Once the sill work had commenced, we turned our attention to the carriage house apartment, which needed some work and love prior to seeking a tenant for it, a paying tenant being necessary to continue the sill work--see how that goes?
We think the building was built in the 1950s or 60s. The upstairs apartment has two bedrooms, one with a washer and dryer installed over what we would later discover was a heavily water-damaged floor, a kitchen with issues, and a nice-sized living room, and lots of closet space. It has lovely south and west-facing windows (with lots of wasp nests tucked between windows and storms), and oak floors, which in the kitchen was covered by vinyl over some well-worn (out) original linoleum, held down by tarpaper. It had also been occupied by a smoker for years. So, while the bones were great, there was some work to do.
Some pics of our diamond in the rough:
We think the building was built in the 1950s or 60s. The upstairs apartment has two bedrooms, one with a washer and dryer installed over what we would later discover was a heavily water-damaged floor, a kitchen with issues, and a nice-sized living room, and lots of closet space. It has lovely south and west-facing windows (with lots of wasp nests tucked between windows and storms), and oak floors, which in the kitchen was covered by vinyl over some well-worn (out) original linoleum, held down by tarpaper. It had also been occupied by a smoker for years. So, while the bones were great, there was some work to do.
Some pics of our diamond in the rough:
We began work in December, starting with taking out the kitchen cabinets, adding insulation to that wall, and removing the linoleum floor. Gotta say, old lino stinks. Here's Nate and Jake doing some of that work. Every Saturday, every Sunday afternoon. Cooking lino and scraping. Did I mention every Saturday and Sunday in December and January and into Feburary?
The last bit of old floor comes off on February 6--and we've struck oak! That's a grimace, not a smile...it was HARD work
We'll have to show you "after" pics later--we're still not finished with the kitchen. Sigh
Since then, we've had new windows installed (bye-bye wasps), done quite a few minor repair-y things, and a LOT of cleaning, sealing, priming and painting. Nicotene, need I say more. Can't imagine putting that stuff in my lungs. Just sayin'. Every.surface.in.the.apartment. We also made a mid-course correction in the kitchen and had our contractor gut two walls and the ceiling, where condensation had ruined the insulation and drywall. Might as well do it right.
Since then, we've had new windows installed (bye-bye wasps), done quite a few minor repair-y things, and a LOT of cleaning, sealing, priming and painting. Nicotene, need I say more. Can't imagine putting that stuff in my lungs. Just sayin'. Every.surface.in.the.apartment. We also made a mid-course correction in the kitchen and had our contractor gut two walls and the ceiling, where condensation had ruined the insulation and drywall. Might as well do it right.
(Object lesson of the day: Top of door-nicotene removed. Bottom of the door-not.Thus endeth the lesson)
Then we had the floors refinished. Holy amazing oak! See? Don't you want to stare at them forever? I do.
We have more painting, including the kitchen cabinets, plus a healthy-sized punch list of little things to do, but we're almost ready for a tenant.
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