Sparrow's Renovation Thread with Pictures

[Sparrow]

Sparrow's Renovation Thread with Pictures. Inspiration for Women and everyone else 2!

So, this is my finished townhouse (sold now). I did 96% of the work myself, I learned as I went. It was a lot of fun, and I am starting this thread for people who would like to be do-it-yourself-ers ... but just need a little encouragement.

So, here is the start with pictures of it finished. I'll break down the different construction items in later posts. Questions welcome, but please remember this was my first project and nothing is perfect!

It wasn't an off-grid place, but I hope some of the construction ideas can help inspire people. I was working with a small (under 20k) budget for a place of 1600 sq feet.

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3941/virtualtour4250525.jpg

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7553/virtualtour4250521.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1825/virtualtour4250529.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3619/virtualtour4250504.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/930/virtualtour4250512.jpg

[mollypup]

Oh Sparrow!!! It's so BEAUTIFUL!!! Good work!
I did some serious repair work on my first house but nothing on the inside like you did. I just replaced a lot of the outside wood, repaired the chimney, caulked EVERYTHING and painted it. It looked so much better after I was finished. Girls can do this stuff and it's such a good experience for us to accomplish tasks normally considered work for men.

I'd love to see pics of what you're working on now! :D

[Sniper-T]

Looks Awesome!

like to see the comparison before/after pics.

Mikes seal of approval:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w108/EnchantedDaffodils/MikeHolmes.jpg

[mollypup]

He's gotta be gay cause he's so cute!

[Dropy]

WOW that kitchen is SEXXY!

[helomech]

Great work. That place looks great.

[ravensgrove]

I agree with Dropy...I have seen these pics before...and that kitchen just keeps getting sexier.

[Sparrow]

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/5727/virtualtour4250518.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6162/virtualtour4250520.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4241/virtualtour4250523.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/5292/virtualtour4250519.jpg

[Sparrow]

I agree with Dropy...I have seen these pics before...and that kitchen just keeps getting sexier.

Yeah, I can admit my first attempt at renos was bliss, however, if my gardening skillz don't improve and in a SHTF scenario I am going to starve to death ... then how far is a nice house going to go? Not too much!

[Sparrow]

Kitchen before renos (this was during inspection, Bright Orange, I mean Really?)

Notice the wall that I took down with huge obtrusive cabinets, the 'sunshine' ceiling, 18" total on counter space ...

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8143/kitchenbeforereno.jpg

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/994/kitchenbeforereno3.jpg

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/300/kitchenbeforereno2.jpg

[bacpacker]

Sparrow that kitchen is fantastic. I am very impressed. Is the backsplash stainless? Very nice work.
BTW gardening just needs experience and practice like most things. Nothing you can't get better at.

[Dropy]

Now come do my kitchen.

[ladyhk13]

Ok, well I guess it's time for the girls and our kitchens....mine was tiny and ugly blue. Knocked the wall out and added several feet, moved every appliance to different places, remilled the black walnut that was on several walls (came from our property back in the 70's)...worked on that stuff for WEEKS! Placed every single piece where I wanted it so it seemed like it took forever but when it was over they are beautiful. Had to have the granite installed by a company though. Even installed a pot filler over the stove for canning, makes it easier than carrying those pots back and forth.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/341/1181852.jpg

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/1162/079zp.jpg

[Sniper-T]

Now that certainly puts the reno thing into perspective!!!

nicely done! what an amazing difference!

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/SUCKER-FUCKER/applause.gif

[JustAPrepper]

Sparrow!! It's FANTASTIC!! You should be very proud! It's amazing!!

[Sparrow]

Sparrow that kitchen is fantastic. I am very impressed. Is the backsplash stainless? Very nice work.
BTW gardening just needs experience and practice like most things. Nothing you can't get better at.

Thank you. Would you believe that when I bought my table saw back in '08 it scared the hell out of me? Whenever I would use it, my heart would start pounding. Now ripping a board is so natural an action to me it is like breathing.

The backsplash is made out of 10 cabinet side panels from Ikea. Real stainless and also magnetized. I got them in the bargin section of the store for 20 bucks a piece, so the whole wall cost 200 dollars plus tax. I lined them up even with the stove, Used a heavy grade adhesive, and arranged the shelving and other wall items to help bolt them in and secure them to the wall. Two panels I had to cut in half, and the cuts are hidden behind those pantry units. They were cut with a metal grinder (I got help with that), then I used my jog to go through the inside MDF. The MDF got scorched a bit by cutting the metal. This is the smae method to cut the island top because two studs had to go through it.

