Kinda, but not really

It's not really green. I swear. So far I'm pretty happy with the way it is turning out. Just wish it was going a little faster. One of the wall cabinet carcasses is done as well. Still need to pick out the tile. Better get on that...

Plumbing

Re-did the plumbing for the hot and cold to the kitchen sink cabinet. I almost got away with reusing all of the parts for the new hot/cold lines but the tool for taking off the old PEX rings didn't fit into the fittings. Then after installing the cabinet up against the wall I realized that the cabinet actually needed to be a 1/4" to 1/2" an inch away from the wall on that side to due to a dip in the wall. Not sure how that is going to happen now. At least the valves are compression joints instead of soldered on. So tomorrow I get to spend half the day reworking what I spent all of yesterday doing. Well not all, I goofed off a lot yesterday. The other thing I've got to figure out is how to keep the wash tub that we have been using for a sink connected. Once the plywood for the counter is put on there isn't a whole lot of room. Maybe the sink will have to be hooked up after putting the plywood and cement board down in the same day. Wow, it's time to pick out the tile for the counter!

Kitchen ho!

The dishwasher isn't really green, that's just the protective cover. The cabinets are progressing pretty well. So far I've about $350 invested in the cabinets. I'll need about $100 more to finish them. Maybe even less since I already bought all of the hardware. A lot of time will be invested in the project though. Just staining the face frame for the cabinet that is in has taken almost an hour and the job is only half done. I really don't want to be shopping for a house in the summer. I'm hoping that the kitchen will be done 'enough' soon so that I can start shopping for a rental.

Soffit

For some reason the spell checker thinks that soffit is spelled wrong. The gf uses it casually so I thought it was pretty common knowledge since it refers to something she has no interest in. However, she has informed me that she learned the word through listening to me. Despite the spell checkers ignorance there is now a soffit in the kitchen. Two of the cabinet carcasses are ready to install as soon as the drywall is done. The dishwasher is patiently waiting in the other room for its chance to excel. The last time I live with a dishwasher other than myself was 16 years ago so it's kind of exciting.

Details

One of those finishing touches that seem to take for ever. The window sills aren't done yet. The cat has a nice place to look out the window now though. They are made of pine with a stain named pecan that has polyurethane mixed in. The stain is a little messier than regular stain but I'd use it again.

The first base cabinet for the kitchen was finished yesterday. It was a learning experience, as in mistakes were made. Thinking about doing the face frames in maple since it comes pre-dimensioned at the depot. Tried staining some scraps of maple and I didn't like how any of it turned out. Maybe some more coats of stain will make a difference. This weekend the soffit for the kitchen cabinets will be going up. Happy V-Day, hand me that hammer...

Ta Da!

Look, drywall! There is even insulation behind it. Need to make soffits and start on the cabinets. That room might just be a kitchen some day.

Kitchen

The kitchen remodel is in full force. All of the counters are gone, 90% of the drywall has been torn out and the two windows have been replaced. There are a couple of wiring anomalies that made me glade to have torn out the drywall. Not only will the walls be insulated but the chance that the house will burn down has been reduced quite a bit. Live wires going nowhere, uncapped wires in metal boxes, joined wires without a box, old wires, etc... The mice should be blocked out by the time I'm done too. I bought a tool for crimping PEX and fixed a leak under the kitchen "sink". The quotes, of course, are to designate that the sink does not exist. Between the leak and just plain age there was a lot of mold behind the kitchen counter. The new wall will have some of that new mold and water resistant yellow drywall for the bottom 4' behind the sink and dishwasher. It sure will be exciting to have a kitchen, it's been well over 5 months now since selling my last house.