This might be the most boring post ever, but for history's sake, here is what we've been doing in our basement the past few months.
At the end of February, we (meaning I) decided that finishing the rest of our basement would be a really good idea so we would have space for all our guests (meaning our kids) coming at the end of August. We also decided that maybe Scott should do the work but hire it out if he got too busy. This would allow us to save some money and also to give our children at home a chance to help and earn some money.
So, first we moved everything out of the area that we had been storing there--not a small amount of stuff. And we have more than usual because we're storing some stuff for our son and his wife while they're gone over the summer.
Next Scott bought a whole bunch of 2x4's (150 or so) and started framing. He drew up some pretty simple plans (on Powerpoint) and I filed them with the city to get a permit after we talked to a contractor friend. Fortunately they got approved so we didn't have to take down the framing we had already done!
Scott worked nights and Saturdays with our son to get the framing done. He hired out the HVAC and the electrical. The man who did our addition 10 years ago was our consultant on the project and that's been really helpful. He has come over a couple of times and told Scott what needed to happen to pass the inspections and stay in code (things like firewalls and other subtleties). He also told us who to call to get the HVAC work done. It was harder to figure out how to get our electrical work done. Scott did some but in the end, we had two different electricians come and do the electrical. That gray box in the picture below was complicated work--it took two guys four hours to put that box in and wire it. Then a different electrician came and put it in all the boxes for outlets, lights, etc.
Yesterday was the big day--the first inspection on all the framing and electrical work--and we passed! Scott felt quite pleased, especially when the inspector complimented him on it. We also got a big delivery of all the drywall we need to do the project. Scott decided to pay for the delivery to the basement after figuring it would take him 5 hours to get all the drywall down there.
So the truck showed up with a huge fork to lift the drywall to the ground level and the workers slid it off on to the orange dolly. Then two guys slid it in, piece by piece (60 of them) after they took out the whole basement window including the frame, because that was the only way to get it in there.
Before doing the drywall, the insulation has to be installed and inspected. Then the drywall gets done and inspected before the mudding and taping, painting and carpet. Then at the very end, it all gets inspected. It's an involved process but not impossible. It will be great to have it done and have a space for guests to stay.
At the end of February, we (meaning I) decided that finishing the rest of our basement would be a really good idea so we would have space for all our guests (meaning our kids) coming at the end of August. We also decided that maybe Scott should do the work but hire it out if he got too busy. This would allow us to save some money and also to give our children at home a chance to help and earn some money.
So, first we moved everything out of the area that we had been storing there--not a small amount of stuff. And we have more than usual because we're storing some stuff for our son and his wife while they're gone over the summer.
Next Scott bought a whole bunch of 2x4's (150 or so) and started framing. He drew up some pretty simple plans (on Powerpoint) and I filed them with the city to get a permit after we talked to a contractor friend. Fortunately they got approved so we didn't have to take down the framing we had already done!
Scott worked nights and Saturdays with our son to get the framing done. He hired out the HVAC and the electrical. The man who did our addition 10 years ago was our consultant on the project and that's been really helpful. He has come over a couple of times and told Scott what needed to happen to pass the inspections and stay in code (things like firewalls and other subtleties). He also told us who to call to get the HVAC work done. It was harder to figure out how to get our electrical work done. Scott did some but in the end, we had two different electricians come and do the electrical. That gray box in the picture below was complicated work--it took two guys four hours to put that box in and wire it. Then a different electrician came and put it in all the boxes for outlets, lights, etc.
Yesterday was the big day--the first inspection on all the framing and electrical work--and we passed! Scott felt quite pleased, especially when the inspector complimented him on it. We also got a big delivery of all the drywall we need to do the project. Scott decided to pay for the delivery to the basement after figuring it would take him 5 hours to get all the drywall down there.
So the truck showed up with a huge fork to lift the drywall to the ground level and the workers slid it off on to the orange dolly. Then two guys slid it in, piece by piece (60 of them) after they took out the whole basement window including the frame, because that was the only way to get it in there.
Before doing the drywall, the insulation has to be installed and inspected. Then the drywall gets done and inspected before the mudding and taping, painting and carpet. Then at the very end, it all gets inspected. It's an involved process but not impossible. It will be great to have it done and have a space for guests to stay.
Comments
Post a Comment