I'll post more pictures this evening of the kitchen in progress. Keep in mind when I was doing the reno I was working 10 hrs a day at a stressful job, traveling for work and trying to date. LOL

I found out nothing scares away a date better then showing him a mid reno mess of a house!

[bacpacker]

Nice! Great price on the stainless. It looks really good up on the wall.

Woodworking is a lot of fun. I hope to get my shop built one day, but other stuff keeps getting in the way.

[Sniper-T]

Those Reno's sure must have 'upped' the value of that place when you sold it.

I can imagine some poor schlep checking out a neighbouring townhouse... admiring the orange walls... then coming to tour yours. mouth hanging open, wide eyed

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu107/Klomsky/CSC1/shock.gif

Nice score from Ikea too. typically a way overpriced place... which thay are building here... yea!! Oh, wait...

lol

[Sparrow]

Below are pictures of installing the backslash. If you look close you can see how each piece is lined up using the stove section as the guide.

The stove was a slide in from Ikea - and I put in the counter and everything before the stove showed up! They had one at the store so I measured all the openings and heights, built accordingly but believe me - I was sweating and worrying that I might have done something wrong. But it fit like a glove!

I supported the back piece of counter wood and a 2 x 4 ledger.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6774/img0006gr.jpg

Everything gets really dusty when working of stuff. I'd clean and shopvac everything, ... but unless you are anal cleaning everything all the time, I just had to get used to the dust. I set up a little kitchen in the basement when working on the house. Well, I was a basement dweller for over a year LOL.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8293/img0002qx.jpg

In the pictures you can see how I blocked the sides in with pine scraps (from the floor) and a super long piece I drilled into the studs to secure everything while the adhesive dried. Oh also shims at the bottom to keep it tight there as well.

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8971/img0005lay.jpg

More questions are welcome. I have lots of pics of when I built the island, which was a bitch to build because I had to build in place.

[Sparrow]

Those Reno's sure must have 'upped' the value of that place when you sold it.

I can imagine some poor schlep checking out a neighbouring townhouse... admiring the orange walls... then coming to tour yours. mouth hanging open, wide eyed

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu107/Klomsky/CSC1/shock.gif

Nice score from Ikea too. typically a way overpriced place... which thay are building here... yea!! Oh, wait...

lol

For me, the reno wouldn't cost more if I used standard build materials. I didn't have to hire anyone except a plumber. I got a quote on electrical for the wall removal which was in the 1000s and said, F**ing no way and did the columns instead. If you can figure out how to improvise and do things yourself ... then you can use basic materials and build stuff to your liking for very little money, also using scraps from other projects.

[Sparrow]

Nice! Great price on the stainless. It looks really good up on the wall.

Woodworking is a lot of fun. I hope to get my shop built one day, but other stuff keeps getting in the way.

For me, I had no shop. I used the huge living room as my shop and it was the last room I worked on. I also stored the massive amount of pine flooring in there on one side strapped securely so that it wouldn't warp. What a mess my living room, shop was! At some point I was fabricating so many different items I could hardly get in it - which is not a good idea and not safe to be so cluttered!

I'll try to find some pictures of my mess to post later!

[ladyhk13]

Sparrow! So gorgeous!!!! Great job! Too funny though, you started out with an orange kitchen and I had a bathroom with orange counters...soooo ugly!!! 1970 was calling for it's design back in my house! Yuk! I also can relate about being afraid of a power tool. Can you imagine that I am still afraid of a jigsaw. I know it's only because the person who taught me got really pissed the first time I used it but it was his fault since he didn't have it locked when he gave it to me and the thing went off to one side and I got scared and the thing almost jumped out of my hand (almost). After that I decided I would learn to use all my own tools and I'm like Tim the tool man Taylor....ahr ahr ahr!!!! Love that power!

[Sparrow]

Yeah, see I still have an irrational fear of my circular saw! I have used it lots, but ... I get really nervous when using it and I don't know why :(

[ladyhk13]

Weird, huh? Love my router and miter saw...got a worm drive circular saw (I think that's the right term for it) but didn't realize how heavy the thing was going to be but I think it's better than a regular one. I need to get a good platform made so it's easier to use the table saw though since I'm so short it makes it very hard to use it safely. So until then I'm kind of in a self imposed ban. I also love to be creative so I have a scroll saw and just love it. I haven't been able to get a good workshop set up yet due to all the reno on the house but it's in the works. I did learn however that red oak is the WORSE wood to use on a scroll saw!!! Hard as concrete!!!! :)) LOL.. lessons learned but boy is it pretty.

