Game Room Windows

We have moved on to the game room exterior.  The old inappropriate windows were removed and replaced with the same restoration windows that we installed in the kitchen.

The window opening on the right was already there but the window on the left required making an opening and framing it out.  The hardest part was making sure the opening was the same distance from the door and the same elevation as the opening on the right.

Yesterday we started the shingle installation.  But before we started hanging shingles we nailed a roll of aluminum flashing under the tar paper at the area where the exterior wall meets the deck.  We decided to add the flashing because snow piles up against the shingles in the winter and we wanted to make sure that moisture doesn't wick through to the interior wall and insulation.

I am always surprised how much better the windows look with shingles around them.

We already have the two exterior lights that go on each side of the patio doors.  We also have vintage French doors to replace the ugliest sliding doors on the planet.  

Tomorrow we will build the step in front of the patio door.  It's going to be big because I have two 20x20 square planters that I planted with Alberta spruces years ago and I want them to sit on the step.  The reason we have to build the step before we move on is because the step will need to be screwed to the sheathing and then we will shingle around the step.

Elvis says he "loves to nap on steps" especially if he can be in the way.

Kitchen Exterior Before and After

We voted mid afternoon to avoid the before work and after voters.  Last night I went online for a sample ballet and then made up a cheat sheet so my voting went fairly fast.  I'm pretty sure that we all don't agree on the same candidate but I bet we can ALL agree that we are happy that it will all be over by tomorrow.  #sickoftalkingheadsandpundits  

I promised you before and after photos of the exterior of the kitchen.  I couldn't find the very earliest photos of when the concrete steps were intact with the red wrought iron railing and then a second set of wood steps going to the deck.  It was ugly and awkward.

Before we could do anything we needed to jackhammer the solid concrete steps.  R rented a portable jack hammer.  We can laugh about it now but it wasn't funny then.  The concrete was so hard it would only break off little flakes about the size of a hand.  

Plan B was renting a Bobcat with a jack hammer attachment.  R rented it on a Friday evening and returned it Monday morning.  He would jack hammer awhile and then stop so I could throw the broken pieces down onto the driveway.  The concrete was so hard it actually would cut through my gloves.  

It was a big deal to run across a piece that required two hands to pick up.  I actually was surprised that we were able to remove all of it.  About halfway through the weekend I thought that we would be lucky to just get the concrete down to ground level.  We lucked out and was able to dig out under the concrete and using heavy duty pry bars to pry the pieces up and out of the dirt.

We found broken sheathing and some cracks in the mortar of the concrete block wall.  Both were easy fixes.  The broken sheathing was allowing mice and cold air into the crawl space so we were happy to run across this defect and fix it.  We have fixed so many holes, cracks, and crevices that our heating bill has decreased to about 1/3 of what it was when we bought our house.

After the step was gone we built a platform between the kitchen door and the existing deck. This configuration makes it far easier to bring groceries into the house.

After we rebuilt the deck we went to work on removing the overhang.  It was ugly and not original.  We actually removed three overhangs that were not original.  This large one that hung over the kitchen door area, the one on the garden shed/pump house, and a small one over the back door.  All three of these overhangs caused water damage to the wood and the back door overhang caused extensive wood rot to the sheathing and plaster damage in the living room.

After removing the overhang we then removed the leaking rubber roofing and installed asphalt shingles.  We had two roofing companies tell us that the pitch of the roof was enough for shingles.  We installed the shingles during 95 to 100 degree weather.  R was on the roof and I was on the ladder handing him cut shingles.  

I did a little research on the Internet and we decided we would install 4 roofing nails instead of three and make sure that we removed the cellophane that covers the tar strips.  My parents had a small tornado hit their neighborhood of new homes.  Their home was built by a different builder than the three houses that surrounded them.  My dad had a weather station set up and recorded the wind speed at 96 mph.  The house across the street was knocked off the foundation and all three neighbors lost roofing shingles.  When my dad cleaned up his yard he noticed that all the shingles still had the cellophane on the tar strip.  My parent's home sustained a dent in their garage door from a neighbor's flying patio chair.  No roof shingle damage but the wind speed going across the vent stack openings pulled all the water out of their three toilets.  So long story short we came to the conclusion that due to the low pitch and southern exposure that the shingles would be vulnerable to high winds associated with summer storms.  I'm pleased to tell you that we corrected all the leaks and have not sustained any lost shingles during storms.

Gutters and downspouts were added and we have completely eliminated the huge icicles that we used to get in the winter.  An added bonus was the increase in sunlight coming into the kitchen.

Next came the new restoration windows.  We installed these windows ourselves which saved us $$$. 

Then came priming and painting. 

  We couldn't be happier.  The exterior now looks original and we have the bonus of better operating windows, more light, and no leaks.

