Bathroom Tile

Before we head off for Thanksgiving vacation, first to Western NY and then to Long Island, I'll post our latest accomplishments in the cottage. 

Ron has been busy tiling the bathroom.  He is almost finished but we still need to find a vanity first.  We were going to use the one from Christine's bathroom but decided it was too big and would crowd the bathroom so we will keep our eyes open for the right one.  Come on Craigslist... Daddy needs a vanity. 

800 pieces of tile .... and I need more!  Still have to grout it as well.

While Ron has been tiling I've painted woodwork, doors, a bathroom cabinet and the guest bedroom.

Woodwork

Bedroom doors

Bathroom cabinet

 

 

Guest bedroom - starting to put woodwork on.

 

Shower

Tile with trim

Toilet area

While we are making good progress we had one setback.  Our well driller went 150 feet and didn't hit water. We have a very expensive hole in the side yard though. The rent will be going up Trish!!! ;-) That means that we will have to draw from the lake which is what we do for the other cottage. 

When we return we will grout the bathroom, paint the main bedroom (up until now we were cutting tile in there) and start putting in the kitchen and island countertops, and the backsplash.  I was going to show a picture of the backsplash but I'll make you wait for the next blog.

Now it's time to rest for a while and spend time with the family.  We need a break as we've worked almost daily to get a lot done.  Although discouraged about the well, we'll muddle on after Thanksgiving.  Is that a light at the end of the tunnel I see? 

Kitchen fun



No this is not a new Olympic sport and lucky the neighbors are gone or they would think that we are crazy but we moved appliances from the garage yesterday into the cottage.

 

 

Gentle Garvey Movers

Over the river and through the woods

 

 

Now the Frig.

The lower cabinets and island have been installed.

It is starting to look like a kitchen

The island now is anchored

Mounting an upper cabinet

It's coming together

Admiring his work .... actually thinking about what's next.





We still have to do the countertops and backsplash.  I can't wait to see it all done though because we found some really nice tile for both.  I think it will look great.

 

Next up will be Ron tiling the bathroom and I will paint the bedrooms.



Grouting, Kitchen Cabinets and Well Drilling

 

The work continues but I am a bit behind in blogging so I'll try to catch you up on our progress.  Ron completed laying all the tile in the main room and then before we headed back to Western New York we wanted to get the grouting and glazing done.  It is a back and knee breaking job but we got it finished so that we could enjoy our visit with our parents and Lou and Judy. 

 

Ron tackling the grouting

 

This is tedious work

 

Wow there's a lot of tile!

 

Half of the tile has been wiped down.

Oh my aching back

Not my best side but not as bad as some of the other pictures that Ron took while I was doing this.

 

Turn about is fair play

It has been slow going on the well.  The weather hasn't exactly cooperated but Larry is making progress.  You can see him here through the window.

Larry the well driller.

Tiling, Kitchen Cabinets and Well Drilling

The work continues . . .  Taking our "recycled" cabinets we have been playing with the layout to see how to best configure the kitchen.  Before we can install that though we need to finish the flooring.

 

Kitchen set-up - Cabinets still need to be painted.

 

View of kitchen from the front of the cottage.  There will be an island.

 Along with the tiling and cabinets work has begun on drilling a well.  I'll have to get a picture of Larry who is in charge of the well.  Here is the equipment.  I'm jealous - we don't even have a well at our house.  Cross your fingers that we get good water.

Well drilling equipment

Bathroom fan and light - Eric does this look familiar?

Canister lights are all installed.
 

 We not only have lights but the three electric baseboard heaters make it much more pleasant when working.

Painting cabinets - Oh Joy!

Another Hand-me-down from Eric and Colleen. - Bathroom light

Clowning around at the end of a work day.

Tile, Tile and more tile.





As you can see Ron is almost finished with the tiling in the main area of the cottage.  We may be able to get the grouting done before we go home this weekend. When we get back we will install the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 



Painting Fun!





Although it may not look like it from the pictures a lot has been happening at the cottage. We have laid down the Durorock in preparation for tiling. With 40+ screws in each 3 x 5 sheet Ron has been busy. 

 

 

 

Durorock is down.

 

 

After laying the Durorock we primed the entire inside of the cottage.

 

Painting Fun!



How do I always seem to have so much paint on me?

In between painting Ron has been working on building a shed to house the hot water heater and pressure tank.  This will free up room in the bathroom and under a kitchen cupboard.



Ron working on utility shed



Shed nearing completion

Ron with his Boo-boo - Who knew too much screwing could be bad for you?  The screw gun and the screws didn't like my index finger.... ouch.

Ceiling painted... light blue

Future kitchen

Bathroom wall painted - the rest will be tiled

Main room walls painted.... cobblestone (beige)

Next on the to-do-list is to sand and paint the kitchen cupboards. We will probably take a few days off when Ron's parents, aunt and sister come to visit. Then it's back to work and laying lots and lots of tile on most the floors and bathroom.  And setting up the kitchen cabinets.  And call back to our friend and electrician/plumber/jack of all trades - Rey Hanson will move us all the closer to completion. 

Wallboard Day 2

 

 

Just to show you what is holding up the expanse where the wall was knocked down. It opens up 15' of wall space.  Isn't that a beautiful header - thanks Rey.

  

 

Kitchen area wall boarded.  Guy in the background on stilts is taping and mudding. 

Do you like the recessed lighting?

The guy doing the work is Don "Willie" Shutter.  I would highly recommend him as he is fast, does quality work and is fair priced.  He was not satisfied with one of his workers today and fired him on the spot.  He expects professional quality work or else.  As a post facto edit....   Don and his crew finished the entire job in 3 days!  It would have taken me 3 months.  He's a good man and if you're in the Jefferson County area and looking for this type of work I would recommend him.   

Things are shaping up - It is really starting to look like a real cottage.  Tomorrow they will finish taping and do the knockdown finish.  Then it will be time for Ron and I to begin painting, tiling, putting in the cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom, etc.  Progress will be slower but we will keep you posted on further progress.

Here comes the wallboard



The electrical is just about finished so now comes the wallboard.  It is amazing how fast these guys work.  It would have taken Dad and I forever.

  

 

First day and they finished half the house!!!!  

What a difference clean wall-board makes.

Eric does this fan look familiar?

 

He looks really happy - must be that he likes the fact that the rebuilt wall is sturdy now.