[bacpacker]

Lady red oak is hard and very grainy as well. However it is not as hard as white oak. Neither of them can touch maple and the toughest I've ever worked was cherry. I made a book rack for my wife out of it and couldn't make a single cut without the wood burning. Tried to route a round over on the edge's and burnt it more. It still turned out looking very nice.

Sparrow I bet your living room was a mess. It's amazing how much debris is created when building/making something. It turned out very well.

[ladyhk13]

Lady red oak is hard and very grainy as well. However it is not as hard as white oak. Neither of them can touch maple and the toughest I've ever worked was cherry. I made a book rack for my wife out of it and couldn't make a single cut without the wood burning. Tried to route a round over on the edge's and burnt it more. It still turned out looking very nice.



Well I just wish I had decided to use a softer wood for my very first project!!! I always start out with the hardest thing first...I decided to try my hand at upholstery and did a lounger using STRIPES! My mom, who has been in the sewing business one way or another for almost her whole life said I should have started with a solid...stripes are the worse thing to learn on, of course...that's me! But it came out beauiful - I must be hard headed.

[ravensgrove]

Boy you aren't kidding on the damn dust...I am right this minute about 2/3s of the way through finishing the flooring and there is dust EVERYWHERE. My pack of dogs (all 3 of them) are frantic as to what the beegeezus is going on....their normal OCD mother has ripped out all the carpet, it looks like a war zone and there is dust everywhere.....today they all camped out in the finished living room LOL.

You all are killing me with the saws...I am tentatively using a jigsaw...and praying to God it doesn't bust the blade because I have no idea how to change it once it does. I already told you Sparrow when SHTF you come to my place and I will feed you in exchange for your excellent carpentry skills.

[Sparrow]

Warning! Scary mess!!

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/3243/img2610m.jpg

[Sparrow]

Boy you aren't kidding on the damn dust...I am right this minute about 2/3s of the way through finishing the flooring and there is dust EVERYWHERE. My pack of dogs (all 3 of them) are frantic as to what the beegeezus is going on....their normal OCD mother has ripped out all the carpet, it looks like a war zone and there is dust everywhere.....today they all camped out in the finished living room LOL.

LMAO, for a year I didn't dust. When the dust got an inch thick I would sweep it. Check the dust on EVERYTHING in that mess of a work room. The worst part isn't shown either - I took out a huge section of the ceiling that had black mold all over it from a plumbing leak that must have gone on for years (before I bought it).

[ravensgrove]

Here's my AWESOME floor in 1/2 the living rm. I have made it through the other 1/2 of the living room, the dining rm and am heading into the library. So far the hardest part is taking off and putting back on the molding...which is similar to loading an unloading a grocery cart...it came off...but will not go back on as it came off....MF'r. LOL. And that is cowhide #1 Liam O'Mooley in the room....I made Seamus into two rugs for the library. It's a crappy cell phone pic, but you get the idea. I had beige carpet in all of my common rooms...who the hell puts beige carpet on a farm...the people before me that's who. I want to say....YOU, Miss Sparrow totally inspired me that I could take on this project. :)

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/ravensgrovefarm/004-3.jpg

[ladyhk13]

Here's my AWESOME floor in 1/2 the living rm. I have made it through the other 1/2 of the living room, the dining rm and am heading into the library. So far the hardest part is taking off and putting back on the molding...which is similar to loading an unloading a grocery cart...it came off...but will not go back on as it came off....MF'r. LOL. And that is cowhide #1 Liam O'Mooley in the room....I made Seamus into two rugs for the library. It's a crappy cell phone pic, but you get the idea. I had beige carpet in all of my common rooms...who the hell puts beige carpet on a farm...the people before me that's who. I want to say....YOU, Miss Sparrow totally inspired me that I could take on this project. :)

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/ravensgrovefarm/004-3.jpg

Raven it is beautiful!!!! You are doing such a wonderful job!!!!!! Molding....cut upside down and backwards! Got that? HAHA! Don't forget the coping saw!! Oh my!

