Kitchen Addition Archives

June 10, 2019December 7, 2023

Support Column and Kitchen Sub-Floor

Day #58

June 1, 2019 – The corner of the living room, at the old porch connection, was leaking for several years. As a result the wall sheathing and possibly the corner studs in this area have succumbed to rot, mold and mildew. To provide for an open ceiling in the new kitchen, a structural beam will be installed. This beam will span from one side of the cottage to the other. If the stud framing in this corner is rotted it will not be able to support the beam. If this is the case then a new support column will need to be constructed in this corner. We need to open up the walls at this location to assess the situation.

So, the goal for today is to finish the kitchen sub-floor, assess the wall framing in the living room corner and re-construct a new support column if required.

Sub-Floor Installation

Sub-floor panel adhesive — Applying a bead of sub-floor panel adhesive.

Sub-floor nailing

New Support Column

After the completion of the sub-floor we started to expose the rotted out corner of the living room. As you can see in the photographs, it was really rotted! A new support column will be necessary to properly support the new structural beam.

Expose Bad Corner - Support Column — Exposing the rotted out corner.

Rotted Sheathing - Support Column — Rotted exterior wall sheathing.

Rotted Corner Support Column — Exposed corner. Rotted wood.

Exposed Corner - Support Column — Exposed corner. Rotted framing members.

With the rotted framing removed we were able to frame in a new support column and tarp up the house for the night. Tomorrow we construct a massive beam and attempt to lift it into place inside the cottage. I’m hoping for the best.

Stink Bug Nest — Stink bug nest, part of the reason it stinks so bad….

At the end of the day we accomplished everything that we set out to do. It was a great day!

June 10, 2019December 7, 2023

Dumpster Delivery & Sub-floor Installation

Day #57

May 31, 2019 – Today was a productive day. S&S Trash Service delivered a 15 yard dumpster for all the demolition debris. Melanie from S&S told me it would be onsite by noon and it was right on time! Just to make sure it works, I removed the old kitchen door and tossed it into the dumpster. Everything is good. Thankx S&S!

We had a visitor at the renovation site today. He crawled in from the giant puddle in the neighbors yard and he spent the entire day napping under the big oak tree in the front yard. His name is T. S. Snappy. He likes to have his nose tickled while being hugged. Hide yo wife, hide yo kids and hide yo dogs! We have had other aquatic visitors to the renovation site.

T.S. Snappy the snapping turtle from the block.

After the dumpster was delivered I started installing the kitchen addition sub-flooring. I am using 3/4 inch treated plywood. It is not tongue and groove but we need good moisture and insect resistance.

In order to fit the sub-floor under the kitchen door I had to remove it completely. So I said goodbye to the old kitchen door and pitched it into the dumpster.

Sub-Floor Install — Kitchen door, frame & sill removed to allow for sub-floor installation.

Sub-floor installation. — Two sheets of 3/4 inch treated sub-floor installed.

October 16, 2018December 7, 2023

Kitchen, Living Room & Structural Demolition

Day #49

October 13, 2018 – The interior demolition in the kitchen and living room continued today. I removed the wing wall separating the two rooms. A section of living room ceiling in addition to a portion of drywall at the front wall have been demo’d.

During the demolition of the wing wall I discovered some carpenter ant / termite damage. The rotted, half eaten wood was removed and the area prepped for wood hardener and high performance wood filler. The hardener and wood filler will be applied on the next trip. Unfortunately, this damaged area is directly under the wall studs that must support one end of a new beam for the kitchen roof.

In the front wall of the living room, where the old porch connected, the batt insulation was soaking wet. As we had figured this area has been leaking for years. Some of the wood siding is rotten to the point that I can push my finger clean through it. As a result, we will have to remove additional drywall to determine the extent of the water damage. Tomorrow I will have to figure out a way to protect this area from continued water damage.

After the removal of some living room ceiling I began the structural demolition of the wood framing members connecting the old kitchen to the living room / main structure. This will make way for a new 20 foot long beam. The beam will tie the two sidewalls together as well as support the roof during the kitchen demo.

Even though it doesn’t look like much all in all it was a good day!

Photos From The Day

Demolition - Wing Wall — Demolition of the wing wall between the kitchen and the living room.

Termite Damage — Carpenter Ant / Termite damage under wing wall.

Termite Damage Repair — The rotted, termite damaged wood is clean out.

Ceiling Demolition — Ceiling demolition in the living room.

Rotted Wood — Rotted wood in the exterior wall of the living room.

October 8, 2018December 7, 2023

Kitchen Ceiling and Electrical Demolition

Day #48

October 7, 2018 – Today I completed the kitchen ceiling removal and started the electrical demolition. There was work on both the inside and outside of the cottage.

Inside Demolition

I removed the batt insulation and ceiling fiber board. The insulation was very dirty and covered with nut shells and mouse turds. I am really hoping that the mice are long gone because, as we know, mice are a real pain in the ass!

With the ceiling removal complete I started on some electrical demolition and re-wiring.

I removed the old school fluorescent light. This light fixture only worked about half the time! To take the place of the fluorescent light I rigged up some temporary construction lights.

One wall in the kitchen and one wall in the living room will be removed for the kitchen expansion. Therefore, on these two walls, the outlets and wiring were removed for demolition safety. With the living room exterior outlet removed we will use the new exterior GFCI outlets.

Kitchen Ceiling Demolition — Preparation for the removal of the kitchen ceiling.

Old Fluorescent Light Fixture — Just prior to the removal of the old florescent light fixture.

