Allan

broken porch ceiling somewhat fixed

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As the roofers were completing their project – the last roof surface was the front porch – one of them fell partially through the roof and ceiling below due to rotten boards.  Three rows of ceiling tongue-and-groove boards were broken or detached from the roof rafters.  Along with the boards came chunks of planks that used to be the roof sheathing, 120 years of dust, new roofing material, and plant debris.  Yes, plants were growing in their at one point. 

I reattached the boards today with wood screws.  It ain’t pretty, but it will suffice for now. 

Next: the broken window.  I’m still waiting to hear back from the window shop. 

more plumbing and waterlines

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The vanity & shower plumbing is in.  The shower will be vented (not wet-vented as previously planned) the same place as the vanity.  The shower now drains through 1-1/2″ pipe (shower drain assembly reduced from 2″ to 1-1/2″ with a collar), toward the vanity, and on to the 2″ drain that runs from the kitchen sink.  Slope: 1/4″ per foot, as per normal except for after the first elbows and before the wye-joint, which has a slightly higher slope (3/8″ per foot). 

 

Or did you already see this picture?  Maybe you did.  Segway to the toilet plumbing.  That’s all installed.  See the laundry waterlines? 

 

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plumbing begins today

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Plumbing begins today.  This is the part of the project we’ve been working toward for the past few weeks – or more.  It’s the age-old issue – before plumbing, this has to be done.  Before this, that must be done.  Before that, … etc.  Well, now the plumbing can begin. 

Toilet plumbing: 

 

Lining everything up wasn’t the issue.  Gluing everything in place was because of how rigid 3-inch pipe is and because it is such a short run to the drain / vent stack. 

Vanity, shower plumbing: 

 

Note on floor structure:
Drilling through the double floor joists wasn’t an issue as these blocks were added, keeping the compression on the top, tension on the bottom scenario to a minimum; that is to say that adding 50% more material over 18 inches or so helps to spread the tension / compression around.  Plus, it also improves rigidity to the double joist system, almost eliminating movement.  There are no herringbone struts to stabilize the joists because they are only 7-1/2″ deep (very little room to add stuff).  Plus, the house never had it before, and ‘officially’ changing the structure is not what I had in mind – only replacing s*** that others had done to this poor, old house. 

shower arrived

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Yay!  The shower arrived!  It was supposed to be sometime next week, but it arrived today. 

HFT and I opened it up outside and took each part up separately.  We put the drain on the shower pan to see the final elevation of the drain. 

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final (?) joist almost done

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We were diverted by ceiling work in the 1st floor, but now we’re back!

 

The final joist is almost in place.  Still missing one 8′-length of 2×10 to tie it all together.

Wow, the number of spliced, pieced-together pieces of s*** – we’re talking 2x4s nailed to 2x6s and everything else – is just incredible.  Who would build in such a way!?  So we’re almost done this task.

Next: 

  • 3/4″ ply to replace the floor boards
  • vapour barrier for main floor bath ceiling
  • 1/4″ or 3/8″ ply for main floor bath ceiling
  • pipes to divert & rebuild the vent / drain stack
  • soundproofing panels for floor
  • …and many, many more

1F ceiling removal

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Our work was cut out for us today.  Some ceiling panels fell down a few days ago, and I wondered if they would all, one day, coming tumbling down on top of someone’s head. 

It turns out my hunch was correct.  When beginning to take them down, they all came tumbling across my head – about 20 panels, all at once.

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kitchen window

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The old kitchen window (new kitchen location, old window) came out today.  The old sliders that are in the house now don’t seem very old, but they are stiff to open and close, and plastic parts are broken.  The new one is a triple pane casement.

The removal didn’t take much effort, but altering the framing did.  By building code, if we are not enlarging the window, the original framing can be used without being required to add king, jack, or cripple studs and headers.  The old window was 30W x 60H, and the new one is 30W x 40H.

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LG laundry machine arrived

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Yay!  My laundry machine has arrived. 

1403 3 Ave N Lethbridge AB up 20250321_093435 LG WashCombo All-In-One lanudry machine delivered, right.jpg
1403 3 Ave N Lethbridge AB up 20250321_093443 LG WashCombo All-In-One lanudry machine delievered, back.jpg
1403 3 Ave N Lethbridge AB up 20250321_093500 LG WashCombo All-In-One lanudry machine delivered, left.jpg

It’s an all-in-one machine (washes and dries).  Of course, I can’t use it yet as the whole place is currently in shambles.