A lot has been accomplished in weeks three and four, but the visual progress has been less noticeable.
- All the plumbing, gas, water and electric has been rerouted
- The ducting and the external blower for our new cooking exhaust fan was installed. By installing the blower outside the house, we're hoping the exhaust fan will be significantly quieter
- A bunch of plumbing was completed including replacing our baseboard heat with a toe kick heater
- Recessed lighting installed along with electrical for our two new pendant lights
- Appliances delivered
- New insulation installed after we passed the rough inspection and the walls were closed up with two layers of sheet rock for extra sound proofing
- They've started assembling the IKEA cabinets
Walls stuffed with new fire and sound insulation
External blower with ten inch ducting for the exhaust fan. This was a lot bigger than I expected, but at least it's in the back of the house
Start of IKEA cabinet assembly and installation
Along the way, we decided to start an air conditioning project that'll take about a week to complete. It gets so hot and humid in Boston, it's legitimately uncomfortable in the summers. Adam has always wanted air conditioning and I've always vetoed it in the past because I assumed central air would be super invasive to install. Since I don't get as hot, I've always tell Adam to "just suck it up" and "suffer a little." Adam pointed it out that my refusal to consider air conditioning would be the equivalent to Adam refusing to turn up the heat when I'm super cold in the winter. I wouldn't stand for Adam telling me to "suck it up" when it's cold so point [loudly] taken.
We're excited to finally have air conditioning. Other than the one year where we lived in a newer apartment with AC, I've never had AC in the 18 years I've lived in New England. It'll be more comfortable for us and for our visitors. Hopefully our families from California will want to visit during the summer and won't suffer from heat induced insomnia.
Equipment waiting to be installed
The HVAC guys proposed a solution that's hardly invasive and will only take about a week so we took the plunge and started this project this morning. We'll have two zones of air conditioning. One in the basement to cool the first floor and another one in the attic to cool the second and third floors. This morning, they cut this big hole in the attic for the return air grill. They also need this hole to haul up the actual air conditioning unit up into the attic since our existing attic access is so small, I'm surprised that the guys can even shimmy through it.
Giant hole, HVAC guy peering down. He tells me that the attic is in good shape and there is no evidence of critters up there
I learned that our ceilings have two layers just like my floors. The original lathe and plaster ceiling is the interior layer. At some point, they attached the newer sheetrock ceiling to the plaster ceiling with pieces of wood
Piece of ceiling they removed, check out the two layers
3 comments:
There's nothing more assuring that your HVAC guys confirming that there are no critters in the attic! That, and that they're on the way in installing your new AC. You must be very pleased that they were able to come up with a central AC system that's not that invasive, since those usually involve a major renovation. I hope Adam relishes his new AC!
Jason Rumpca @ Rumpca Services
Before, many would think that an air-conditioning unit is a luxury. But nowadays, it really is practical to have one, to ensure that you will be comfortable no matter what the season is. Anyway. you seemed to have done a lot during that week 3 and 4 of your renovation. I hope it will continue to progress smoothly as you go along. How is it doing now?
Shelley Coday @ C & C
I must say you are lucky that the HVAC guy did not find any critters in your attic. Critters love such places since they are rarely used. Your decision to start on the air conditioning project was a wise one. Boston’s climate can be very harsh especially during the summer when temperatures soar up to 70 °F. I am also glad that the choice will be less invasive; some air conditioning projects may take several weeks to complete. Wish you good luck as you continue with the renovation.
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