[ladyhk13]

Boy you aren't kidding on the damn dust...I am right this minute about 2/3s of the way through finishing the flooring and there is dust EVERYWHERE. My pack of dogs (all 3 of them) are frantic as to what the beegeezus is going on....their normal OCD mother has ripped out all the carpet, it looks like a war zone and there is dust everywhere.....today they all camped out in the finished living room LOL.

You all are killing me with the saws...I am tentatively using a jigsaw...and praying to God it doesn't bust the blade because I have no idea how to change it once it does. I already told you Sparrow when SHTF you come to my place and I will feed you in exchange for your excellent carpentry skills.

Dust....hmmmmmmm.....just didn't do it during demo or reno! No point! But I didn't have dogs then or little children so the only thing I had was kitty paw prints across the leather couch, easy to brush off... :)

[ravensgrove]

I am cleaning my way out of each room LOL. I finish the floor, put in the molding, clean everything, put the furniture back, and move to the next room...though all of a sudden it appears you can not just paint yourself into a corner...you can also floor yourself into a corner lmao. I am not sure where to move the bookcases to so I can floor the library, I am scared to move them into anywhere I already floored LOL.

[bacpacker]

Raven that floor looks nice. I do like the rug.

[RedJohn]

You girls rock. I may have to contract the both of you out to redo my house.

[ladyhk13]

I am cleaning my way out of each room LOL. I finish the floor, put in the molding, clean everything, put the furniture back, and move to the next room...though all of a sudden it appears you can not just paint yourself into a corner...you can also floor yourself into a corner lmao. I am not sure where to move the bookcases to so I can floor the library, I am scared to move them into anywhere I already floored LOL.

Do you have a room with carpet that you can put them in?

[ravensgrove]

That would be negative...the only rms with carpet are our bedrooms at this point and we are the Lords of giant furniture...so nothing is going to fit in there. I finally got it all on one side of the library, will floor, then move it all to the other side....I was really annoyed long about 8 pm when I was gutting both inside free standing pantries to move them....what a pain in the arse. I can entirely too much....(its all relative right? If shtf I will be glad I am such an ant...but when I am flooring, I wish not so much).

[Sniper-T]

Pick up a couple of cheap throw rugs. big enough for your bookcases to sit on. put them upside down, and then put the bookcase on top. the nice soft carpet will slide on the flooring easily, and will not scratch it.

looks great btw

[Sparrow]

I love how this thread has become the girl-power = girl-renovation thread!!! I am so impressed with our LADIES!!!

Note to any ladies browsing these posts, we have a ladies section where everyone is really helpful, honest and caring. So, please join. This is the best place where you will be respected as a woman preper.

[trooper dan]

Its great to see you moving on after your townhouse experiences. I cant wait to see your new projects, and I still cant believe you don't have a wine fridge anymore. Teotwawki needs a wine fridge, but a cool root cellar will have to suffice. Keep up the good work.

[Sniper-T]

This is the best place where you will be respected as a woman preper.

Hmmm... strange... I thought y'all were respected as women preppers out here in open forum too.

[Sparrow]

Hmmm... strange... I thought y'all were respected as women preppers out here in open forum too.

LOLz nope! Not at a particular forum!

[Sniper-T]

I guess I can't speak for everyone, especially since I chastised you for doing that a while back... but here... with me... all you gals are. I wish my wife was as 'on board' as you are.

btw, Sparrow...your 'inbox' is full

[ladyhk13]

This site is the best so far that I've seen for women to be open and be able to talk among the men without being slammed. I really appreciate that. You guys here ROCK!

[Sniper-T]

Awwww, shucks
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u292/Ratherbeskatin/Embarrased.gif

lol

[JustAPrepper]

This site is the best so far that I've seen for women to be open and be able to talk among the men without being slammed. I really appreciate that. You guys here ROCK!

Agreed!

[JustAPrepper]

Raven, your floor is gorgeous and I love your stone wall!

[Sparrow]

I guess I can't speak for everyone, especially since I chastised you for doing that a while back... but here... with me... all you gals are. I wish my wife was as 'on board' as you are.

btw, Sparrow...your 'inbox' is full

It is now un-full :)

[Sparrow]

Raven, your floor is gorgeous and I love your stone wall!

Yes, I love it! I am going to go more for your kind of Colorado ski lodge look for this house. I don't want modern for this place, I want cosy and comfortable!

