WoW. I took nearly a month after the previous post!!!
We have been working in the new kitchen. We have manged to finish the painting. Then we tried fitting cheap vinyl on the floor. It turned out real sad. The vinyl got stretched along the edges, and is wobbly now. (Only the first half is fitted) Luckily the wobbles are under the kitchen cabinets, so we decided to leave it like that.
Barco/Barry has moved to the Chathams for work, and we ended up looking after the grandchildren from Friday night till Sunday morning. That means all work stops on Friday noon.
We have managed to fit most of the units on adjustable legs because we have a slope of about 50 mm over the width of the kitchen. We definitely need the adjustment.
The next phase is to remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room to install the second part of the vinyl and install the large corner pantry. That will hopefully happen tomorrow (with help)
Sunday
31 August 2014
I got brave this week and cut the opening for the window on the street (southern) side. Then we fitted the large frame Funny how difficult it is to merge a window that is supposed to be plumb with a wall that is not. Got there in the end. We fitted the sliding sashes and the cleats holding them in position. We also fitted the outside architraves and made scribers, painted them and even managed to fit them. Apart from some touch up paint work, all is done on this window. We have bought and fitted new architraves for the inside. I even got some new latches for both windows.
We checked the original architraves for the original eastern window. They are in a sad state, but for the sake of authenticity we decided to fill the holes and reuse them.
We have made a list to prioritize our next tasks. The main task will be to finish painting the new kitchen walls.
We checked the original architraves for the original eastern window. They are in a sad state, but for the sake of authenticity we decided to fill the holes and reuse them.
We have made a list to prioritize our next tasks. The main task will be to finish painting the new kitchen walls.
24 August 2014
Yes, I have missed a week. It seems I bore people with minor details.
We have done most of the preparation for the two windows in the new kitchen. It is amazing how much work goes into restoring a window. The original cleat between the two sliding sashes is about 10 mm. This allows the sashes to rattle and allow wintry winds in. I have taken to remake these cleats, up to 14 mm thick to eliminate rattles. We also had to remake the beading on the insides, as the borer has eaten it all. Then everything has to be painted. Everything takes time.
We did manage to semi finish the old window, everything is installed and works well. The only exception is one window pane. I have cut this when we moved in, and it is too short Will have to replace this one. We bought a very large window, 2.4*2.1 m in Cambridge, and I have taken the two large panes out. That will have to be cut this week. I was getting ready to fit the four panes in the "new window when I realized that I have run out of "glaziers points", little metal pins used to hold the glass in position. Will go buy some more on Monday.
On Saturday we went to a "working bee". Our main street was redesigned about a year ago, and some of the plants were very dull. We have a large nursery in town, and they supplied replacement plants. Elna and I planted some, and then we were invited to a nice coffee. Then we sneaked off.
You will notice the nice brown reveals /architraves. I am convinced there will be continuous demands from visitors to paint the door and other window on the eastern deck now.
We have done most of the preparation for the two windows in the new kitchen. It is amazing how much work goes into restoring a window. The original cleat between the two sliding sashes is about 10 mm. This allows the sashes to rattle and allow wintry winds in. I have taken to remake these cleats, up to 14 mm thick to eliminate rattles. We also had to remake the beading on the insides, as the borer has eaten it all. Then everything has to be painted. Everything takes time.
We did manage to semi finish the old window, everything is installed and works well. The only exception is one window pane. I have cut this when we moved in, and it is too short Will have to replace this one. We bought a very large window, 2.4*2.1 m in Cambridge, and I have taken the two large panes out. That will have to be cut this week. I was getting ready to fit the four panes in the "new window when I realized that I have run out of "glaziers points", little metal pins used to hold the glass in position. Will go buy some more on Monday.
On Saturday we went to a "working bee". Our main street was redesigned about a year ago, and some of the plants were very dull. We have a large nursery in town, and they supplied replacement plants. Elna and I planted some, and then we were invited to a nice coffee. Then we sneaked off.
You will notice the nice brown reveals /architraves. I am convinced there will be continuous demands from visitors to paint the door and other window on the eastern deck now.
10 August 2014
As promised, the glass for the window was cut using the second hand glass we had. The cost was 10% of new glass. You really don't want to know what new glass would have cost. We did mange to get 5 panes, one to be used in the front window (later).
I managed to clean the sashes and the frame for the "new" window. Then we had rain. Saturday was a sunny day, but we have been invited to a "fairy party' for Jacqui. so no painting got done.
I also took out the sashes from the old window in the new kitchen. The idea was just to tidy up, but it ended in a complete paint strip and removing the glass for re puttying. Did I mention that my little sander's bearing has seized? Another little niggly task to keep me busy.
I also had a problem finding architraves around the 'new" window. I ended up buying a length (5.4m) that has got nearly the right profile. That will go on the outside.
