For the first time, we have had consistent, measurable rainfall at our new house. We have received approximately 1 3/4 inches of rain in the past 7 days. The drainage system Paul designed seems to be doing its job.
The water is following the drain tile and staying away from the house.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7BT-An1l-M
It's getting all the way down the driveway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsDuum41M1M
And it's staying out of the basement!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=logliqeHYqo
We will call this a victory for now. The next test will be a heavy storm, with multiple inches in one day.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
A compost bin and new kitchen faucet
I finally made a compost bin for the back yard. Now the trick is to remember to put my compost in it!
The dripping faucet in the kitchen finally started getting worse (and the persistent bloop bloop bloop was getting on my nerves). Since the old one had 2 handles and I prefer 1 handle, the clear answer was to replace, not repair. The faucet selection at Home Depot and Lowes is quite extensive. The biggest problem was finding a faucet we liked with a handle that wouldn't be obstructed by the backsplash.
The dripping faucet in the kitchen finally started getting worse (and the persistent bloop bloop bloop was getting on my nerves). Since the old one had 2 handles and I prefer 1 handle, the clear answer was to replace, not repair. The faucet selection at Home Depot and Lowes is quite extensive. The biggest problem was finding a faucet we liked with a handle that wouldn't be obstructed by the backsplash.
Old faucet. Sorry about the lighting, the sun was shining directly into the window.
New faucet.
Now we need to keep ripping off the old paneling so we can tile the walls under above the counters.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Yard Improvements
We have three more banana trees in the yard now.
It will be a while before we get bananas, but they should be delicious!
The avocado tree has plenty of fruit out of reach. We're planning to get the 15 ft telescoping fruit picker from Home Depot soon.
I'm even trying my hand at a garden. So far, I have basil, rosemary, and a pepper plant.
I pruned the pomegranate tree. I still can't tell if the fruit is edible or strictly ornamental. So far none of the pomegranates have been very good.
The avocado tree has plenty of fruit out of reach. We're planning to get the 15 ft telescoping fruit picker from Home Depot soon.
I'm even trying my hand at a garden. So far, I have basil, rosemary, and a pepper plant.
I pruned the pomegranate tree. I still can't tell if the fruit is edible or strictly ornamental. So far none of the pomegranates have been very good.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
The middle bedroom
I wanted to call this "the only finished room," but then I remembered there are a few floor boards that need some love... and the window is in place, but not very nice. Even with those issues its the nicest room in the house right now.
Here's the middle bedroom, the room with the most progress.
Its sort of small, so its hard to get a good photo.
The ceiling fan was one of our early projects.
Stay tuned for yard pictures.
M
Here's the middle bedroom, the room with the most progress.
Its sort of small, so its hard to get a good photo.
Stay tuned for yard pictures.
M
Monday, December 3, 2012
Happy December
Here is the recent progress:
Matt made a permanent bunny door for Hank. This was especially timely because Hank had learned how to move the cardboard bunny door himself.
We also finished installing the railing/fence the insurance company wanted. The blue is our future house trim color.
The yard is coming along with 2 papaya trees and 1 banana tree in the back and two plumeria trees closer to the upper cement slab.
Over the past weekend, we painted the hallway.
M
Matt made a permanent bunny door for Hank. This was especially timely because Hank had learned how to move the cardboard bunny door himself.
Bunny door closed.
Bunny door open.
We also finished installing the railing/fence the insurance company wanted. The blue is our future house trim color.
Fence was a salvaged item from ReUse Hawaii.
The yard is coming along with 2 papaya trees and 1 banana tree in the back and two plumeria trees closer to the upper cement slab.
Papaya are by the pipe. Can't quite see the little banana tree. Plumeria are the sticks up front- look carefully!
Over the past weekend, we painted the hallway.
Yes, its lavender.
The nicely painted hallway (which was formerly white with hole filler marks) makes the kitchen look really grimey. At least the kitchen is one spot closer to the top of the list now.
Classes end on Thursday for me, and I'm looking forward to home projects over winter break.
Stay tuned.
M
Monday, November 19, 2012
Pre-thanksgiving update
Lots of progress in just the first month:
New exterior doors on the entire house
We removed the roof gardens and installed new gutters.
Paul directed our first efforts to keep water from going into the basement. Drain tile + rocks + waterproofer and poly on the wall + a top layer of poly + more drain tile + more rocks.
Paul made stairs for the side yard using rocks from the drainage excavation.
Our stove installation is waiting on electrical upgrades so we bought a new grill.
Matt got ambitious and made a picnic table from rough sawn, salvaged lumber. The table top is 9 ft x 40 inches. It's a regular banquet table.
The spare bedroom is painted with a ceiling fan and "new" window. We installed a ceiling fan in the master bedroom too. I'll post photos of the rooms later. Stay tuned.
M
New exterior doors on the entire house
Carport door
Side basement door
Back door
We removed the roof gardens and installed new gutters.
Roof garden in one of the former gutters
No more rusty, hazardous gutters on the front.
New side gutters
One of the back gutters. We think this side of the roof was a major contributor to the water beside the house. The gutter empties into a drain box to keep the water off the surface.
Outlet for the back gutter drain box (look for the circle above a cinder block)
More back gutters
More back gutters
We routed the other back gutters to the side of the house. Dick Stewart should be proud.
This is one of the many large rocks we had to relocate during excavation.
Drain box to collect water from behind and next to the house
Under the rock are the layers of poly, drain tile, and more drain tile.
