Welcome to our Karry Reno. This is what the back of the house looks like without its skin. At the moment, you may think we're installing a roman bath, close enough to the back door for easy access. This stage reveals a crawl space, getting ready for framing.
Time wise, we're already a month into the project, having started October 4th. Some weeks have been more productive than others. Nonetheless, everyone who's been to the site has been cheerful and fairly neat about their work. Larry, our contractor, and his partner in crime, Lee have given us peace of mind with this project. Nothing is impossible. We're very blessed to have them overseeing our renovation. Larry and Lee were first on the job, ripping off the brick and the siding, getting ready for the second team.
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| No turning back now! |
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| Brian in quick sand...the crawl space takes shape |
Bob, Brian, and Jim, our first construction team, did the dirty work...literally, as did Jeff, second contractor in command (but GC to the City). These guys dug the hole that would create the foundation for the addition, as well as hauled the dirt to the dump truck that would take the fill. Even Bruce got a load of dirt, as did Rick, to help out with some projects at their own homes. A hot, sunny day saw a dripping wet Jeff. "Now I know what kind of work I don't want to do," he says. The very first day, as Bob is in command of his steel steed, a monster Bobcat digger, he rips through the septic line, located at the corner of the original foundation. Bob swears he's never ever come across anything like this in any of his other projects. (Bob
is French-Canadian, and likes a bit of drama, from what I can tell from
only knowing him a few days.) His sidekick, Jim, just keeps smiling. Mr.
Optimist.The doubt and worry starts early. "What if we have to relocate the septic tank? We're screwed! What's the inspector going to say? Better cover that up..." Ah well, we got to dream, if only for a month or so. I figured the project would be called off in an instant. Calm, cool, Jeff is sent to the building supply store, Turkstra Lumber in Waterdown, for PVC pipe, and some type of glue or adhesive, to repair the plastic pipe that The pipe is repaired, good as new, and the inspector arrives to see the initial dig. Bob is tap dancing, trying to appease this other French Canadian however he can. Again, calm, cool JK steps in, asks the questions as a "newbie" just to understand the scenario, with respect to drainage and such, and the issue goes away. "So, if there's too much rain water, can't it just be pumped out if the drainage isn't installed before the rains? Ah, common sense prevails. Good man, that WJK. Now the construction of the crawl space/ bunker can continue. Plywood creates the mold for the soon-to-be cement walls of the foundation of the new room. Soon the cement truck arrives with yet another construction dude, one who looks just like the lead singer for ELO, Jeff Lynne...big, dark afro-type hair, sunglasses, and his own twist of vogue- a red ball cap...Those boys and their Tonka toys...
Here was the next important step in the process...making our own mark in the world. Lexi and her friend, Alison, had initially inscribed their names in the cement wall of the crawl space, then realized their autographs would be covered up with real walls later, so Jeff, some hours after the cement floor of the crawl space had been poured, stuck a ladder inside the cement coffin for Lex to climb down and recreate her inscriptions for real, adding a toonie as well. It was pitch black, so Lex, aided with only a flashlight and the handle of a stainless steel knife, scraped the names and the coin into the cement as best she could. This was the result...forever. Now you'll have to fold yourself inside the small door that leads to the creepy, spider-ridden crawl space to see these names, but no matter!
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| Our names in stone...forever |
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