I managed to clean the sashes and the frame for the "new" window. Then we had rain. Saturday was a sunny day, but we have been invited to a "fairy party' for Jacqui. so no painting got done.
I also took out the sashes from the old window in the new kitchen. The idea was just to tidy up, but it ended in a complete paint strip and removing the glass for re puttying. Did I mention that my little sander's bearing has seized? Another little niggly task to keep me busy.
I also had a problem finding architraves around the 'new" window. I ended up buying a length (5.4m) that has got nearly the right profile. That will go on the outside.
Monday
4 August 2014
Yes, shoot me! sorry, I missed a week and now I am late.
Apart from visiting friends and going to Hamilton, we did actually manage to get some work done, although not spectacular. I do find that I cannot do as much as I used to when we started, but that's life.
The ceiling of the new kitchen is finished, painted the lot. It is amazing how unsteady the scaffold has become in 3 years. I used to laugh at brother Ben when he was here and sent the scaffold in oscillations, now I am doing exactly the same. Must have something to do with getting older. (maybe the scaffold needs bracing)
The "new" window is nearly finished. Most of the paint has been scraped off, and I got hold of some old windows from which I removed the glass (successfully) It still needs to be cut to the right size. There are two cleats missing from the frame, and I will have to make new ones.
I haven't taken the plunge to remove the door and open the hatch, but that is also on the agenda.
Apart from visiting friends and going to Hamilton, we did actually manage to get some work done, although not spectacular. I do find that I cannot do as much as I used to when we started, but that's life.
The ceiling of the new kitchen is finished, painted the lot. It is amazing how unsteady the scaffold has become in 3 years. I used to laugh at brother Ben when he was here and sent the scaffold in oscillations, now I am doing exactly the same. Must have something to do with getting older. (maybe the scaffold needs bracing)
The "new" window is nearly finished. Most of the paint has been scraped off, and I got hold of some old windows from which I removed the glass (successfully) It still needs to be cut to the right size. There are two cleats missing from the frame, and I will have to make new ones.
I haven't taken the plunge to remove the door and open the hatch, but that is also on the agenda.
Sunday
20 July 2014
After a long period of inactivity, we rented a "Gib lift" and got Barco to assist. We managed to fit all three of the ceiling panels, as well as the one over the nook formed by the new bathroom wall being moved. We also fitted the Gib on that side.
Next we secured the lintel where the serving hatch will go. Suddenly I realised that we have never secured the studs on the other side, and the Gib is fitted now. Luckily we have a space from 2 m height to 3.4 m height which was built for access. I removed one of the sarking boards there and secured the studs.
We also started planning the positioning of lights, and had to lay wiring for that. That was easy with the sarking removed, but where the stove will be, we had to remove a Gib panel and lay the wiring.
The next job was to fit the last of the 3.5 m Gib panels, over the lintel where the hatch will go. With a lot of help from Above, Elna and myself managed that. We had to lift it 2 m. That is screwed down now.
Saturday I bought half rounds to replicate the original, and some cleats fir the corners, also as per the original. The plan was to start painting those, but the grandchildren came over and Shaun has been dreaming of a "box car" (kaskar). We selected material and designed the thing, and after he left I welded a frame. That meant that my work wad not done.
Next we secured the lintel where the serving hatch will go. Suddenly I realised that we have never secured the studs on the other side, and the Gib is fitted now. Luckily we have a space from 2 m height to 3.4 m height which was built for access. I removed one of the sarking boards there and secured the studs.
We also started planning the positioning of lights, and had to lay wiring for that. That was easy with the sarking removed, but where the stove will be, we had to remove a Gib panel and lay the wiring.
The next job was to fit the last of the 3.5 m Gib panels, over the lintel where the hatch will go. With a lot of help from Above, Elna and myself managed that. We had to lift it 2 m. That is screwed down now.
Saturday I bought half rounds to replicate the original, and some cleats fir the corners, also as per the original. The plan was to start painting those, but the grandchildren came over and Shaun has been dreaming of a "box car" (kaskar). We selected material and designed the thing, and after he left I welded a frame. That meant that my work wad not done.
13 July 2014
I have decided it is well time for the new kitchen to get attention. I commandeered Jaco to assist me, and we added battens to the old ceiling, The ones I fitted way back were not secure enough. the new ones are 40 *40 mm and screwed to the beams with 100 mm screws. I rented a gib lift and Barco assisted and the boards were fitted easily. I realised I cannot continue to do work on the cornices and half round battens (strips) before all the walls are done. That means I will need to cut the serving hatch and remove the door, as planned. It will also mean I cannot close the door on the job when I do not feel up to it.
Saturday was a very rainy day and I called on Jaco so we could work on his door and door frame he want to fit in his garage to change it to a play room for the kids. That is nearly done now.
Our article did appear in the paper, see attached
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