I tested my strength, balance and courage today

As I hoped yesterday, we actually got to installing windows today.  We started with the transom windows in the living room.  These are the windows above the sliding glass doors.  They are pretty straight forward to put in.  Just follow the 29 steps and we'd be done.

I worked at the high school this morning so when I got to the house, Mark was already in action working on the preparation of the window openings.

Wearing his new favorite shirt in honor of Chris Rossbach

Taping the seams to get everything water-tight

The twist in installing these windows was getting them UP to the opening.   We started with the one on the "inside" part of the deck (furthest from the open edge). We had to approach from outside of the house because these window have special installation brackets on them because they are over 72 inches wide.  And....

They weighed A LOT.  I don't know how much exactly but I think they might have been over 100 lbs. maybe even more.

They are 12 feet above the living room floor which means they are also 12 feet or so above the UNFINISHED DECK.  We had plywood laying on top of the deck framing - no it was not actually attached, just sitting on it.  Of course, we had to climb ladders for this adventure.

So there I was, holding just about the maximum that I can lift, barely able to grab it as it is 37" tall and then I had to climb a shaky ladder near the edge of a deck with no railing.  Hence the title of today's post.  We got the window up to the top of the 6' ladder and set it down so I could rest my arms.  Ever get that feeling when your muscles feel a little tingly and weak, usually when you are really nervous?  Well that is how I felt. But we only had a little more to go and I didn't tumble off the ladder yet.  We had to boost it up another 6 inches or so and push it into the opening.  Whew! We did it.  Then I just had to hold it in place while Mark squared, plumbed and nailed it in.  That was the easy part.  I got a little rest.  "Urrrggghhh we have to do it again", I thought to myself.

Then the best thing happened! Art stopped over to say hi and chat with Mark about some business details.  He was so wonderful to help with the second one.  What are best men for????  But there was one problem... he was coming from a business meeting and was wearing dress pants, shirt and shoes.  I thought it was scary when I climbed up the ladder, it was worse watching Art make the climb much closer to the edge than I was in slippery dress shoes.  But since he is stronger than I am it was a snap for them to boost it up into the opening.  After a little more squaring, plumbing and nailing, the challenge was complete.

The finished product

Can you just imagine what it will look like once we get rid of the "puke pink" paint?

We were so proud of ourselves that we didn't stop there.

Next challenge...Emily's bedroom window.  I got the easy part on this one.  Stand inside and hold onto the window while Mark stood on the TOP of a 12' ladder.  And I mean the TOP.  Not the step that says "don't stand on this step you might lose your balance".  The one ABOVE that. As we got the window into place he said "I am just balancing out here so don't push on it or I will fall off this ladder".  Ohhh the pressure.  After he got a couple of nails into the frame, I went outside and held the ladder so if he fell he would crush me too!

Another finished work of art

 Emily's room is one step closer to being ready for her Christmas break.  Just need a some carpet and a little paint, although I am growing quite fond of the brush marks of non-matching paint in her room.  What were they thinking?????

Super excited to transform this

into four new windows tomorrow.  Check back for updates.

Replacing Windows

I walked into our house today after a six hour AVID Tutor training session (for my job at the High School) and was thrilled to take in the fruits of our labor over the past week and a half.  When we weren't working on the deck or building new headers, we were replacing existing windows on the lower level and the main level.

The lower level (or basement as many people call it) will eventually be home to Matt's bedroom, a family room and a bathroom.  In this space we have a sliding glass door and three windows.  We started by putting in the family room windows. Since they are smaller than the door we thought it made sense to figure out the process there. I never knew there were so many steps involved in putting in a new window.  Taking out the old window is but one little part.

We have to check the size of the opening and determine if it is correct for the new window.  Of course, none of them are exact except for the non-opening (also known as transom or picture windows) windows.  The non-opening windows are all custom made so they were created to fit the openings we have.  All the other windows (which are replacement casement windows) are a little smaller than the previous windows.  And I mean A LITTLE.  We are talking an inch at the most. Half an inch in many cases.  So we have to rebuild the opening to get it to just the right size.  It is amazing how many different pieces of wood can be used depending upon the amount of material you need.  We have used OSB board, plywood and 2 x 4s to get to the exact openings needed.

