pandersen
Cyburbian
- Messages
- 243
- Points
- 9
well, lets just call this chapter of my home renovation journal "plumbing the depths".
I had some pipes freeze this past winter because they were buried in a basement wall right next to the foundation wall. Back in January, I had one of these "offending" pipes relocated well away from the foundation wall, but another one still needed to be moved.
Fast forward to this past weekend - I decided to tackle this plumbing job myself and used the occasion to also extend a cold water line so I could install a tap in the rear (outside) of the house so the garden could be more easily watered. At the same time, I relocated the supply pipes for the washing machine (temporarily) to a new location - the final location will come following the installation of my new high efficiency gas furnace (this fall).
Everything was going along fine - I rejigged all the piping, moved the washer/dryer (and levelled them in their new location), hooked up my newly relocated dryer vent (now outside the garage) etc, etc. All that remained for me to do was pressure test the water system - I cautiously cranked open the main water valve (after shutting off all the kitchen/bathroom taps). It was then that I heard the faint trickle of water on the other side of the basement. I shut off the water main (again) and went to investigate. To my surprise, I discovered that I had forgotten to solder the last joint in the cold water line to the washing machine. F****!!! Oh yeah, did I mention that it was now 11:45pm (Saturday night).
Despite being dirty and tired, I then proceeded to re-drain the entire water system for the entire house, soldered the last jpipe oint and re tested the water system. HOORAY! - everything worked as it should and I had no leaks!
As a reward to myself for all my hard work, I went and saw Stompin' Tom Connors at a local venue here in Brandon on Sunday. Quite a colourful character - he put on a great show belting out all his "standards" including "The Hockey Song" etc, etc.
With the plumbing sorted out, I am in a position to finish building perimeter stud walls in the basement to warm up that space this winter. Once the walls are up, I can then run some new electrical, cable, computer and phone supply lines. To date, where I've already built some perimeter stud walls, I've installed some electrical wiring to allow for the future installation of some supplementary baseboard heaters (to assist the furnace to keep the basement warm in the winter) - damn, I'm thinking of just about everything, aren't I.
Now all that remains to to is everything!
Still on the to do list:
New high eficiency gas furnace (this fall)
Move the central air unit to side of house (will be done when furnace is swapped)
Install 2 new steel man doors into attached garage
Install rear yard privacy fence (currently chain link)
Install french doors in rear of house onto deck (also yet to be built)
Strip balance of wallpaper thoughout main floor of house
Refinish oak hardwood floors in main floor of house.
Install new kitchen cabinetry/flooring
Redo all 3 bathrooms (new fixtures/flooring)
Other than that, the house is perfect! - I can see from the list (above), that I now officially have no free time and will for the forseeable future be covered in plaster dust. Ah well, at this little project will serve to beep me out of the bars at night - even if it drives me to drink!
I had some pipes freeze this past winter because they were buried in a basement wall right next to the foundation wall. Back in January, I had one of these "offending" pipes relocated well away from the foundation wall, but another one still needed to be moved.
Fast forward to this past weekend - I decided to tackle this plumbing job myself and used the occasion to also extend a cold water line so I could install a tap in the rear (outside) of the house so the garden could be more easily watered. At the same time, I relocated the supply pipes for the washing machine (temporarily) to a new location - the final location will come following the installation of my new high efficiency gas furnace (this fall).
Everything was going along fine - I rejigged all the piping, moved the washer/dryer (and levelled them in their new location), hooked up my newly relocated dryer vent (now outside the garage) etc, etc. All that remained for me to do was pressure test the water system - I cautiously cranked open the main water valve (after shutting off all the kitchen/bathroom taps). It was then that I heard the faint trickle of water on the other side of the basement. I shut off the water main (again) and went to investigate. To my surprise, I discovered that I had forgotten to solder the last joint in the cold water line to the washing machine. F****!!! Oh yeah, did I mention that it was now 11:45pm (Saturday night).
Despite being dirty and tired, I then proceeded to re-drain the entire water system for the entire house, soldered the last jpipe oint and re tested the water system. HOORAY! - everything worked as it should and I had no leaks!
As a reward to myself for all my hard work, I went and saw Stompin' Tom Connors at a local venue here in Brandon on Sunday. Quite a colourful character - he put on a great show belting out all his "standards" including "The Hockey Song" etc, etc.
With the plumbing sorted out, I am in a position to finish building perimeter stud walls in the basement to warm up that space this winter. Once the walls are up, I can then run some new electrical, cable, computer and phone supply lines. To date, where I've already built some perimeter stud walls, I've installed some electrical wiring to allow for the future installation of some supplementary baseboard heaters (to assist the furnace to keep the basement warm in the winter) - damn, I'm thinking of just about everything, aren't I.
Now all that remains to to is everything!
Still on the to do list:
New high eficiency gas furnace (this fall)
Move the central air unit to side of house (will be done when furnace is swapped)
Install 2 new steel man doors into attached garage
Install rear yard privacy fence (currently chain link)
Install french doors in rear of house onto deck (also yet to be built)
Strip balance of wallpaper thoughout main floor of house
Refinish oak hardwood floors in main floor of house.
Install new kitchen cabinetry/flooring
Redo all 3 bathrooms (new fixtures/flooring)
Other than that, the house is perfect! - I can see from the list (above), that I now officially have no free time and will for the forseeable future be covered in plaster dust. Ah well, at this little project will serve to beep me out of the bars at night - even if it drives me to drink!