In preparation for our move to Vermont, we are remodelling our house. We are adding space, a garage, and a "Mud Room," which is necessary in Vermont. The house as we got it had inadequate bathrooms (only one, and none downstairs), an outmoded kitchen, no garage and no mudroom. We are also putting an addition on the South side that could become a bedroom should one of us be unable to go up and down the stairs as we age. Doors and passageways are being constructed for easy access in case of disability, including provision for a ramp in the garage if it should come to needing wheelchair access. It is only a marginal increase in cost to make these provisions now, compared to what it would be later. The finished job will include three full baths (one downstairs), a modern kitchen, and a more modern circular traffic pattern from kitchen to dining room to living room and back to the kitchen. Washing machine and drier will be moved to their own room.
A view of the kitchen before construction. This old stove wasn't the one we cooked on, but when Bill's parents bought the farm in 1957 it was the only stove, and the person it was bought from did all the cooking on it. We will keep it in the kitchen to remind us of the old days in Vermont.
Removing clapboards from house, which needed replacement anyway. The porch has already been removed (August 2004).
Hole dug for foundation and basement for addition on the South. We were lucky, and didn't hit any ledge, so no blasting was required.
This shows the forms for the footings for the garage and mudroom addition on the North.
The poured footings
Forms for the addition to the South. Note the window into the old basement area. This will be enlarged to allow access to the new basement
Pouring concrete at last! This happened just before we left for Austin; the weather this year wasn't cooperative so the concrete work was delayed by about 2 weeks.
Foundations poured, and decking put on the South addition (September, 2004)
Mudroom, between house (on left) and new garage, framed up and close to having the plywood for the roof nailed on.
The two-story addition on the South. The second story room will be our bedroom, the lower story will be a living area that can be turned into a bedroom if needed.
Shows the South addition on the lower floor from the inside.
This charming old footed bathtub will be in one of the upstairs remodelled bathrooms. It came with the house.
This picture, taken in early December, shows progress: The new Anderson windows are in, the house is wrapped, and the porch is being put back. It will wrap all around the house; as of today (December 20), the roof is on the porch. Because of weather, much of the work for the next few months will be done indoors.
The following four pictures were taken in early January; the porch is on, the clapboards are partly on (preprimed, will be painted in the spring), and the window frames are very attractive. Soon the plumbing and electrical contractors will start work on the insides, and when that is done the drywall is to be installed.
February 8: The clapboard and standing seam roof are on! Note in the first picture the very "Vermontish" way that the roof is joined to the eaves and soffit. This is typical for this area (but new to this building), and a specialty of Ken Bailey, the builder.
Another view taken on February 8, showing the extension on the South side.
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