First, we finished the new handrail for the front steps. One part was to create something more appealing for the base than the stainless steel brackets that hold up the posts. So we cut little trapezoids from the same oak boards we used to make the rails. This isn't an overly complicated problem for a miter saw. To ensure each of the sides was the same size we used a simple technique of copying the first one.
This gave us our box. Here it includes some spacers we thought about using but decided against.
The easiest way to attach them was with epoxy to each other, the base of the post, and the step. The ribbon is holding everything in place until set.
We added these caps to complete the effect.
Then all we had to do was stain it. We're pretty happy with how this turned out. Unfortunately we have some repair work to do on the bases because the recent bad weather pushed water/show into the seams that expanded. So now the nice, tight mitered corners of the bases are about 1/4-1/2 inches wide. We'll probably end up pulling just the bases off, regluing in place, and putting caulk around the seals to waterproof them. But at least the weather's cooperating for outside work.
Second, we needed to complete the room we had refloored. With all the staining/sealing done that meant installing the shoe molding and repainting the walls. The painting was the easy part (seems like we have plenty of experience with that, must be my imagination), so we wondered about ways to make the molding easier as well. Since we were putting in white oak to match the new floor, we know this can be tricky--it's hard to nail through and can crack without preparation. From experience that would mean drilling about 30 pilot holes through the molding. We chose Plan B and purchased a nailgun.
We didn't want to mess with the kind that works with an air compressor (then we'd have to buy one of those, too) and found this one that got good reviews at Home Depot.
Then we were ready to start the real job. For the record, a nailgun makes quick work of something like molding.
Cachunk-cachunk-cachunk and you're done.
Third, we had to finish the unexpected and never-ending kitchen sink project. After finally getting the cabinet odor-free, the faucet stopped working. Maybe it got jostled during all our time under the sink or maybe it was just old. It's one of those kinds with an extension hose built in, so when we say "stopped working" we mean that it would no longer extend. That really limited the utility. After taking the faucet off to see if we could find and clear any blockages, we realized it would be easier to replace the whole thing.
A little online research led us to this unit, found conveniently at...(wait for it)...Home Depot.
This model helpfully had supply lines already included. This unit unhelpfully had supply lines that were too short already included. This prompted another trip to HD. We made either 3 or 4 that day. Naturally the invention of faucets with built-in supply lines has created a market for a type of supply line that can be used as an extension.
With everything in place and secured we had a working faucet again.
Finally, with the back room all done, we were eager to move furniture into it. We had the idea of making the former studio into our living room. One wrinkle was this meant moving the cable. We'd never tried anything like this, but when has that ever stopped us? Actually, we had planned to include this in a list of projects for our trusted contracting company, but their schedule kept slipping and we got impatient.
Because the new room is above a crawlspace, this job had inside and outside parts. First we identified where we wanted to put the cable outlet.
Then you outline where the box will go.
Use a saw to cut your hole.
Because this is an exterior wall it had insulation.
Here's what is known as an oldwork (because it's for use in a house that's already built) box installed.
Well, that's a bit premature, because what's missing is the coax cable coming through one of the slots in the back corners of the box. That was the amusing part of this project because it involved: lots of fumbling trying to fish the cable up to the opening in the wall. The insulation was one problem but a bigger one was having little room for maneuver. When this addition was built they extended the 3/4-inch plywood subfloor across the entire expanse. What this means is that instead of having a channel between the wall studs that is open all the way to the cinder block foundation there is plywood in the way. This meant we had to drill a hole(s) through the plywood roughly in line with the new hole in the wall. Even with the help of a fish rod all of this took about half a day.
- An added benefit was that the floor of the crawlspace is covered with Borax to keep the insect population down. That meant the person who spent hours lying in Borax dust resembled the Peanuts character Pig Pen whenever they emerged from the crawlspace.
When we hooked up the cable and plugged in the box/router at the other end we were delighted to find everything worked! It's hard to imagine all that effort and the only really tangible proof is this:
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