Tag Archives: paint

office, paint

Back to work

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1-dsc_3853Now that the garage floor is clean and clear of obstacles, Steven moves on to his next project — staining the plywood that will become the desks in his office.

Actually … These are the plywood desks from his old office at Sea Eagle. Steven saved the wood to re-use it. Thinking ahead, as always.

Today, he sanded the bare wood bottoms and patched the holes with wood filler, and sanded what were the polyurethaned desktops, giving them “bite” for an application of stain or spray paint.

The desktops will be black — drama against the white walls.

The first coat of stain will need “sanding” with steel wool. Then a second coat of stain. Maybe a third.

The shelf brackets that will brace the wood to the walls are already on order.

cleaning, paint

Back to work, kinda

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First Monday at Emerald Hill. Kiss the wife on her way out the door to work. Walk 10 steps to the new office, sit down, log on, hey ho it’s off to work I go.

Time out at noon to meet with Noemi and David — cleaner and painter — at Sea Eagle. Joined by Sari, the real estate agent, who is walking another painter through the house. We have to paint the office, master bedroom and bath, and Jadin’s bedroom, fix the trim at Jadin’s bath and in the kitchen, to prep the house for sale.

Sari’s painter delivers an estimate on notebook paper while standing in the kitchen. It’s half the cost of the painter we spoke with late last week.

The quotes from Noemi and David arrive by text late Monday. Both get the gigs — because we’ve seen their work at Emerald Hill. David hits Steven’s budget wish. Jacquela and Steven are bleeding cash at this point in the process.

After dinner, Jacquela and Steven go back to taking apart Boxland …

For bedtime entertainment, since Austin is setting records for heat, Steven turns on the air conditioning for the first time. Pleased to report it works.

carpentry, doors, flooring, garage, hardware, low-voltage wiring, network wiring, punch list, Ranserve, structured wiring

T minus 7 days

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The port-a-potty was taken away five days ago. We’re 24 hours closer to moving in — and Team Ranserve is working through the punch list.

Above … Jacinto from Ranserve today began to scrape the old linoleum tiles off the floor in the old garage. We suspect one of the previous owners converted the garage into a rec room. We want to park the cars and use the space for storage and tools.

Catching up ... the whole-house surge suppressor that the electricians installed a couple of days back -- at the bottom of the electrical panel.
Catching up … the whole-house surge suppressor that the electricians installed a couple of days back — at the bottom of the electrical panel.
Odell chiseled the door frames to fit the strike plates for the deadbolts.
Odell chiseled the door frames to fit the strike plates for the deadbolts.
The painters continue to polish off the house, finishing off the ceiling where the balusters are inserted through the drywall into lumber framing.
The painters continue to polish off the house, finishing off the ceiling where the balusters are inserted through the drywall into lumber framing.
Tyler from Granite Security installs a network wall plate at the TV wall in the family room.
Tyler from Granite Security installs a network wall plate at the TV wall in the family room.
Odell cuts open the back panel of the shelf end of the island, to install an electrical box for the network ports.
Odell cuts open the back panel of the shelf end of the island, to install an electrical box for the network ports.
With Odell done, Tyler snaked the pre-wired Ethernet cable into the new electrical box and punched the wires to the connector.
With Odell done, Tyler snaked the pre-wired Ethernet cable into the new electrical box and punched the wires to the connector.
The connectors on the plug are color coded and labeled, making it easy to match the proper wire.
The connectors on the plug are color coded and labeled, making it easy to match the proper wire.
bath, HVAC, paint, Window

Small steps forward

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Ron handed the house over to the painters and one of the HVAC installers.

Above, Benito spends his days working methodically around Emerald Hill, room by room, baseboard by baseboard, wall by wall, hunting down nail holes to fill with putty, paint runs to sand and refinish, scuffed up drywall to touch up. Here he is in the kitchen, working in the cubby that will be home to the refrigerator.

