Home Improvements

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Originally Posted by green-lantern

Why are you taking the one fireplace out?

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The first set of pictures: The chimney was cut off when a new roof was added two years ago. The shared fireplaces were in disrepair, so there really was no reason to keep them. We took them out and are going to make the space in between the two rooms a master walk-through closet.

The second set of pics: The LR fireplace was closed in at one time so that a wood stove could be piped out the chimney. We prefer the fireplace look and think it will appeal more, so we opened it up and are set to repair it and make it prettier. :coo3l:

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Originally Posted by green-lantern

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...4/DSCF8702.jpg

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Damn....that's nice. All done by you??

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Originally Posted by 2fnloud

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/PICT3679.jpg

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Uggghhh...thankfully they were empty. What a nightmare had they not been.

Yeah I know right. When I pried the boards off to reveal that, I about dropped a load in my pants, then I realized that it was empty. I did have to deal with one but it was only golf ball sized. I busted out a can of 3m spray glue hit up knocked it done and danced a little jig on the hive.

I also noticed a paper wasp hive that was huge in one of my roof over hangs, that too was abandoned. I managed to get rid of most of that with the shop vac.

That j-box in the floor is worse that the wasp hives, lol. But I would find something funky with most houses, me being an electrician. When I have some time Ill post some pics, I have tons from the past few years.

Matt,

That was my doing. I had my "duh" moment after the fact. I realize that I should of spent the extra 10-12 feet of wire to have that junction box be in the attic.

I will be keeping an access panel in the floor to access it. My uncle is an electrician for the dept. of corrections. He has been an invaluable source of proper information.

However Matt, if you know of a guaranteed way to terminate that junction box so I don't have to have a access panel in the floor, I am all eyes to read about it.

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Originally Posted by green-lantern

A more up to date pic. You can see the light under the bar. I installed a rope light under it behind some trim. You can also see I need to take the trash out. :redface:

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...4/DSCF8702.jpg

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Big garage + man cave = Happy marriage

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Originally Posted by 2fnloud

Yeah I know right. When I pried the boards off to reveal that, I about dropped a load in my pants, then I realized that it was empty. I did have to deal with one but it was only golf ball sized. I busted out a can of 3m spray glue hit up knocked it done and danced a little jig on the hive.

I also noticed a paper wasp hive that was huge in one of my roof over hangs, that too was abandoned. I managed to get rid of most of that with the shop vac.

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What a nest!

Your upstairs looks like what we have been doing.
We had to completely tear out everything and start over.

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Originally Posted by beepbeep

The first set of pictures: The chimney was cut off when a new roof was added two years ago. The shared fireplaces were in disrepair, so there really was no reason to keep them. We took them out and are going to make the space in between the two rooms a master walk-through closet.

The second set of pics: The LR fireplace was closed in at one time so that a wood stove could be piped out the chimney. We prefer the fireplace look and think it will appeal more, so we opened it up and are set to repair it and make it prettier. :coo3l:

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Ahh makes sense.

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Originally Posted by beepbeep

Damn....that's nice. All done by you??

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Yeah, The cool thing is I used everything that was already here except the wood around the track lighting. I had to extend the wall out for the bar so I used the wood that I cut out of the top of the wall. The bar top was this big long table I cut and made L shaped to fit. It didn't hardly cost anything but time. The bad thing is the people that built the wall had a nail gun and loved to use it. I cussed the hell out of them when I was taking it apart.

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Originally Posted by Granny

Big garage + man cave = Happy marriage



What a nest!

Your upstairs looks like what we have been doing.
We had to completely tear out everything and start over.

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Yeah, my wife and I decided that this way would be the best way. As we plan to remodel a room, we will be tearing the room down to studs. This way the old settled insulation gets replaced with nice fiberglass insulation.

I have even thought to go as far as stripping the outside to stud, Tyvak wrap the house and then reside. I would need to ask my sources if going THAT far is even required to get the house insulated that well.

The attic floors/upstairs celings have an R factor or 49.

Here this is the progress we've had this week (minus some little projects I've been working on like filling in nail holes and punctures in drywall throughout the house).

After tearing out rotted drywall and boards behind:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...8+_Custom_.JPG

After hanging drywall:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...7+_Custom_.JPG

Then, there were two doorways that we wanted to re-situate. The first one led from the LR to a bedroom. We are closing off that doorway, for the bedroom will now be the master bath, accessed only through the master bedroom.

Here is the before on Door #1:
(Sorry, I don't have a better shot of the whole wall with the doorway from before)
http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...ustom__001.JPG

After we removed the doorframe (to be used elsewhere):

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...ustom__001.JPG

Where we framed in for the drywall:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...2+_Custom_.JPG

And finally, after the drywall was hung and then mudded:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...8+_Custom_.JPG

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...3+_Custom_.JPG

Doorway #2--there were two closets in the LR and none in one front 'bedroom'. We are closing off one closet in the LR and opening it up in the adjoining room, which would be that front bedroom.

From the LR views:
(taking out and closing in door on right of fireplace)
http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...5+_Custom_.JPG

After door frame removal (frame being used on 'new' closet):

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...2+_Custom_.JPG

Framed for drywall:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...0+_Custom_.JPG

And drywalled and mudded:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...5+_Custom_.JPG

From the front room's perspective:

From before removing the masonite from the walls (horrible mold behind all of it..yuck!) Closet will go on the far side of the fireplace, near the window:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...6+_Custom_.JPG

After removing the masonite and finding they had tried to paint some:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...8+_Custom_.JPG

Bringing the doorframe from the LR to use here:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...5+_Custom_.JPG

Chris cutting the outline for the doorway to make the closet:

http://www.import-power.com/gallery/...4+_Custom_.JPG

And that's where we are so far. It's been too cold (there is no heat/air in the house) for the mud to dry, so we can't sand yet. We are hoping it will be dry by the beginning of next week so we can keep going with that part. Right now we are researching refinishing the hardwood floors ourselves as well as getting quotes to have it done professionally.

Oh, Oh! Questions!

Are the 2 fireplaces back to back and are you planning on keeping them?
What plans do you have for the walls in the front bedroom?
Why do you think this house has such a bad mold problem and what are you doing to make sure it dosen't return?

I'm really envious that you have a clean work area. I have so much junk to work around.

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/p...T/IMAG0016.jpg

Left to right..LOL
Flooring for under eaves, bed for guest room covered with God only know what, Mikes tools, new cabinets to be installed on that side, new TV box I don't want to throw out yet but is too big to store :Doh:, antique armoire that came with the house and a 70's office chair in the back that one of the Grandsons took today for his room at home!

Mike started on this side last weekend. 3 of the 5 cabinest are installed.
I hope to post some more productive pics after next week.