Spring Break..Oh wait, just kidding!

Time for Spring Break

These last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind. As a teacher, the week of parent/teacher conferences is already stressful with finalizing student grades, preparing report cards (which are extremely time consuming), and gathering all paperwork necessary to show the parent(s). Let's just say, I spent a few too many weeknights up til the wee hours of the morning. This is mainly due to the weekends spent as our focus on renovating the house. The following is what you will see has occurred over Spring Break. This started immediately after we finished our last parent/teacher conference on Friday the 14th. We've pretty much lived at that house since that time.

P.S. I've really started to enjoy taking panoramic shots on my iPhone. 

The addition (laundry room, food storage/regular storage  & 2nd bathroom). We had to put a tarp up because with so much activity on the grounds early on in the week, we literally started getting dozens of strangers trying to solicit their business. With the tarp, it started to help reduce the onlookers.

The backyard - Yes, Dereck did all THAT framing for the addition and it is done to code. The concrete was poured on Friday the 14th. The framing was done the following day.

The new kitchen entry frame (previously it was an actual doorway. Since we can't do the open concept due to load bearing walls, this was the next alternative. The original kitchen was a lot smaller. There was another doorway towards the end of the black pipe which enclosed the former "pantry" space. We took that wall out and also moved the right side of the kitchen out a foot into the Master bedroom. Don't worry, we won't be loosing space in that bedroom...to be continued later on about that part. (Maybe I should find a floor planning website to draw a previous layout and show the modifications...let me know of any good sites for that).

To the left - the living & dining room, to the right - doorway to the Master and the doorway to the office

The roof was replaced this week by roofers - this was their first day

Of course, you can't forget the need for a dumpster

Front yard

Side yard and addition - Oh look, up goes the wall on the addition

You can't forget the necessary power tools!

The messy walkway from the front yard to the back yard. Since this picture we have installed a simple gate to separate the front and back space. The backyard will soon be for our big dog, Barkley. The front yard, for our small dogs, Willy & Janie.

The backyard amidst the mess

Is that the new style for Air Conditioning the home? Nope....that's the bad part of the roof having to be replaced from the years of leaks from the Swamp Cooler (yes, I said it, Swamp Cooler).

The new back doorway from the addition

A panoramic view of the addition....the downside is that it "squishes" the space together making the addition look a lot smaller than it really is. The the back right in the addition will be the 2nd bathroom for the home.

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The more open kitchen before the addition siding was put up.

The new laundry space (previously, Dereck's grandmother just had a washer and dryer on an open back porch open to the Southerly hot Phoenix sun. Now, it will be indoors.

The weak chainlink fence got replaced. Willy and Janie could have easily escaped through the patched fence. Now it is more secure. This picture was taken when the brick foundation was laid.

Look, it's roof rafters going up!

A new backyard door has been installed. 

A quick break for a photo op

Thanks Brice & Liz for the gloves!

The brick fence in progress

On a complete different side note - Have you ever seen these free phone use stands outside of Phoenix? I see them all over town. It takes me back to my memories of a youth service project when the youth from out church would participate with Mamma's Hands. We would ride a bus transformed to help serve hot dogs for the homeless, in Seattle, and allow the homeless to use a cell phone to call their family. I'm wondering if these phone stands are similar.

Diego, Dereck's brother from another mother, hand drawing the house layout to plan for the AC (He's a licensed AC guy and does electrical work too)

Dereck making a hole for the electrical line

Are we done yet?

The roof making progress....Now there is tar paper being laid.

This is why the electrical lines needed to be rewired...We came upon various problems like this one.

With so much roofing material in our front yard those few days, we had to have our guard dogs left outside at night. Needless to say, they prefer the sleeping bag over their dog bed. Now you don't see them....

Now you see parts of them (Willys behind and Janie's head)

Dereck installed the lighitng for the kitchen!

Installing the lighting for the laundry room/storage room

I can tell that it should be a laundry space

The ManaBloc - the brain to the water system for the whole house. No more copper.