However, leather sofas are out of my budget :( *cries a little*

[Sniper-T]

It is now un-full :)

pm sent

[ladyhk13]

I guess I can't speak for everyone, especially since I chastised you for doing that a while back... but here... with me... all you gals are. I wish my wife was as 'on board' as you are.

Sniper-T, why don't you have her get an account and then join the Ladies Forum? We will be nice, I promise!!!! Would love to have another lady with us, our numbers are so few in the prepping world.

[ravensgrove]

I have to chime in on the, this is the one forum...where not only as women have we been recruited to join, have been treated with respect ever since. I have, in the past, went about on other forums sharing the same information and always...absolutely every single time, been met with: oh shut up you're a girl what do you know. From full grown men, supposably smart enough to know better.
I love this place, I can't be on as often as most trying to run this farm by myself with Big J recruiting over in NY, but it is my one place to come and see other people not in my own small range of transitional community reality, doing the same thing I am doing. If for nothing else, that sort of camraderie helps a person to know...hey I guess I am only 1/2 batsh*t crazy. I also REALLY appreciate that to date this place is about actually prepping. Not just "oh I read in a book" or conspiracy theory bs, or zombie hoarde bs. I don't have time for any of that nonsense, I am here to share and learn information on how to stay alive in the event of whatever the f.
I am blunt, bold, arrogant, and just a teensie bit snarky. I can't change who I am, and lucky for me this place is proving the one place everyone can be exactly who they are.

[bacpacker]

Well put Raven! I belong to a lot of different forums ranging from auto brand specific to tools to multiple prepping sites. This site is the first and last I check every day. None that I have been on are set up right from the start as a prep only site. Very little BS permitted. Folks don't get crapped on for the least little thing, but if someone's being an ASS, they are not permitted to continue very long at it before banishment.
As far as the ladies being in here, I for one am happy about it. You all have brought in a different outlook and perspective on things. New topics to discuss. New ways of looking at things. What's not to like.

[LUNCHBOX]

I like the fact that you ladies are on board with this site. You really do bring a different opinion on some matters that we men might not pay attention to. Your welcome here as far as I'm concerned and I believe there are more guys that feel the same way.

[The Stig]

I also REALLY appreciate that to date this place is about actually prepping. Not just "oh I read in a book" or conspiracy theory bs, or zombie hoarde bs. I don't have time for any of that nonsense, I am here to share and learn information on how to stay alive in the event of whatever the f.

I am blunt, bold, arrogant, and just a teensie bit snarky. I can't change who I am, and lucky for me this place is proving the one place everyone can be exactly who they are.

RJ and I have expressed a number of times now how much we appreciate the membership grasping our "concept" and embracing it. That is, we are a website about prepping. Not politics. Not tinfoil bullshit. Not dick measuring contests. Not arguments about whether 9mm is useless. Not Mad-Max jerk off sessions. Not "the gumbmint lurks behind every corner" nonsense. None of that crap...prepping.

For the most part members have run with that concept and avoid distractions into non-pertinent (and more importantly) non-productive conversations. The vast majority of you have bowled us over with great conversation, great threads, great ideas, great discussion, etc.

This site is nothing without you guys and RJ and I try to remember that every day. That's not to say we don't enjoy the occasional diversion into sillyness and fun but I'm glad to see none of the nonsense from other places dribbling over here. For the most part people are on point: serious prep conversations by serious preppers.

We thank you all for your involvement!

[Sparrow]

The kitchen island was a special project for me, because essentially it was like building a piece of furniture. At this point in the process, I had never done anything so complicated! I looked through dozens of magazines for ideas, and I have always loved the arts & crafts style of furniture. So those were my inspirations for the design.

Where the island was placed was difficult because the space was very tight. I had to make sure there was enough hallway space, enough room for the fridge door swing, I had to accommodate the electrical in the columns, since I refused to pay 1000+ to move the electrical and make a mess of the walls and ceiling as well for that move. I had a big enough mess on my hands after I removed the wall!

Also, I had to build it in place, which had it's own set of challenges - because of having to incorporate the existing studs, and make sure everything was level.

So here are the pictures.

