1403 3 Ave N main

This is a house built in 1906 at 1403 3 Ave. N., Coalbanks (later to become Lethbridge), AB, Canada. I bought the house in Dec. 2021 as a rental property. It has a 3-bedroom suite on the main floor (“main”). This is the story of that suite.

mudroom ceiling drywall, fine mudding work

by

Neighbour Dave stated that the ceiling drywall should always go on first.  However, the ceiling, as it is ‘vaulted’ (or, simply put, slanted), is more than 48 inches – it measured 49½ inches.  This means that, in my view, the walls should be done first and brought to the top (which was 47 inches on one side), and the ceiling put in later.  We agreed to disagree. 

I cut a hole for the light and, with some effort, put up the first slanted sheet, leaving >½” for the next wall. 

Dave, meanwhile, continued with fine-tuning the mud. 

Later, the short wall was put up and taped.  More mudding when the tape mud dries. 

more mudroom work

by

Neighbour Dave and I were discussing the trim around the attic hatch.  This is in another suite.  I think it looks good. 

Yesterday evening I put up some sheets of drywall.  It is the blue mould resistant type as it is the mudroom and may be subject to dampness. 

Read more

light, fan, tub, cabinet, and other junk

by

I need a new ceiling fan for the kitchen.  However, all the simple, clean, white ones without any extra goo-gogs and dingle-bombles and doo-dads all over it have single light or an LED cluster that isn’t suitable as a) it doesn’t offer enough light for a kitchen or b) the lights are built-in and not changeable.  Here’s not a bad one from Home Depot.

Read more

mudroom door, wall, paint, fridge

by

After doing some garden work, working on electrical upstairs, doing some cleanup downstairs, we began work on getting the kitchen east wall ready for a new 36″ door.  The current door is 32″ which does not meet building code standards.  Too bad, as it was only put in about 4 years ago. 

If anyone wants a door, it is now for sale.  Make me an offer. 

Read more

the kitchen gaps

by

After working at 520 this morning, we came back and started more walls here. 

So long ago when we needed to get the place finished to rent out, we knew that the new drywall left a gap between the ceiling and walls.  I knew that, eventually, I would have to tear down the ceiling and make it a) safer, b) nicer to look at, c) lighter for the structure to hold (a 14′ unsupported span), and d) easier to put in real fire rated walls between the two suites.  So today was the day to fill in the gaps as the new ceiling is now up. 

Read more

the gap

by

I have no idea how Dave is going to make this transition.  He’s a drywall miracle worker, but its quite a gap.  There is an elevation difference of half an inch. 

The hallway has 5/8″ for fireproofing, and the kitchen, as there is no suite above, has 1/2″. 

a shift (or is it?)

by

I’ll be drywalling the kitchen ceiling soon, so cleanup begins in there.  Where do I stash the fridge, stove, cabinets, etc.? 

Mostly cleanup and organizing today.  I’m tired of working in a dump. 

  

As it turns out, the fridge leaks.  The evaporator tray is rusted through and leaks water all over.  I’ll find an appliance shop somewhere and order a new one. 

I’m not sure why someone would put a wood screw into an electrical box that takes threaded machine screws.  That’s not true – I do know why – taking shortcuts.  Unfortunately, I’m the horse’s *** who gets to make it right again.  I know – there’s no profit in taking care of such minuscule details, but I’m not a Ferengi. 

Short day today. 

light, shim, bath fan, weeds

by

I wasn’t supposed to come in today as I had other obligations, but I was called away to a sewer problem at another property.  In my spare time between tasks, I came here.  Light duties today. 

 I found out why the kitchen light only sometimes worked.  Here was the pattern: 

bedroom light turned on

Read more