Out with the Fire Meany!

It's me Christina! Bryan's hand isn't fighting the good fight that well, so I have a story to tell you ....

So for the last few weeks we have been battling random plumbers to get the heat actually on in this house. We had plans with 4 different guys to actually do the work. Started with 2 guys who seemed interested, then never returned phone calls (I was beginning to feel like a girl without a date to the prom). Then came the company who showed up twice, never to do what they said, and then to tell us the work we had done by our old plumber was wrong, and that we would have to pay for all of it to be ripped out and redone, at a super low price of $1400. Mind you it was 45 degrees outside for the high that day, and being a blonde woman at home alone, obviously I was going to get out my check book and pay him immediately. Needless to say, later that day I was on the phone with a 4th plumber, Kevin!

Kevin over last week and got here a bit late, as he has a day job and this was side work. He and another guy got the 2 new Runtal radiators installed on the third floor, with minor installation issues (like Bryan having to pry off the apron of a window for the radiator to fit) along the way. But still, they began to fill and bleed the system about 9:45pm which worked for us.

There is apparently a pressure reducing valve on the system, with an adjustable screw. Of course this comes loose, water sprays out, and all the water drains into the basement. Due to our previous experiences my response is, "At least it is the basement". So the guys takes off for the night before he collapses from starvation and exhaustion, and a bit defeated by the house. It was then 10:30 PM.

They return on Tuesday to try again. Filling the system, bleeding radiators, then our pressure release valve decides to release; water sprays out, and all the water drains into the basement. The guys replace the valve, fill the system, bleed the radiators, and try to light the boiler. Alas, it won't fire.......the guys take off after a late night as neither of them know much about boiler controls. What can you do?

So Kevin promises to find someone who knows controls to come over, I think he was more upset that the heat wasn't on than me. The hitch: yesterday, we get home go down to the basement, and find all the water has drained out of the system; for those playing at home this is 3 full systems of water in the basement. Apparently the problem was that the pressure reducing value (that reduces water pressure from the street pressure of 60 psi to a "boiler friendly" 30 psi) was stuck on. I'm sure you're all saying "well what does that mean?" at this moment. Well I'll tell you: It means that the system doesn't know it's full and KEEPS TRYING TO FILL FOR HOURS AT 60 PSI. For those who aren't plumbers and who haven't lived through this, it means that you get water shooting out of a little valve deal. And it won't stop until your husband has Kevin on the phone and figures out how to shut the valve. Super.

So today, Kevin and a "control friend" show up, and replace what I think is the only remaining old piece of our boiler and promptly re-fill the system. They bled the radiators, and miraculously CREATED HEATED!!! It has only been 6 weeks since we tried to schedule the first guy...don't forget that. Only 6 weeks.

I am not sure if we need both a water idol and a fire idol at this point to bury in the backyard? I guess all this plays into the fact that we are about to go back to Indiana for T-Day, and the last few trips right before we left something water related has decided to crap out. First the water heater exploded, then the washing machine, and now the boiler has all new parts! We did replace the dishwasher, check out our first ever blog for the highlights, so we hope we're covered there.

So we are almost ready for our trip! As long as Bryan's hand is healed enough to drive.....

Which is a whole different (and expanding) story....

"I'm Back in the Saddle Again"

So it's officially been 1 week and 1 hour since I had my "incident" with the chop saw, and I'm 80% back in action. First, off many thanks for the nice messages and emails from family, friends, and stranger in the interwebs, it helped out immensely.

I won't rehash all of what Christina wrote last week. On a side note, when we got back from the ER she ran upstairs to document what happened before I even know what was going on. I mean she had her post started within 30 minutes of walking back in the door and helping me get situated. Part of me secretly thinks that her and the chop saw conspired to get more blog hits for 3 days. I wouldn't put it past her...but I digress.

So I cut my hand with the saw. I preformed the "wiggle your finger and pray hard they're there" thing in the car to the ER a couple times to myself as to not panic Christina any more than she was. 5 fingers to start with, and 5 in the end. The ER folks said I was FRIGGING (I'm trying to keep this post PG) lucky that I missed my thumb and forefinger tendons. They did tests before stitching me up to make sure that I had full movement. That was a huge relief as I'm a software development manager by day, and I need my fingers. That's 2 for 2 baby! Without posting any of the gory pictures I've been keeping I have one of where my cut was with a little (bad) photoshopping to illustrate where I did the damage.

The small line on the top is where I got my finger, and the one on the bottom is where I got my thumb knuckle. Think the start and end of the saw blade...without getting too graphic.

So that's that. I would say my hand is healing really well, but then I'd be pretending to be a doctor. So...I'll say that it doesn't hurt anymore, but the stitches are TIGHT since the cut was wide and really jagged. So I feel a "pulling" sensation when I make a fist or something equally stupid.