If anyone wants to know about the materials and costs for this island please let me know and I will do a break down of materials and costs.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7981/img2512h.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1908/img2514k.jpg

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4714/img2516u.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2240/img2517l.jpg

[Sparrow]

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/830/img2520cm.jpg

I will confide a big mistake I made in the process of building this island. I was so concerned with getting the steel top perfect, that I forgot that I had to follow the same process of cutting holes and sliding - the bottom shelf. If you look close you can see the joints where I put in small pieces at the corners to complete the bottom shelf.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/2744/img2529ix.jpg

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/3350/img2530j.jpg

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/9083/kitchenislandunfinished.jpg

[Sparrow]

For good measure here is one picture of the silly girl that got all this done.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/747/kitchenjl.jpg

[bacpacker]

Nice work Sparrow. Furniture quality stuff like that is hard to do. For my part I always make mistakes on something. Just a learning process. I think you did great with the island project.

[Sniper-T]

Looks awesome. I think you'd be as comfortable holding a 9mm as that drill!

[ladyhk13]

So when do we get the pics from the new place Sparrow?

Raven how's it going out there? Are you done yet? Are u done yet? Yeah, I know...5 minutes, right?

[trooper dan]

Thanks for the breakdown of the island. From the finished pictures it looks like custom cabinetry. That is really incredible though, you are really talented. Maybe you could give me some pointers or some insight on the oak flooring I need to finish. I will be asking you for advice from now on. :)

[The Stig]

How did you attach the steel surface to the underlying wood frame?

Very good job on the work. That is very sharp.

[Sparrow]

Lady, and our other Ladies and Gents: I am starting with this thread to see how people respond with the work I do. As most people know, doing this type of work - as a woman - is not typically well received on some forums (as it has been said before - dick measuring contests), I am very happy that people are supportive of the work I have posted here! It makes me feel comfortable to eventually post pictures of the work I am doing now.

Right now I am working on fixing up a 110 year old wood frame farmhouse, that is very very remote ... and I think in one of the best 'survival' locations in Canada. So far I have only been in the house for 8 months, and with just one winter from the purchase time, the exterior shows even more disrepair then it did when I got it last fall. I took the summer off work on the house, and enjoyed being in the country, ... it was like a 3 month vacation for me where I tried to learn to garden and failed miserably (but Irene had a lot to do with my failure). I will be getting this house to have 'off-grid' capabilities. Also, this place is for my mom's retirement - so she can be out of the awful cities of To and Mtl, have fresh air and pure water.

I'll tell everyone more about it, I am thinking in the new year, when I am further along, I will start a thread?

TD: so formal! :) This is what I used on my red pine floors at the townhouse:

http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/images/super-fast-polyurethane_260x270.jpg

I was getting a 'contractor' sale pack at two of those for $60 ... it goes a far way and is very hard in finish. I know you don't like VOCs, ... but once it cures it doesn't off-gas. Unlike anything MDF, or HDF.

Stig: The top is from Ikea and it had a MDF core with a foil finish back. I attached it to the wood of the island with L-bracket metal pieces. That is a reason why I put the extra wood down the middle - to make it really stable. That island, and all the cabinetry I built from Oak veneer plywood, was built as my mom says: like a brick-shit-house. LOLz You could put a 500 lbs fat man on that island and it wouldn't creak or groan. :)

[Sniper-T]

... You could put a 500 lbs fat man on that island and it wouldn't creak or groan. :)

Another visual I could have done without! *shudder*

Nice finish on the flooring! I need to re-do all my hardwood, and not looking forward to it (the mess) Maybe when my wife sees your pics, she'll let me completely dustify the entire house! lol

[Sniper-T]

I am starting with this thread to see how people respond with the work I do.

Again, I'll reiterate MY opinion... you are doing (done) a great job, excellent workmanship (womanship??-lol). And... Thanks for sharing.

unfortunately, you're giving my wife ideas on what she wants done around our place next... :rolleyes:

Keep up the work, and the posts!

I can't wait to see your current project, as dealing with harsh winter climates is my on-going battle as well

[Sparrow]

Its great to see you moving on after your townhouse experiences. I cant wait to see your new projects, and I still cant believe you don't have a wine fridge anymore. Teotwawki needs a wine fridge, but a cool root cellar will have to suffice. Keep up the good work.

LMAO, I am not so sure that my old electric wine fridge would be a good prep for the end of the world as we know it. :D Your sarcasm is too cute Daniel!

[Sparrow]

Again, I'll reiterate MY opinion... you are doing (done) a great job, excellent workmanship (womanship??-lol). And... Thanks for sharing.

unfortunately, you're giving my wife ideas on what she wants done around our place next... :rolleyes:

Keep up the work, and the posts!

