SE VENDE

It's all done and I'm exhausted. This past weekend was dedicated to cleaning, but I managed to repair the under the stairs storage door hinge and swap all the downstairs "fachevas" (the long bars that slide up and down to lock the doors in place) so they actually fit without scraping.
It's ready to show. The newspaper put our phone # wrong for this first Sunday, but we may get somebody from the on-line viewers. Well, let's get going.

For Sale

It's goin' in the paper Sunday. I'll post a link to the advertisement after pictures have been added . I've been working in Carrasco all week, but Saturday is set aside to clean and shine everything. We're expecting nice weather so it's a good opportunity to capture the great light and get a nice shot of the front.
There will no doubt be a stampede to see the place.






Those last few jobs; a saddle for the social bathroom, a bit of a hole inside the front door, plus trying to improve some decayed marble with plaster and faux marble painting to name a few. And what to do about the condition of main bath floor?



















See how it all turns out on the final post.

Well, the last post before the whining about the sale process begins.

Kitchen with a house

• As we found it.
• Tearing it down.
• Build it new.
• The product.

There are still some snags to work out. Attending to details usually reveals more details to attend to, but the end's in sight. The kitchen is
pretty much done.

Bathroom Tile complete-ish

Unless you count the missing tile (look close near the corner cabinet). I am still waiting for two more border tiles, but having a hard time getting them. Small orders get the back of the bus I suppose. I tried to spice up the shower by mixing in some wall tiles. We are still not sure about putting in the sliding shower door. It's a good detail, but most builders leave that for the buyers. I'm not convince yet.
Next, we'll have to see if we can get the old floor a little nicer.
The kitchen came out great. Pictures of that on the next post.
Thanks for reading.

STILL TILING

Hard to believe, but I'm still at it. Just a tiny bit more on the shower and I start to grout the whole mess. I am waitng for more border tile (shy just one piece!), but that's no big deal.
I purposely vary my routine at times, to keep from going insane(er). Some carpentry things or shopping for still needed items. I did manage to find the aluminum corners for the shower wall, but I am missing a part of the front door hardware that is proving more difficult to find. I may have to venture to one of those demolition places that buys and sells everything. They aren't easy to deal with, especially for me.
Janine has come a couple of times to help. She's been putting a tinted wax on the wood floors recently sanded. They'll take a few coats, but are looking quite nice. There's always stuff to move in or out, places to clean. I really appreciate the help and the company. Man, I gotta get out of there.
Thanks for reading.

...fingers to the bone, almost !

I have spent the better part of the last two weeks tiling. When I quit Friday night, I was in severe pain. It seems the combination of the cement and something they call 'cal' (could be lye or a calcium addative) in the cement along with all the time in the cold water, clicking on the grinder and fitting tile in place had, uh destroyed my finger tips. They were raw and a little bloody. Sometimes I just have no idea what I'm doing.
The tile came out pretty good though. I still have to find something for the outside corners on the shower wall. I am searching for some extruded aluminum channel used for this exact thing. So far no luck.
The kitchen top was installed yesterday and it looks nice. It's black granite and it goes well with the cabinets. The install was a little hectic. Lots of dust, lots of moving the pieces, (heavy, fragile) but in the end it came out well.
My friend Mono is back helping a few hours a week again. Yesterday he got one of the front doors finished and stained. It looks great.
Yeah, it all looks great but will it ever end?
Stay tuned.
Thanks for reading.

some shots of one of the few paid jobs I found here;

• Shutter repairs.
  
• lumber selections
• bathroom fixtures we bought
  
• fixtures we considered

Cheers.