The small square window is over the sink and is non operational.  A double hung window was a no go because I am short and would not be able to open or close a double hung window without climbing up on a chair.  I asked about a casement window but none were offered in the size we needed so I am OK with the non operational window.

Tomorrow I will post photos of the game room windows that we installed.  We start hanging cedar shingles tomorrow.  Those shingles will stay bare unless we get a warm day above 55 degrees that will allow me to prime and paint.

We put the recently repainted mismatched Woodard furniture back on the deck.  The black satin paint unifies all the different pieces and makes it look like one big set.  It's too late in the season to bring out the cushions and glass for the tables.  I have been swooning over outdoor fabric and I have about 20 choices that I need to send away for samples.  My plan is to use different fabrics on the two sides, so that I can change the look of the furniture by flipping the cushion.  

Also in the plan for next year is new decking.  This is the original decking and it is cracked, cupped, and split.  We will install 5/4 boards like what we used on the kitchen door platform, barn loft platform, and the small platform and steps that go down to the back yard.  The current decking is 2X6 boards.  By installing 5/4 boards we can eliminate a lot of weight from the deck.  

The cats love to sit on the zero steer mower.  

Another Window Installed

Another rotted non original window bites the dust.  This window was rotted on the bottom and the sill was like Styrofoam.  I'm always amazed that the original windows in the house are just fine except for the million layers of paint BUT yet these 1960/1970's windows are completely destroyed and no longer have any life left in them.

Here is the before window in all it's ugliness.

Even the gaping hole looks better than the old window.

And here is the new 'old style' window.

I purchased this wood trash bin at a consignment shop for 8 bucks.

A little sanding and grey paint and I will have a place to stash my outdoor furniture covers.

 In painting news....I was finally able to get the corner shingles primed now that there is only one window left to install.  We also have a change of plans with the windows.  We decided to install this last window in the wall that it is leaning against and then order one additional window to go where the last ugly casement window is located on the east wall of the gameroom. You can see that last window in the photo of the empty window opening.

It will take R several days to move the vintage door collection and his 5 upright video games.  Those are pain to move but it will be worth it.  This is the south side of the house so a window should let in a lot of sunlight.  Plus it feeds my need to make everything symmetrical and balanced.  A window on this wall will mean that there will be the same size window on each side of the french doors.  

 The pond was busy today with the migrating birds flocking and gathering and readying themselves for departure in the next month or so.  Some birds will stay until the water is frozen over, while others get out of Dodge at the first cold breeze.

My sister and I have been busy moving stuff out of my mother's condo.  It's crunch time with just 11 days to go.  I see some late nights in my future.

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On to the next wall and window

The new windows are installed in the kitchen.  The cedar shingles are also installed and painted except for the very corner.  That space is too small for my taller ladder to fit next to the two 'as yet to be installed' windows and the wall.  

I still have a little bit of fussy painting to do with my flat artist brush.  That should only take an hour or so.  It is so much easier to paint the edge of the window trim grey using the flat artist brush.  The brush gives a nice crisp edge.  I will try and take photos when I finish with the fussy painting.

We removed the next window.  It is located in the future game room and current workshop/disaster area.  This window had extensive rot.  I do not know why a window from the 1960-1970 era would completely rot but yet the original windows elsewhere in the house are just fine.

The time it takes to remove a window is getting less and less.  The first window took us two days.  The second window took us a day and this one took two hours.

I forgot to take a photo of the big gaping hole in the wall where the window was located.  We sold my mother's condo and I needed to get over there to pack up some stuff.

Tomorrow we hope to have the new window installed.  Then next on the to do list is to rewire for a light on each side of the patio door instead of the current set up of one light over the top of the door.  I purchased the new lights at the same time that I bought the light for the front door which was many moons ago.

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Laboring Away on the House on Labor Day

While priming and painting the kitchen exterior walls I had an epiphany.  It was about the game room which is next in line for shingles and window replacement.  We already have the two window units to replace the last of the two large mid century casement windows in the game room.  

We already removed one large casement window on the north side of the game room several years ago.  I like to keep windows on the north side at a minimum because of the cold winter winds that can come from the north.  Plus, that area is perfect for a large screen TV.   This room at one time had 4 doors and 4 large windows.  We have already closed off two doors and removed one large window and have another large window in our crosshairs. 

But on the south side of the game room we have a large blank wall to one side of the patio doors and a large window unit will be installed on the other side.  I have a real problem with things being unbalanced and not symmetrical when it comes to design. 

We already know that at one time there was a small window on that wall. We uncovered the small window when we did some game room demo years ago.  The small window is out of scale with the other windows so we will relocate that small window to the basement.   And in it's place we will install another window unit exactly like the kitchen windows and the window on the other side of the patio doors.  This should give us a lot of light in the game room in the summer, much wanted solar gain in the winter, and remedy my disdain with unbalanced design elements.  

