The Basement

After a year long hiatus from anything involving a saw, nails or paint, it was time to get back on it and start the Basement Remodel!!!

We are pretty excited about this! Chris probably more so than me because his beloved Man Cave is becoming a reality not just a far fetched fantasy!! I'm happy because I get to declutter, sort and organise (throw out) a growing mountain of junk that is being stored in the basement! Plus I also get to design the second bathroom and guest bedroom!

Here's a preview of the before, very cluttered basement, and then some of the work in progress! First job is framing, then electric, insulation and drywall. Hopefully this will all be completed by late Spring!

BEFORE: Laundry Space

BEFORE: The man cave, with the ever increasing pile of junk!

BEFORE: The guest bathroom to the left and another pile of junk where the guest bedroom will eventually be!

AFTER: Framed Laundry Room

AFTER: Pile of junk and framed MAN CAVE

View from MAN CAVE of the eventual MUD ROOM, which will also be framed. Eduardo, the guy who basically built our house is back again helping out with the Basement remodel! He brought a couple of new guys to help with this project!

AFTER: Framed Bathroom. Low ceiling because of pipes above  - not ideal but will be 80 inches high which just passes code requirements!!

Framed partition/closet in the guest bedroom - looks a little weird but saw it on Pinterest and think it will look really cool when finished!! (Chris is not so sure - we will see!!)

View from the closet in the guest bedroom! To the left is the mechanical room. To the right is the doorway with the bathroom behind it.

Progress.

November 14th - this is how the house is coming along thus far.

• All the cement for walls and footers have been poured. Only slab (floor) left to pour. 
• All walls in the house have been framed, including closets in both bedrooms.
• Every wall in the house has had drywall and old insulation removed. 
• Fire wall framed, outside wall finished. Awaiting insulation and drywall inside. 
• New floors laid throughout except for small section at the front door.
• Staircase to basement underway. 
• Plumbing - 'rough in' underway. 
• Ceilings dropped, leveled and framed thoughout (thanks to Walt, Christian and Chris today)
• Electrician starting this week (we hope)
• Kitchen cabinets, appliances and granite counter-tops ordered. 
• Tiles for the bathroom bought - a super nice, grey limestone. 
• One of eight windows replaced. 

Lovely blue front door and new window in place. The door is a slightly odd shape and therefore does not fit the door frame well - so unfortunately we will probably have to get a different one.

Staircase into basement being built

View from basement

The very back wall of the new basement finished.

The lowest framing seen is the new level ceiling.

New double shower tray bought and in place! We will tile the walls

Fire wall from outside finished. Just needs the stucco now!

Walt helping with the ceiling today - couldn't have finished it so quickly without him - thanks!!

Walt and Christian measuring.

They were there till dark - but got the whole ceiling framed in a day!!

I pulled down the remaining drywall and insulation from the far corner of the house - I took a picture afterwards. It looks like its snowing inside the house - or I don't have a great camera - but actually this is the dust in the air - captured by my flash. Gross.

While the cats away....

I went to England. Chris took a week off work and worked on the house.
Progress was good. Most of the floor was laid. The roof was supported. Walls were framed. The fire wall went up. More cement was poured. The construction site I left looks more like an actual house now. I should go away more often!

Center framing still there to support the roof. Flooring in center of the house almost done!

The plank into the house

Some of the dry wall was removed!

New beam across to support the roof

Framing of the new rooms almost finished!! Plank still in place though! View of where the kitchen/living will be - and then second bedroom plus corridor.

Fire wall fully underway. New back door framed!

Step up to Master bedroom - New floor laid, and new wall framed!

This is the original (outside) wall of the bathroom - please note the slightly unlevel framing! Unique to say the least!