House Renovation Progress

[Joeychgo]

Well, we’ve started the yard and are about to install the deck and sliding glass door.

The back yard is / was alot of clay and not graded well at all. We started to fix that with a little bobcat today. We are also widening the driveway. Here are some photos to start.

This is the yard as it was when we got here:

A little bobcat and some time….We get the new drveway section dug out and the backyard grading started.

Even found an old Railroad Rail buried

Then we got rained out and had to stop work…

We still have to lay topsoil and rototill the yard, plan seed and an erosion mat. Should be quite nice for next year.
Here you see all the lumber and the new sliding glass door, just waiting to be installed. Unfortunately, Villa Park, IL is very slow at issuing building permits, and it looks like I might not be able to start the deck for another week.

What I wanna know is - where the hell did my work bench go???!!! Actually, if you lok closely thats insulation to insulate the rest of the garage, and a bunch of new shop lights that wil be installed.

What a mess though huh?

Oh, got my temporary office set up. Still refinishing the woodwork, thats a harder job then I thought….. But, not too bad. This is the room that had red painted paneling on it.

Hopefully, the landscapers can finish tomorrow. The pavers are suppose to be here either tomorrow or the day after to handle the driveway.
Ill post more soon….

 

[mespock]

Looks like Dave has his work cut out for him... LOL...

Looks like you'll be busy for a while.. good luck...

 

[Joeychgo]

Looks like Dave has his work cut out for him... LOL...

Looks like you'll be busy for a while.. good luck...

Are you kidding??? Dave and I spent about 2 hours the other day... Trying to fix an outlet that doesnt work....

Conclusion........ I need to call an electrician.. Sometimes I think Dave and I should learn to put the tools away and crack a few beers instead.

 

[pepperman]

Are you kidding??? Dave and I spent about 2 hours the other day... Trying to fix an outlet that doesnt work....

Conclusion........ I need to call an electrician.. Dave and I should learn to put the tools away and crack a few beers instead.

As long as the Beer is Killians, i couldn't agree more. :Beer

 

[94m5]

Looks good joey.


I'm looking at a couple houses out here right now.


Mike

 

[Sergmark]

Ahhh The joys of owning a home . Glad you could find your workbench ..That should be kept available at all times
oh it's fun trying to figure someone elses electrical " two hours on one plug " Ahh the pain

Have fun

 

[cavemansmarkviii]

We have the technology, we can rewire it. Three phase would be cool, although the shop lights don't like it much. (Long story).

 

[Jibit]

Are you kidding??? Dave and I spent about 2 hours the other day... Trying to fix an outlet that doesnt work....

I could have fixed it really quick but Joey won't let me put any holes in the walls

all I have to say is old wiring and old houses are a PITA!!!

 

[mespock]

Are you kidding??? Dave and I spent about 2 hours the other day... Trying to fix an outlet that doesnt work....

Conclusion........ I need to call an electrician.. Sometimes I think Dave and I should learn to put the tools away and crack a few beers instead.

Just run a new wire.. How old is that house... Mine's 100+

 

[Jibit]

Just run a new wire.. How old is that house... Mine's 100+

easier said than done. still has cloth covered wire and can't find where its going to. Its dead and everything is covered. Since he just did the bedroom there is fresh drywall up. Below where the basement is, the ceiling is drywalled! Tried tracing the wires back to the box but nothing cloth is at the box. The only other option I see is start to open every switch and outlet near it and see if the wires come into it.

 

[bufordtpisser]

Are you sure that it is not a switched outlet............

easier said than done. still has cloth covered wire and can't find where its going to. Its dead and everything is covered. Since he just did the bedroom there is fresh drywall up. Below where the basement is, the ceiling is drywalled! Tried tracing the wires back to the box but nothing cloth is at the box. The only other option I see is start to open every switch and outlet near it and see if the wires come into it.

Maybe it is like that commercial where the guy is flipping a light switch and two doors down the garage door is beating up on some ladies car.

 

[Jibit]

Maybe it is like that commercial where the guy is flipping a light switch and two doors down the garage door is beating up on some ladies car.

:lol: I love that commercial!

 

[Jibit]

never thought about if it was a switched outlet, there are no switches near it or in the room (other than the light but I believe it was on). There are plenty of other switches in his house that we have no idea on what they do or go to :shifty:

 

[pepperman]

Sounds like it is time to put a whole new electrical service in that house, since the old wiring is cloth covered.

 

[Jibit]

Sounds like it is time to put a whole new electrical service in that house, since the old wiring is cloth covered.

not exactly, a lot of wiring is new, they just left the old stuff in too!

 

[Frat-man-du]

We have the technology, we can rewire it. Three phase would be cool, although the shop lights don't like it much. (Long story).

Been there- done that..pop goes the weasle!

Now worries, it will be done before you know it. Looks good so far. Wonde rwhere that rail came from?

 

[94m5]

Clean it up and set it in the garage on top of a big log. makes a good anvil.

 

[ONEBADMK8]

Awesome Joey!! ALOTTTTTTT OF WORK!! Good gawd!!! Ditch the wood fence though, get a vynil fence, way nicer, modern and maintinence free.

 

[cavemansmarkviii]

Get one of those beeper setups for finding where the wires go if you don't already have one. Plug it in or hook it to the wires and run it past the breakers or other boxes to find where it goes. Way cool.

 

[mespock]

easier said than done. still has cloth covered wire and can't find where its going to. Its dead and everything is covered. Since he just did the bedroom there is fresh drywall up. Below where the basement is, the ceiling is drywalled! Tried tracing the wires back to the box but nothing cloth is at the box. The only other option I see is start to open every switch and outlet near it and see if the wires come into it.

So what is Joey doing during all this time? This sound like a 94m5 project where all you see are picks of JD working...

In this case are you Joey's JD..

 

[Jibit]

not at all, Joey helps, but it difficult at times. Ever seen the size of us? the spot where the circuit breakers are tends to be very narrow, and that's all I'll say about that

 

[mespock]

not at all, Joey helps, but it difficult at times. Ever seen the size of us? the spot where the circuit breakers are tends to be very narrow, and that's all I'll say about that

Maybe a few less french fries at Kopper's Kitchen!!

 

[Jibit]

Maybe a few less french fries at Kopper's Kitchen!!

yeah, I need to go on a diet

 

[Joeychgo]

not at all, Joey helps, but it difficult at times. Ever seen the size of us? the spot where the circuit breakers are tends to be very narrow, and that's all I'll say about that

ROFL -- Yeah - usually one of us is stuck somewhere and the other is laughing....


Quick update - Deck is started. Here is a pic of the footings (pre concrete)

The footings were not fun to dig. Tree roots were the least of the issue. Turns out, there was an old well back there, and we had to dig through that to get to the right depth. (thats what the bricks you see are from)

I'll get some more pics later, but the deck should be done this weekend and by the end of next week, the sliding door, yard and driveway should all be done. MAYBE even the garage interior.

 

[Joeychgo]

A few more of the deck progress. This is the basic framing, but gives you a good idea of the size and placement..

It should be completed tomorrow.