The big project

Spexxvet • Oct 10, 2011 1:17 pm
You may or may not remember, my father passed way last December. My mother insisted that she was just fine living alone, and since she is still relatively healthy in mind and body, my siblings and I were comfortable with her decision. But she fell one time, and more often when I called her, she would get weepy. My wife and I wanted to take her in , but there was no room, and we couldn't afford to add on to our house. My two brothers didn't offer to take her in, and my mother did not want to move to Florida with my sister. We investigated the myriad of old folks living arrangements, but she felt that couldn't afford them. Finally, she offered to pay for an addition to my house, out of the sale of her house, so that she could come live with us.
After my sister threw her tantrum, and we revisited the old folks living arrangements again, we are proceeding with the plan. We are adding space for a larger kitchen, enclosing our breezeway, and converting our garage to a large bedroom with bath and office/sitting area.
Lamplighter • Oct 10, 2011 1:23 pm
Good on you Spex ... those are difficult family matters

Oh, and contractors will love you... jobs, jobs, jobs
Spexxvet • Oct 10, 2011 1:27 pm
Step one: Build a shed to house all the crap in our garage and breezeway (we use the garage strictly for storage)
Spexxvet • Oct 10, 2011 1:30 pm
I was the gofer, helping my friend the professional carpenter. I don't have mad skilz like Jim. :sniff:
Spexxvet • Oct 10, 2011 1:31 pm
Lamplighter;762222 wrote:
Good on you Spex ... those are difficult family matters


Thanks. It's brought out some things in my siblings that I have never seen before from them.
Griff • Oct 10, 2011 1:59 pm
People get stressed and irrational when it comes to family stuff. Try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Good on you for stepping up.
Sundae • Oct 10, 2011 2:13 pm
Cool, keep us updated.

Yes, family issues are tricky. I'm so impressed you have agreed to be a carer. Despite received wisdom I think many aging parents are well cared for these days.

Drop your Mum off at your sister's for a couple of weeks, see how she [sis] feels then.
Nah, that's mean of me. I'm sure everyone is trying for the best solution. It sounds like you have it now.
HungLikeJesus • Oct 10, 2011 2:36 pm
Wow - that went up quick!
jimhelm • Oct 10, 2011 2:38 pm
Spexxvet;762224 wrote:
I was the gofer, helping my friend the professional carpenter. I don't have mad skilz like Jim. :sniff:


I'm kind of mad at my skilz. my deck project is still dragging on an on. I have made a little progress, but between rain and my ridiculous lack of free time,.... bleh. I'm tired just thinking about it
Spexxvet • Oct 10, 2011 2:42 pm
Griff;762228 wrote:
People get stressed and irrational when it comes to family stuff. Try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Good on you for stepping up.

Thanks
Sundae;762231 wrote:
Cool, keep us updated.

I will
HungLikeJesus;762235 wrote:
Wow - that went up quick!

I was amazed at how quickly things progressed.
jimhelm;762237 wrote:
I'm kind of mad at my skilz. my deck project is still dragging on an on. I have made a little progress, but between rain and my ridiculous lack of free time,.... bleh. I'm tired just thinking about it

Your skilz rock. The weather and free time bandits are screwing with you.
Gravdigr • Oct 10, 2011 2:45 pm
Both of my parents function perfectly well, for the most part, but...

God I wish I had a brother or sister to drop them off to.
Clodfobble • Oct 10, 2011 3:25 pm
Wow, that's a hell of a project (the whole thing I mean, though the shed's pretty cool too.) Is the carpenter friend going to be the one doing the home addition too?
Spexxvet • Oct 10, 2011 3:57 pm
No, we're using a professional contractor
Lamplighter • Oct 10, 2011 4:18 pm
Spex, you might want to put your level along that nearest edge just one more time ;)
.
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classicman • Oct 10, 2011 4:42 pm
Good for you spexx. Looks like things are coming along very well.
Spexxvet • Oct 22, 2011 11:49 am
demolition has begun
Spexxvet • Oct 22, 2011 11:51 am
I always wanted a sun roof in the breezeway and garage.
Spexxvet • Oct 22, 2011 11:52 am
Next: this tree that must come down (hopefully, it's coming down now).
Spexxvet • Oct 23, 2011 12:19 pm
No more tree.
Spexxvet • Oct 23, 2011 12:21 pm
No more garage roof
Spexxvet • Oct 23, 2011 12:21 pm
Checking to see what's inside the walls
Sundae • Oct 23, 2011 12:23 pm
Getting on well!
HungLikeJesus • Oct 23, 2011 1:10 pm
Where's the insulation?
BigV • Oct 23, 2011 3:14 pm
what do you mean, no more tree? It's right there!
Spexxvet • Oct 24, 2011 9:32 am
HungLikeJesus;766233 wrote:
Where's the insulation?


The house was built in 1951, before insulation was invented (around here).;)
Spexxvet • Oct 26, 2011 7:26 pm
No garage door
Spexxvet • Oct 26, 2011 7:27 pm
no roof
Spexxvet • Oct 26, 2011 7:28 pm
No breezeway
Spexxvet • Oct 26, 2011 7:29 pm
From our bedroom
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:14 pm
I've been remiss

No more breezeway
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:17 pm
Dug foundation for new addition, built foundation, added height to the existing structure.
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:19 pm
Floors
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:22 pm
Walls goooooooing up!
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:24 pm
Front: before, during, currently
Griff • Jan 15, 2012 1:25 pm
Excellent!
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:25 pm
End: before, during, currently
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:27 pm
rear: before, during, currently
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:29 pm
Vent that's been covered up for who knows how long.
Gravdigr • Jan 15, 2012 1:30 pm
Isn't this just special? You can see how the birdhouse grew over the years.

[ATTACH]36737[/ATTACH]
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:31 pm
Studded out closet and bathroom, roughed in electric
Spexxvet • Jan 15, 2012 1:34 pm
View of dining room from living room, then and now. Yes, that's a temporary wall cutting off the entire room.
zippyt • Jan 15, 2012 2:09 pm
Damn LOTS Of work done !!
Good Job !!
Big Sarge • Jan 15, 2012 2:16 pm
Unreal. I wish I had your skills.
HungLikeJesus • Jan 15, 2012 2:32 pm
Where will you park your car now that the garage is gone?
Spexxvet • Jan 16, 2012 10:32 am
Big Sarge;788187 wrote:
Unreal. I wish I had your skills.

Nonononononononononooooooo! I am not doing this. The contractor asked my wife what idiot installed the ceiling fan in the dining room. THAT was me.:o I haz like negative 2 handyman skilz.

HungLikeJesus;788193 wrote:
Where will you park your car now that the garage is gone?

In the driveway. The garage has had a car in it once - It was storage and party overflow area.
Sundae • Jan 16, 2012 12:11 pm
I've seen Spexie's rear!
The front looks like your house is a set of Russian dolls :)

It's all marvellous. Congrats on the whole project. Lucky Mom.
How is your sister about all this now?
Spexxvet • Jan 16, 2012 1:54 pm
Sundae;788361 wrote:
How is your sister about all this now?


Don't care. She and her family were cold to me and my family at Thanksgiving, so she's dead to me. She can become reincarnated to me if she makes ammends, but for now she's dead to me.