Month: September 2026

backing, spacers, 45° beads, heat pump box, arc fault breakers

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Before drywalling the ceiling, backing had to be installed.  There was no rafter tie at the gable ends of this house – only rafters – as the exterior 1×12 sheathing boards offered structure:  Such is balloon framing.  Thus, I added a 2×4 atop the wall’s top plate to attach drywall. 

The first piece of ceiling drywall was put up. 

However, because of various causes, the next two rafter ties (or ceiling joists) were not aligned; one was 3/4″ too high, and the next was 1-1/4″ too high.  I had to add spacers made of old lathe boards to bring the ceiling drywall down to match the rest of the ceiling.  Dave worked on other tasks like mudding seams, filling holes, and having lunch while I stuffed boards in-between the drywall and rafter ties. 

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drywall day

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More drywall from Home Depot.  There is a small discount if you buy 20 or more sheets (like 1-1/2 sheets free). 

Protection plates were added to the wiring before drywall goes up.

Lighting wires were stapled in the ceiling. 

The 6-mil poly vapour barrier was taped around cuts, holes, and seams. 

The first ceiling drywall sheets were put up, complete with light holes. 

The bulk of the drywall sheets were loaded into the main floor suite mudroom for storage as there is no space upstairs for these just yet. 

electrical upgrades to code

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The inspector was by today, looking at the work previously done and, thankfully, on the same permit, did a rough-in inspection.  He was quite an agreeable fellow, addressing all my questions.  So was Ryley, the electrician from Passey Electric.  He found some deficiencies. 

  • Sep 11/2026 10:10AM (KEN) ROUGH IN: Range box and dryer box needs to have a second support. KF
  • Sep 11/2026 10:11AM (KEN) ROUGH IN: Plug in kitchen area should be taken out on opposite side of panel. KF
  • Sep 11/2026 10:13AM (KEN) ROUGH IN: Rough in of the upper unit was inspected with noted deficiencies. KF
  • Sep 11/2026 10:15AM (KEN) ROUGH IN: 3 heat pumps and 2 baseboard heaters are being installed. KF
  • Sep 11/2026 10:16AM (KEN) ROUGH IN: Fire alarm cable going downstairs to be completed. KF
  • Sep 11/2026 10:05AM (KEN) ROUGH IN: DEFICIENCY: Rule 12-3010 (2) – Gangable boxes require a second support between studs ( could be factory boxes2 gang)
  • Sep 11/2026 9:58AM (KEN) ROUGH IN: DEFICIENCY: Rule 12-516 – Protection plates required where wire is run less than 32 mm from edge of stud (throughout)

Along with that… 

  • The 15-15A space-saver breaker I put in for the split simplex outlet was wrong.  Each circuit must be on a different phase, the reason being that the neutral wire would handle 15 amps for each circuit, amounting in 30 amps.  I thought about this a few days ago and wondered how that worked.  It never occurred to me that I need a 2-pole breaker with each circuit on a different phase.  Again, Ryley is a helpful fellow. 

Some of the work was done yesterday and some today.

So, here goes! 

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lumber in the wind

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The lumber we stacked at the rear of the property did not blow down.  It was really windy last night.  I was expecting to see them stacked randomly like a bunch of t’an in a game of Kal’toh gone wrong. 

2nd floor work begins

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The second floor is rented for Sept. 31, 2026.  I’d best get a move-on. 

I priced out a water heater from Home Depot.  I think it may be too tall.  I’ll have to think on it. 

The entrance, stairway, and all the rooms are chocked full of stuff that needs to be moved, removed, organized, or used. 

We’re almost done!  (Not!) 

The panel needs improvements, mostly to get up to code.  Protector plates (“bang plates”) were added to various walls. 

Do I clean up or start construction?  I began drilling holes in the hinge for the storage area under the landing. 

Cleanup won out. 

cleaning day, moving day

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Cleaning of bedroom 2 ceiling begins.  Hard work! 

But the tenant will move in soon.  The longer I wait, the less rent I will receive.  The kitchen is the last remaining uncleaned room. 

Floyd cleaned the kitchen drawers a while ago, so not much to do there except to take them out and clean the interior walls of the cabinet. 

The oven’s self-clean feature was used.  It made the kitchen toasty warm, nice on such a rainy day. 

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clean, paint, clean, paint…

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Cleaning and painting day! 

Clean the shower (long overdue) …

… and the front door (the unpainted side). 

Touch-up paint needed all over the bathroom / laundry room. 

And now the ceiling in bedroom 1.  Some boards were added where they were missing from long ago when they paved over it (or, rather, under it) with ceiling panels. 

Primer first. 

It is covering fairly well.  The roller is kind of useless as it doesn’t get into the grooves (tongue-and-groove boards). 

The priming is finished.  Next, paint.  I wonder how it will turn out. 

Next, the trim boards.  I hope it looks sharp. 

And now it is complete.  I think it looks good. 

Now for bedroom 2.  I started out by cleaning the drywall mud off the ceiling boards but found that it can actually be washed.  Because there were no missing boards, and the paint wasn’t in such bad shape (only nail holes), I decided to leave it in its original 1940s paint scheme. 

So I started washing it using antibacterial Windex, but this is hard work, and my tennis elbow finally had enough. 

I’ll continue in the morning. 

trim, med cab, etc

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The blind for bedroom 3 finally fits. 

A 2nd coat of white trim paint was added to the bathroom window. 

The laundry and toilet shelves were mounted with some more-correct screws.  The wide part of the brackets have a sleeve built into it, which guides the screw at the appropriate angle and allows for a screw shorter than the whole width of the bracket.  I didn’t know that until fiddling with it (or should I say screwing around with it). 

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