Tag Archives: remodeling

Easy is a relative term.

July 30, 2024 Rivergirl 13 Comments

We purchased a product for our front porch remodel called Versawrap. They’re PVC covers for wooden support poles that add a decorative element as well as eliminate the need for paint.

We discovered their easy to install claim was a misnomer when we wrapped our first pole… but when we moved along to the top and bottom moulding?

We realized it was an outright lie.

Easy my *ss.

There are teeny tiny dovetail inserts which hold the pieces together and trust me, they are not easy to seat.

I’m not exaggerating when I tell you it took us over an hour to place the first crown moulding section.

If three sides clicked? The fourth would not.

If four sides clicked? It wouldn’t stay in place.

Frustration was the word of the day.

Two sets of moulding for each pole.

Four poles.

This is not my idea of a good time.

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Slow progress is still progress…

July 26, 2024 Rivergirl 20 Comments

Half the new soffit is up and a support pole was placed.

Because I don’t want to be forced to paint them every few years, PVC column wraps were purchased, for a ridiculous $200 per.

Were they easy to wrap?

They were not.

Especially when the sun was mercilessly beating down.

Trying to escape the heat…

Cutting was done in the garage.

One pole wrapped but moulding not yet added, husband moved on to taping off the windows.

Progress is slow, but it’s progress.

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Beam/ceiling repair project, day two…. good news is usually too good to be true.

September 15, 2023 Rivergirl 20 Comments

Our contractor started bright and early on day two but it turns out the good news from day one wasn’t all good.

No, the beam doesn’t need to be replaced but the overall support structure needs work which required a temporary load bearing wall to be built inside the plastic cave. .

Turns out whoever built this addition back in ‘94 didn’t do a good job with the rafters.

It’s hard to get proper pictures of the problem but things are separating and that’s not good.

I’m no carpenter, but the fact that those tiny nails trying to grab onto the beam have been the only things holding up part of our living room roof was a little concerning.

The repair options were these:

1. Hire a structural engineer (at considerable cost) to come in and completely rip apart the entire addition roof, replace the beam and redo all the rafters and trusses.

Or….

2. Since the existing beam is solid (and has miraculously held everything in place for the past 30 years with virtually no support) have our contractor square everything, redo the rafter and truss supports, add heavy duty hangers, and make sure everything is properly secured.

Needless to say we chose door number two.

Since our contractor isn’t a structural engineer he can’t guarantee things won’t sag in another 30 years but realistically, my husband will probably be gone and I’ll be in an old folks home… so who cares?

🤣

Work continues, in a very small space and in the pouring rain. It would be nice if the saws and power tools could be set up on the back deck but we’re having monsoon downpours right now.

It’s always something.

🥴

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I’m ready to cry Uncle.

October 9, 2020 Rivergirl 28 Comments

First it was not at all temporary temporary doors. Then insulation and a ceiling and new light fixtures and floor moulding and quarter round.

Now?

The husband is installing strapping to cover the plywood ceiling seams.

Technically this is finish work. And we all know that is not where his talents lie.

Was the strapping straight?

Not so much.

Of course when I helpfully pointed that out, I got booted from the barn/man cave/Maine Taj Mahal.

When I went back 2 hours later? He informed me the strapping wasn’t right and needed to be redone.

Hmm. Why didn’t I think of that?

Cutting and more cutting.

Cutting around the light fixtures I tried to tell him to center 2 weeks ago.

But all the cutting resulted in straighter lines.

Aggravating? No doubt.

But…

We did have gorgeous fall foliage in the background so I’ll call it a win.

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I thought we were done!

July 30, 2020 Rivergirl 12 Comments

The baby barn.

It really is the gift that keeps on giving. Like venereal disease, but with splinters.

As you know, the baby barn had a hard packed dirt floor when we remodeled it. It had a hard packed dirt floor when we moved here 18 years ago and it had a hard packed dirt floor when it was originally built sometime in the mid 1970’s …

And for some inexplicable reason, the husband removed some of that hard packed dirt when he was redoing the frame.

So for the last few months there’s been a decided drop off at the far end.

I’ve said repeatedly he needed to back fill that section and level it off, but no.

I walked out there the other day and found him busy with a shovel instead.

Removing 26 years worth of hard packed dirt.

Why?

I’ll let him tell you…

Good grief Charlie Brown!

The man is a sucker for punishment.

22 wheelbarrow loads full of dirt dumped on the outer edges of our property line later….

He had a smooth playing field…. and an aching back.

And I was called in to assist.

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Because I know you were anxiously awaiting it’s return…..

April 27, 2020 Rivergirl 19 Comments

It’s back.

The ongoing baby barn remodeling saga…. and for those of you just joining us? Consider yourself lucky you missed the first 300 episodes.

Winter is over in Maine, we think…. so work has begun anew.

On Saturday afternoon rotted wood was replaced.

And the silly man I’m married to tried to make everything square.

Look at him with his little level. Isn’t that cute?

If you remember anything from last year, you’ll know the terms level and square are completely relative when dealing with this nightmare of a building.

Darth

But hope springs eternal, and maybe sometime before we’re through that damned bubble will be in the right position.

The last of the Zip siding was installed…

And yes, that’s my husband’s back…. as he refused to smile for my camera.

