing, including putting in fir treads on the stairs and platform...and a surface for the knee-wall and around windows. This includes installing newel posts turned by Poest.
* Final electrical and plumbing--outlets, switches, light fixtures, framing of plumbing fixtures.
My responsibilities at this point:
* measure perimeter segments of rooms for baseboards and baseboard trim.
* get Neil Kelly carpenter meet setup with Poest so he can complete the newel posts.
* clean light fixtures.
* find and purchase 220v plate and make sure all purchased outlets/switches are correct
* put waterproof filler around pipe holes in silt basin.
* Pull out river rock from excavated area.
* Fill in dirt:
-- slope down under the stoop.
-- further slope down between south inside corner and window well.
-- old drainage areas.
* dig five foot deep area for soakage trench.
* scribe soakage trench.
* line trench with landscape fabric.
* add 18 inches of river rock.
* add holey pipe with landscape fabric sleeve and/or re-use flexy pipe from old drainage area.
* connect trench input to silt basin output (dig trench for piping and add pipes and turns).
* once approved, cap soakage trench and fill in pipe trenches.
* put clamps on window well cover, remove plastic film.
* remove plastic film and tape from project windows.
After the project is finished, more tasks!
* stow bits and pieces from construction.
* put back 6x6 for sitting.
* clean gravestones and trim flower bed.
* install baseboard leaving place for trim, starting with area behind washing machine and dryer.
* stain baseboard.
* move washing machine and dryer into place.
* move treadmill to basement.
* fix failed post at south side.
* Fix terra cotta rain barrel spigot (plastic glue).
* Install rain barrels
* Put bark back on north side.
* reinstall scalloped edging.
* add more scalloped edging.
* buy compost from city and prepare soil around the perimeter of the backyard and plant with grass seed.
* remove paint, sand, stain trim.
* install trim above baseboard
* dig and install drainage for window well, add landscape fabric, redo stones.
* stain, protect wood in backroom/basement.
* stain windows frames.
* boil, clean window pulls and install onto new double-hung windows.
* investigate molded trim to glue to new double-hung windows.
* compare old window locks with new and, if possible, clean old window locks and install.
* buy and replace register covers with nicer ones.
Cellar
* move cellar light fixture.
* clean cellar--align paths and storage around duct work.
* make sure leaking pipes do not affect structure wood.
* remove broken, sunken concrete.
* add drain and dig out pipe to go to an area by the south corner.
* add new concrete around drain.
Decoration
* put up washboard, sock hanger, laundry print
* purchase unit to hang coats, hats and stow shoes, umbrellas to go into corner of laundry room
* create structure and hang Theda painting
Plumbing
* hire a plumber to re-pipe area by the new concrete pad in the cellar.
* purchase a sink and stand furniture, faucet and put in place.
* hire a plumber to install.
Better cellar door
* clean-up and sand old backroom door.
* fix bottom section.
* trim to fit cellar frame.
* replace Neil Kelly cellar door with revived door.
South east corner--
* finish area between rain barrels and window well.
* add solar clothes dryer.
* buy and replace plastic vents with nicer ones.
South east siding--
* remove extra siding at south corner
* put in proper sill and trim for kitchen window.
* repair, replace broken siding and weave in old and new siding as needed to eliminate misalignment.
* paint revised siding
* continue this process at least to the bottom of the 2nd story windows.
* redo the south corner up to the bottom of the 2nd story windows.
* heat exchanger--
-- level.
-- put in pebbles, no flowers, around.
-- put in sewer cover.
Fence--
* add new post top to front fence and paint.
* paint all of front fence.
* finish pickets on back fence
* clean, protect back fence
* finish removing byron hill 2 and landscaping birm.
* add one post for back fence.
* connect post to fence with pickets, protection.
* add 2nd post.
* add garden gate.
* add cargate(s).
Other projects to use wood and metal in piles:
* storage under basement stairs: old door, insulation, extra tiles...
* wainscoting panels to replace drywall and provide access for new wiring: fir subfloor.
* attic walkways: plywood.
* storage under stoop: metal roofing, various wood.
* wood rack in basement: old wood rack pieces, other pieces.
* sheds
* fence completion.
The drywell project--the final drainage solution.
* dig drywell hole.
* trench to foundation corner and pick up weeper.
* pick up soakage trench input and bring to drywell.
* establish connection point for drywell.
* fill in drywell.
* pick up window well drainage to connection point.
* install french drain on south side and bring to drywell connection point.