Group 6 1 minute Read

a little here, a little there

Lauren Zerbey

If it seems like we didn’t get as much done this weekend it may be because, between the two of us, we went to Home Depot four times, Lowes twice, a trip to the Environmental Home Center, and a jaunt over to Issaquah for a Craigslist find (a used staple gun to install the shingles).

So here’s what we did accomplish – Kyle focused on putting up the rest of the building paper, installing the basement door, painting the slats at the stoop, spray painting the various mechanical/electrical accoutrements, and installing new hose bibs. I focused on insulating and installing a vapor barrier in the old back porch and new mudroom in addition to masking and priming the trim at the new back door and window.  Most importantly though, we finally removed the.last.of.the.TEAL!! 1965…it was nice knowing you.

This week we finish installing the base trim followed by the routine spackle, sand, caulk, prime and paint. This weekend, weather permitting, it’s shingle time!

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The makeshift painting center.  I might be on a first name basis with the employees at Seattle Paint Supply.

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Bailey investigates the view from the new “future kitchen” window.

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For the furnace exhaust, sub-panel junction box and gas meter (on the other side of the house), we picked a color that would most closely match the cedar shingles. Spray paint, what a concept!

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The LAST PIECE OF TEAL…the old basement door.

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New basement door…we’ll probably end up painting it the blue gray color.

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Thanks to another sunny weekend, we were able to paint the slats at the stoop. Kyle used a small roller to apply the paint and then back brushed them so the texture would match the rest of the house.

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Our insulation strategy has been piecemeal, adding insulation as we redo each room. We’ve been using recycled denim insulation which we LOVE. Not only is it produced from reclaimed denim from the factory floor, but it doesn’t pose the health concerns fiberglass insulation does. Especially important in old houses where framing is likely not a solid 16″ OR 24″ on center, cotton insulation is much easier to cut and handle. That is, of course, if you have this handy insulation saw! We picked it up at Ecohaus (a.k.a. Environmental Home Center) when we bought the insulation. Though a bit intimidating, it works much better than a utility knife or scissors.

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A cozy new blanket for our old porch. We’ll add 6 mil vapor barrier and then leave it as is till next spring when it will become part of the new kitchen!