Over the course of the last couple of weeks, the new Family Room was framed in and put under roof. I figure the contractor is only about 2X behind his original completion date (end of January)... about par for the course. Carnak, seer of the future and all around source of truth, now predicts signoff on February 45th. Anyone out there care to bet against Carnak?
I've decided that being a rough carpenter is just too darn much fun. Wouldn't it be fun to take a chain saw to someone else's house everyday? Somehow, craftsmanship and chain saws shouldn't be used in the same sentence. Several window openings on the south side of the house were hacked out using this method. Sure hope the finish carpenter brings a miter saw. I'm kind of nervous he, too, will show up with tools more suited to coal mining than fine woodworking. "Oh no, that was our heirloom china cabinet you sawed in half and tossed in the dumpster..."
Anyway, the window frames, wall studs and roof are roughed in. There's paper on the roof... which is actually mixed news. The good news is we won't leak as much during the rains predicted for this weekend. The bad news is the city inspector came out and demanded the paper be removed so he could "inspect" the roof. Good thing this is a fixed price contract... I wonder where the contractor will try to make up the loss. "Oh, Mr. Stowell, you actually wanted electricity going to the wall plugs. Gee, what an unusual request. That will be five grand please..."
We have had several beautiful days here over the last week. Visibility out to the ocean and Eastward to the mountains has been extraordinary. The all-around windows will be great when it's done. As the carpenter said the other day, "Welcome to your fish bowl." "That's just how we planned it, thank you very much." Now all we have to do is burn down the neighbors house across the street and we'll have a truly panoramic view of the ocean. Where are my matches...
| Before and after shots of the south wall of the Family room. Two new windows and an old one removed. |
| New roof line. Double compound angle... drove the carpenter back to geometry class. |
| Before and after shots of the master bath... Personally, I like the before configuration... and it promises to get worse before it gets better. |
| View into the boarded-up kitchen. Still generates good food, though. |