Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Modern House - Eastern Shore
- Thread starter Brian R
- Start date
Workspaces between 485 and 705 squarefeet.
WOW, what a great project.
Staircase
Truly one of the focal points of the house. Lots of windows and in this area the posts are actually 4x6 (all of the other posts of this post and beam structure are 4x4).
So in the stair case area we decided to mount drywall on 2x4s inside of 4x6 posts and keep the posts proud of walls.
Also, needed to trim all windows. The trim and, extension jambs and windows will all be stained to match the steps and wooden floors throughout the house.
Also, still need to install landing lights but other than those 2 items I can place another check off punch list.
Truly one of the focal points of the house. Lots of windows and in this area the posts are actually 4x6 (all of the other posts of this post and beam structure are 4x4).
So in the stair case area we decided to mount drywall on 2x4s inside of 4x6 posts and keep the posts proud of walls.
Also, needed to trim all windows. The trim and, extension jambs and windows will all be stained to match the steps and wooden floors throughout the house.
Also, still need to install landing lights but other than those 2 items I can place another check off punch list.
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Toolfool
Well-known member
Your place is looking good.
Deezler
Well-known member
Very nice. Extension jambs are a real PIA.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
RickP
Well-known member
With the windows in the stairway, I really like how they draw your eyes up toward the ceiling. Nice job on the placement of them, and the trim work looks really good.
Will it be partially finished enough for you and your family to use it this summer?
Will it be partially finished enough for you and your family to use it this summer?
4x4OnTheShore
Member
I just stumbled across this thread, I live in Centreville, I didn't see if you posted where on the Shore you are located, just curious. I'm in the process of having a 30x44 Pole Building built now, supposed to get concrete on Wednesday this week. Regardless, cool looking place, just wanted to know where it was.
Thanks!
Yeah for sure. Almost more work than installing drywall.
What he said!
Thanks!
Yes for sure and can't wait. I was working on it for a long weekend in April and plan is to spend a week 'camping' there with my son and getting enough done that family can use it with ease this summer.
My electrician is from Centreville but I don't know that area too well yet. We are south of Chestertown but on the other side of the Chester River. Good luck with your place and thanks for the kind words.
Brian
Plywood
The ground floor walls consist of marine grade plywood. This material conforms to FEMA requirements. If it floods they won't be ruined and can be removed easily if need be. However, behind walls we have installed foam closed cell insulation so I'm hoping we never need to remove.
A few shots of this area. We might stain or whitewash but I'm also fine with leaving them as is.
Brian
The ground floor walls consist of marine grade plywood. This material conforms to FEMA requirements. If it floods they won't be ruined and can be removed easily if need be. However, behind walls we have installed foam closed cell insulation so I'm hoping we never need to remove.
A few shots of this area. We might stain or whitewash but I'm also fine with leaving them as is.
Brian
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Sanding
There are still big things to do but I'm also looking at the smaller stuff. This place was built in 1966 and even though we've replaced all doors, windows, siding and walls certain things are being left in place.
Like these 4x4 posts with 50 years of grime and dirt. Just to see what it would involve to clean I took a sheet of sandpaper and tried to clean them up.
I think they clean up pretty well. I'm trying to decide to do it myself or have it done when floors are refinished....
There are still big things to do but I'm also looking at the smaller stuff. This place was built in 1966 and even though we've replaced all doors, windows, siding and walls certain things are being left in place.
Like these 4x4 posts with 50 years of grime and dirt. Just to see what it would involve to clean I took a sheet of sandpaper and tried to clean them up.
I think they clean up pretty well. I'm trying to decide to do it myself or have it done when floors are refinished....
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Outdoor Shower
I was at the house doing some prep work for flooring and tile work (more on that later). However, I did have some spare time to work on some other projects.