The main bathroom - a new tub and the cement board backing is up

Future wall for the sink, mirror, and toilet

Look, we have lighting and an exhaust fan installed (minus the venting)

Light switch & exhaust fan switch

The tankless water heater is installed in our 2nd bathroom. Below that, in the ground, is the hole for the toilet. The the left, you can see the drainage piping for the shower. Space is limited on that wall. This was where the prior apartment was built but it was not done to code. Now the framing, foundation, etc. is to code.

As you can see...it has been a VERY, VERY busy week and to all a very good night!

Before the Beginning

I realized I completely forgot how the house even got into our hands. The previous owner, Dereck's grandmother on his father's side, lived there. During the last few weeks of her life, it was obvious she couldn't care for herself so she decided to jump in the car and go live with Dereck's sister. She only lives four blocks down the street. His grandmother passed away in late October/early November. In her trust, she left the home to her grandchildren yet none of the other grandkids wanted anything to do with the house for various reasons. Needless to say, Dereck has ALWAYS wanted to renovate a home...plus we want a more permanent living situation instead of renting a townhome. Dereck's mom and siblings came to an agreement of having us take over the home. Considering the previous owner was a hoarder of things and animals, as you can see from a previous post with pictures, it was a massive undertaking and probably the biggest reason why no one else wanted to deal with it.

Battle of the Power Tools

I'm getting frustrated with Blogger....if you have suggestions for a different website, please tell me. But.....this is what I've been using and, for now, will use to share updated pictures.

Unfortunately, Dereck's phone completely shattered and won't work, therefore we've lost a good chunk of the photos from "The beginning" to the now phase. Sorry! Atlas, there are worse things in life that can happen so I won't cry over it.

Here are recent photos of what has occurred at the house.

Dereck furring out the wall (if you don't know what that is,
check out this)

Dereck framing out for the Bathroom window

Tada - an installed window in the Bathroom with security bars still attached on the outside

One of the many fruit trees we planted in January
that is starting to grow (That round cinderblock
is something new I learned about down here in Phoenix.
It's used to help retain the water for a plant.)

Please excuse the constant disaster of messes: A panoramic view of the backyard currently
The right area there against the white and pink cinder block and chain link fence is where the illegal apartment and old dilapidated sheds used to sit. All of those have been torn down. You can barely see a line of fruit trees (look for the black/cinder rings) along the red cinder block wall on the left side.

The location of the torn down illegal apartment to the side of the house

A panoramic view of the front yard and house

Remember the before picture from the previous post?? Check out the before picture of the house using Google Maps Street View. As you can see the humongous tree to the left of the house has been removed, the front porch as been restored to it's original intent (we removed the french doors the previous owner had installed), removed many fake flowers (the previous owner thought it made the yard look pretty), removed many cinder blocks used to "emphasize" plant areas, etc. Oh, and don't forget, we took out the basketball hoop. A neighbor down the street saw it and asked if they could have it. Of course, have it at no charge.

This is the current view from the front door into the house

Panoramic view of the current inside

The electrical switch Dereck installed

The furring strips installed in the guest bedroom, plus the new window

Dereck is working on installing the frame for the new bathroom window. He is standing on the old tub. Please ignore the tool hanging in the most questionable location according to where I took the photo from. I didn't notice that until way too late.

Dereck installing the frame for the new bathroom window

The electrical outlets in the guest & living room installed by Dereck. Yes, they work and no, Dereck didn't electrocute himself.

The work table for holding some of the tools.

The finished product on the bathroom window.

Measuring in preparation for framing out the area for sliding closet doors.

Look the tub is out! Dereck's friend, Josh, happened to stop by and helped remove the old cast iron tub.

Before the Battle

Okay, you've been asking for pictures and now I finally have done something about it. Amidst all the dust, dirt, grime, and oh-my-word continuous mess, we have proof we are working on completely renovating a house.

The beginning

Check out the before picture of the house using Google Maps Street View:

Guest Bedroom:

When the door barely opened
(the previous owner hadn't been in this room in over 10 years)

Now that the door can open

Living Room:

The daybed hidden on the right here is
where the lady used to sleep

The door you see is the front door of the house.
The area with the windows to the right is the
"Dining Room"

There was a couch and numerous
desks & shelves hidden under there.

Another view of the Living Room