I wasn't sure how R was going to feel about buying another large window unit. But as soon as I mentioned it, he was on board.  Whew.....that was a relief.  R has a hard time with change so if he thought it was a good idea, it must be......right?

I actually was able to get some grey paint on the shingles today.  R was using the ladder that I needed to use to finish the priming at the very top, so I started at the bottom and painted upwards until I got to the unprimed area.  By the time that R was finished and the ladder was available, it was after 6PM so we called it a day.

 The area of the blue tarp is the location of where we will add an additional window unit like the large window above and below.  This will also help to repeat that same design element so it looks more cohesive and not a willy nilly arrangement of various sizes of windows.  

I am so looking forward to comparing the before and after  photos of this part of the house.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day holiday.

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Made the best of a rain delay...

....by going to Home Depot to buy PVC drip cap for the new windows.

Around noon today the sky was perfectly clear and it was HOT. I puttered around the yard while I was waiting for R to get back from his dentist appointment and with gas for the riding lawnmower.  I heard the horn that they blow on the golf course when there is a storm coming and the golfers need to get off the course when I was picking up nails, wood chips, and sweeping up the deck.  I thought "what the heck" and looked up just as the clouds covered the sun and the wind started to blow.

This storm came out of nowhere.  R drove in the driveway just as it started to sprinkle.  Since we couldn't work on the cedar shingles we decided to go to the Home Depot in Fenton to buy the PVC drip cap.   

Home Depot only had 12 footers so we needed to tie the pieces to the truck mirror and tuck the other end in the bed of the truck.  We then picked up a gyro sandwich and an ice capp from Timmy's (Tim Horton's for you non northern people) and headed home.

By the time we arrived home the storm was over but everything was still wet so I couldn't mow and R couldn't use electricity.  We decided we could install the drip cap on the two new windows because we could use our pneumatic nailer and no electricity.

When installing solid PVC trim or boards, always keep the pieces in the shade where it is cool.  The PVC grows when it is hot and if you cut the piece in the heat it will be too short come fall and winter when the PVC contracts because of the colder temperature.  This problem REALLY shows up on wide PVC boards like what we use for the fascia.  We always try to install those pieces in the fall to help eliminate that problem.

We cut the drip caps an 1/8th too long so each end overhung the trim by a 1/16th.  Come winter it will be perfect if anyone even notices....LOL

R used the air nailer with brads to attach the drip cap to the window trim.

I just noticed that you can see my reflection in the window.  There goes the anonymity....LOL 

You can read about the how and why of drip cap installation here.

I am going to mow in the morning while R has a root canal.  I think I got the better deal.  Root canal...ouch.  If he feels better later in the afternoon we will start re shingling around the windows. 

Today's storm knocked over a dead tree onto the power lines just down the street.  I saw the power company's trucks when I drove uptown.  We didn't lose power until they shut the power off to remove the tree.  So rather than relax or take a nap while I waited for the power to return, I instead doodled my fall design for the front door and front porch.  Doodled is a stretch, it is more like scribbles.  I'm not even sure I understand the drawing.

Now for the gratuitous kitty photos.

Elvis loves watching the bird feeder.  

His sister, Sasha, says "stupid brother, you are too close." 

"huh?"

"Is this better?"

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Second Kitchen Window Install

OMG  I was floored when I stepped back and looked at the window after it was installed.  Just unbelievable the difference it makes in the appearance of the house.

Here is what it looked like without the old window.

 Here is the after photo.

We called my son to come over to help lift the window.  The same milk crate setup was used that we used on the other window.  I was a bystander again today.  Actually, I was like the guy who spots the female gymnast on the uneven parallel bars.  I was there just it case the window started shifting or if someone pulled a hammie.  

FYI severe pain in neck/back of head hasn't been as bad as it was in the past weeks.  I can't bend my neck to look down or bend it backwards to look up without my neck making noise or starting to hurt.  So I don't do those things.  But as long as I look forward and don't lift anything....I'm good.

There is more rain in the forecast so I am not sure when we can start re installing the cedar shingles and repainting.  We still have 2 window units to install in the game room but we want to finish the cedar shingles on the kitchen part before moving on.

Left to right...Sasha, Elvis, and Patches

The kitties were not happy when we started making noise AGAIN today.   I know they are thinking...WHEN WILL THE MADNESS STOP?  They are big afternoon nappers or bird feeder watchers and both of those activities require quiet. 

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New Kitchen Windows

The moment I set eyes on this house I knew there were windows that were all wrong and not original.  I knew they would need to be changed but I had no idea that the change of a few windows would make such a difference on the interior.  The view from the inside is vastly improved.  The new window changes how the room feels, too.

