Ceiling Perch

A carefully constructed ceiling perch has been built and the insulation is going into the draftiest part of the house.  HK can feel the wind blowing through the ridge vent when he's up there on the perch.  It will indeed be a warmer place when that hole is plugged!

Insulation and Fireplace Progress

Henrik has installed the insulation up to the level of the skylights.  It's precarious work up there and next is the most challenging part, filling in the very peak of the ceiling.

The front face of the fireplace is now finished. We have had to build a shelter around the fireplace, to maintain the temperatures above freezing, so that the mortar will set properly.

A few more stones

More Stones in Place

The right hand side and the front have a few more stones added

More progress

Insulation in the loft and vapor barrier is complete.

Henrik will finish the main floor insulation this evening.

The right side of the fireplace has had stones attached.

A few have gone on the front of the fireplace too.

Gable End Covered, First Stones and Loft Insulation

The loft is almost completely insulated. I don't even want to think about Henrik up high on the ladder but there is much more to be done in the remainder of the roof.

The first stones were applied to the firplace surround this weekend.  The time consuming part is choosing which stones to set in place; cementing them in place is actually reasonably quick.

Henrik finished putting the Hardiplank on the gable end.  Now it just needs a coat of grey paint and that part of the house is complete.

Continued Reno Progress

The house has been wrapped in Tyvek and Henrik has started the Hardiplank on the gable end.

Insulation is underway is slowly being completed.

The fireplace surround has had the scratch coat applied; once that sets then the stones will be put in place.

Olympic torch relay comes thru Cedar

The torch relay came thru Cedar tonight!

Fireplace progress

Henrik continues to work hard on the fireplace surround.
Only a little more metal work and it will be ready for the stonework.

Big Turkey

The Thanksgiving turkey was 25.5 lbs of yummy! It had legs like a pit bull.

Temporary Bedroom

Underlay was placed first

Then the ugly old carpet was cut to size and installed

Then the bed, some lights and a heater....

It's small but useable.

First look straight down the new stairs

Safe'n'Sound insulation visible in the new spare bedroom wall.

The stairs are not quite accessible through the hole that has been cut through an old wall but with a little big more 'destruction' it will be a straight shot.

Spare Bedroom Building

The spare bedroom wall has been drywalled.
Mudding and painting will have to wait for another time.
The closet has been framed and I expect HK will put drywall up there this week.
As soon as we are able to put in the underlay and carpet then the room will be useable.
Currently it's a temporary kind of room as it will get much bigger in the long run.

Trying to be ready for Thanksgiving

HK is building the wall for the spare room so that we can have sleepers in there soon.
Right now there's a big hole because of the new stairs and it's not a very safe place to be.
Metal studs and sound proofing will go into the wall as well as fancy soundproof drywall.

Fireplace Surround

Henrik has been working diligently on the fireplace surround.
Metal framing will be covered in cement board, then wire mesh and a layer of K2 stone.

Glass Blocks by New Front Door

HK built the frame and put in the channels.

AO put in the blocks and mortar!

It's nice to have some more natural light next to the new front door.

Alligator lizard in the wood pile

Way cool guys were found underneath the firewood pile!!

Brick Saga

Matching bricks were located on Gabriola island.
The previous owners had dug them off the beach 30 years ago.

We had to re-stack them on new pallets. All 2812 of them.

I was might sore after that long day's work.

The faces have to be split off each brick.

The old front door site has been closed in.

Ultimately the 'practice planter' will be covered in stonework just like the stone walls that surround the driveway. Plants will be put in front of the old front door and a trellis erected so that Ivy can grow up and cover the brickwork.

Lets hope I get better at it before the addition gets covered.

How Kachelofen Removal Happened

The Kachelofen removal was no small task.
It took 3 days in late August to accomplish it.

First we had to take his head off.
The smoke pipe was inside his head and had to be removed.
It has been salvaged for future use or sale.

Then his body was removed, block by block with a hammer and cold chisel.
His guts were full of ash and creosote and it was a very, very messy task.

Then his legs were removed. That took more than a hammer and cold chisel.

Henrik used the Jack Hammer for a day and a half to separate the cinder blocks.
Poor HK could barely feel his arms after the event.

The cinderblocks went all the way down to the basement.

Removal of the Kachelofen

I know it would break the hearts of the previous owners but the Kachelofen has been removed. We took about three days to complete the removal (Aug 19 thru 21). The rooms are much brighter and airier on all three floors now that it has been removed.

Kachelofen in the centre of the room (Mr. Toad in front on couch)

No more Kachelofen

Frodo's progress

Frodo went for an ultrasound examination on Friday the 21st. Everything inside appears completely normal. I expected a big tumor in her belly because of her cranial abdominal enlargement. Turns out she's just fat. The appetite stimulants have been working very well and she's gone from 4.3 kg to 5.08. A rather staggering weight gain in only 6 weeks.

Bloodwork says that her liver has returned to normal but there are some signs that her kidneys are beginning to fail. All in all she's doing quite well and seems to be returning to a more normal pattern of behaviour.

Brick splitting and masonery work start!!

Splitting of the first brick pile has been started.

They are not much to look at before the faces come off but inside are quite attractive.

The first attempt at masonery work on the old front door site.

A lot of learning still to be done!!