I can never quite figure his modus operandi when he works on a project……. and wondered why he made his way from the outside in to meet in the middle.

This doesn’t usually bode well when you’re using a tongue and groove design.

I (oh so) helpfully told him this, but of course he paid no attention because I’m a woman and what do I know?

men

Well, yes.

As a matter of fact he is.

But when he tried to fit that last piece?

I admit it, I chortled while he cursed.

Which I enjoyed, because really… the world needs more chortling.

Apparently I did chortle a little too loudly because I also got the look.

Which, after 36 years…. he should know has positively no effect.

A little trimmed tar paper later and he called it day.

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A little catch up… the baby barn, a sunrise and some deer.

March 23, 2020 Rivergirl 21 Comments

Now that the Virginia vacation saga is finally over, it’s time to clear out the photo files.

If you remember… before we left for the Cape Cod vacation in November, the husband was desperately trying to finish the remodel on our baby barn from Hell before the snow started flying.

He started putting the siding on….

Which was a nightmare of non squared corners and uneven ground.

Yeah, there was a lot of that.

His answer? Plant a shrub in front of it.

He was still using his 1950’s power tools and probably wishing for a larger wheelbarrow.

Siding around the window resulted in some very colorful language.

As did turning the 3rd corner where things didn’t exactly line up.

Unfortunately that’s as far as he got before the weather turned….

And now I have to stare at this split personality horror show until spring.

In other news, our neighbor and her daughter fed our deer while we were gone.

She sent me this picture while we were in Williamsburg, and wanted me to know the child took her responsibility seriously.

And for that she was rewarded.

Flowers for mom and a thank you deer for her daughter.

That little guy cost me a fortune but he was hand made and too damned cute to resist. Look at those feet!

It snowed right after we got back.

But the white stuff sure does make a nice contrast for the sunrise.

We were happy to see our resident buck was still around.

He’s an impressive fellow….

And clearly his women agree.

He’s got quite a little harem going.

With 4 fawns that we know of.

Funny thing is….. as much as I love to travel, it’s sights like these that always make me glad to be home again.

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The baby barn saga continues….

November 11, 2019 Rivergirl 27 Comments

Next up? Permanent walls for the third side.

As opposed to the numerous sets of temporary walls we’ve installed, uninstalled and installed again.

And it’s finally starting to take enough shape for the husband to hang up a few tools.

Of course…. a chain, a pick ax and a shovel might not bode well for me and my oh so helpful ideas.

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The floor is still 2 different levels of dirt thanks to the woodchucks and chipmunks….

But we haven’t had time to deal with it between rain storms.

The husband has also discovered that when I’m busy taking pictures… he can use his head for a brace. It works quite well.

So, walls and roof section on…

The tape was applied.

If you’ve never used the Zip wall and roofing system? Let me tell you… this stuff is golden. I don’t know what the hell they treat it with but once you tape up the seams it stays waterproof for a long time. I think they say 3 months open to the weather, but on our big barn we left it for over a year… through a Maine winter.. and it was fine.

You’re only supposed to use the tape with the Zip pieces, but baby barn has so many gaps and holes we taped everything we could find in preparation for a big upcoming storm.

Did the husband get a little happy with the tar paper caps? Probably, but we get some hellacious wind blowing across the fields.

So, three and half sides are done and it’s battened down for rain and wind.

Maybe it’s just me, but I swear it’s big brother is looking down in disgust.

Sadly, we may not have time or appropriate weather to finish it this year. I seriously wanted shingles on before the snow flies but my husband says the siding and trim have to go on first… something to do with flashing.

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Although what that has to do with anything….

I’m sure I don’t know.

So, fingers crossed we can at least remove that last rotted section soon.

It’s a little too split personality for my taste.

hED0D5F5A

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Another baby barn update.

November 5, 2019 Rivergirl 40 Comments

Next step in the baby barn remodel was the removal of the addition the previous homeowner added.

This was easier said than done….

And at times required multiple beatings with a crowbar.

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Slowly but surely it came down.

And the temporary walls and roof were removed.

Which is when we noticed a wee bit of sag.

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A little lifting…

A little of me saying WTH?

A whole lot of digging….

And propping up later, it was level.

On that side…. which usually throws all the other sides off.

I swear this entire project has been so much work than it needed to be. We could have torn it all down and rebuilt an entire new one in half the time it’s taken us to get this far. Which I believe was my original idea.

Cold weather is fast approaching, and we’re no where near done.

News flash – yours truly will not be out there working in sub zero temps.

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Babies can be annoying.

October 21, 2019 Rivergirl 36 Comments

Let’s face it, there’s going to be a weekly baby barn update for the duration of the deconstruction/construction.

Which, at this point…. I figure will end sometime between Jesus, isn’t it done yet? and If I have to pry one more splinter out of my hand, I’ll shoot myself in the head and call it good.

Walls.

If you’re an immigrant during this administration? Not Good.

If you’re a rotting baby barn circa 1974? Very good.

Here’s a pic of the husband using his vintage (what feels like 50lb) saw.

You’ll notice he’s hunched over and applying pressure. That’s because the damn thing shimmies like a tilt a whirl on crack and might fly apart if you don’t.