In between the rainstorms we worked on framing out the first opening to the correct size.  Once that was completed we needed to add the sheathing and then the rigid foam insulation.

The window unit itself needed some prep work.  The unit was wrapped in plastic with wide foam strips covering the white exterior trim.  There was also wood strips that are screwed into the unit to keep everything together for transportation.  The last things that we removed were little triangular pieces of wood that are stapled on the backside to support the wide trim during shipping.

R gathered all the milk crates he could find in the barn to stack under the window opening.  We stood the window up and I attempted to lift my side just 1 inch to see if my neck could handle it. Nope.  The shooting pain across the back of my skull told me we needed to call in reinforcements.  

We called our son and daughter in law who just happened to be close by doing a test run on a new exhaust setup on their beater Vette.  It's pretty much all cars, all the time, with my son. I'm sure his Grand National is sitting in the garage waiting for this coming week.  In the Flint area starting on Monday, there will be a cruise somewhere and then on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is the Back to the Bricks car show in downtown Flint.  Of course you won't see photos of that in the news.  That's good news and people enjoying themselves in Flint is opposite of what the media wants to portray when it comes to Flint.

That's a whole lot of cars.  Also take note of the original iron arches.

Back to the Bricks.org

But back to the window......When B & G arrived we explained the crate set up and how we thought we should go about lifting this window into place.  R and G lifted the window onto the first lower set of crates.  For the next step, B and I  stepped in to support the middle of the window.  We fine tuned the placement and took a deep breath and then lifted the window and slid it right into place.  A little tap here and there and a check with the 4 foot long level showed we were good to go with a couple of screws on each side to secure the unit.

Once the window was in G remarked that it went a lot easier than he expected.  I remarked that I thought it was B and I carrying all the weight in the middle that made the difference.  He was not convinced...LOL

They left and R and I got busy and removed the other kitchen window, which is the same size as the one we just removed.  The first window took almost two days to remove and the window today took two hours.  It was a combination of now knowing how the window was constructed and what comes off first and the added fact that we were just more confident in what we were doing.

We have rain in the forecast for mid week so we would like to get the second window installed and maybe start on installing the shingles.  But now that it has rained the grass needs mowing so we will need to fit that chore in there somewhere.  Ahhhh the joy of old house ownership.

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Window Swap Update and Elvis' Last Nerve

Our cat, Elvis, is not happy about all the ruckus on the deck.  There is far too much noise for his kitty ears.  He likes to take his afternoon nap in solitude on the deck under his favorite bird feeder. Our hammering is also keeping the birds away. His life is in turmoil and he has totally had it with his humans.  

Don't worry Elvis, at the rate we are going we might be done by Labor Day weekend.  We knew the first window would take the longest but we hadn't figured in downtime for rain because we have basically had none this summer.

We just started the build up of the bottom of the window when it started to rain.  We quickly covered the opening with a tarp and called it a day.

On Saturday we started about 1PM only to have it start raining the minute we took the tarp down.  A quick check of the radar map showed that it was just a little rainshower so we continued working even though it was lightly raining.  Then the sun came out and dried up all the rain and then it got HOT and HUMID.

We finished building up the bottom of the opening.  Then a quick look through the scrap pile found a scrap piece of 3/8th plywood which was perfect for the sheathing.  Next we installed a layer of rigid foam insulation.  We used a partial sheet that R picked up from someone's trash.  It was the perfect thickness, too.  That saved us about 20 bucks.  We taped the seams with metal tape (not duct tape) and called it a day.

Tomorrow we will come up with some sort of method to raise the window up so that it will be easier to slide it into the opening.  R says he thinks we can use the floor jacks and milk crates.  If that doesn't work, we will call the 'son' over to help R lift the window.

I'm trying my best to give my neck and shoulders a break so that my disc can debulge. I emptied my purse of all non critical items.  I found that I had about 5 pounds of loose change in the side pockets, a construction size tape measure, miscellaneous screws and nails, expired coupons, 4 pairs of eyeglasses, and a variety of lipsticks in colors I have no idea why I purchased.

I can actually close my purse now.  I think my purse might be the culprit.  When I put my purse on my shoulder I can feel it in my neck.  So no more throwing my purse on my shoulder.  I am also sleeping without a pillow and using a rolled up towel to support my neck.  I know it sounds uncomfortable but it works wonders for me.

The fountain partially filled with rainwater because of the rain we have had in the last two days.  The top holds water until it reaches one of the holes.  That wasn't a surprise.  The middle tier held no water.  I assume it went directly to the bottom bowl.

I'm leaning towards using it as a 3 tiered planter with annuals that flow over the edge.  I would love a fountain but I really don't want the upkeep.  

Tomorrow is a big day.  We can't wait to see another ugly window go bye bye.

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