First Windows

The windows are finally being installed, here are some of the first ones put in. We now have to figure out what to do with the area around the windows. The house is getting to look a wreck now, I guess it will get worse before it gets better.


You can see here where the workers are removing what was the original window area and re-framing to be accommodate the new windows. You can see how big the openings are in comparison with the workers.


The back of the house has two windows, one on each side of the second floor. There will be a garage eventually so only two can be installed; too bad it would have been such a nice view.


Two of the second floor windows.

The Windows are Here

The windows have been delivered and the framing out and installation begins. The window holes have been, as Tony would say, "Hogged Out" and framed; at least the process started.


The view on the second floor; the hole on the right has been framed to the proper size, just waiting for the window to be installed.


The windows stand at the ready. We purchased the Integrity Wood-Ultrex series windows with the Simulated-Divided-Lites(SDL). We also had them pre-finished on both sides. In a building like this we wanted to make them look as authentic as possible. These windows have the grills on both sides so they really look like individual panes of glass. Having grills between the glass may make it easier to wash but we just don't like the look.

Porch and Pantry

Some of the framing for the pantry was done last week, the front needs to be added; it will have no door, just an opening in the front. The area where the sledge hammer with the yellow handle is, will be where the refrigerator will go.


Work is being done on the outside also, most of the siding has been removed. The overhang over the porch has been removed and today my wife and I removed the ramp from the porch. The ramp was in the way of where a trench will be dug for the pipe from the well to the house. In Connecticut, it's a law that you must call, "Call Before You Dig" a service that coordinates with the utility companies to make sure that you are not digging where a power or gas line is buried. It does not make any difference where you are digging, even if it were in the middle of a field or a dirt road, you must call. It also doesn't make a difference how deep you dig. They should be out Monday or Tuesday.

Siding Coming Off - Rooms Being Laid Out

They really got busy tearing off the siding. This is the front and the wood is looking real good. As far as I can tell the vinyl siding was put on in the 70's. Luckily, the siding was in good shape when they covered it up.


This is one of the sides which is almost all stripped of siding. You can see above the windows there was once dentil molding, unfortunately it was removed when they put on the siding. Also, the staining which is very evident on this side is from guano(bat droppings). There is some repair that needs to be done but overall it is not in bad shape.


The rooms have been laid out and tomorrow the walls will be put up...hopefully finished by tomorrow. The two squares on the back wall to the left are bathrooms, in the far corner is a closet, the broom is where the refrigerator is, just behind is another closet, beside those, in the foreground is a big pantry, and in the back, is the bedroom, where the saw is. I was standing in the kitchen area when I took this photo.

Roughed in Stairs

Today Tony finished the rough stairs; the final steps will be added when the flooring is added. This is looking up the stairs to the attic, a door will be added to the bottom. These are 4 feet wide, for once we will be able to get things up the stairs without killing ourselves.


A view from the first floor. The stairs will be enclosed.


A view from the attic, we will not fall down the stairs now.

Wood for the Dumpster

When we bought the building it was full of wood that was saved by the former owner. We thought that we could you most of it in construction but on further review, most was unusable for our needs. So, here it is all stacked up ready to be taken to the dump.


Here is a neatly piled stack of wood as I said above it is unusable for what we needed it for. These boards were cracked or broken, not something I would want exposed in my house.


This is one full dumpster, it took us about eight hours to neatly stack all of that wood into this dumpster. If we just threw it in it would have never fit, also you cannot go over the rim. There is a minimum charge for a dumpster, they charge you for four tons, and if it goes over they charge for the extra tonnage. I would rather pay for an extra ton than be charged the minimum. But, we will need another dumpster for all the siding that is coming off, and will most likely fill that.


Here it is, we got it all to fit with nothing over the top.

Back Wall Done/Siding Coming Off

The Back Wall is finally fully sheeted and Tyvek applied, and none too soon; five inches of rain is expected the weekend.


A view of the inside of the back wall from the second floor. No more tarp!


With the framing out of the windows the siding has to be removed. We decided to go with the existing wood siding. We like the look much better than vinyl. But, we have a lot of scraping to do. Actually, the siding is in fairly good shape since being hidden from the weather for the last 30 - 40 years. We are trying to decide how to frame out the windows now. We are thinking of putting wide trim to meet the existing trim from the original windows and put a panel between the top and bottom. Any ideas?


Siding being removed from the other side of the building.

Back Wall Almost Done

Work is continuing on sheeting the back wall. One more day of work and I think that should be it.


The siding is being removed to allow the windows to be installed. As you can see, there were large windows on the side of the building, it is my guess that they were removed when the church was converted to the Grange. There will be two windows in each of these areas, one over the other. We are still deciding what to do with the space between the two windows; once in we will decide. We think we will put a flat panel between the top of the bottom window and the bottom of the top window. We will make the final decision once we have the windows in. It looks like we will not be putting on vinyl siding but scraping and painting the wood siding.


Unfortunately, vinyl siding hides the problem areas such as rot. Here is a little that will need some work.

Start of Back Wall Sheeting

The back wall on the second floor is almost completed; just a few final touches.


Sheeting is replacing the tarp on the back of the building. By tomorrow the wall will be completely sheeted with plywood.


Tony let us know yesterday that he needed the holes patched in the chimney. These holes were for stoves and the old furnace. I guess he thought it prudent to patch he holes before he closed it up in the wall...go figure. Luckily, we called a company in Torrington, CT who came right out. Before they patched the hole they inspected the chimney and found the clay liner had some cracks, so they put a stainless steel replacement liner into the clay liner as well as patching the holes and installing a clean-out. A cost that we did not count on but it is much better than causing a fire down the road...safety first.

Framing Continues

Last week was very productive for our builder. The front wall on the second floor has been framed out. This wall is 12 feet high and faces the greatroom. This will be closed off until phase three of our project; the second floor will just be the attic until we finish it off. The slot in the floor will house a 4 foot wide stairway to the second floor. Our current stairway is 25 inches wide with a 90 degree turn on the bottom, as you can imagine, it is very difficult to bring up furniture; we did not want that to be the case in the new house.


This is the back wall which has also been framed out, this week it will be sheeted with plywood.


Another photo of "under the tarp", there are some great beams under there. We are leaning toward leaving the existing flat ceiling. looking up 21 feet might be high enough.


There is no sign of the bats that are supposed to live in the peaks of the building, either the are hibernating in some distant corner or another building maybe moved to a local cave with other bats. There is a chance they died of "white nose syndrome", I talked with the former owner and he said he did see some bats with this malady. Just in case, the carpentry crew put a couple of these Riddex Pest Control devises. I don't know if they work but the guys want all their bases covered.

We see what is under the tarp

We finally see what is under the tarp; some nice beams! No sign of the bats...yet. We are entertaining the thought of just leaving the large beams and go right up to the roof in the Greatroom. We have to work out how to insulate the ceiling. Stay tuned on what we decide.


A lot of progress was made today, this is the decking that was installed on the second floor today.


The work crew making good progress.


This is the view from the second floor looking to the front of the house.


The first floor is coming together; the walls will be framed out shortly.

We are ordering the windows tomorrow, we will need 22 windows, 8 per side, 4 on the front and two in the back.

Framing Has Begun

The framing of the walls has begun. This view is from the Great Room, behind this wall will be the stairway going to the second floor. This wall is very wide to accommodate the steel I-beam; they need wood to nail to on the second floor.


The joists for the second floor are also being installed. Today, more studs are being installed and the rest of the week the second floor joists and decking will be installed. Things will really start taking place. We have to order the windows very soon.