On Saturday I had the idea to work/finish the baseboards this weekend so that it was all out of my life for good. Needless to say I was a bit gun shy yesterday morning with the first few cuts, but I just went slow and really made safely the priority over "gittin' er done". Of course that's how it should be EACH AND EVERY TIME anyone uses any saw, but after so many times it's just white noise.

Anyway, I wrapped up the base caps yesterday and I bit today (I couldn't work more than a couple hours without a break since my hand would ache a bit). I took a couple pictures tonight of the baseboards just for a bit of reference. They ended up blurry for some reason, so I apologize. (note to the Boss: time for that new SLR right?!?!).

The base caps proved to be hard to cope for me. I think with the limited range of motion I have in my left hand right now and my utter lack of patience this weekend, it just didn't work out. So I reasoned that since there are only approx 5 inside corners that aren't in a closet, and the real work are the 14 some outside corners...that I'd just miter the base caps and pray for the best. Well Jeebus was listening to my sinful self because the insides worked out perfectly for the most part. The two that have small gaps were fixed when I caulked the baseboards today. VIOLA! The picture on the right shows a span of baseboard with the base cap and the caulk applied to hide the curvy walls. I'll touch up the wall paint after the trim is all painted. In like 2 years I'm sure.

The picture on the right shows one of my lingering buckets of joint compound. I actually used that today to fill in some unsightly gaps in the window trim. It's really hard to explain, but rest assured that none of it was my doing. It was a combination of how the ex-contractor installed "the box" for each window and that the Boss wanted the curved part of the window trim to be flush with the bowed edge of the boxes (thanks to the install...meh).

Well that means there's a gap. My solution: lightweight joint compound. The pictures below show the windows with the first coat joint compound applied just a bit ago. I'll sand them tomorrow after work and apply the second coat. Hopefully it all looks seemless, but who knows.

I have no clue why that last pic on the right (two windows) has "spots" on the walls. Part of me wants to race up there to see if they are in fact mysteriously on the walls or not. The other part of me says "why on EARTH does it matter at this point, plus you have chips and french onion dip". I think the second part of has the sound reasoning at this moment.

I guess that's it for now. Christina is at a baby shower far away, so I'm settling in to watch the Colts play tonight. So if you're the church going type, light a candle for them. They need it. Oh, also I celebrated the Phillies being WORLD F*#KING CHAMPIONS (my homage to Chase "I'm druuuuunk at the parade" Utley) for a few days last week which was great. I missed the parade because of you know...having a job...but since we live a block off of the parade route, the party was all night Friday.

Good stuff. Thanks again to everyone for the messages last week.

- Bryan

The Fire Meany says: "DIY"

So we have been progressing on the house, but why is it so difficult to actually find someone, other than my now handy husband/contractor, to do any actual work? Particularly with plumbers, what is so difficult to do?

Let me back up a little bit. In May, on the hottest day of the summer, we started our new construction project giddy with delight at the daily work of our contractor. Slowly this fell apart, and we started to see some flaws in the general work quality and accuracy, which ultimate led to him walking off the job. Fine. Great.

Now the coldest day of the year rolls around, and we still don't have heat. 2 new radiators were to be installed as part of the plumbers contract. They have been floating around the house since June waiting for their new home. Tried to get 2 different guys out over the last 2 weeks to no avail. Bryan stayed home on Friday waiting for guy #3 only to have a guy show up and say, "I was just here to fix a leak, I can't do an install". Great. Today I come home at noon to wait for the same company to come again and do the install. Too bad they weren't actually planning to install the radiators, but just to look around and estimate. Great. Now in addition to no heat, he tells me that we have 1/2" rough in work tied into the 3/4" system, which won't get enough water to the 3rd floor to properly heat. Also, Bryan looked at the install sheet for the radiators, and they in fact REQUIRE the 3/4" supply. Great.

What part of this wasn't clear to the first plumber, who we paid specifically for this work? Was the store out of 3/4" copper that day? Did they just not want to spend the extra money? What would possibly make that seem like a good idea?

With any luck, a friend from work will save the day with his relatives who are plumbers, but if not I might just try to conjure the Fire Meany to live in the living room until Spring. I think that would be easier than finding a plumber to show up, do what you expect, and not have thoroughly empty pockets at the end. Great.

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

First off your friendly blogger has been sidelined due to a run-in with a not so friendly chop saw, so you are stuck with me at least for a bit. NOTE TO PARENTS: We are back from the ER with all the appropriate fingers, tendons, and critical parts; just minus a little blood. Actually all the people that saw Bryan said that he was quite lucky and should be just fine in 7-10 days when the 8 stitches come out. Now for the gory details.....

