A hell of a Saturday. This is living!

[Alien]

If there's one thing that can be said for waking up at 4am every morning, it's that I can squeeze a lot into a day.  Yesterday was no exception.

First, my girlfriend Alyssa and I continued working on our house remodel, specifically cutting the pass through between the kitchen and the living room.

With the cabinets off the wall, demo begins!
121990979_10223842434865984_3978791507121436312_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

Plaster removed.
121980039_10223842435425998_2034394913187177823_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

With the rubble cleared, all was revealed.  The wiring was...ancient.  Also it was in the way as was the chase for the old abandoned HVAC system.
122020416_10223842435105990_8632739468372885426_n (1) by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

After rewiring, removing the chase and building a cripple wall on the other side, it was time to cut out the studs and add the double sill plate.
121992736_10223842436306020_8481257378426702005_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

Next was a header and jack studs.
122031981_10223842436026013_603179392044988022_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

With the cripple wall removed, it was time to cut the opening.
122028944_10223842436786032_1439894847945230757_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr
122016897_10223842437026038_7400104609429071492_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

This really opened up the kitchen.  The redhead approves!
122108722_10223842437306045_4296102535824412720_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

Done with working on the house for the day, we headed out on the Mothership for a little afternoon ride.  Alyssa's getting more and more comfortable on the bike and I'm slowly building up her tolerance so that we can take longer trips together.

When we got home, we were starving.  After a quick shower, We jumped in the truck headed out to a friend's popup BBQ resturant. Great seeing an old friend, eating BBQ on the tailgate and catching up. Alyssa got the ribs, I had brisket and rib tips.  Both came with potato salad and mac and cheese.  Amazing.
122037693_620553357278_6885164889485794212_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

122037693_620553357278_6885164889485794212_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

The very full and happy couple.
122132542_620553327338_2767122061958193816_n by Scott Sapers, on Flickr

So yeah...not a bad day at all.  After being married for 10 years to someone who never wanted to do anything but watch reality TV and sleep, it's really nice to finally have a partner that wants to LIVE!

Ride safe,

Alien

[_Sheffjs_]

What year is the house?  Looks like some interesting bones in them walls.  

I understand the work involved as I started in July moving walls and creating a larger patio with less storage area and now a complete new subfloor almost done at the same time I am remodeling my dads house with framing, cabinets, plumbing, new appliances and electrical lighting update.  Dad is 89 and doing well I feel good taking care of this for him, oh and all the while Managing the facilities at work, a 92,000sf building, I am 59 now I better do it when I can.  No wonder I haven’t been riding.  

[Bret SD]

Nice work bruh!   

Quick question from an armchair QB.. why didn't you run the beam right up to the bottom of the plates? Higher openings 'feel' more spacious (?)..

[Alien]

What year is the house?  Looks like some interesting bones in them walls.  

I understand the work involved as I started in July moving walls and creating a larger patio with less storage area and now a complete new subfloor almost done at the same time I am remodeling my dads house with framing, cabinets, plumbing, new appliances and electrical lighting update.  Dad is 89 and doing well I feel good taking care of this for him, oh and all the while Managing the facilities at work, a 92,000sf building, I am 59 now I better do it when I can.  No wonder I haven’t been riding.  

The house was built in 1947.  My grandparents bought it in 1950.  It's cool that you can do that for your dad!

[Alien]

Nice work bruh!   

Quick question from an armchair QB.. why didn't you run the beam right up to the bottom of the plates? Higher openings 'feel' more spacious (?)..

Thanks! There's a soffit on the other side in the dining room with lights that will shine down on the breakfast bar.  Also, we're going to put in cabinets over the opening on the kitchen side.

[f6john]

That was a productive day! I’m trying to finalize a one year and running remodel and at 68 my production is way down. Friday I got my new led door bell button installed!

[Bret SD]

Nice work bruh!   

Quick question from an armchair QB.. why didn't you run the beam right up to the bottom of the plates? Higher openings 'feel' more spacious (?)..

Thanks! There's a soffit on the other side in the dining room with lights that will shine down on the breakfast bar.  Also, we're going to put in cabinets over the opening on the kitchen side.

Ah, makes sense..