I can't wait to see your current project, as dealing with harsh winter climates is my on-going battle as well

You give me gun tips, I will reciprocate with reno tips. :)

[Sniper-T]

Deal!

[ravensgrove]

ladyhawk: I am...finally...finished with my floors. Literally about 2 hours ago, once my giant child comes home and can help me move some furniture back into place and I deal with the...oh I don't know...eight inches of dust in in my entire house I'll post some pics.
At this point, If I ever see another jigsaw, I might shoot it. Holy achey breaky arms Batman, what was I saying in that other thread about no upper body strength? Cutting laminate flooring...sucks...arse. After a week straight of flooring pretty much 24/7 I am now done and my everything hurts.

[bacpacker]

That's great raven. Can't wait to see pics. The pain will go away, Those floors will look great for many years.

[Sniper-T]

looks great Raven!!!

c'mon... 5 'likes' to who can place this quote first... "Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever"

Rock on Ladies... Rock ON!!!

[izzyscout21]

looks great Raven!!!

c'mon... 5 'likes' to who can place this quote first... "Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever"

Rock on Ladies... Rock ON!!!

Keanu Reeves-(Shane Falco)- The Replacements.

[Sniper-T]

We have a WINNER!!!

ding ding ding.

5 likes issued to random locations.

lol

[Sparrow]

Here is a picture of the master bedroom during inspection.

Before pictures.

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6315/p8270025.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/440/p8270025.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/742/p8270026.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/p8270026.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[Sparrow]

Pictures of the Finished Room

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/1825/virtualtour4250529.jpg

^^ I love that high old bed, I stash my huge BOB under there. :)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4828/virtualtour4250530.jpg

^^ You can see where I framed for real closet doors, also I got rid of the 'cheater' door into the bathroom. Which was a pain having to lock two door, and not to mention two door swings into the bathroom was excessive space usage. I took that desk out of the garbage when I was 16 and refinished it. Fun project for a kid.

[Sniper-T]

I like the way you did the two directions with the flooring. It gives an illusion of greater depth, making that large room look even larger. Is that a cushioned seat in the bay window? Looks like a great place to be curled up reading a book.

Awesome Job kiddo!

[Sparrow]

Every girl loves her closet. For me ... it was super fun to design this closet (I miss it). All of the materials for the inside - wood and finishing and ikea closet components cost a total of $200. So I think that was good bang for the buck. The wood I used, and I highly recommend, it was laminated shelving stock of pine from Brazil that home depot sells. It is the same price per sq foot as plywood - and accepts stain and poly as well as hardwood. It is also really dense wood - probably because of a tropical growing condition.

For me, I didn't have any 'ethical' issues about using this wood, instead of something local like the flooring wood - because the wood is cut no matter what, for corporations / big agriculture to graze animals - and if the countries wood doesn't sell - they burn it. At least this way the wood is a carbon sink - instead of burning and the carbon going back into the atmosphere.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3559/img2560fq.jpg

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4807/img2556yq.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1493/jendoor.jpg

^^ was a lot of work!!!

[Sparrow]

I like the way you did the two directions with the flooring. It gives an illusion of greater depth, making that large room look even larger. Is that a cushioned seat in the bay window? Looks like a great place to be curled up reading a book.

Awesome Job kiddo!

Hey thanks! Yes, that bench was great. I didn't build it though, so I cannot take credit. That is one of the things that go under the 4% I didn't do :) But I did sand and finish it!

It was a lot bigger then it looks in the picture.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5271/img1636ib.jpg

My fav uncle calls me kiddo! Awwwww. I don't think you are old enough to call me kiddo though! :)

Oh and the two directions of floor was because the joists changed direction. :)

[Sparrow]

I am not sure what the rest of the ladies work in? But for me, I am a girly-girl ... and when doing work ... I like to still look like a chick.

I love pink, and have this pink scarf I wear as a bandana, and I go through $2 pink thrift shop t-shirts ... like they grow on trees.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6849/img1430at.jpg

[Sniper-T]

looks more utilitarian than girly to me... why ruin good clothes when value village works.

And the pink works for you! me... not so much! lol

btw... it looks like you have more mud/paint on you than on the wall...

[bacpacker]

Sparrow, again nice work! I like the way everything works together. The window is a great area, We have a large area with 3 windows and it is a great place to read in, specially on a rainy day.

