We Have Arrived

Finished Brick in the evening hours

Plants in the front

Plants on the side

Silver Mound near our new downspouts 

Denver Daisies 

The brick finished during the day

Potted Perennials 

Closeups 

Closeups

For the first time in three years we can actually use our porch

The Golden Vicary will some day cover our utility vents

The Front Planted and watered

Well over the weekend we finished up all the brick siding and got a good deal of the landscaping done as well.  Amber found some excellent deals on shrubs and flowers and with the help of her parents (Dennis and Lois) transformed the otherwise terrible looking front into quite a nicely landscaped garden.  With the brick done the scaffolding got returned and we are more or less done with the place.  I say more or less because there are a few things we want to get done before the open house, and will be working on bits here and there for the next ten years, but we are ostensibly done, and it couldn't feel any better.  In fact I think that we are going to skip town for a few days over the fourth holiday and see some of the sites upper MI has to offer.  So other than the open house the big events of the renovation are done and Amber and I are looking forward to finding out what hobbies we used to/still like doing.  






#BobVila

D-Day

After many months of contemplation, more than enough gumption and almost enough money to take this on, today was the first day of repairing Dee and Elizabeth DeLind's house on 2188 Hamilton rd.  Though I guess it is actually my house now and is in need of more work than I can reasonably understand at this point. For starters "repairing" today consisted of tearing out carpet and sub-flooring.

I subconsciously decided to purchase the property a few years ago before I had the means or the understanding of what needed to be done to it. Through a series of advantageous events regarding this (graduating college, getting a job, and of course the fact the place never sold) I found myself proud owner of an 1850's brick house in the heart of downtown on 1.3 acres of land. First and foremost I would like to thank my family (though I'm sure most of them will never read a "blog") for supporting me with the decision, cutting me deals, and helping finance. It is much appreciated and will probably keep me out of trouble for at least two years...

  On to day one. No better of a time to start a project than in 87 degree weather, especially if it involves removal of carpet, foam rubber, and subfloor. It went according to plan for the most part today though the plywood is old enough that the glue doesn't hold the pieces together so taking it out is a real pain in the ass.  What at this point appears to be a oak plank floor underneath will some day more than make up for it, after a quarter inch is ground down into it. Structurally the foundation, floors, and roof seem to be in excellent shape though thats about where it ends. I guess blogs should have purpose, so, this one is to document a young adult struggling to re-establish a house for the fourth generation.