Once the opening is perfect, we moved on to putting up new Tyvek.  Tyvek is the green (and sometimes white) house wrap that can be seen in some of the previous pictures of the house.  I have learned that Tyvek is to house wrap as Kleenex is to tissues.  It's all called Tyvek even though there are more companies that make it.  We are using stuff that is white with black writing that says "Everbuilt". Guess the name really doesn't matter as long as it does it's job, which is to keep wind out of the house.  This plastic-like stuff prevents the wind from going through any little cracks that might exist in the exterior of the home.  It works in conjunction with siding caulk and interior insulation to keep the house toasty warm. It helps keep water out too.  I have learned that there are very strict rules on how the tyvek is to be hung.  The writing has to be upright (horizontal) so you can read it or it has to be completely upside down.  This is the way it is designed to channel the water.  I guess water doesn't run off correctly if it is placed so that the writing is vertical.  Perhaps more than you ever wanted to know about house wrap but now you don't have to ask! Some of the existing tyvek on our house is installed vertically and there are holes in some places so we decided to replace almost all of it.  We are going side by side and at 9 foot increments. The fewer the seams the better too so we are getting all the window openings on a side at a given level (basement, main level, second  level, etc) ready before hanging the new piece of tyvek.

So back to the basement windows.... We put up the tyvek then had to cut it precisely to wrap the window opening (which we tape with pretty red tape).  Then we put Protecto Wrap (a thick, sticky, asphalt-containing (it smells like a new driveway) tape stuff) on the sill (bottom) of the window.  We pop the window in the space to make sure it fits properly.  Then we take it out and put caulk around the sides and top.  Then the window goes back in, gets squared and plumed (whatever that is - mark doesn't it while I hold the window in place).  Then finally it gets nailed in all around.  Finally, I flash the window by putting Protecto Wrap around the sides and top of the window to finish it off.  And here's what we have:

Two new Family Room Windows (without the flashing done)

A new Sliding Glass Door that's not quite finished with flashing

Matt's bedroom window and the basement slider (with completed flashing)

After we finished the lower level we moved to the main floor where the initial focus was on the two living room sliders and the dining room slider.  We needed my brother for help on these because they are really heavy and I can't carry them very far.  Tim had a great idea to use these little wheel things we have (Mark got them when he was building the airplane) to roll the doors from the garage to the dining room. Sorry I didn't take a picture of them.  Perhaps I will come back and add one.  That was a much better solution than carrying them.
update: here are the wheel things we used.  We put folded up towels on them to make them not so slippery on the window packaging.

My mom and I had the job of crouching in the hallway ready to push the wheels under the door while Mark and Tim lifted it up.  I didn't take many picture this day as I was helping with all the little steps to get the doors in. But here's what we have now:

Three new sliding glass doors.  Two on the left are in the living room and the one on the right is the dining room 

Here's a living room slider from inside.  The white stuff hanging from the top is the little bit of tyvek that extended up from the first nine foot piece that we put up.

Our next job was to put in the transom windows (the large windows above the sliders) in the living room.  It was getting late so we decided we would do these windows in the morning (that was yesterday - Sunday 9/22)

We got to Comet at 11am (after preparing for an Open House at Hightower - yep still trying to sell it) Back to the beginning. Bring the window in from the garage.  Step one: Check the opening - custom-built window so it's perfect.  Step 2 - hang Tyvek.  When we went outside to figure out where to start with the tyvek we determined that we had to do all the opening preparation on the second story - Master Bedroom and Emily's room - before we could put up the tyvek because we wanted it to be one continuous piece. So upstairs we went.  We started in the Master Bedroom which looked like this:

Master Bedroom Door opening 

We had to cut out the foam and siding from the new door opening.  We have to do the window on the left too but that is on the East wall of the house and we aren't working on that one yet. After a few minutes with the Sawzall it looked like this:

New gaping hole high above the ground in Master BR and existing window opening

Emily's bedroom window opening on the far left 

 The windows were not the correct size so we had to add an inch to the top of each and a half inch or so to one side of each.  Then we had to fill in the masonite siding where the old brick mold (window trim) was on the left, right and tops of the windows.

Mark don't jump!

Finally we got to hanging the tyvek.  Oh it sounds so simple.  Cut a piece that was 48 feet by 9 feet.  Scrunch it up, carry it into the master bedroom and staple it up.  Yep we hung out of the openings and stapled to the one inch space that was available above the windows all across the back.  That is until we got to the edge of Emily's window then Mark climbed on the roof to get that corner.

Nice little edge of the roof for mark to stand on to tyvek the left side of Emily's window

Sorry I didn't get a picture of him up there.  I was standing on a ladder on the deck, holding the end of the tyvek and hoping he wouldn't fall off on me.  It was too dark to get a picture with all the tyvek up but perhaps I will take one tomorrow and post an update.  I have to say I was pretty proud of how nice and straight we got it since it wasn't like we had scaffolding to do the job like the pros do.

update: Tyvek in place across the main level in the back.

