Category: Renovation

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Hand Dug Footings

Day #18

July 4, 2018 – Today was the start of the footing excavation. We hand dug the first three footers 2′-6″ × 2′-6″ × 3′ deep. Two of them are in close proximity to the underground plumbing. One footing is close to an existing pier that is slightly tilted. We did not want to risk damage to the plumbing or the tilted pier from the digging auger. 

All of the old wood from the porch roof was relocated.  It was moved from the front of the cottage and put in a neat stack by the old shed. We took the rotted picnic table over to the fire pit. There it will await the return of the #arsonsquad.

We turned over the old wooden platform that the picnic table sits on.  After a brief inspection we decided it is in great shape. There is no rot at all, so we relocated it close to the fire pit. It will serve as a stage for future nonsense.

It rained for several hours jeopardizing tomorrows planned parking lot installation. Hopefully Wolfley’s Excavating & Septic Pumping will be on site tomorrow to get it started.

Luckily we had covered the footers prior to the storm. Hopefully the covers will keep them from filling with water so that they can be prepped for the concrete pour.

Hand Dug Footing #1
Hand dug footing between underground plumbing lines.
Hand Dug Footing #2
Hand dug footing near the existing tilted pier.
Covered Footing Excavation
Three hand dug footings covered before the rain storm.
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Footing Layout Day

Day #17

July 1, 2018 – Today was footing layout day. I cut my footer guide from a sheet of plywood and laid out all nineteen footers. All locations are marked with orange marking paint.

We are ready to dig!

At the end of the day, sitting in the front yard with a cold beer, looking over my surveying work, I realized that I made a 6 inch error in the layout. Dam it…! More stuff to worry about! Anyway, here’s what it looks like.

Footer Layout
19 footers laid out and marked with marking paint. Ready to dig.
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Backfill & Batter Boards

Day #16

June 30, 2018 – Before I could put up the batter boards I needed to backfill the plumbing trenches.

After I put up the boards I pulled some string lines off of the existing cottage walls. I determined that the cottage is officially 4 1/2 inches out of square. We had to expect that after almost 70 years in the damp river environment. Well, as Troy says, “We gotta build to what’s there.” So on with the show!

With the string lines in place we can proceed with the footer layout.

Plumbing Backfill
Plumbing sanitary and drain lines backfilled and marked with marking paint.
Batter Boards
Batter boards installed and string lines pulled for the footer layout.
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River Rock Demolition

RainDay #15

June 23, 2018 – Not much going on today. It was very hot and humid. The mosquitoes were horrendous.  I dug some of the big river rock out from under the living room door. It seems that area was excavated and back filled with primarily river rock.

Rained all night and filled the plumbing trenches. 

On Sunday so we packed up early morning and headed home. On the next trip I hope to start batter boards and layout.

Good news was that it was the opening day for the Pennsylvania Art of the State 2018 Exhibition. I have one image in the show. Get down there and see it!

River Rock
Some of the river rock under the living room door.
Flooded Trenches
Plumbing trenches flooded from over-night rain.
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Concrete Porch Demo

Day #14

June 17, 2018 – Wolfley Excavation & Septic Pumping was on site today to remove, load up and haul away the remains of the concrete porch.

river During the excavation we discovered the removal of the frost wall sections under the kitchen and living room doors had the potential to damage existing piers. In light of this discovery we decided to leave two sections of frost wall in place. The section under the living room door seems to be backfilled with quite a bit of large river rock. 

With the removal of the porch complete I can begin layout of the new kitchen and porch addition.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkxXAd6A7gY/

Concrete Porch Removal & Remaining Frost Wall
Two sections of frost wall could not be removed.
Porch Concrete Removed
Porch concrete removed.
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Back Bedroom

Day #13

June 16, 2018 – Today, underneath the cottage, I fixed two leaking cpvc elbows on the water system . In the back bedroom I got the rough opening for the new window framed out. We set the new window in place and sealed it up with Pella weather tape.

On the way to Shy Bear Brewing (our new favorite dining location in Lewistown) I had a run in with a snapping turtle. With a little luck he will make it to the water before getting run over by a lawn mower.

Wolfley’s Excavating & Septic Pumping is will arrive tomorrow to begin hauling the porch concrete away. Demolition should begin on the frost walls.

Back Bedroom - Window Rough Opening
Rough opening for new window framed in.
New Window
New window set in place.
Snapping Turtle
Snapping turtle confrontation on the lane.
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New Bedroom Window

Day #12

June 6, 2018 – With the wall framing in place we decided the new bedroom window we purchased on Monday was to big.  Today we went back out to Lowe’s and exchanged it for a slightly smaller model.

The new white Pella window looks a lot like the existing windows, which is good. It is also slightly smaller than the old windows but it’s not noticeable.

We ran out of time, so once again, the new window installation has to wait for another day.

New Bedroom Window
New window ready for installation.
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Sewer Pipe Tie In

Day #11

June 5, 2018 – Today I finished the sewer pipe tie in to the existing lateral. Now both the bathroom sink and the toilet flow into the septic tank. Provisions were made to tie in the kitchen sink in the future. Also began to backfill the sewer and drain trenches with pea gravel. 

Demo’d the rotted out window/door panels in the back bedroom. Installed a new stud wall with exterior grade plywood and dried it in with a layer of #15lb felt. We worked until it was dark. The new window installation will wait for another day.

Sewer Pipe Tie In & Pea Gravel Backfill
Backfilling the sewer lateral with pea gravel.
Wood Rot
Wood rot.
Demo'd Opening
Rotted window/door panels removed.
New Stud Wall
New stud and exterior plywood wall dried in.
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Sewer Piping Repair

Day #10

June 4, 2018 – Today I got all the new pipe and fittings sorted and laid out. I finished digging up the existing sewer piping. Inside the bathroom I removed the toilet. Outside I started the sewer piping repair.

Tomorrow I should be able to tie in the new piping to what remains of the existing sewer lateral.

We sized up the rotted out bedroom window/door panels. Took another trip to Lowe’s to get studs, plywood and a window for the replacement work.

Once again had dinner at Wingman’s.

Sewer Piping Repair
New plumbing pipe and fittings.
Sewer Piping Repair Trench Excavation
Trench excavation for existing sewer piping.
 
 
Bathroom Toilet Removed
Bathroom toilet removed.
 
Rotted Windows
Rotted out window/door panels to be removed.
 
Harley's At Wingman's
Admiring the nice Harley’s at Wingman’s.
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Plumbing Supplies

Day #9

June 3, 2018 – Today we watched a Gray Catbird mother count her chicks, went to the Lowe’s to get some plumbing supplies, checked out Spuds McKenzie’s long lost cousin, Lewistown Louie and had dinner at the Wingman Brew-N-Que. Not a very productive construction day.

Tomorrow I’ll start the sewer piping repair.

Gray Catbird Nest
Momma Catbird counting her chicks.
Plumbing Supplies
Plumbing Supplies
Lewistown Louie
Lewistown Louie guarding his beer stash.
Wingman Brew-N-Que
Special drink at Wingman Brew-N-Que.