Fireplace Phase Continued

Work is slow going on this project because spring is here and there is more outside work to be done.

In the last week of April Jim started on the felt paper and expanded metal that goes underneath the first mortar coat. 

Jim is methodical and careful so he taped off all the edges.

A close up look.

The taped off board is where the mantel will go.

Jim put in these can lights sometime during this process and the mortaring in done, well you can see how far it is done.

The mortar was all smoothed on and them combed to make ridges so the next coat that is under the stones will stick.

Jim put vent holes up at the top so heat can escape and is here cutting out the hole so stone can be put around it and then a vent cover eventually.

Jim found that putting up the stone went quickly and easily. It took more time to lay out the patterns than it did to put it up. Here we have the next section laid out with discarded choices all around.

The process -- Spray, apply mortar, stick on the "wall", and apply a few seconds pressure.

All we have finished so far.

I have been missing this clock. It hasn't been on the wall for a few months and I was still looking at the place it wasn't for the time. Jim made this from an ash bole before we were married and since I don't wear a watch and spend a lot of time in the living room, a quick glance tells me the time. Jim doesn't have all the grouting done between the stones, but he set in a screw for the clock to hang on and it will be there as long as the fireplace lasts when the grout is put in. 

 

New Project -- Fireplace Phase

March 17

 This week we had the fireplace installed. 

It was so heavy that it was a struggle to get into the house.  Jim helped the three guys that came with it. 

Here it is ready to go in.

I left during the process so I didn't see all the hoses and ducts put in.  We had a duct put in to push hot air into the basement.  Jim installed the fans for that and for the main fireplace the next day. 

This morning we started a fire.  It promptly blackened the door so we couldn't see the fire, but a little fire goes a long way since the brick lining really holds the heat.  It is going to be a learning process to manage this fireplace so different than the one we had. 

I'm relaxing in front of it, knitting. 

As of today, March 29th --

The fireplace is enclosed in particle board. That was done a couple of weeks ago and last weekend, Jim put down the hearth stones and last night, he got the lights up. He had the wires ready several weeks ago, but after some trouble with breaking sheet rock with the 4" lights he wanted to use, we ordered the 

6" ones and had to wait a long time for them to come. They slid in their holes easily where the other ones didn't. Lorene was there on that day and sawed the holes, relieving Jim's aching arms. It's hard work  working with your arms over your head. 

Now that I think about it, the sawing part was Monday and the hooking up the electricity part was yesterday, because Lorene and the boys were here for a bit. 

Now, what will be next, carpet or stone?

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.

 

New Year -- New Project

 We are replacing the flooring in our main living area this winter. Two winters ago, we replaced the upstairs windows and added insulation and new trim and very nice that has been to 

our gas bill and comfort.

This year, it's the floors. We decided to replace the carpet in the dining room, entry and hallway with vinyl planking, later to change the carpet in the living room, to more carpet. 

When we moved in we put new flooring in these areas so it is all 34 years old. I've learned a few things from those decisions. Thus, it's better to have flat vinyl in the kitchen, carpet in the dining rom is iffy and the pad even more so, and as beautiful as my high quality, smoky blue was don't buy 

carpet that is all one color. 

Actually, we started this project in December using the extra time off over the holidays to get work done. The first part was a vote for the color of choice.  Most people chose the darker color.

Jim started in the entry. Here as in all areas were spots that needed leveling. Jim had to plan for that because the concrete like stuff had to dry before laying the pieces.

After Jim finished the entry and the hallway, including trim. He started on the kitchen, doing the floor part under the fridge, then moved it back before finishing the dining room. 

Using the fan helped dry the leveling stuff.

Now for the rest of the kitchen.  Jim planned on doing the kitchen in sections so that the stove and the dishwasher weren't out of commission at the same time. 

That was all well and good, until he discovered that the floor in front of the sink was pretty "squishy".

So, he took up the floor there, put a new section of floor down, and then the underlayment. 

Jim had intended to replace the underlayment in the kitchen, because kitchens tend to have more water involved in spillage and leaks, but the subfloor was extra. Any project always has something more than you bargain for. Another extra we hadn't planned on was the underlayment for the kitchen and dining room were thicker than the hall and living room.  That didn't matter when we changed from vinyl to carpet. Jim planned on replacing the underlayment in the kitchen, but not in the dining room.

Finished kitchen and dining room. 

The trim around everything but the kitchen which is done with coving and no photo.

Jim put felt pads on the chairs so the legs wouldn't scratch the floor.

The pad system is rather neat. Jim drilled a hole to reduce the height of the pad.  This little ball is screwed in, and the piece with the felt rotates on the ball so the chair will stay level.