April 26 Construction Update - Framing Started and New Sinks

Hello everyone, it's Cayce.  Here's a brief update on construction.  I've started framing in the hallway for the Unit 2 staircase.  It's an odd space, since I've converted an internal staircase and am going to make the old mid-point landing a storage shelf.  This might seem a bit confusing now, but will make sense a little later!

The house itself is 101 years old, and has settled.  As such, making framing plumb and square can be a bit tricky at times.  In this case the floor slopes downwards slightly as we move inwards from the exterior foundation wall.

This double header will be tied back into the landing / "new storage platform" using a 2x6 and several new 2x4s and hangers.  That's one of my next steps and I'll post a new entry about it when completed.

Also, this week I had a stroke of luck.  I was dropped by large plumbing supply store, just 10 minutes before they closed.  I told them that I was going to be redoing 3 bathrooms in a rental house.  One of the managers there asked if I needed any vanities.  I replied somewhat indifferently, then she pointed over at a display of 4 of them and said take any of those for $100.    Two of them had integrated seamless sinks and tops, one with a Delta faucet and the other a Moen.  Just the Delta faucet was more than $100 retail, not to mention the cabinet or sink.  The Oak cabinet is solid hardwood.  I new a deal when I saw one and immediately shook her hand to seal the deal.  

 

Next she went to go ring it up, and she swore.  She asked a sales associate if the cabinet was some-model-or-another, as well as the sink top.  The sales clerk said yes, and that she thought that the manager knew that.  Apparently, they normally sell just the cabinet for $450! She'd mistakenly thought that it was a particle board or plywood laminate model cabinet.  Ha!  We'd just shaken hands on the deal so they were stuck with selling the whole deal to me, Delta faucet and all for $100. 

2008

A blast from the past!  Remember this Avi?

And recently Belle and Avi sent me more flowers!  Very nice work, thanks Belle!

Sistering a Joist

After cutting away the floor, I had a hand from a worker of mine to sister a joist.  Four of the old joists had been cut away in large part by what I imagine was a very thoughtless plumber. 

Here's a look at the joists and floor underneath what used to be the 2nd floor bathroom.  Many years ago, a plumber cut away the top areas of these joists to make room for pipes.  Over time, there was also extensive water damage.  As such, these joists are weak and need to be jacked-up and sistered.  I've got a 2 1/2 ton floor jack and a 4x6 beam that I'll use for that purpose.

Here's another view. Note the white marks and notches in the joists.  I've already sistered several of them, and you can see the structural connectors that were used.

Here's a view from the other direction.

That electrical wire is in the way and needs to be moved tomorrow before I can sister that corresponding joist.

I had to notch the joist in 2 areas -- at the far end  next to the wall, and also to accept the original structural beam.

First we test-fitted the beam.  Next we took it down to apply construction adhesive.  Also, I used an angle grinder to cut away several nails that would have been in the way.

After ***MUCH***  pounding with a 3-lb hammer and 5-lb sledge hammer, we finally got the board into place.

The last step was to jack up the paired joists with the 2.5 ton floor jack, and then when it was level, to use structural connectors to affix the new joist to the old one.  Tomorrow I'll move the electrical wire and get this part of the job done.

Construction Update - Cutting Back 2nd Floor For Staircase Header

Hello everyone! Here's an update on construction at my house.  It's been a loooooong time and a cold winter, so quite a lot has changed since my last update of this sort.  Yesterday I worked on two significant tasks on the house.  The first was to cut back the second level floor and joists so that there is enough "run" or space to be able to construct building-code compliant stairs down to a new landing and exterior door.   The second project is to sister a number of cut-away joists that hold up the main second unit bathroom.  These joists are long... about 16 feet each, so inserting them and jacking them up is a bit tricky.  More on that in a second post.  For now, take a look at the work to prepare for building the staircase.

Here is a view of the area on the second floor that needs to be cut back.  If it's not cut back and I build the stairs, then the stairway will be too steep, and it will fail the building inspection.

Here's a view from the bottom.  Actually I have already cut away the new double header that I'd originally built.  This was added primarily to strengthen the structure at the bottom of the old staircase that leads up to the third floor.

Another angle.

Here are my initial measurements and cuts.  I used a laser on the bottom side to ensure that everything was straight and square, and drilled small pilot holes up through the floor (which is about 2.5" thick).  I used my circular saw to make the bulk of the cut.  I set the initial depth to be shallow, then increased the depth by ~1/2" until it was fully extended.  Next, I used my sawzall to cut the joists

 

The last cut was along the right side, and ... "voila!" the whole floor section dropped down the the first floor.

...like so!

Here's a closer look at the piece.

....and another.

Here's a close-up of the cut itself.

The view from the top-down.

The view from the opposite side.

Next, it's time to sister the joists that run underneath this floor.   Stay tuned for my next post.

Happy Birthday Dad

April 19th was my father's birthday.  In his memory I decided to make his traditional and favorite birthday cake - strawberry shortcake.  My mother has made if for him every single year since they were together.  She told me that when they were younger, strawberries were only available "in season" and that they had to wait until late April -- my father's birthday -- in order to get strawberries.  Things have certainly changed over the years!

Once I got home from the grocery store, I realized that I'd forgotten whipped cream!  Whoops

Since I was out of bowls, I had to use a plate.  Not the most "dep" cake, but it was delicious.  

It was sooooo good that I had some for breakfast this morning also.  PS: Next year I'll work on the presentation and make some whipped cream also!  Perhaps we can make this for Avi and Belle when we visit :)

Belle's Clock and New Books!

