This is a chronicle of my home remodel compiled more-or-less as it occurred. This is the largest and most complicated of a multi-phase process that will eventually reorganize and upgrade the whole house ... but I started out simply wanting to add just one more room to a building that had gotten too small for a home and office.

It got totally out of hand. Eventually my simple room became a room, a porch, a half-bath, a garage, a new sewer line, a new water line and, eventually will include a new fence, and a deck. Go figure.

What that meant was that fairly soon into the design phase of the project I had to decide whether I was going to commit to this house for the long term or sell it and buy another closer to the size I need. Based on the neighborhood and my proximity to public transit, services, flexcar, and even downtown, I decided to commit to the house and roughed out a long term strategy, even past this particular phase.

To keep the project at least within sight of a reasonable cost, I took on big chunks of the work myself. In most cases, it has worked out pretty well so far. It has been both a lot of fun and, at times, a big stressful headache. Some of the things I did myself are obviously not done by a professional, but I actually like the feel that imparts.

Anyway, enjoy the journey. It is still ongoing.

Before

•In the Beginning ...

•Getting Started

•The Plans

•The Permits

 

Deconstruction

•The Teardown

•The Porch

•Week 1 - The Sewer

•Week 2 - The Basement

•Week 3 - The Driveway

•Week 4 - The Hedge

•Week 5 - Excavation

 

Construction

•Week 6 - The Footings

•Week 7 - The Foundation

•Week 8 - Plumbing

•Week 9 - Backfill

•Week 10 - Framing 1

•Week 11 - Framing 2

•Week 12 - Electrical

•Week 13 - Siding 1 & Insulation

•Week 14 - Siding 2

•Week 15 - Drywall

•My Vacation

•Week 16 - Floors

•Week 17 - Concrete & Electrical

•Week 18 - Plumbing

•Week 19 - Trim

•Week 20 - Porch Rail

•Week 21 - Concrete Finish

•Week 22 - Punch List

•Week 23 - Casings

•Week 24 - Miscellaneous

•Week 25 - Priming

•Week 26 - Painting

•Week 27 - Outside

•Week 28 - Move In

•Week 29 - Finishes

•Week 30 - Garden

•Week 31 - Permits

•Week 32 - Flashing & Doors

•Week 33 - Yard Work

•Week 34 - Doors

•Week 35 - Basement

•Week 36 - Final Payment

 

On My Own

•The List

•Parking Strip

•The Basement

•The Light

•The Pocket Doors Door

•Door Frames

•The Front Door

•The Porch

•The Back Bedroom

•The Carport

•The Patio

•The Paths

•The Wall

•Rebuild the Yard

The Odd Bits:

•Unusual Aspects

•My Process

•Salvage

•Environmental Materials

•The Doors

•Wood Floors

•Bathroom Floor

•Making Gravel

•Making Soil

•Rain barrels

•Bathroom Cabinet

•The Sink