DJ from Elite Air Conditioning arrived with baffles, bulbs and grilles for bathroom ventilation. Here he hooks the grille to the exhaust fan in the ceiling of the laundry room -- after first installing the fan module and motor.
DJ from Elite Air Conditioning arrived with baffles, bulbs and grilles for bathroom ventilation. Here he hooks the grille to the exhaust fan in the ceiling of the laundry room — after first installing the fan module and motor.
In the master shower, DJ installed the Panasonic LED light kit and grille.
In the master shower, DJ installed the Panasonic LED light kit and grille.
This is the LED light that DJ will install in the water closet of the master bath. This LED uses a GU-10 base with two pins. The fins on the side are heat sinks.
This is the LED light that DJ will install in the water closet of the master bath. This LED uses a GU-10 base with two pins. The fins on the side are heat sinks.
JD and his successful install of the GU-10 LED.
JD and his successful install of the GU-10 LED.

With Jacquela’s approval, Steven today ordered shades for the windows in the office, master bedroom and library.

carpentry, doors, electrical, garage, kitchen, paint, remodeling

Door stop

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As busy as yesterday — painters, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, team Ranserve, garage door installers — today was quiet. One painter working inside Emerald Hill.

Steven cleaned up a pile of lumber at the back of the new garage, swept the floor clean, assembled plastic shelving, as preparation for moving boxes. He installed LED lights to the outdoor motion detectors and garage motors. Delivered a supply of shelf liner to the pantry for Jacquela’s kitchen. Found a ding in the glass globe of the ceiling fan in the family room, tagging it with blue tape.

The house was quiet. No radios playing. No nail guns firing. No bodies dancing around each other. It’s a preview of what it might be like for Steven to be home, working in the office, with everyone gone.

Above, yesterday, Shane and Peter installed the massive door stops at the back and kitchen side doors. We need these to ensure the doors don’t slam into cabinets.

Speaking of doors, here's the front door, test fitted by Shane and Peter -- Jacquela's red.
Speaking of doors, here’s the front door, test fitted by Shane and Peter — Jacquela’s red.
An empty house with electricity is a place to experiment. Steven worked the kitchen light switches for the first time.
An empty house with electricity switched on for less than 24 hours is a place to experiment. Steven worked the kitchen light switches for the first time. Seven six-inch cool-white LEDs arrayed in a U-shaped pattern over the aisles of the kitchen — one of the seven not visible in this photo. Plus the straight line of four four-inch warmer white LEDs over the island — Aldebaran, Regulus, Antares and Fomalhaut.
carpentry, paint, Ranserve

The Big Reveal begins

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Above, the Big Reveal begins. The fence and gate around Emerald Hill comes down — a milestone. The fence went up at the start of demo. The kimono is open.

It may be Caucus Day in Iowa, but today begins what promises to be the final month of construction. We begin with one man down. Ron Dahlke continues his recovery from a virus. Steven arrived about 9 am attempting to keep up with carpenters, painters, garage door installers, electricians, as well as Kris, Matt and Kevin from Ranserve.

Today marks the return of Kevin to Emerald Hill after his diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes. Steven asks Kevin to speak with Jacquela about life with a pump, meter, blood sugar levels ...
Today marks the return of Kevin to Emerald Hill after his diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes. Steven asks Kevin to speak with Jacquela about life with a pump, meter, blood sugar levels …
Matt and Kris evicted the owl from the duct outside the master bedroom by banging on the ductwork. No harm was done to the owl, which flew off of its own accord. Kris sealed all three ducts with heavy construction paper to keep the owl from returning.
Matt and Kris evicted the owl from the duct outside the master bedroom by banging on the ductwork. No harm was done to the owl, which flew off of its own accord. Kris sealed all three ducts with heavy construction paper to keep the owl from returning.
DAvid Garcia's paint crew continues to finish out trim.
DAvid Garcia’s paint crew continues to finish out trim.
Peter reinstalls trim in the water closet to bath 2. The glass installers removed this trim to put in the oversized glass door and fixed panel.
Peter reinstalls trim in the water closet to bath 2. The glass installers removed this trim to put in the oversized glass door and fixed panel.
Shane gets prone on the floor of bath 2 and reaches under the vanity to install a missing baseboard. Tight fit, but committed. Power tools are too large to squeeze under the shelf.
Shane gets prone on the floor of bath 2 and reaches under the vanity to install a missing baseboard. Tight fit, but committed. Power tools are too large to squeeze under the shelf.
At about 1 pm, Peter and Shane began to test hang the front door.
At about 1 pm, Peter and Shane began to test hang the front door.