I was downstairs poking around on Angie's List just about to put a nasty rating up for a our long gone contractor when I hear Bryan running down the stairs and he yells, "Its time to go, get the keys!" Immediately realizing what this means and in a bit of a panic I grab the important things: car keys, Bryan's wallet with his insurance card and manage to get flip-flops instead of slippers on my feet just as he meets me at the bottom of the 2 flights of stairs he has come down. Off we go! At least I was somewhat clean and dressed, which is negotiable on a sunday afternoon.....

In the car he begins to explain that he didn't chop his hand off, but instead had just finished a cut with the chop saw and as the blade was beginning to slow down he reached to move the moulding cap a bit to early and scraped his hand across the still slightly spinning blade. Now another NOTE FOR PARENTS: He can move all his fingers with no tendon damage, and nothing was cut off. He did manage to turn the web between his thumb and first finger a bit closer to hamburger, but the doctor was able to stitch it up nicely.

Now Bryan has a recent tetanus shot, eventually a scar to show his hard work, and a healthy fear of all moving metal saw blades. This last picture shows the beginnings of the base cap mouldings that he was working on before "the incident", everyone should comment on how great they look, and how impressive it is that he has actually now shed blood for the project. I think he wins on the blood and sweat portions of this game, and I still win on the tears portion.

A pocket door and baseboards. It's getting serious around here!

Hello interwebs people. LOLZ. So Friday and Saturday were both baseboard 101 for me. After reading another Tom "my Lord and Savior" Silva step by step baseboard install, I felt sufficiently ready for the task. Plus there's no way that it was going to be more difficult that the window sill and the window trim. I opted to not go crazy with biscuit joints and all of that highfalutin' stuff that Tom recommends since I have not used a biscuit joiner since the 8th grade and I'm lazy.

In designing the third floor space, I'm convinced that my wife went with the designed part of her brain, and not the practical construction side. Because a sqaure(ish) room is perfect for a first time baseboard installer. Not the mish-mash of closets and intertwining walls. Because, damn....there were TONS of cuts needed. (The design part won out, because the whole house had 2 legitimate closets in 11 rooms prior to the renovation, I admit adding 5 closets in 2 rooms might be a bit lopsided the other way, but you can never have too many closets right? - C)

Anyway, I've added a couple of shots of the baseboards that the boss took. Note that the artsy picture that has my knee pads (EVERYONE needs knee pads when doing baseboards, hardwood install, and tile...PERIOD) I had just placed the two pieces together. So that unsightly gap in the joint isn't really there. I just think that needs to be said for the record.

Really the hard part of the baseboards ended up being the outer mitered joints...obviously. Most of them weren't perfect 45 degrees which is normal. But it's just the shaving off material and trying over and over gets old.

Anyway, tomorrow I'll be adding the base cap to the top of what I've done so far. Honestly, I think that since the main pieces were added and the base cap follows that...it can't be too bad right? I think I totally jinxed everything just with that thought.

I also trimmed out the pocket door frame today and hung the door. The trimming part is about 95% complete with just the "jam" (a ripped 1x8) opposite of the door opening to nail in. Not a big deal. I'll end up priming and painting all of the new door trim when I do the same for the windows and baseboards.

The door has been in our living room SINCE MAY as we had a great thought of using a glass paneled door as our pocket door. It's a full sized door which proved to be a slight issue when actually installing the darn thing. I ended up enlisting the help of the boss and ripping the bottom of the door on the table saw. That made the height perfect, and then just pryed off a 3/8th inch piece added to the side for whatever reason. Totally worked.

I've gotten the thing mounted and now I have to figure out how to get the door to stop swaying back and forth. Of course I have no faith in what our former contractor did, and I can't find the installation instructions to save my life. So it looks like it'll be trial and error. Gee, imagine that.

Funny thing I finally noticed tonight. In the picture above with the door closed, you see three switches next to it in the bedroom. Those are actually the lights for the bathroom...in the bed room space. When I realized this I asked the boss and of course she knew it would be like that. Now, I'm not worried about it, but it's funny that I didn't really think of something like that between the two spaces until there was a door there. Not the wood to tile transition, the door frame...nothing else. Anyway, I found it interesting that I JUST NOW noticed it.

So I guess that's it for today. Not too bad for like 10 hours of work.

The subtle art of window trim

Today was my part 2 of the window trim work that was long overdue. After creating and installing the sills yesterday, I start out this morning AGAIN watching Tom Silva's trim video. I referred to that in my previous post, so if you haven't seen it and need to do any window trim then you need to watch it. I truly think that if he were to walking into your flooding basement, that he would be able to walk on the water to shut off your water at the meter. He's my Mr. Miyagi.

What I realized about trim today is that all you really need is a fresh 60t blade on your compound saw (especially when your old blade was really used for cutting up demo debris and hardwood flooring), and tons and tons and tons and tons of patience. I was good on the former all day, but the latter started to fade on me after about 5.5 hours of the work today. I won't go into the details, but I'm pretty sure I could be heard yelling some choice words down the block.