[da prez]

Good work. H A V I N G a partner is better than a slug.The first was that way. My now wife and I have been married almost 18 years. We have three properties and did most of the remodeling work ourselves.  We finished our home we got married in.  My wife works until she drops.

          da prez

[Jersey mike]

Nothing like a renovation to get the creative mind working. It looks good and you seem to have a good vision of what’s going on.

Good luck and enjoy, sometimes it stinks but it’s great when it all comes together.

Here’s an article about some an older house and what was discovered.

https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/couple-bootleg-whiskey-1920s-secret-walls-new-york-home

[Patrick]

Looks good, a nice addition. Its nice to have a wife that helps.

[DIGGER]

Looks like some heavy duty work .  Are you working on it at a fast pace?     I don't mind doing some remodel here and there but once I start it's like a black cloud hanging over my head till I finish so I usually stay on the project at a fast pace till its finished

[DirtyDan]

Hey alien

Did you ever get my PM ? (short bus)

Dan

[Alien]

Looks like some heavy duty work .  Are you working on it at a fast pace?     I don't mind doing some remodel here and there but once I start it's like a black cloud hanging over my head till I finish so I usually stay on the project at a fast pace till its finished

I'm the same way.  I live in fear of the project stalling for some reason, so I hit it pretty hard.

[Alien]

Hey alien

Did you ever get my PM ? (short bus)

Dan

Hi Dan.  Nope, I didn't get it.

[Robert]

I will be doing whole kitchen shortly down to the studs, so I feel for you but this is one of our bathrooms that I redid recently. House built in the 50's and the wall was about 1.5 inches thick all concrete and what a pain to remove along with the tub. But got it done and its great that your wife helps, makes for a great time. My wife helps also but making sure the rest of the house does not get dirty. I have my own inspector right on premises.   







This is going back together and putting the floor in.

[Jess from VA]

Hey Robert, I have two bathrooms that need that same treatment at my house.  If you find yourself up here in VA, I pay decent wages, and can hold the flashlight.   

[Robert]

Hey Robert, I have two bathrooms that need that same treatment at my house.  If you find yourself up here in VA, I pay decent wages, and can hold the flashlight.   

Thanks Jess,

Note to self: Never go to VA. 

[old2soon]

         House I bought in Garrison Tx. had knob and tube wiring. AND that cloth and rubber insulation was crispy and brittle. And it also contained rough sawn and finished lumber. Fun und games.  Help from the resident Female Is GOOD!  RIDE SAFE.

[DirtyDan]

Well I tried another PM......

Dan

[_Sheffjs_]

Admit it, you both were hoping to find some walls stuffed with zillions of dollars in these 40 50s houses.   It would be 

[DIGGER]

         House I bought in Garrison Tx. had knob and tube wiring. AND that cloth and rubber insulation was crispy and brittle.

I am a retired 44 yr electrician.    I always considered myself a pretty good one at that.   However, when it comes to knob and tube wiring it throws most electricians for a loop......myself included.   really hard to  trouble shoot electrical problems as instead of switching (lights etc.) the hot wire they switched the neutral.   goes against everything we electricians  were taught.   an electrician can get into real trouble quick trying to use modern electrical knowlege when working on knob and tube.

[old2soon]

         House I bought in Garrison Tx. had knob and tube wiring. AND that cloth and rubber insulation was crispy and brittle.

I am a retired 44 yr electrician.    I always considered myself a pretty good one at that.   However, when it comes to knob and tube wiring it throws most electricians for a loop......myself included.   really hard to  trouble shoot electrical problems as instead of switching (lights etc.) the hot wire they switched the neutral.   goes against everything we electricians  were taught.   an electrician can get into real trouble quick trying to use modern electrical knowlege when working on knob and tube.

                  With the help of a local electrician we replaced the knob and tube-bypassed actually-with romex. And a bit more modern breaker panel versus the old four glass fuses. And the grounded outlets stead of those older two prongers. Been awhile back now and EX Wife #1 has a better place down there now. RIDE SAFE.

[Robert]

When we first bought our house it had 80 amp service with screw in fuses

Of course ran a new panel and put in 200amp service, when the inspector came out he asked what else is he putting in. I wasn't putting anything else in but if your replacing the panel why wouldn't you replace it with the standard 200 amp and future proof.

[Jersey mike]

Robert, I recognize that pink tile I guess it was really popular even in FL.