[RedJohn]

This is really nice, Sparrow. You really do a good job.

[ladyhk13]

Sparrow, did you countersink the screws on the floor and then put wooden plugs in to cover them?

[Sparrow]

Sparrow, did you countersink the screws on the floor and then put wooden plugs in to cover them?

The floor was VERY VERY labour intensive. It really does require two people to lay, because the nature of the wood, when not from a manufacture who charges over $7 a square foot ... is that the wood is crooked and requires 'wrestling' to get it tight and in place.

Why would I do something like this - that was so hard to put in? Because of the long term value. When I made the decision to put it in, I didn't 'wake up' yet, ... and I wanted a floor I could love for a long time that didn't put me in the poorhouse. The wood was 50 cents a square foot. And I needed tonnes of it, I also used it to make all of the baseboards and door framing and door / window trim. At 50 cents it was worth the copious amounts of extra work.

I did a lot of research as to how to put it in, and I will write a post about it later. That floor will last 100s of years for even a fraction of the cost of laminate. When people say: I cannot renovate because it is too expensive - I say: it isn't too expensive if you work really, really hard. :) I will write a post about the floors hopefully tonight. I would defiantly do red pine floors again, would be a great husband and wife project.

On a side note, I lucked in for the flooring for this house. I got 1200 sq feet of fished oak floor - commercial grade from the mtl airport renovation (leftovers) for 1k cash. It ended up being about 37 boxes.

[Evolver]

Very nice work there Sparrow you should be proud of what you accomplished. I like the way you changed directions on your planking... It breaks the floor up and adds a nice touch.

[Sparrow]

Well, how I (with some handsome help), put in red pine floors!

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/3981/018pd.jpg

I bought the red pine for the flooring from an old guy in ON, who delivered it to me at 5am one morning! It was a hilarious Saturday morning, as I was running behind and had to rip out the living room carpet that morning before the wood came - and knock a hole in the closet wall - to get the wood into the house! The longest of the boards was 14' long, so there was no other option.

So, me and this old guy moved the wood into the townhouse, and when he showed up he was like: ok where is your husband little lady? LOLz I responded, I am not sure, can I buy one online like the wood?! (I am still looking for my DH by the way ... not sure where he is ... where are you DH?! LoLz)

This was the article I was looking on how to: How to Install Pine Floors | The Family Handyman (http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Flooring/Wood-Flooring/how-to-install-pine-floors)

So, if you read the article, there is this notion that red pine, will season nice and straight like hardwood - yeah, ummm ... NOPE!!!

For anyone doing this method, unless you get really expensive pine - in which case you might as well buy hardwood ... what you will recieve for your 50 cents - 1 dollar a square foot is a wood that isn't perfect like the flooring from a store.

If you look in the picture, there is a piece of 2 x 4 ... with screws at the top? Well, you start at one end and wack the wood in to place tight, then top screw (side staples will not hold pine in place long term as air moisture rises and decreases in the house during different seasons. So, we'd (me and my handsome-rent-a-husband) start at one end, I'd screw (counter sink drill bit, then screw with my impact driver) ... and he'd move the spacer block then using a pry bar, apply pressure and bring the wood in - then I would screw.

[Sparrow]

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/5053/020jd.jpg

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/8443/019il.jpg

And here was my handsome-rent-a-husband. I learned so much from this guy in the two weeks of evenings he helped me. He has this whole, French Canadian sexy just out of bed messy unshaven look going on. Yeah, ummm .... too bad I am not a home-wrecker type. This guy really did it for me. :p

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/6563/floors1.jpg

[Sniper-T]

Very nice work! good on ya for not taking the 'easy' way and following your dreams!

[Katrina]

Sparrow,
That is awesome!!!! How much you charge to come down here and do my kitchen. I promise to feed ya good, just kidding(maybe lol)
My bro and wife rehabs homes in Vegas.if they ever get to the point of hiring someone , be glad to send your pics to them if ya need a second career.

[Stormfeather]

And here was my handsome-rent-a-husband. I learned so much from this guy in the two weeks of evenings he helped me. He has this whole, French Canadian sexy just out of bed messy unshaven look going on. Yeah, ummm .... too bad I am not a home-wrecker type. This guy really did it for me. :p

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/6563/floors1.jpg

kinda looks like me, just not as cute. . . . . . .