In the end I got in the casing trim and installed all of the aprons as well. That's really all there is to it. The tricky parts were in measuring the side pieces to be at least even with each other, and to nails those as straight and flush to the wall as possible. If the nailing isn't flush, then the mitered joint will leave a gap that you will try to work with for ever just to give up anyway with a sigh and that sad feeling of being bested by poplar.

A couple of the windows had that problem from bad drywall, curvy walls, or casing that I had to previously hand plane down (making some high spots along the length). I was able to make the best out of most of those areas, which was a win.

Whatever, this isn't a how to post, because I'm the last person that should be dishing that out in the area of...well...anything. In the end I still need to go back to each window and fill the nail holes.

Side note: I am also on the hunt for a product that I can use to fill 1/8th inch gaps in the trim on some joints. The standard wood fill (at least the Minwax kind I have) is too gritty. I need to find something that is more like a putty. If anyone who read this knows of such a product please don't be shy.

On Tuesday we're getting our baseboard moulding pieces delivered and so I guess next weekend I get to miter for another 12 hours. Only this time on my knees.

After proof-reading this post, I realize it lacks my usual flare for the random thoughts. I think the trim and the dragon slaying yesterday have sapped my strength. Lord knows the celebratory beers at the dragon feast last night didn't help matters. Ugh....

Oh, last thing. Once reason we made our sills so deep is so that the cats can lounge in the windows. It's really the one thing that they seem to enjoy that doesn't involve using clothes or piles of contractor bags as a toilet. So we've encouraged them to lounge and not pee randomly.(I don't think his peeing is random thing myself, I think he knows exactly that contractor bags= loud noises and dirt. Both of which harsh his mellow, so he just wants to make his wishes known- Christina) You'll se my man Marco test driving one of the windows this evening.

Good man. Now learn to use the litter box ALL OF THE TIME!

Finally slaying the window sill dragon

Hello interwebs people, today was a water shed day for us here in the Grimes house. The "window sill" dragon is now a stinking rotting pile of sawdust. The dragon put up a valiant fight, but in the end it was no match for my measuring tape that was bestowed upon me by the lady of the tool section at the Depot.

Our former contractor walked off of the job after we had a pretty big brewhaha about the window sills. What they installed had structural issues (you could rock them back and forth and they'd bend) as well as a small issue that the two sills in the bedroom did not match the three in the bathroom. I mean the router profiles was totally different and even different materials.

So about 6 weeks ago I tried my first pass at making the sills out of 1x4 and 1x8s (the bedroom windows are fairly shallow whereas the bathroom ones are really deep). I'll refrain for elaborating, but after about 5 tense hours I had failed my mission. And thus the dragon was born.

Fast forward to today, and the fact that we HAVE to get that trim done so painting can wrap up and we can finally move in to the new bedroom. So I have been watching a trim 101 on thisoldhouse.com literally 3-4 times a week for over a month. The link is here, and since Tom Silva can walk on water in any house, his 101 is the trim gospel.

To show you how poorly our new windows were installed, the image on the right is of one of the 5 and it's pretty much what they all looked like. Now, I had pulled out the bad sills and the loose "blocking" but that's it.

After I followed Tom's sage like wisdom, I created all 5 sills in just about 4 hours. 2 are from 1x4 and 3 are 1x8, and since this is a really old house nothing is square. Just because we've gutted and rebuilt this floor doesn't mean that exterior and party walls are magically straight.

The first piece to the install puzzle was to get the sills to be CLOSE to where they needed to be. That meant that I had to basically add blocking or framing where needed to build up the height. the next two pics give you and idea on what I did.

I wound up ripping some 1/2 inch plywood to fit each window's "unique" sizing (in the case of the window in the picture, I had to try and create a level plane on HORRIBLE WINDOW FRAMING). I then added either a ripped 2x3 or a ripped 2x6 fit exactly for each window. That gave me the lower stability that was badly missing from the contractor's attempt at this.

The picture to the left here is what each window ended up looking like when the plywood, 2 by and the sill were finally nailed in (sounds faster than it was). And ignore the horrible look of the drywall around that window, it's another gift from our contractor that I have to fix once the last of the window trim is up.

The next pictures are just of a couple finished windows...one in the bedroom and one in the bathroom. One of the images shows a piece of the trim that we have laying in our living room. It's 4 inches wide so our sills look really long right now.

And lastly Christina took a wide shot coming up the stairs of the bedroom. The banister is still missing the spindles from our floor install, but I'll probably fix that in the next couple of weeks now that I can sleep at night after feasting on the dragon tonight.

(That means beers for the first Flyers game of the season!)