Kitchen Electric Upgrade, Part 2, (Phase 1)

In order to finish the wiring job, we had to get under the house to run the new wiring to the panel. Looked around and discovered no easy way to get under. This surprised me. Although I've never been under there, I thought I'd be able to when necessary. Nope.

We ended up having to drill a 2 SF hole in my kitchen floor!



I was shocked that there were no fewer than 5 layers of wood comprising the floor (it'll be hidden under cabinets). On the positive side, that hole will also allow for access when it's time for the great plumbing upgrade. Oh how I'm looking forward to that!

Yesterday, I finished putting the last of the 4 new lighting cans in the ceiling. It was a struggle (remember, we're talking non-standard construction here), but it's done. Two of them are switched up and working. Hope to wire a switch up to the other two today. These switches are all temporary. I want (depending on the price) to install some automated switches you can turn on and off and dim from a distance.

This electrical upgrade is just about done, thanks to Mike Hulbert. Before I cover it all up with sheetrock, I need to look into plumbing issues that might effect this wall.

Kitchen Electric Upgrade, Part 1

The most significant work needs to happen in my kitchen. I need electrical and plumbing upgrades. A friend from my days as an FRC student came up to help me with phase 1 of a very much needed upgrade. This phase:

1. remove old wiring in the kitchen - 110 and 220
2. rewire / add wiring to accommodate electric range, new receptacles and lights

Next phase:

1. upgrade panel to 200 amp service (scheduled for Spring/Summer 2010)

I started by demolishing part of a wall in the kitchen before Mike arrived to expose the existing baffling wire job:

What Happened?

Earlier this Summer, things were moving along nicely. I went through almost everything I own, tossed a bunch, organized most of the rest, transformed my shack into an orderly place to store my belongings and tools, and was about to get some help on some substantial work.

Then, stuff happened. A friend who had agreed to help me put a foundation under the "bad" part of the house, decided to make a life change and just couldn't free anytime for me. I knew I couldn't do this on my own, so I decided to be flexible and focus on the the rest of the house. But, I felt deflated. I went to music camp for about 10 days. This interrupted my flow. Then I got sick. Swine Flu, pneumonia, and poison oak - at the same time. Not good.

By the time I was ready to start again, I was totally out of the groove. Going back to the house, I was getting the same overwhelming resistance I have endured for years. Now it's the end of October and the place is a wreck.
What can I say? I can't think of anything else I've gone through in my life that just ... defeats me like this.

I surmise that part of the problem is this: the house is not just a house. It's a metaphor for much bigger things. So, working on this thing is about confronting my entire existence? Can't seem to compartmentalize (is this a word?) here.

One thing for sure. I'm not giving up. Must keep going ...

Reality Bites

I am forced to make a small change in my program. I'm moving my move-in date from Nov.1 2009 to Nov. 1 2010. Like I said. A small change.

Why?

To be succinct, too much to do, not enough resources.

On the positive side, just finishing up some major electrical work courtesy of my friend Mike Hulbert. Photos coming ...

The State of My Estate

Catatonic.

Help From Friends

Before

I have had an ongoing problem with my front door. It's the result of poor design. The roof slopes over the entrance which means all precipitation including snow ends up dumping right in front of the door. I asked a carpenter friend to help out by coming up with a simple solution to extend the overhang to 3 feet in front of the entrance door. He did. It works. Couldn't have done it myself.

After

It took the 3 of us about 7 hours from start to finish. I will need to paint and touch up but that won't happen until after the siding goes up. Cost: about $600.00

What Not To Do

Some time ago, I worked with a friend to lay some tile on my small bathroom floor. It turned out great! Made a big difference. The next day we walked into the bathroom to inspect the finished product. To my horror, it all cracked! Turns out the floor was slightly spongy - not enough to really notice. You can't do that with tile. The floor has to be absolutely rigid. (Makes sense after the fact.) I didn't know. I was catatonic. We had to pull it all out, add support to the floor and relay the tile. I tried to organize the tile to put it back in the original order. Glue got on top of most of the tiles. Not sure how I'm going to get it off. At least its solid now.

I'm now resigned to the idea that I may have to do everything twice. It's painful to think of having to tear down something I just built, but that may be the price I have to pay.

Moving Forward

Completed a milestone today! I finished turning my shack into a decent, orderly place to store my stuff. In order to get here I had to clean it out first, which means I had to go through practically everything I own. That was hard. Then I started building shelves. Got better at that as I went along. Then I had to start packing it again in order to make room in the house to start the real construction.

Tomorrow I should finish up packing it. Got to cram it as efficiently as possible. Then I'll go on to start working on the house.

Slow Progress

Slowly and painfully, I go on. I've gone through about 85% of my stuff. Now I need to rearrange it somewhere. As I begin work on each room, I need to move the contents somewhere to free up construction access. So, the last few days I've been working on making shelves in the shack to more efficiently hold stuff. Got my drill and saw out. Making them out of 2x4s. Slow and crude, but functional. When that's done, I'll pack it and start working on the music room.

A Little History

My house is not ordinary. It came from an uncommon start. My neighbor, having lived across the street all her life told me all about it. When the old mine shut down, the owners told the miners they could take haul their shacks off the mountain and do what they pleased with them. My lot, purchased by one of those miners was prepared for two of those cabins. The old man built a foundation and did a good job of cobbling together those cabins into a small house. My neighbor says she has photos somewhere of a wedding on the lawn in the 50's.

Next, a couple of young meth-heads bought the place and tried to add onto the house with little more ability than I have. The result is a sub-standard dwelling. A hovel. Then I came along. With little more than good intentions, I dumped all my crap in there and moved out after just a short time to live with my new girlfriend. It's been sitting empty now for years. Mice moved in. Followed by cats. Spiders love it too. Mix in the fits and starts of construction and you get what you see now: a filthy hovel.