Mark already started on the living room transom windows so the holes have been cut on the left but you can see the master BR and Emily's BR on the right and in the middle of the picture

Doesn't it look nice?

I am hoping that tomorrow we will actually get to install windows.  We are now ready to do the two bedroom windows, the bedroom door (need Tim's help for this) and the two living room transom windows.   Stay tuned.

Preparing for New Windows

We are really excited to be adding new windows to our house.  In order for a new window to be put in we have to build a header.  Don't know what that is????  Yes, it is when you hit the ball with your head and it goes into the goal.  It is also when you fall off the deck because there is no decking on it.

But in this scenario, it is a big beam-like thing that spans horizontally across the top of a window or door (or fireplace - more on that later).  Most of you will never see one because they are covered with sheetrock (the stuff walls are made of) and thus hidden.  I have learned how to make a "sandwich header".  It is comprised of a 2 x 4 on top, 2 2 x 10s in the middle and another 2 x 4 on the bottom.

We are adding a new window and a door to the master bedroom thus we built two headers.  First we took off the sheetrock to expose the framing.

Then we took off the plastic and insulation.  I have learned that when you alter the framing on an existing wall you have to support it somehow while you are putting the header in otherwise you risk having the house collapse.  So we built a temporary wall before we cut any of the existing framing (studs).  Sorry I didn't get a picture of that.  It was a thing of beauty.

Once the wall was up, Mark cut the studs at the proper height and then cut the nails that were holding the blue foam to the studs.  We did this so that we could take the framing out but leave the foam and thus not have a big hole in the wall.  All of the headers will have to be inspected before we can install windows (and we have a total of 7 new windows/doors) so it will be awhile between the first header and last header being completed.

After we had our hole in the framing we could build the window opening.  We made the header and installed it.  Then we framed the sides and bottom of the opening.  I learned a new meaning for "cripple" - it's the short stud on the inside of a window frame! Each side has 2 2 x 4s - one goes from the floor to ceiling and the one next to it - the cripple - goes from the bottom of the window to the top of the window.

New window on the left and a French Door on the right 

We are adding a new window in our office.  Since this was just impacting one wall we supported the structure by simply putting a board across the top.  Mark is sawing out the nails that are holding the framing to the blue foam.  We also have to cut the metal strap that helps support the house. We will have to put new strapping in.  Let's hope we don't have hurricane force winds before we get that back in.

Before

After - ready for a new window - well almost. 

After the headers have been inspected we will prepare the openings and install the windows.

We also had to build a header for our new fireplace and Living Room windows.

We started with this......(sorry I should have included the window on the right)

We added a new tall opening window on the left to go with the one that was already there on the right with a Fireplace box in the middle

We also added a new window on the top left and shortened the window on the right  (that part isn't done in this picture but is below) to maintain symmetry

Once we completed the window headers, we started working on the box for the fireplace.  It will bump into the living room about 2 inches but the rest will be sticking out the side of the house.  Since there isn't one there now, we have to build a box to support it.  We affectionately call it the "dog house" since it will end up looking like a dog house from the outside.

Measuring to frame for the hearth

Framed and partially prepared for siding.  

The fireplace box project has been a time filler for Mark.  It's something that he can do when he is working by himself (mostly when I am working at the high school or for my real estate job).  He is still working on building the roof and covering it all with sheathing (translation - board that goes on the outside under the siding).

The past 2 days we have been working on replacing existing doors and windows on the main level of the house.  Lots of progress there but I am too tired to write that post tonight.  I promise I will do it tomorrow night and I will try really hard not to wait three weeks to post again.  It is a struggle working till 7 or 8pm, coming to Hightower, getting dinner and then writing but I will try harder. 

Window removal

While we were waiting for the inspector to come look at the holes for the deck posts, we worked on removing some of the old windows.  It seems to take about 3 days for an inspector to come out once we call him.  We are getting better about anticipating when we will need him but in the meantime we have to do something else.  Remember our big goal right now is to put new siding on before it gets too cold. But before we can side, we have to put in new windows.  Before we can put in new windows, we have to take out the old windows and put up new Tyvek (that pretty green wrap).  But before we can put up new Tyvek we have to make sure the window openings are the right size.  As you can see there are lots and lots of steps.  It all seems so easy.... put in new window.... but there are 100 other jobs first.

So we started with taking out old windows.  The ones in the Living Room were great fun. We tried a different approach this time.

Mark loosened the window...

