Day 73: OK, all youse geniuses! Help!

Hang in there Bill, and I hope everything works out for you guys

well, sportsfans, with one crisis over and the next one just a gleam on the horizon, work has started again. I actually lost a total of four days, but some of that was to christmas shopping (lost all of tuesday on that, then most of christmas eve, then most of christmas). I did end up at to depot around 4 pm christmas eve, buying drywall and insulation. Then I lost four hours (four bleedin' hours!) on an ultimately failed GFCI switch/outlet combination install.

It *should* have worked. I've put in two others (in the bathrooms). But not this time! In short, I had one (powered) black wire coming in. I needed two (one switched) coming out. So I tried to put the switch wire into the out going line terminal. No dice. I checked the other ones I'd done... they connected to the same screw junction as the line coming in. The weird configuration made that impossible. Alas! Alackaday!

Came up with a solution, but it took time. Essentially, I'll run the diswasher from another circuit. This is one of the benefits of redoing everything, I guess... flexibility.

Here's the thing that gave me so many fits yesterday:



lots of feature details on the website, but not much install help. I guess it should be easy?

Thanks,

Bill

Sounds like your moving right along again. Electrical and plumbing in older houses are always a bear.

Good luck with everything! Makes me glad we bought a house that didn't need much (any) work.

I wish I had your energy and your know how to rip out my kitchen and build a new one.
Best wishes for a quick finish and start the new year off right!

Looking like quite some challenges there. You seem to have a handle on it all.

Trust me Allen, the ripping out part is easy, no prior knowledge required!

my home was built in 1952.

Last time I ripped out anything I found an original window, glass panes intact, hidden behind a wall. I decided I wont rip anything out anymore, Im too afraid of what Ill find.

allen levine said:

my home was built in 1952.

Last time I ripped out anything I found an original window, glass panes intact, hidden behind a wall. I decided I wont rip anything out anymore, Im too afraid of what Ill find.

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Jimmy Hoffa?

Hi Bill,
So, what is the new time frame for getting finished?
I showed my wife the pic of the overloaded cabinet. Her comment/question was "why would anyone have that many different types of dishes in one cabinet, she can't use them all... can she?"

One question about under the sink: Wouldn’t it have been easier to cap the copper supply lines about 3 to 4 inches above the bottom shelf?

Then when you put the cabinets back in, you can just locate holes in the bottom shelf of the cab and slide them over. Then you can put your shut-off valves right there on those stub-ups. That way you can them avoid the slots in the bottom, and use rings to cover up the oversized holes.

Ted

Well, the electrical work is finally done. I can't tell you what a relief that is, especially getting rid of "the electrical box from heck" Over the years, I've lost many days working on that one, and it's finally gone.

Actually, there have been three different electricians who worked on this house before me. How can I tell? I rely on the old saying "By their works, you will know them." I call one of them "beautiful rat-tail guy." Honestly, I don't know how he did it, but he has my respect:



I can't do anything like that. Guy #2 was in the "whatever works" school. I suspect #3 was the previous homeowner, and the less said about his work, the better.

Here's part of the cause for delay. I can't think of a better excuse:




That's #3 and #6 son on christmas morning.





Here's the work area, nearing completion:




Oh, and here's the reason I'm doing all this work. I put it in to remind me!



And here is more construction detritus from 45 years ago. I guess they didn't have whisk brooms back in those days...



Thanks,

Bill

Ted Jay said:

Hi Bill,
So, what is the new time frame for getting finished?

Ted

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Ted,

Since today is the biggest football day in San Diego's year, I'll quote that football commercial that has some coach, having just lost, saying "Playoffs?!? Don't talk to me about playoffs!!!" I've given up on the idea of time frames. I'm at that stage where I turn on the lights, do what I can, and turn off the lights in the evening. We'll see where we get...


I showed my wife the pic of the overloaded cabinet. Her comment/question was "why would anyone have that many different types of dishes in one cabinet, she can't use them all... can she?"

Oh, yes, she can! Worse, she actually asked for more plates for Christmas! She's the Imelda Marcos of dinnerware! You should see the other cabinets!

One question about under the sink: Wouldn’t it have been easier to cap the copper supply lines about 3 to 4 inches above the bottom shelf?

Then when you put the cabinets back in, you can just locate holes in the bottom shelf of the cab and slide them over. Then you can put your shut-off valves right there on those stub-ups. That way you can them avoid the slots in the bottom, and use rings to cover up the oversized holes.



That's a good way of doing it. I'll have to consider that when I get to that stage. My previous method was expedient, but left much to be desired...