In the process of removing outlets I opened several junction boxes in the ceiling. It is surprising to see the connections inside are soldered and wrapped in old style fabric electrical tape. I don’t know if this was common practice in the 1950’s or not but I’m sure it takes a lot more time to install!

Electrical Demolition - Kitchen Junction Box — Kitchen junction box with soldered connection, old fabric electrical tape and burned wire.

The outer jacket on the old wiring is brittle and comes right off. On some of the wire there appears to be burn marks on the insulation. I don’t know if this is from soldering or overheating but it confirms our suspicions that the old wiring needs replaced.

Outside Demolition

I removed the old motion-activated flood lamp from the corner of the cabin. As it turns out, this light was not installed correctly. The installer did not use a weatherproof junction box. For this reason, the internal wiring and connections can exposed to rain and snow. This could have caused a short circuit and possibly a fire. We have another light just like this at the other end of the cabin. You can bet I’ll be removing it on the next trip.

Old Flood Light — Old motion-activated flood light removed from cottage exterior.

Cottage Exterior - Old Flood Light — Old flood light removed from this corner of the cottage.

Next weekend I hope to remove the remaining wing wall and open up more of the living room ceiling.

August 23, 2018March 31, 2024

Sub-Grade Stone Is Complete

Day #39

August 19, 2018 – Today we placed the remaining limestone under the new addition. All of the sub-grade stone is complete and the landscape fabric covered! By volume we have moved almost 9 tons of stone. Not to shabby for a weekend.

Started the porch framing but we quit when it started to rain. Even the toads were seeking cover.

In two weeks I will have the balance of the porch addition framing lumber delivered in one shot. Much easier to have it delivered rather than try and haul it in ourselves.

Sub-Grade Stone Is Complete — Placing the last of the limestone under the porch addition.

Sub-Grade Stone Is Complete - Double Wheel Barrows — Double Wheel Barrows!

Sub-Grade Stone Complete - Toad — Rain storm, even the toads ran for cover.

Sub-Grade Stone Complete - Floor Framing — View of the new kitchen floor framing from inside the existing kitchen.

August 21, 2018March 31, 2024

Kitchen Floor Framing Complete

Day #38

August 18, 2018 – After a quick trip for lumber, some sawing and hammering, and voila, kitchen floor framing complete! The addition is now starting to take shape.

So far I am am very happy with the concrete work. Although the pictures are deceiving and the framing is not conventional the floor is perfectly level. It should also meet the existing floor elevation once we finish it off.

We also managed to get some more of the limestone spread in the area under the porch addition. 3/4 of the way done! Once we have the sub-grade stone complete I will begin the porch floor framing.

Kitchen Floor Framing — Kitchen addition floor framing continues.

Kitchen Addition - Floor Joists — Kitchen addition floor joists in progress.

Kitchen Addition - Solid Bridging — Solid 2 × 10 bridging at the kitchen addition.

Kitchen & Porch Addition Overview — Elevated shot of the kitchen floor framing and the stone under the porch addition.

August 7, 2018March 31, 2024

Kitchen Floor Framing Continues

Day #34

August 5, 2018 – The kitchen floor framing continued today. The heat index was 102 degrees but it was so humid that the puddles were not even drying up. I was taking it very slowly.

The existing Cot-Taj-Mahal is built on rough cut 2″ × 6″ solid oak beams. I didn’t want to place a lot of additional load on the structure so we poured a line of footers and piers as close to the existing wall as we could. As a result, along the kitchen, I have to transition from a 6″ beam to an 8″ ledger and then to a new 10′” beam. As expected, nothing is square. Gotta love 65 year old structures!

Before I can go any further with the ledger board installation I need to demo part of the frost wall under the living room door. I’m hoping I can cut it with a concrete saw.

Floor Framing - Kitchen Addition 02 — Overview of the floor framing at the new kitchen addition.

Floor Framing - Transition Joists 01 — Here we transition from a 2 by 6 beam to a 2 by 10 beam. We have 2 by 8 joists in between.

Floor Framing - Transition Joists 02 — We have 2 by 8 joists in between.

Floor Framing - Kitchen Addition 01 — Parking lot view of the floor framing at the new kitchen addition.

August 7, 2018March 31, 2024

Floor Framing New Kitchen Addition

Day #33

August 4, 2018 – This morning we made a run out to the Lewistown Lowe’s for treated lumber to start the floor framing. Yesterday I did a quick takeoff for the lumber I needed to start the floor framing along the kitchen addition. I was anxious to get started with the ledger boards while I had help. Unfortunately when we got back we discovered that the power was out. Son of a bitch!

I called in the power outage to Pennelec. After a short time they returned the call with a status update. It was anticipated that the power would come back on by 1:30 PM. My help could only stay until ,noon so that pretty much shot a hole in my plans!

With the power out I decided to strip the last pier manually with an old time screwdriver and a ratchet. I had to bail the hole out several times but I got it stripped and backfilled.

At 1:05 PM the power came back on. Ahead of schedule, imagine that. The rest of the afternoon I managed to get a small portion of the floor framing completed along the kitchen addition.

Tomorrow, if the power stays on, I’ll continue the kitchen addition floor framing.

Ratchet Work — Taking apart the last pier form with no electricity.

Last Concrete Pier — The forms from the last concrete pier are stripped.

Floor Framing - Treated Lumber — This was our first load of treated lumber for the floor framing.

Floor Framing - Ledger Board — The first ledger board for the new kitchen floor.

Floor Framing - Ledger & Beam — Ledger boards, band joist and beam at the new kitchen floor.

Floor Framing - Band Joist — The first band joist and beam for the new kitchen floor.