Lots O' Progress

Wow, it has been too long since I posted last. It's sure not for lack of something to say (that's never my problem) but for lack of time and energy.  In the last three weeks, we have completed the electrical rough in, completed the HVAC rough in, completed the plumbing rough in, insulated, sheetrocked, taped and sanded the sheetrock, finished installing the window jambs, finished the siding, caulked and filled the old siding, cleaned up in preparation for painting and most recently I started building the brick piers (7 out of 17 complete).  If it's a measure of progress, we sent out our fifth trailer load of demolition and construction debris.

Of course, I didn't do all of this myself, but with the expertise of many on and off island professionals who I will list now by way of acknowledging their good work and attention to the particular difficulties that a restoration project brings:  Many thanks to Don Bachman (electrical), Bob Keys (plumbing), All Star Insulation, All American Heating and Air, Tommy Barnette (sheetrock) and of course, my crew, Jason and John and John.  We are by no means done, but we have moved into the "finish" stage of the work, much of which -due in part to a tight budget- we will complete ourselves.

The piers are each made of ninety bricks, times seventeen piers equals around fifteen hundred bricks and I will note that each one has to be put in exactly the right spot.  I am using a plain smooth faced brick, which will not have that "old brick" look which you might expect in a restoration, but in looking around the island at brickwork of a similar age as our house, I determined that what was used back then (1930's) was a simple, plain red brick.  No surprise, really, as I am sure the choice was limited and simplicity was the rule.

Brickwork is a sort of contemplative exercise, so if you stop by and find me looking thoughtful, you'll know why.  Six hundred down, nine hundred to go....