Then pushed it out a little......

Then pushed it out some more......

Till it fell out onto the plastic we set up to catch it..... Well almost 

Then it was time for the lower window.....

This one fell right on the plastic and didn't hardly break....

Destruction is his middle name....

I got out the shovel to clean up the mess..... but please wear shoes if you come to visit us.

We are putting in some new windows as well. The prep work for these windows is to build headers to support the wall/roof once we cut the studs so the window can fit in.  This is another project that we have been working on while waiting for the inspector.  See next post for the gory details.

More deck work

Once we had a frame for the deck the next step was to dig some holes for the footings for the posts.  The plan calls for 8 post - 6 for the lower decks and 2 that will support the deck off the Master Bedroom.  We could dig the holes with shovels but since we have to:
1) dig where the landscape rock is
2) expect to encounter tree roots in a couple of places
3) dig holes that are 12" in diameter, 42" deep and 18" for the last 6 inches

We decided to rent a post hole digger.  We opted for the "one man" towable machine.  Those of you who saw my facebook post know it was quite a challenge for Mark and I to control the monster and that it was 100 degrees when we did it.

All was peachy as we got started.  Doesn't he look excited to be having his picture taken?

We towed the machine to our house knowing that we couldn't get it through the gate to the back yard.  The fence opening is 38" while the wheel base is 42".  That's was only a minor inconvenience since we have a couple of places in the fence that were smashed by falling trees.  All we have to do is push it down the hill, slow down, turn it between two trees, go over the fallen fence but keep the momentum up to make it up the slight upward grade in the back yard.  Oh it was no problem.  Now that we are completely covered in sweat the real work begins.  

Always one to face a challenge head on, Mark decides we should start at the short end of the deck where the tree and landscape rocks are in the way and the ground slopes downhill slightly.  As we start on the first hole I'm not really sure how this machine works.  We position it where the hole needs to go and Mark says "pull the cord to start it".  It starts like a lawn mower.  I give it a yank and clearly I am "too weak" to do it.  Mark walks to my end, pulls the cord and it roars to life.  Mark goes back to the drill end and pushes it down.  The auger clanks against the rocks, moves to the left and clearly we are off target.  We stop it, re-adjust it and need to start it again.  It will clearly be a very, very long day if Mark has to walk to my end to start it every time so I decide I can do it.  I give it a pull with two hands this time and we're up and running!  Mark pushes down again, it goes a little further and we bind up on something.... tree roots.  Guess this handy dandy machine is great with digging dirt but tree roots not so much.  Stop.  Get the ax.  Chop at the roots. Hit the rocks. Chop some more.  Pick out disconnected hunks of root.  OK looks like we got past it.  Start the machine.  Push it down.  We make more progress.  Up and down it goes.  Then it stops.  Dang.  More tree root.  Where's the ax?  I don't know I can't see through the sweat pouring off my face.  Needless to say the first hole felt like it took 6 hours to dig.  I thought we would never get it deep enough.  But we did and it was the hardest one. The rest will be easy.

Doesn't look like much but it is 3 and a half feet deep

A couple of the other ones had some big rocks in them and of course the digger doesn't just chop them up.  It goes off course so we have to stop and clear the rock with a shovel.  All this so we can put the posts for the deck on some cement deep in the ground.

Two more holes seen from on top of the deck framing

We got all 8 holes dug, were hot, sweaty and exhausted.  All we had to do was put the post hole digger back on the jeep and return it to A to Z Rental.  Remember that route I wrote of at the beginning of this post....."all we have to do is push it DOWNHILL....." Now all we have to do is reverse that path which ended with push it UPHILL.  I took one look at the fence that we had to go over and thought we'd never make it.  But Mark "never say can't" Sinderson had other ideas.  He said "if we just put a board over there, get a run at it, go over the fence and push hard we can do it." So we did.  And then we had to turn the machine and heave it up the last hill all the while slipping in the leaves, dirt and branches that have been accumulating in the "woods" for years.  Without very good footing it was a b*tch getting up the hill but we were determined to do it.  We pulled and pulled and pulled until Mark could stretch a little to grab onto the neighbors fence and we could pull it that last little bit up the hill then it was smooth sailing across the yard to the jeep. I am pretty sure it would have been much easier to just tear down the gate!

We waited a few days for the inspector to come look at our handiwork before we could fill them with cement.  Once we got the OK we headed to Home Depot to get bags of cement and back to A to Z to rent a cement mixer.  I think we should be getting a "frequent renter" discount at A to Z but no such thing exists.  They do have free coffee though!

