New Project -- Phase 2

Where we are as of February 18th.

The problem with starting any new project is the other things that come up that have to be done. The "one thing leads to another" that happens.  Jim has wanted to redo the floors in this house for a couple of years. As of now the kitchen, dining room and hall are all finished with the new flooring except that the transition strips from the vinyl flooring to the bedrooms off the hall are taking an inordinately long amount of time to come in. 

Jim decided we needed to redo the fireplace this year as well.  Our house is 55+ years old and we've lived here 33 1/2 years and used this fire place heavily for 5-6 months out of the year.  We can keep the front of the house warm while turning the furnace down because it has a fan that pushes warm air out. 

The metal in the chimney is starting to warp and Jim felt it was time for a replacement. After much thinking and talking and looking at the fireplace store, we ordered the fireplace with a 6 week wait time. Then we spent additional time talking and thinking and looking and getting advice from some friends that have interior decorating experience we decided on the stone (in stock) and as of February 18th the jury is still out on the hearth stone. 

The fire place itself is gone. Jim dismantled as much of the outside until the fireplace guys came to take out the fireplace part itself and shore up the chimney until Jim gets the framing done around where it goes and then it will be installed. And since "one thing leads to another", the painted paneling is coming off, a thin layer of sheet rock going on over the stuff under the paneling.

The inner blue tape line is where the front of the fireplace will be and the hearth will be somewhere between the other two tape lines. 

The last fire in this fireplace.

Tear down.

Trim coming off the book shelves and china closet.

Jim replaced the bottom sheetrock entirely so he could move outlets and a light switch. The original was 1/2" under the paneling.

After installing the 1/2", he put on 1/4" sheetrock to take the place of the paneling.

The frame is built for the new fireplace to be installed. 

Now it's March.

Ready for mudding.

Jim found that a sander that attaches to the shop vac is a bit awkward, 

but amazing for keeping the dust at bay.

The next stage is installing the fireplace.