Hello everyone! A quick post on my lunch break today.  I was in CT yesterday and picked up a few things for Belle and Avi to enjoy.  New books! I always love a bookstore.  Before my client dinner, I had about 30 extra minutes and found a Barnes and Noble.  

Here's what I got!  

First, a Hello Kitty clock!  I figure that this will help Belle to become interested in "telling time" and also give her more practice with numbers.

These look fun! Belle loves animals, and **really** loves "baby animals".  These are beginner reading books, so I hope that Avi and she enjoy them.  If they do, there are more in this set. I picked topics that Belle would be interested in.  Let's see if she likes them!

This is a thicker book, and is more substantial.  It has colorful photos and lots of animals, and contains a bunch of stories that Avi can read to and with Belle.

Here's and example... a dog that is helping some Kittens.

Ooooh! :D A green "thing"... pretty imaginative!

And what story book would be complete without a dragon (even if it is a dream dragon).

Last but not least is the "Princess Book".  Belle loves princesses!  Of course she should, she's "Princess Aurora"  This book has very thick pages (like 3/8" or 1/2 cm).  I wanted a book that she's like handling on her own. 

And here is the other side of our "princess"!

Being a princess she has to look "dep"....of course! Check out her closet, clothes and accessories.  I think this will be right up Belle's alley!

Breakfast Before Work

Good morning, good morning.  Today I'm off to a client meeting in CT ... for the second time this week.  I awoke at 6 AM and had an early start.  Last night I fell asleep early and skipped dinner, so a good, hearty breakfast was definitely in order. 

Between Monday morning and Wednesday night, I'll have driven a total of about 850 miles or 1370 km for work this week.

After careful thought and deliberation, I decided upon Cracker Barrel.  Take a look... ngon ko?

I'm going to hit the road.  Everyone have a great day!

Belle's New Ironing Set!! Sharing on Web Cams.

Hello everyone!  This is Cayce.  Last night Belle and Avi and I met on cam, and I saved some screen caps to show you.

Avi's best friend recently gave Belle an ironing set.  Belle loves it! Now she can help her mom to iron clothes.  Belle showed my on cam last night, and even "iIroned" one of my shirts "through the cam" Hahaha! She has such a great imagination and always wants to help everyone out.

Ok! Enough words... check it out!

Here's Belle's new iron.  Check it out!  Pink and with steam and temperature controls.

...and also a green ironing board! Wow .. this set is fancy and cool.

 Belle also has 3-4 small hangers.  Once she finished ironing her clothes, she hangs them on the hanger.

Voila! Now she's showing me how her hanger is ready for the drying rack.

...and what a drying rack it is! Pink and purple and it even goes "round-and-round"!  Note the pink clothespin that Belle used to hold the shirt onto the hanger.  She calls them "clippers".  So cute XOX.  Whew! Belle ironed and hung 3 pieces of clothing to show me her ironing set.  What a good girl and hard worker!

Little did I know though that the laundry rack also doubles as a horn!  Belle was playing her horn for me, and then held it up to the webcam so that I could play too. 

Happy Easter Everyone.S2

I promised that I'll have him a blog by morning so I'm trying my best to create something :P.
There's so many things to write, Im confused:D...How 's everyone's holiday?We didn't celebrate Easter  heree either:(...
:D so I'll write about Belle's doing.She's been amazingly sweet little girl and love animal so much ...Even those insect that we're not supposed to love :P like ants, mosquito.since she believes all animals ( living things in her dictionary) have family,mom and dad, who r waiting for them. So instead of kill them or play with them, she let them go ( even waving bye bye) when an ant pass by her window, so they can go home with their parents. ^_^ (wish adult's world will be as sweet, with no crime and hate,so no one wish a ticket back to childhood:-s)
 And secondly, she's growing up in her mind. So she realizes it'd be embarrassing peeing in her pant in public, or the " wombs " will eat her teeth if she doesn't brush her teeth properly. Despite some accidents here and there, she's managing to run into toilet whenever she feels like she need to pee ( eventho she forgot to pull her undies off sometime, its just so happy seeing her growing, and getting this part done). And Daddy, she's using the electric toothbrush now and loves it:D...she likes everything going circle and circle:)...ANd it makes her feel like her teeth r cleaner.Another relief :P...
 And one more thing that I didnt intent to write about, but then u might ask if u see some photos..so...april 9th is my bday:"> its a quarter of a century I've been living on earth, and I consider its 1/3 of my life.:P So I have some bday pictures, some pictures with dolls, and some random things:P...

   She's at the park trying to catch a butterfly :) She really loves her Panda recently

  AT the playground with cousin Jimmy :)

    On a day out , she's just happy to go out,no matter what

  Belle is feeding daddy her cracker:P

   Just wake up:D Morning starshine ^^

  Belle is at the pool:P

  Building her tower.Her dream is to build it at tall at she is, never quite succeed:D

  Easter dress: Im going out ^^

   This is 2 sides of my birthday cake. My brother got it for me, I love chocolate and coffee but it actually a pig shape. SO My brothers asked the staff to put some cat's mustache and write the word:" cat not pig" :D
 ( and Im actually 25, but in vn tradition, we count 1 year in the womb too, so I'm 26:">)

  Here is my stepmother, my brother and his girlfriend with me and Belle :*

  And here's Belle with her doll. ( I have plenty more in other cam, but i need a cable to transfer, so I'll upload more soon)
   Oh and one last cute thing about Belle is she's singing her own songs. She has 2 now: Fun, fun, funny day, its a funny day. and the second song is: Music's everywhere, i love music everywhere :X;X..its duper cute^^
hope everyone like it...Nexttime i'll come up with st more interesting.
 Oh, and she's currently mimic daddy's at :"how about"...she's" how about" about everything :))
 much love
Avi