We calculated that we would need 50 bags of cement to fill all 8 holes.  The Honda can hold 20 and the  Jeep 15 so bought 35 bags.  The plan was for me to go back to get the other 15 while Mark and my brother, Tim, got started.  We loaded them up and off we went.  Once at the house, I drove the Honda up on the yard to get as close to the back yard as possible.  I started moving bags - each one 60 pounds.  I discovered that if I half ran I didn't have to hold them as long so I went as fast as possible.  If anyone was watching I am sure they would have wondered if I was part of a relay race!  Mark was in the house somewhere but I don't remember what he was doing. I am sure it was important. So I unloaded the Honda and made a pile by myself:

20 - 60 pund bags

And then I unloaded the Jeep:

35 - 60 pound bags

If someone had told me when I got up that morning that I would haul 35- 60 pound bags, I would not have believed them.  Tim arrived with the cement mixer so I took his truck and headed back to Home Depot to get 15 more bags.  It was slick this time.  I didn't move a bag.  Three HD employees used a fork lift to pick up the pallet, move it to the bed of the truck, unload 15 bags and then put the pallet back.  I still had to move them from the truck to the back yard but that was way better than loading and unloading them. As soon as I finished moving them, the boys figured out we would really need 60 bags so back to HD one more time.  Since I was running back and forth I didn't get any pictures of them pouring the cement.  Several holes were filled by this time - 5 I think so only 3 to go.  I got more cement, Tim had to leave to take his boys to a birthday party.  Art stopped over and ended up helping with the last 2 holes IN THE RAIN.  What a mess.  The empty bags were all over the yard, getting wet.  We scrambled to find things - wheel barrows, garbage cans, recycle bins - to cover the freshly poured cement.  And we cleaned up in the rain!  

That was last weekend.  This week we spent a couple of days putting in the posts and now are ready for decking. 

Ready for Decking

But first, we will throw down plywood so we can walk on the surface to put windows in.

Laboring on a new deck on Labor Day Weekend

We hit a very EXCITING milestone on Labor Day weekend..... we built the first new part of our house!  The DECK.  We have a great southern exposure in our back yard so having the ability to have a nice deck to enjoy the sunshine and view was a big reason we liked this house.  

Getting Started

Lots of wood was delivered on Friday so we got to work first thing Saturday morning.  Tool belt in place, Mark was ready to go.  The first order of business was getting the outside edges (I am sure they have some special name but it's just a box to me!) in place then we would put up the joists (how's that for a building term - those are the boards that go under the deck surface that we walk on from the house to the outside edge).  My brother, Tim, was again an invaluable part of our team.  Also joining us was Randy Thompson and Art Felgate (you may have seen him in the fireplace removal post).  There is no way we could have built this deck without their help.  Thanks, guys!

The outside frame is done

We had our little helpers, too.  Bennett and Gavin had a great day playing in our yard with Dixie and Lucy (the neighbor dog).

Bennett being adorable in an outfit that used to be Matt's 

Gavin showing how strong he is hanging on the tree stump

Our poor neighbors had to listen to the "boys" hammer all day long but a ton of progress was made.

End of day 1-  the lower level is done

End of day 1 - all the section 1 joists are in

End of day 1 - keeping the tree 

Sunday we got back at it to build the stepped up part of the deck.  Inside the house the dining room is a step up from the living room so the deck will mirror this same pattern.  Today's job is to build the stepped up part of the deck that will be outside the dining room and kitchen. 

Starting the stepped up part 

Many, many, many hours later....

While Mark, Tim and I built the deck, Gavin and Bennett discovered that they could bang on the cut logs like drums and they would make different sounds.... A homemade xylophone 

Making music

Showing how strong he is

Gavin discovered that he could use another log to make music too!

Viewing their work at the end of the day

Both of the sections on the bottom deck

We worked a long day on Sunday to get most of the second section done before Tim left.  There were a couple more joists to hang and many nails to pound into the joist hangers to make them complete.   Mark and I finished that work today (Labor Day) since we could do it without the help of another set of hand. 

WOW!  What a weekend.  It was a huge amount of work but the entire frame is done for the lower deck.  It was awesome that the weather cooperated so we were not cooking and dripping in sweat all weekend long.

Next we will dig holes for the posts, get them inspected and then put the posts in.  We discovered today that we have to remove a stump that is right in the way of the steps before we can build them so we will tackle that too.  Also at the top of the list will be removing widows (to finish filling our 4th dumpster)  and building headers for new windows and doors.  More building, that's what I like.  We are getting ever closer to siding the house.