Cabinets done

The kitchen cabinets are in and they look alright. I'm not sure if this type of cabinet construction is suited for these types of houses. In the future I will make some changes and make them, well less. They felt normal making, but they look gigantic. I have never seen a kitchen like this here. I hope this is a plus when we start showing.
I had to make a crown molding. I used some blocking to hold the cabinets at the ceiling that showed. It was a hassle to make on-site. I set up a makeshift table saw by attaching a circular saw to a piece of plywood and setting it on two heavy saw horses.
I routed the profile in several steps and brought in the big mitre saw to make the cuts accurate.
Two days in all , but it was worth it.
I may put the baseboard tiles under the cabinets today. We have decided against continuing that base on the walls after the cabinets. I just skimmed the rough part by the floor with plaster and will leave it painted. It looks clean and well, that's that.
I may get my friend to work today. If so, we'll try to firm up the front doors. They're enormous and need detailing. Once they're finish sanded and stained against the weather, touch ups and glass and things can be done later.
When I find a camera to buy or borrow I will post some photos of the progress.
Thanks for reading. Later.

Kitchen Cabinets

I have finally gotten around to installing the kitchen cabinets, but as usual, there's a delay. I have to finish some walls and patch a few spots before painting a final coat on the walls. Better now than after all the cabinets are in, no?
Having a look at the photo quality from Vincent's phone camera is giving me serious doubts about using something similar, even for just a while. I don't know, maybe fuzzy images suit me.

Tiles complete at last

I'm happy to report the kitchen tiles are complete, well sort of. The baseboard will be put in after the cabinets, for shiming and such. Plus I will need to pick out something for the walls as well. So I'll need a pretty good match if I use floor tiles under the cabinets, or something similar match and go all the way around with it. Hmm?
I've started installing the cabinets with the lowers all succesfully secured. Keeping that odd angle lined up with the wall, while shimming for level was a task. I did have to chip away the wall in one spot.
Next week the rest of the cabinets go in and finally the doors. I'll have the counter top installed before I decide on a back splash.
April is the last month that we're keeping the job open in terms of the building dept. permit. That gives me a month or two after before an inspection to see that we've done what we filed.
So, this had better be buttoned up by the end of June or I've been told there could be trouble. I have my doubts as to how quickly they'll inspect, but I don't want to press my luck. I think I need to finish, no?
Still no camera, so this old picture of the yet-to-be-finished cabinets will have to suffice for now. Just use your imagination, they look great, really.
bye for now

Kitchen Floors me, no pictures please

There will be a short interlude before the next picture post. It seems as though someone has helped themselves to my camera. I will never be sure exactly what happened, but gone is gone.

The kitchen floor is getting me down. Yes, down on the floor with my ever degenerating knees, but I am having some trouble.
My cement mix, which is quite thick where I needed the floor's high point, is not the best. It turns out I should have used a different product. Currently I am replacing any tiles that sound loose. A light tap gives a dull thud on all correctly set tiles. A hollow sound means they didn't grab and they've gotta come up. This is hard not only because chipping up cement is hard, but the vibrations can loosen the adjacent tiles as well. So five becomes eight and well, I'll let you know when it's done.
Also, getting the pitch while keeping it the whole floor flat, with the spaces even and all tile lining up, oye! This is not my best trade, but since I'm all I have......

I'm considering a camera/phone. I have been firmly against this combo in the past, but some things have changed.

1. The cameras in phones are much better.
2. I'm calling more and could use a phone plan instead of constantly trying to add minutes. Hence, I may be looking at new phones since they practically give you a decent phone when you sign a plan.
3. I loved my camera, but secretly have been wanting something more advanced and may get by with the phone-0-camera until I can afford and SLR.
4. It will probably have MP3 and I can't go long without music.

More on this fascinating problem and all the developments later.
Thanks for reading,
Ciao

The Facade and cuida coches

Cleaning and painting was a hassle. The scaffolding was difficult to move on the uneven sidewalk. Many days Mono and I were not there at the same time and we had to employ the street car parker.
Cuida Coche: It's a common and unavoidable fact of life here, there are guys who take the job of 'watching' the cars parked on a given street. They hang around, more or less helping you get into a space or directing you to a spot. They expect a few pesos when you pull out, but it's not a huge deal if you have no change. Most of these guys are typical Uruguayans, very mellow.

