under construction

After a lot of hemming and hawing, Overboard and I finally pulled the trigger on a much-discussed home expansion project. To make the homestead a better place for our growing family, we're stretching out the upstairs to accommodate another bedroom, and (wait for it), an en suite bathroom for us. To do this, we're putting dormers on both sides of the upstairs.

We spent the two previous weeks emptying the upstairs of all furniture and shtuff, and moving Kenny in to the guest room, while we moved down to the office in the basement. Construction officially began last week, and before we knew it, we had no roof. Then they put on a new one on. Or most of it. The weather hasn't been cooperating fully on that part. But rest assured, we have everything battened down against the elements, and should have roof work completed by Tuesday at the latest (knock on wood).

Everything's gone relatively smooth, save for the two (yes, two) times that a worker has accidentally slipped and put a foot through the floor upstairs/ceiling downstairs (once in the dining room and once in the kitchen). Luckily, the damage was easily contained and the contractor will fix everything in due time.

Considering how well we hear noises throughout the house, I'm not terribly surprised at the thin floor/ceiling phenomenon. Sigh.

But enough yammering...what you want to see are pix. So here ya go:


After the initial demolition.


Starting to pull the roof off. Notice the guy throwing stuff out the bedroom window into the dumpster below. Under normal circumstances, Overboard would never let anyone throw stuff out a second story window.


Almost there...


I came home that day and saw I literally had not provided a roof over my family's head.


The front of the house after the intial dormer was built out.


The back of the house.


Where our bedroom once stood.


Part of the newly expanded "Kenny/Goldblatt" wing.


Home on a sick day with Overboard, Kenny was inspired to undertake a construction project of his own at the park up the street. You should see what he charges.