The funny thing is when I did the laundry room I switched over to pex, and told myself that all future plumbing projects would be done that way. Maybe this is an opportunity to go in that direction under this sink...

Thanks,

Bill

allen levine said:

I wish I had your energy and your know how to rip out my kitchen and build a new one.
Best wishes for a quick finish and start the new year off right!

Looking like quite some challenges there. You seem to have a handle on it all.

Click to expand...

Allen,

I don't have a handle on anything! Trust me, I'm a bumbling doofus! Ask Doorlink!

What's worse, the knowledge I have could fit in a thimble! Combine that with my stunning natural laziness, and you can see the real problem!

Thanks,

Bill

Your progress is looking great. It must be gratifying to know that you are taking the time to correct all the remuddles that may not have fully showed, but existed beneath the surface. And the wife appears to be still radiantly happy about the whole thing (Prosaic?).

Just one question, dishes, bathroom sink or bathtub? BTDT

Ahhhh Bill. Thanks so much for the numerous updates and step by step. You've scared the heck out of me and now I don't know if our kitchen will ever get done.

Bill Lantry said:

Allen,

I don't have a handle on anything! Trust me, I'm a bumbling doofus! Ask Doorlink!

What's worse, the knowledge I have could fit in a thimble! Combine that with my stunning natural laziness, and you can see the real problem!

Thanks,

Bill

Click to expand...

My Grandpa used to say when you know you don't know anything then you've got room to learn.

Well, folks,

Lost some time yesterday to the Charger game. I think I'll use this icon until they lose... which will likely be saturday!

The project is starting to look like something, at long last.







Got the first bit of cabinet blocking up after I took these... have a ways to go on that, then it's on to the drywall adventure! I cut all the insulation out in the shop (thank goodness I cleaned the shop first!), mainly because I didn't want insulation fibers floating all over the house. Couldn't find a fresh blade for the utility knife, but was able to sharpen it with sandpaper, saving myself yet another trip to the despot. No rain today, so I may be able to at least do *some* drywall cutting outside. Even with that, Doorlink is going to take James to the park...

Thanks,

Bill

Anyone else feeling itchy...just looking at all that insulation makes my skin crawl.

Good save on the blade sharpening.

Well, folks,

It's been a while since I've posted an update. Lost four more days to another domestic issue, proving Ben Franklin's most famous maxim: "Life interferes with work!" Dang! I've now lost 8 days out of twenty to unrelated issues.

Oh, and I do some crazy things sometimes. I am likely the only person you know who puts up cabinet blocking using pocket holes!



I took some pics of the process, in case it's helpful. I had to use a story stick, since not a single opening was the same as another! Whoever built this house must have been on LSD.... hence the Glee in a can!



Here's the story stick on top of the piece about to be cut.



Had the pocket hole jig set up on the way from the saw to the kitchen. Really, it took less than a minute to do the pocket holes on each piece, and it made flat placement much easier!



Lots of blocking, then on to the drywall. You can see it got the camera a little dusty...













More after the jump...

Thanks,

Bill

There are those who say they hate drywall. I actually don't mind it so much, what I don't like is losing time as I wait for the mud to dry! That one burns me...

The taping didn't go so badly, but in round two I had to get some special metal backed corner tape for the top seams (between wall and ceiling). While I was at it, I used it on the corner seam too. It worked well.

















I wanted something like the dri-lock paint I used in the basement on the masonry, but couldn't find it. Instead, I got what they call "kitchen paint", whatever that is. Guess it's supposed to hold up in damp environments. What you see here is a couple coats of Kilz2 I had laying around.





Have to go down and get a coat of the real thing on there this morning. Yesterday, went to the blue box and got some plywood... one sheet to 1/2" maple/birch that I need to rebuild the sink cabinet (Doorlink wants the cabinet moved a few inches to the left, and the bottom and back would end up resembling swiss cheese given the holes I've had to cut for plumbing fixtures). Also got 3 sheets of 3/4 south american plywood for building the counter. I'm hoping it'll hold up better than that chinese stuff I've been using. That stuff would delaminate if you looked at it wrong. The plan is cabinet, then 3/4 ply, then 1/2 of that cementboard stuff, and then tile set in thinset. No cement board on the backsplash, just tile masticed to the sealed greenboard. I'm going to have to cross my fingers on that one...

Still, that's getting a head of myself. Today, it's paint, and then life issues burning up all the rest of the day. Won't even get to watch the playoffs, but I suppose I had my fill of football last night...

Thanks,

Bill

What no mortise & tenon??? or maybe dovetails??? cabinet grade framing gee the value of this kitchen is going through the roof.