Decisions, Decisions

Yesterday, we met on site to make decisions vis a vis structure, walls, window placement. We are trying to move into the house late July, so the goal is to finish bedrooms and bathrooms first. While framing the master bath, they will also frame the kitchen addition.

This is where the supporting posts will go for the addition.

We got lumber.

Lots and lots of lumber in the back yard

See those lines? We figuring out the height of the addition.

We just felt like putting Adam on a ladder.

None of us knows what he's talking about.

Back steps and railings.

Monique and Scadutes come to visit

My best girls come to check out The Dump. I had a great deal of trouble uploading the video here (even my tech support couldn't figure it out) so I posted to Facebook and copied the links. I feel like a dope. And I know Monique could figure it out. Please forgive the repetition. It was a good day.

Framing begins Monday!

Our intrepid contractor.

Fully accessorized with a glue gun. I think that's a glue gun.

Door in downtown Arlington. Just west of Cambridge.

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A little break while our contractor finishes up other projects, then he's all (or mostly) ours! Time crunch: we need to be out of our current house before May 24. Went looking for temporary housing today. We have some options. Hoping to be in The Dump by the end of July, with bedrooms and baths finished.

I stopped by on this gloomy, dreary April day to pick up mail. (We not only get mail, we have a mail slot in the front door!) Biggest surprise:

There is at least one peony plant! I love peonies; they're so show-offy and a bit obnoxious. Ahem.

A lone tulip here and there

Next to front, crumbling down steps.

My Japanese maple looks pretty healthy.

Side of the house

We have Footers!

Today was an exciting day at the Manse! Nine concrete footers (I had no idea what they were until I arrived on site) were installed in the back of house; these serve as the underground support for the rear addition (kitchen, powder room, mudroom). These guys worked their asses off today. It was cool to watch. Lots of geometry happening, with angles and lines determining the location of each footer. I tried to basically stay out of the way and not bother them with too many questions. Especially math questions.

I had to leave before they were finished; going to try to get back there in the next couple of days to see the finished product.

Unexpected surprise in the front yard.

These are footings. Who knew?

So, this steam shovel (this is a steam shovel, right?) digs the holes and moves the footers into place.

Lots of measuring. Lots of leveling. They seem to know what they are doing.

See all that Tyvek? That wall is coming down; that's where the addition will be.

Moving a footer from the truck bed to the ground.

Making sure it's perfect

Demolition nears the end; We start to clean up the front yard.

Demolition includes taking down some superfluous concrete stairs leading to the sun porch and removing the deck from the screened porch in the back. They're almost done and the building can begin! We pour the foundation for the kitchen addition next week.

We went to the Dump today to clean up the front yard. It was a mess; is that straw or dead grass? Lots of trimming, raking, sweeping. It's still ugly, but it's cleaner. If you look at the cover photo of the blog or previously exterior photos, you'll notice a huge change. It's still fun.

Concrete steps and railings to the sun porch.

They're coming down while we have a dumpster. Demolition!

Front walkway. Nice.

Bravery

The line up

Getting there

Screened porch: Gone! Addition will come off this back wall.

Still ugly, but cleaner

Only took 3 hours

Add caption

Discovered today that this is a Japanese Maple.

Photos taken a day later

Living Room windows

Wall is down between Kitchen and Former Dining Room, now to be Media Room

Kitchen. Wall to the left is where the icky sink and stove top were. That wall will come down and extend the kitchen.

Master Bedroom. Door to future deck.

Future Master Bath looking into Hall

Lots of decisions

Steve's third floor office

His front windows

Where the skylights will go

Right here, says Adam

Let's be sure

Another corner of Steve's office

From the Kitchen to future Powder Room and Mud Room

Gym

Kitchen looking down to the basement. There are REALLY no walls.