Sunday, January 21, 2018

Refrigerator is here

Refrigerator is in and running. It arrived with a couple small dings on the freezer door. They offered 10percent off of the price, bring out a new fridge, or bring out a new door. Dings are tiny, but I know they are there, so I opted for a new door. I had the old refrigerator doors off and in the driveway, so I wasn't really leaning towards sending refrigerator back. Keep trying to talk myself into the ten percent off, but I believe I am going with new door. Refrigerator is out where it is seen in two rooms, so if it has a dent, it will be of my making. I really like the way it all looks together. Everything is either black or black stainless. I really like the look of the black stainless. Ice maker is still making first batch. Probably won't have usable ice until Tuesday. I think I found the color for the counter top I will get. I need to get the gas line ran to the range first. Been too busy with rest of kitchen this weekend. Wish I had a couple more days off to finish things up a bit.

Weather is nice, but doubt it will last long. Enjoying the springtime like melt off. We got about four to five whole inches of snow a week ago Friday. They don't plow or salt down here, so, it gets a bit sloppy, but not bad. What was bad was them not removing it and the subzero temps freezing the slush. Really wish they would learn to clear the roads and not wait for God to thaw them out. As luck would have it, it was in the mid 50s today and snow is gone. Maybe the kids will go back to school. They actually cancelled school all last week. The whole week. They cancel school if there is a rumor of snow. I think I could count on one hand with fingers left over how many school days I missed as a kid in northern Indiana in all the years I went to school on account of snow. I can't believe how they treat snow down here. Too many years living in the north where you just headed out extra early when it snowed. Several inches was normal, not gut wrenching. Hope for a mild winter as I hate snow and cold. Ready for spring. Lots I want to do outdoors now that the house is pretty much done.

I am ready for a relaxing day off now. Really don't want to go back to work. Spent the whole weekend working on the kitchen and around the house. Think next weekend is going to be a bit of fun and relaxation. I do believe they have a flea market and a gun show going on locally next week.

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Almost there, on the kitchen

Dishwasher works great. Highly recommend Bosch dishwashers. My last house, I bought a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher as my previous one worked well. It was horrible. Had to rewash silverware and some dishes. It wasn't a cheap model either. I bought the stainless tub with the hard food disposal. Total junk. The Bosch cleans flawlessly. Everything comes out clean and spot free. Hope the other appliances are as good.
Today, I put up my Frigidaire microwave over the range area. Total pain by yourself, but I managed. Tile backsplash made drilling holes a bit of a pain. Need to get some decent masonry bits one of these days. I got that done, and the delivery guys dropped off my range. I don't have the gas line ran for it yet. It has been to cold to disconnect the furnace to tee off the gas line. It looks awesome though. Tomorrow, they drop off my new refrigerator. I just got the water line run for the ice maker. It is going to be great having ice and ice water through the refrigerator door again, as that is my main drink.
Still trying to figure out what I want for the countertops. I am thinking of replacing the counter where the electric range top was with a solid butcher block top. The other wall with the sink and range I will probably go either granite or solid surface. I like the built in sinks on the solid surface, just not sure how stain resistant they are compared to granite. They look sleeker as well. I am going to put some three inch spacer panels between cabinets and microwave and stove. Lowes had some that matched the cabinet wood grain really close. If I can make up my mind on countertop, kitchen will be done. Pretty much finishes up modifications I have in mind for the house. Still need to straighten office up, but after I get the kitchen wrapped up. Kitchen is looking great. Can't wait for tomorrow when refrigerator is here.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Gaining in bits

Back to work for two weeks now, and it sucks as bad as I remember work sucking. I am gaining quite a bit on the house. I mapped out most of the breaker box as it only had the 220 lines marked in the box. They are dropping by tomorrow with my new dishwasher. It comes with free install, not that they are difficult to install, but free hook up is good. I did get into the sink today and fixed the leak it had at the drain, as well as installed the garbage disposal. Previous owner must have had one at some point I would think, as there was a wire and switch for it, sort of. Took strainers out and found that they didn't believe in plumbers putty. I guess stainless steel strainer on a stainless steel sink is suppose to magically seal off. I took pipes apart and sealed the strainer that is going to stay, and installed the garbage disposal in other location. Recut and fit drain pipes to work. Went to install electric and found the owner was a believer in saving energy. Apparently, in his world, you can run a piece of romex from the switch right to the garbage disposal and it would miraculously work. I straightened the wiring out, installed a pigtail on the disposal, installed a switched receptacle down below and all works now. Scary the stuff you find on old houses. Especially when you have a person who thinks they can do it themselves, and can't.

Refrigerator is still a week away. This weekend I will run the ice maker line. I have the parts, just haven't done it yet. Still tossing around which range I want. Going to get a gas range, but I am thinking of bringing the electric oven up from the basement for a temporary fix so I can get the countertops ordered and installed. Running a temporary electric line is easy as the junction box is close. It has been freezing down here and the gas line I want to tee off of is the one running to the furnace. Have to break the line down from  where it enters furnace and back up to the elbow at the ceiling, tee it there, rerun line to furnace, then, install new line from tee to area where stove goes. Figure I can wait until the weather breaks a bit. In the meantime, I can get the counters done. This weekend, I also want to cut the wall behind and above the new range area and run 120 power for the microwave and gas range, as well as block off the original hole where refrigerator power outlet is, so it isn't an eyesore. Original power is about even with where they top of the range will be. Don't want it sticking half above the stove. I can salvage a few of the small tiles from hole I make behind range to cover old outlet hole. Kitchen looks a lot bigger just by moving the refrigerator out of old location and putting in new location. Opens up the room.