 

appliances, electrical, exterior, flooring, garage, kitchen, paint

Notes, 30 Jan. 2016

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Saturday morning. Jacquela and Steven visit Emerald Hill.

Above, Jacquela set the correct time on the oven. It’s the only appliance that is powered, so far. Along with the GFCI circuits. The electricians are scheduled to arrive next week to test everything, now that the residential meter is installed and power is delivered to the house.

 

Above, we started in the garage, where the painters have stacked trim lumber in two locations -- moving it all to the side of the new bay, clearing obstructions away from where the garage doors are on schedule to be installed next week. We're also creating storage space -- we hope to start moving in and stacking boxes as Ranserve finishes construction. In the photo above, at left -- painter supplies. Lumber stacked along the back wall of the new bay. Ladders leaning against the pole that helps to support the beam that carries the weight of the new structure where it joins the existing garage. Drywall supplies to the right of the ladders. Old lumber taken out of the back wall of the existing garage when it was removed, stacked here in front of the original two-car garage door for removal by Ron Dahlke, who plans to recycle it. That door is trashed after decades of use, and it will be replaced.
Jacquela and Steven started in the garage, where the painters built two stacks of trim lumber in two locations — blocking everyone’s ability to move easily through the garage. We picked up everything and shifted it all to the side of the new bay, clearing obstructions away from where the garage doors are on schedule to be installed next week. We’re also creating storage space — we hope to start moving in and stacking boxes as Ranserve finishes construction. In the photo above, at left — painter supplies. Lumber stacked along the back wall of the new bay. Ladders leaning against the pole that helps to support the beam that carries the weight of the new structure where it joins the existing garage. Drywall supplies to the right of the ladders. Old lumber taken out of the back wall of the existing garage when it was removed, stacked here in front of the original two-car garage door for removal by Ron Dahlke, who plans to recycle it. That door is trashed after decades of use, and it will be replaced.

David Garcia and his team of painters are pulling up the heavy paper that has protected the floors through construction, sweeping out debris and vacuuming the baseboards, then rolling out new, clean paper. It’s amazing to see the hickory floors exposed, however briefly.

The master bedroom.
The master bedroom.
The loft.
The loft.
Rolling out the new paper to protect the wood floors.
Rolling out the new paper to protect the wood floors.
Late Friday, the team from Gilsa Construction transplanted three bushes to the left side of the house. They were located at the right side, where Gilsa built the new walk. Steven soaked the roots. We'll see if these survive.
Late Friday, the team from Gilsa Construction transplanted three bushes to the left side of the house. They were located at the right side, where Gilsa built the new walk. Steven soaked the roots. We’ll see if these survive.
carpentry, concrete, exterior, paint

Notes, 28 Jan. 2016

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Inside the house, Shane and Peter are carving up pocket doors to install hardware — plus towel bars, toilet paper holders, floor and wall stops, and more.

Outside, David Garcia and his team of painters are priming the back of the new garage structure — bright white.

But … in front, the first coat of barn red exterior paint is up. Perfect!

David, at left, on the ground, with roller, at the back of the garage structure, painting primer, with team.
David, at left, on the ground, with roller, at the back of the garage structure, painting primer, with team.
At the rear of the garage, Gilsa is regrading the dirt to ensure water runs off away from the garage foundation. This entire strip of bare dirt will be covered with weed block fabric and then black gravel.
At the rear of the garage, Gilsa is regrading the dirt to ensure water runs off away from the garage foundation. This entire strip of bare dirt will be covered with weed block fabric and then black gravel.
doors, exterior, paint

Sunday tour

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We’re back in Austin. Jacquela and Steven toured Emerald Hill with Hilary, older sister of Jadin’s friend Kara — checking in quickly to see what we missed while traveling in California.

The front door is VERY red. Painted the color that Jacquela selected.
The front door is VERY red. Painted the color that Jacquela selected.
The yellow and blue paints that Jadin selected for her bedroom are up on the walls for the first time.
The yellow and blue paints that Jadin selected for her bedroom are up on the walls for the first time.
And the paint selections carry over into bedroom 1 at the front of the house.
And the paint selections carry over into bedroom 1 at the front of the house.
Forms for the front walk now extend to the street.
Forms for the front walk now extend to the street.