I think every house on the water should have an outdoor shower. I would prefer a spot that is open to the sky (sun during the day and sky at night). Yet this corner of the house created by two 4’ x 12’ bump-outs on the ground floor had several good points:
1. Perfect space for shower – 4’ x 4’
2. Two walls already created in corner
3. A spot convenient for coming off the water
4. Located next to bathroom on ground floor so plumping it in was super easy
I had planned on taking pictures at each juncture of the process but digging the post hole, spot for drainage box (black object in center of first picture), trench for drain, and then clearing 5 inches for drainage rock and pavers wore me out.
To finish I’m probably going to install a 4’ x 4’ post sleeved in white vinyl and attach white vinyl fence and gate for walls.
When I have worked with pavers in the past I’ve used a masonry blade on circular saw. I lacked one this weekend so actually ‘cut’ corner piece in with a cold and brick set chisels (old school like me).
I was at the house doing some prep work for flooring and tile work (more on that later). However, I did have some spare time to work on some other projects.
I think every house on the water should have an outdoor shower. I would prefer a spot that is open to the sky (sun during the day and sky at night). Yet this corner of the house created by two 4’ x 12’ bump-outs on the ground floor had several good points:
1. Perfect space for shower – 4’ x 4’
2. Two walls already created in corner
3. A spot convenient for coming off the water
4. Located next to bathroom on ground floor so plumping it in was super easy
I had planned on taking pictures at each juncture of the process but digging the post hole, spot for drainage box (black object in center of first picture), trench for drain, and then clearing 5 inches for drainage rock and pavers wore me out.
To finish I’m probably going to install a 4’ x 4’ post sleeved in white vinyl and attach white vinyl fence and gate for walls.
When I have worked with pavers in the past I’ve used a masonry blade on circular saw. I lacked one this weekend so actually ‘cut’ corner piece in with a cold and brick set chisels (old school like me).
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Flooring - Hole Repair
The next couple of weeks are going to be focused on the wooden floors. They need sanding but before we get to that step there are a couple of rather large
holes that have to be fixed.
The house originally had an approximate 3x5 foot chase that included chimney and duct work. The chase was removed in order to have unobstructed views from the kitchen to the water (the duct work is now runs against the wall and we no longer need a chimney since we switched from oil to electric heat/air).
I’ve posted a few pictures of the big hole in the kitchen.
The kitchen floor looks really bad since it was covered in vinyl but should look brand new at the end of this process (see 2nd photo with line between family room and kitchen)
The last one shows the replacement boards in the flooring that will be sanded and stained to match the rest of the flooring.
The next couple of weeks are going to be focused on the wooden floors. They need sanding but before we get to that step there are a couple of rather large
holes that have to be fixed.
The house originally had an approximate 3x5 foot chase that included chimney and duct work. The chase was removed in order to have unobstructed views from the kitchen to the water (the duct work is now runs against the wall and we no longer need a chimney since we switched from oil to electric heat/air).
I’ve posted a few pictures of the big hole in the kitchen.
The kitchen floor looks really bad since it was covered in vinyl but should look brand new at the end of this process (see 2nd photo with line between family room and kitchen)
The last one shows the replacement boards in the flooring that will be sanded and stained to match the rest of the flooring.
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Toolfool
Well-known member
Keep at it, you're in the home stretch.
mtm_motors
Well-known member
Love how this is progressing! The outdoor shower is a great idea and use of space, very well executed. The floor patch should blend in very well also!
Yeah and I'm feeling it.
Hey - thanks for following along. And about the floor patch - yes and no.
It would have blended perfectly except I should have paid better attention to the other areas in the kitchen. It was originally covered in 12 inch vinyl/linoleum tiles and as you can see from demo pictures (first 2 with areas highlighted in yellow) there were some areas that were stained.
I thought they would come out with sanding but alas, no luck (3rd and 4th pictures).
We kicked around a few ideas:
1. Tear out 12x12 section in kitchen and replace entire flooring. We decided against this since this old wood is hard to impossible to locate.