The molding just above the first floor was a problem. It had huge chunks missing, but is positioned right behind those ugly electrical cables (another irritation). I couldn't make a form to hold the cement, so several applications smoothed over a bit would have to do. Cement won't defy gravity and the repair is mierda if you ask me.

The accent color helps the details pop, although I have had second thoughts about the colors. Well, no going back now.

The last repair was the corner of the parapet. One thing that made some repairs more difficult was previous attempts at repair. The usual symptoms are; too much cement applied and little attempt at getting the form correct. This spot didn't require much chipping, but it was not easy to reach and the wall facing that other building kept crumbling away, hard as I tried to find a place to stop. I didn't want to cement the entire wall.
In the end I was able to put a form on the corner and with several applications, get the job done.
Now somebody has to go up there and paint it.

Tile Shopping and a remate

The tile for the upstairs bath has been decided (about half are in place), but there are a few more choices and of course the setting to be done.
Janine and I took some time to visit an auction and look at more tile choices. I think we have an agreement on the kitchen floor. The auction was for some large doors to my new shop. I want to get an idea of what I can get used and how much before I build the wall and opening.

Here are some of the tile we saw. I only snapped a few photos before being told that it's not permitted.

Janine likes this bargain at $6.30 m2. I guess it will do. I would rather spend a little more (the kitchen will only take about 6 square meters) and put a marble looking tile that looks best with no grout line. I don't have a wet saw and the slab is none too flat, so I think I'll play it safe.

But have a look anyway.

Window Repair

There wasn't too much dry rot.

This spot on a window frame

was the only one needing a repair.

I can't explain the underline here. There is no tool for it, so how can I remove it?

All the doors and windows had broken or missing glass and in some cases, damage to the frame or panels.

The bathroom door pictured here, has 21 lites (glass panes) with quite a few missing. The original antique glass would be impossible to find. Instead of replacing it all, I poached the same glass from doors removed from the downstairs bathroom. The texture and age made it hard for a novice to cut (more than a few mishaps), but I managed to get them all in.
Much of the molding for the glass was in bad shape and the rest I destroyed taking out.
Maybe ten meters (30 feet) of new molding had to be made and cut to fit.
The prime and painting was tedious too. I hope the impact of the door makes up for all the effort.

Next time I'll go into all the hardware restoration. Pure excitement.
C Ya

God is in the details...

Restoring all the beautiful details is soaking up a lot of time, but it's worth it.

I cut away a panel under the staircase for the door to the new social bathroom. The other opening is a small storage area.








A good cleaning and some glass replaced has transformed the main skylight's stained glass panel.















This is the floor tile in the upstairs balcony/hall.

The stairs are getting refinished now. It needs a few minor repairs (broken tread seen here), but is generally in good shape. Even when we first saw it the staircase was one of the home's main attractions. Restored is should be eye popping.

Not sure about the carpet runner hardware; the rods are brass and look good, but the brackets are worn and need plating. I've got to draw the line somewhere.

First coat nearly done

I am having difficulty not fixing every defect on the facade. Judging what to do and what to leave has always been my Achilles heel. It's looking good though, with just the first 'hand' of paint it's already a new house.
Here's me fixing teeth on the dentil molding. I prefer repairs a little closer to earth.
I'd like to see the paint finished Monday.
Vamos a ver.

Facade work on-going (and going)

The scaffolding wasn't available close by until end of day Monday, but we put them up anyway.
Tuesday it was power washed. Any stronger with the pressure and we'd be putting a whole new front on. Wednesday rained heavily.
We're making progress now although I'm guessing we'll have these things through the weekend.
Fixing the dentil molding and other concrete repairs are challenging but do-able.
The paint will change things a lot.

Demolition

We demo'd the whole house to get it right. All the electrical lines, receptacles and switches are new. I added some lights and moved a few things, but I wish I had done more. Every house needs more outlets and the room light switches are always behind the door you just opened. Not a big deal, anyway it's early for regrets.
Here are some shots of removing, channeling and scraping down to the bone, most walls of this old house.