Mudding & Sanding Family Room (10/29/15)

Yesterday I finished mudding the family room downstairs and the office window.  Woo hoo!!!  This is the last mudding in the house!!!  I told Evan that this was the end of the mudding and I wouldn't be doing anymore and he said to me "It's all worth it in the end"  How sweet!!  It just melted my heart to hear him say something like that!

Today I spent the entire day sanding.  This is my very least favorite thing to do, but knowing it was the last time I kept a good attitude and didn't curse it the whole time like I usually do :) It was a good time to reflect back on this whole process which began exactly 3 years ago with the floor planning process.  I also scrapped the popcorn ceiling in the old half of the family room next to the bathroom.  I can't even express how beyond happy I am that this is done, it feels so good!  On to painting....I would paint any day all day instead of sanding!

I love sanding...said no one ever!  

Family Room Sheetrock Finished! (10/15/15)

Today Mike finished hanging all the sheetrock in the family room downstairs.  

He changed the window on the left to take out the slant bottom it used to have & make it flat on the bottom

Our last selfie with an unfinished wall ;) Yippee!!

Mike also started the sheetrock in the window in the office.  Originally we were going to put wood trim inside the window, but decided for now to sheetrock it like we did with the windows downstairs so it looks more finished.

Family Room Sheetrock (10/14/15)

Today Mike put up a little more sheetrock in the family room downstairs.  He finished up the wiring on the wall that the bathroom is on and put the sheetrock up on that wall.

Insulation & Hallway Sheetrock Finished (10/13/15)

Today I insulated the last outside wall downstairs.

Mike finished sheetrocking the hallway.  We also got a bunch more stuff cleaned out of the family room so we can get more sheetrock up.

Last Inspections Done!! (10/12/15)

Today we had our last electrical and framing inspections before the final ones.  They both went good, nothing came up which was so exciting!!  We were not worried about anything, but there's always that little wonder if anything will come up.  So now we are free to finish the family room!

We insulated around the furnace room and a little on the wall next to the driveway wall as that part is exterior.  Need to get more thicker insulation for the driveway wall since it is a 2x6 wall.

Mike got the ceiling sheetrocked, in front of the furnace room, and one side of the hallway.  It already looks so different, we are so excited for more progress!

Electrical & Soffit Framing (10/11/15)

Today Mike finished up the electrical downstairs.  There was quite a bit left to do, it took most of the day to finish.  

He also did some framing and made soffits around some plumbing and ducts.

Now we are all set for our electrical and framing inspections tomorrow.

Electrical & Stairs Paint (10/10/15)

Today I got the first coat of paint on the left wall going down the steps.

Right wall shown in pic

Mike did a bunch more electrical downstairs.  He replaced the old electrical panel with a smaller one.  We will leave this one there in addition to the new one we put in the storage room.  He also ran a new main power line between the 2 panels.  He drilled a hole in the side of the house and ran the inlet pipe to the furnace.

Last Wall Framed - Family Room (10/9/15)

Today Mike framed up the last wall in the house in the family room downstairs!  It's so exciting!  It's strange to just get enough lumber for this last wall and not get extra because we'll use it in the next room.  It's strange that as we finish each little thing we can start putting tools and supplies away because they won't be used much anymore.  We'll be calculating how much of the last sheetrock we will need next and just get enough to finish the hall to Evan's room and the family room, then the sheetrocking will be done!  Prior to this project I had one painting shirt and one painting pair of pants, now I have a whole wardrobe of "work" clothes that I wear daily.  It'll be strange not to wear them daily, I'm a little sad.....wait no I'm not...ha!!!!  

We also did a lot of the electrical.  We have a framing and electrical inspection on Monday, looking forward to getting that done and putting up the last of the sheetrock!

I finished mudding the wall on the left side going down the steps, so that is ready to be sanded and painted.

Downstairs Painting & Framing (10/8/15)

Today I painted the area at the bottom of the steps.

Mike framed one of the walls in the new family room.

Knock-Down on Ceiling at Bottom of Steps (10/7/15)

Tonight Mike sprayed the knock-down on the ceiling at the bottom of the steps.

Hallway Popcorn (10/6/15)

Today I scraped the popcorn ceiling in the hallway downstairs going to Evan's room.  When we get the sheetrock up in the hallway I will now be able to mud it all.  

Hallway Framed (10/5/15)

Today Mike framed the hallway to Evan's room.

I finished mudding the area at the bottom of the steps in front of the laundry room.  I sanded it and got the ceiling primed so it is ready for knock-down.

Family Room Lights & Clean Up (10/4/15)

Today Mike wired the new lights in the family room that he installed the other day.  They are now on a normal switch at the bottom of the steps....not hanging from wires in an old box :)  

We are getting closer to being able to frame the family room but since this was our last unfinished room, this is where we've been storing all our tools and supplies for the reno.  Mike was able to take down 2 shelves that we had down there and found a new home for the stuff on it.  There's still a lot more that needs to be cleaned, but it's a really good start!

Plumbing Wrapped up (10/3/15)

Today Mike tied up a bunch of loose ends with the plumbing downstairs.  He got all the waterlines under the steps cleaned up and routed into a manifold.  He hooked up the plumbing to the washer and laundry tub; I did a bunch of laundry in my new laundry room which was awesome!  Hooking up the water-softener is probably the last plumbing thing that needs to be done.

Laundry Room is Finished! (10/2/15)

Today I painted the laundry room and Mike put down the flooring. 

Mike also put in the washer/dryer and the laundry tub.  Wow it feels great to have these next to each other in the same room again!!! :)

Laundry Room Sanded & Ceiling (10/1/15)

Today I sanded the laundry room and primed the ceiling.

Mike sprayed the knock-down on the ceiling.  It is all ready for paint!

Family Room Lights (9/30/15)

Tonight Mike hung the recessed lights in the new family room downstairs on the side closest to the steps.  They still need to be wired.

I finished mudding the laundry room, so it is all ready to be sanded.

Sheetrock around Water Heater Door (9/29/15)

Tonight Mike put the sheetrock around the door that the water heater is behind.