Stripping

We spent considerable time reconstructing this nook and removing some timber that had been damaged by termites. We finished the size hole for the window, installed it then stood back to have a look. Hmm. Wonky. Maybe we needed to adjust it.  *adjust*  *adjust some more* *some more adjusting*   In the end we realised, the window had been... built wonky on purpose like a parallelogram?  The glass,sides and middle join were completely square and level, but the vertical ends were slanting. Perhaps designed as a window for a slope? 

I didn't mind, but Michael said it would eat away at me so we abandoned the window. What a waste of $150. I could have spent it on something useful like .. macaroons!

I think I'll just use a Bunnings aluminium window like the rest of the house.

I am using some weird reddish "Wood Putty" stuff to fill the cracks out the front. It is very dry and hard to use, I might just abandon it: add it to the waste of money pile. Selleys No More Gaps in the caulking gun was much easier.

I used paint stripper on the old window out the front. I had forgotten how difficult paint stripping is. You have to keep applying it over and over again to get anywhere. I also think I scratched off some of the actual wood.

The window seems to have 4 different coats of paint on it and so now is a bumpy mess of all of the layers showing. I hope it is OK to paint over. I know this look is popular with vintage furniture lovers.

As I was working out the front, I was on show for all the public to gawk at (the house is quite sight at the moment) One couple was finally able to give me some recent history on the house. Apparently the last known tenant moved out 10 years ago, and it had been a free-for-all since.


Here's a tally of the major items only:

Completed

• Removed asbestos
• Stripped built in furniture
• Removed floorboards
• Removed lathe & plaster walls and ceilings (horrible!)
• Restumped
• Laid ducting
• Plumbing roughed in and party toilet connected
• Gas connected
• Laid new floor underlay
• Removed false ceilings
• Plastic cladding removed from weatherboards (mostly)
• Rebuilt walls in back area (in progress)
• Barge boards and gable replaced
• Electrical work - barge board point of attachment, fusebox, switchboard, earthing stick

To be completed

• Finish rebuilding rear walls
• Install doors and windows
• Remove lathe & plaster from lounge ceiling (horrible)
• Rebuild front door frame and install period front door. Paint red.
• Build bathroom walls
• Rebuild wall between bedrooms
• Electrical wiring & sound systems
• Insulation and that metal stuff
• Rebuild front verandah and get tin roof installed
• Build front deck
• Guttering (probably urgent, water damage is building)
• Seal holes in roof and replace ridge cap
• Paint roof
• Pull down side fence
• Rebuild side fence
• Pull down rear boarded up fence
• Get roller door installed
• Level studs in preparation for plastering
• Line ceiling cavity with pine boards to create attic retreat
• Plastering (the most exciting job of the lot)
• Build wardrobes
• Get joiner to build shallow 10cm shelves for CDs, books and DVDs
• Install shelving built in to hallway wall cavity. 
• Order and install kitchen
• Bathroom
• Final plumbing and hot water/ heating unit setup
• Paint
• Lay floating floor and carpet
• Rebuild front fence
• Build rear deck
• Resurface car space/ garden area
• Landscaping