The past two weeks comprised the “hurry up and wait” period of renovation, since the sheetrock, taping and plaster for texture took several days for each layer to dry before applying the next. But it was finally done.
Panels of sheetrock screwed into the studs (rough drywall):
We might be without a kitchen right now, but we do have several containers in the freezer that provide some easily zappable meals. One of these is a tomato and eggplant curry, a sweet reminder of the past summer — especially nice during this recent bout of cold and wet.
With the shorter Thanksgiving week, not much occurred other than the Strong-Wall installation, and inspections for rough framing, rough electrical, rough mechanical (i.e., HVAC), and rough plumbing — all which passed. The following week the solar PV inspection passed, and we got a new smart digital meter, so the panels now feed the grid (albeit more slowly with the clouds). In addition, insulation was installed, as was the remaining exterior lath.
Pink and fluffy!
I interrupt the stream of remodeling entries with something on one of my more usual topics: food. 🙂 I had started writing this in early September, so while tomatoes are no longer in season (wub!), the thought of soup remains timely. Okay, perhaps this might be more useful for early autumn, when there are still tomatoes around…
This recipe symbolizes the intersection solution of two issues: What to do with the never-ending volume of cherry tomatoes, and what would make a comforting soup.
We had the solar panel and inverter installation three weeks earlier than expected, woohoo! The next steps include getting the City inspection (next week), followed by a smart meter and sign-off from PG&E (one to two weeks after passing inspection).
Two things occurred this week: lath for future exterior stucco, and lots of electrical work.
Last week began with more rough plumbing, and support jacks on the addition’s roof for the solar panels. It ended up quite busy and productive, at one point with five sets of trades people (solar, plumber, insulators, framers, and roofers) onsite at once.
We finally got our spankin’ new roof! That! Should NOT! Leak!
By mid-week the hot water tasted like paraffin only half the time. The rough framing, however, was mostly completed. 🙂
The sheathing for the addition’s walls went up, along with radiant barrier OSB for its roof.
By the fourth week, I could smell mildew on a towel. Yech! I do change the towels more frequently now, but this just serves as further evidence of our (however temporary) lack of proper ventilation.
In spite of this and a bit more delay due to rain, the framers managed to build quite a lot this week: subfloor insulation and ventilation, the subfloor itself, frames for the windows, a frame for the kitchen peninsula, a start on wall sheathing, as well as a start on the ceiling — all within the dining-living room.
An observation from the third week: It takes about three weeks before I notice tea stains in the bathroom sink. This is in spite of the SanaGloss finish in the porcelain bowl. Oh well, baking soda here we go.
We didn’t have much visual progress this week, primarily due to the rains. The framers installed plastic sheets and tarp, and the roofers came out to batten down the felt paper. After the storm, we only had about a square meter of dampness (near the backyard, not near where we hang out, fortunately), which dried up in a few days.
