Placing Cabinets

Putting the oil finish on our cabinets was a big job but I finally reached a point where I can begin the installation. The base units required construction of a 1" subfloor under them so I won't waste any Maple flooring. These cabinets are full box construction and not open in the back like the those we have had in the past. This makes for a stronger case but that means I have to cut openings for all the plumbing. I spent last week on the kitchen and it is coming together nicely.

We have also been shopping for appliances . This is something like shopping for a car. You go into a showroom full of gleaming units with salesmen circling like sharks. Lynna had done a lot of research though and we've been through this before. We worked with an amiable older fellow who was knowledgable and he located everything Lynna wanted. She was able to meet her budget with an international lineup, so we will have a Swedish dishwasher, German oven & range hood, and a French cooktop. While Lynna talked with a counter top person, I wandered through the clearance section & found a Maple bank of drawers in the style of our cabinets. They accepted my offer and Tuesday I picked it up along with the dishwasher.

We also spent a great deal of time comparison shopping countertops, so I hope to have the base cabinets ready for measurement and templates in another week.

Maple Flooring

I talked with Jorge Sanchez last week & he had no work lined up on Monday, so he came to help me move all the Maple flooring from the basement garage of our rental home up to our new house. He is a hard worker & would only let me help with the really heavy bundles. Some were eight feet long and quite a load even for the two of us. I don't know how I managed to move all that wood down from Portland last Fall by myself. When we had the trailer stacked two high, I strapped everything down then drove up to 10th and backed right up to our deck and we unloaded right into the Dining Room, Entry and Living Room. It took 4 trips and most of the day to complete the move. Lynna came and took some pictures as we were unloading the last load and got a good one of "Mr. Don" giving direction while Jorge hefted the bundles.

Two weeks ago we had some rain and discovered a small leak in the roof. I had someone out to check it and found our roofer had failed to install a "Cricket" called for by the plans. This was letting water from the garage/main roof valley overwhelm the flashing where the valley met the Gable end half wall. I might have caught this, but that part of the roof is almost out of sight from the ground and it was being finished at the time I broke my arm. We were unsuccessful in getting the roofer back to correct this (He's out of business & won't return our calls) so I found two local firms to assess things & recommend a fix. The contractor we chose was able to fit us in and came by this afternoon. They fixed the garage side today and are coming back tomorrow to do the same treatment on the master bedroom side.

I spent all week oiling the cabinet and drawer interiors. I will be done with cabinet finishing in just a few more days, then I can install them and move on to the flooring.

We have had record heat for several days. Its been hard to sleep nights but clouds rolled in today & its supposed to be cooler Monday. Friday & Saturday, after oiling cabinets in the morning, I pulled the garage door window trim pieces & painted them to match the green trim. We think its a big improvement over the white plastic. Only two cabinets remain unfinished and I have oiled most of the drawer interiors & exteriors. Soon, I will cut & install the subfloor under the toe kick platforms. When that is complete, I can install the lower cabinets and start laying our Maple flooring.

Moving day for the Saws

How do you get a 460 pound table saw out of the garage in our rental house and up the hill into my new workshop? No problem if I'm very careful and use my trailer and tractor. It did take a bit of time though, as I was careful to strap everything down for every stage of the move and I decided to move the bandsaw also. We left the dogs inside the new house to watch while Lynna took lots of pictures. Next I will move all the Maple flooring up from the rental & stack it in the Living Room. I'm going to ask Jorge to help. If he's available, it will be money well spent. After the flooring and doors are moved up to the new house, I will be able to get at my old ShopSmith and the tool chests.

Landscaping North Entrance and Finishing Cabinets

I have been hard at work finishing cabinets. The cabinets that are finished look great but most still need several more coats of oil and some steel wool. Lynna worked with Logan to get the rock placed for our North entrance and the secondary garage door. I took a few pictures yesterday in the morning and again in the afternoon.