We are experimenting with a piece of drain tile to keep water from collecting in this low spot. It outlets to the drain box pictured above.
The drain tile runs out to the drive way
Along the driveway
And out to the road.
By mainland standards this is not appropriate, but this is how you do it in HI (notice the neighbors's pvc at the very end of the drive way).Paul made stairs for the side yard using rocks from the drainage excavation.
From the driveway to the yard
Beside the bird-of-paradise to the back yard
It was a dirty job.
New 4-burner with side burner grill from Sears
Matt got ambitious and made a picnic table from rough sawn, salvaged lumber. The table top is 9 ft x 40 inches. It's a regular banquet table.
The spare bedroom is painted with a ceiling fan and "new" window. We installed a ceiling fan in the master bedroom too. I'll post photos of the rooms later. Stay tuned.
M
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Halloween home reno update
Shame on me for not thinking to take photos dueling daylight hours. Here's a quick run down on the progress:
Sideburnz saw quiver includes a reciprocating saw (cordless) 2 circular saws (one corded and one cordless), a table saw, a compound miter saw, and a Husqy chain saw. The cordless saws just arrived on Monday, so we haven't put them to good use yet. The Husqy saw some action last Monday. The offending branch on our mango tree is history. Liberty mutual will be pleased. The quiver of saws has motivated Sideburnz to build a picnic table. His favorite retailer, ReUse Hawaii had two 18 ft rough sawn genuine 2x10s. We have enough wood for the top, just need more for supports. We have genuine 2x4s in the carport that might make good benches. The construction is slated for next Monday.
I have been on a major door campaign. All entry doors (4 of them!) were hollow/weathered/termite chewed/all of the above. 3 new doors are installed. The back door is last on the list because that one has to change from opening out to opening in. We decided the exterior hinge pins were not a security asset.
I am also on a campaign to rid the house of the last stink: removing carpet from the middle bedroom. It would be as easy as just hauling it out, but why waste a perfectly cut drop cloth? Its actually more complicated than it seems. Last weekend was phase 1: air conditioner removal, window and screen installation. You should see the rust holes in the air conditioner. scary. The window installation was 90% perfect. I cut the jalousie hardware to fit the window. Chiseled out part of the window sill to make it fit really nice. Secured it. And then found out that my jalousie panes were 1/8 in too long! I bought a glass cutter at city mill, even though the sales guy said I couldn't cut jalousie panes. He was wrong. I had one casualty (the pane, not me), and I am still short 3 panes, but the window is installed.
I think the crowning moment of the window experience was making the screen. City mill wanted $50 for a custom screen. I knew I could do better. I made a custom screen frame from scrap wood (34 in x 48 in frame) and primed it. While it was drying I dug through the sewing boxes. Lo and behold, a scrap of army surplus bug net that is just a little bigger than 34x48. Golden. Once the primer was dry, I stapled the bug net to the frame and ta-da! a nearly free screen. It even fit perfectly. It looks a little weird because the bug net had seams in it, but it goes well with the 3rd class jalousie panes and salvaged jalousie hardware. At least the bugs and most of the rain will stay out.
Things are progressing slowly, but the progress is satisfying. I will try to remember to take photos in the daylight. Then you'll really be able to see the progress.
Sideburnz saw quiver includes a reciprocating saw (cordless) 2 circular saws (one corded and one cordless), a table saw, a compound miter saw, and a Husqy chain saw. The cordless saws just arrived on Monday, so we haven't put them to good use yet. The Husqy saw some action last Monday. The offending branch on our mango tree is history. Liberty mutual will be pleased. The quiver of saws has motivated Sideburnz to build a picnic table. His favorite retailer, ReUse Hawaii had two 18 ft rough sawn genuine 2x10s. We have enough wood for the top, just need more for supports. We have genuine 2x4s in the carport that might make good benches. The construction is slated for next Monday.
I have been on a major door campaign. All entry doors (4 of them!) were hollow/weathered/termite chewed/all of the above. 3 new doors are installed. The back door is last on the list because that one has to change from opening out to opening in. We decided the exterior hinge pins were not a security asset.
I am also on a campaign to rid the house of the last stink: removing carpet from the middle bedroom. It would be as easy as just hauling it out, but why waste a perfectly cut drop cloth? Its actually more complicated than it seems. Last weekend was phase 1: air conditioner removal, window and screen installation. You should see the rust holes in the air conditioner. scary. The window installation was 90% perfect. I cut the jalousie hardware to fit the window. Chiseled out part of the window sill to make it fit really nice. Secured it. And then found out that my jalousie panes were 1/8 in too long! I bought a glass cutter at city mill, even though the sales guy said I couldn't cut jalousie panes. He was wrong. I had one casualty (the pane, not me), and I am still short 3 panes, but the window is installed.
I think the crowning moment of the window experience was making the screen. City mill wanted $50 for a custom screen. I knew I could do better. I made a custom screen frame from scrap wood (34 in x 48 in frame) and primed it. While it was drying I dug through the sewing boxes. Lo and behold, a scrap of army surplus bug net that is just a little bigger than 34x48. Golden. Once the primer was dry, I stapled the bug net to the frame and ta-da! a nearly free screen. It even fit perfectly. It looks a little weird because the bug net had seams in it, but it goes well with the 3rd class jalousie panes and salvaged jalousie hardware. At least the bugs and most of the rain will stay out.
Things are progressing slowly, but the progress is satisfying. I will try to remember to take photos in the daylight. Then you'll really be able to see the progress.
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