2. Tear out entire section and replace with different flooring. We had cork flooring in our old place and we loved it but felt there would be too much of a difference between kitchen and other areas.
3. Live and let live since a fair amount of ruined areas would be under cabinets, island or possible covered with carpet runners.
4. Stain entire kitchen area dark to match dark spots that could not be removed with sanding.
We're going with the 4th idea with the option that if we don't like it we can address this area later.
Stain is going on today - I'll keep you posted.
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wasfast
Well-known member
You may have the option to bleach the entire floor before staining. I've not done this personally but something to consider. Your dark stain option will help but you'll still see the pattern to some extent. More rugs:
You may have the option to bleach the entire floor before staining. I've not done this personally but something to consider. Your dark stain option will help but you'll still see the pattern to some extent. More rugs:
wasfast, thanks for that tip. Doing some research now. Here is a better picture of how things stand. Kitchen is in holding pattern but the family room, dining area and stair landing has first coat of polyurethane.
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Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That's looking good there Brian! 
Anxious to see it with another coat or two.
Anxious to see it with another coat or two.Toolfool
Well-known member
I haven't seen anyone around here use polyurethane on wood floors in a long time. Product of choice has been Bona.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Seriously?!?!?! Those stairs and landing came out awesome.
APEowner
Well-known member
Wow! That's a dramatic improvement on those stairs!
Travels
In the UK last week for business and pleasure. I certainly enjoyed Bath, Stonehedge and multiple castles but here are a few pictures from the mechanical things I really enjoyed.
Aston Martin DB5 parked at hotel.
National Motorcycle Musuem (boy to they have a lot of Vincents)
Falkirk Wheel (one hell of a way to transfer boats between canals)
In the UK last week for business and pleasure. I certainly enjoyed Bath, Stonehedge and multiple castles but here are a few pictures from the mechanical things I really enjoyed.
Aston Martin DB5 parked at hotel.
National Motorcycle Musuem (boy to they have a lot of Vincents)
Falkirk Wheel (one hell of a way to transfer boats between canals)
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I was able to spend last weekend at the house. I took care of a few items on my punch list:
1. Installed flooring in upstairs bath (although still need to grout)
2. Finished installing all plywood on ground floor and installed cabinets in utility area
3. Installed 4x4 posts framing (in order to hold access doors for mechanical area on ground floor)
4. Finished outdoor shower
Punch list is now less than one page long.
1. Installed flooring in upstairs bath (although still need to grout)
2. Finished installing all plywood on ground floor and installed cabinets in utility area
3. Installed 4x4 posts framing (in order to hold access doors for mechanical area on ground floor)
4. Finished outdoor shower
Punch list is now less than one page long.
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Ran into an issue with the flooring. We needed to replace a 4x6 foot section with new wood since there was a hole where they ran chase for electric and duct work. That went fine but there were stains from underneath section that was vinyl tile that could not be removed.
We toyed with finding similar wood but this would have been pricey and time consuming.
We finally settled on staining kitchen section which should go well with cabinets and countertop that have already been ordered. The dark color should be a nice contrast but there are other options (paint or replacement) if it does not work.
Anyway, here is 2nd story flooring with first of four coats with polyurethane (Lenmar - Polyurethane Wood Finish - Semi Gloss Clear).
We toyed with finding similar wood but this would have been pricey and time consuming.
We finally settled on staining kitchen section which should go well with cabinets and countertop that have already been ordered. The dark color should be a nice contrast but there are other options (paint or replacement) if it does not work.
Anyway, here is 2nd story flooring with first of four coats with polyurethane (Lenmar - Polyurethane Wood Finish - Semi Gloss Clear).
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Most of my time is spent inside trying to finish but I'm also keen on getting some work done on the property. These two sets of pictures were taken last fall and last weekend.
The area directly in front of the house as you proceed up the driveway was dense with overgrowth and a lot of dead branches. The first two pictures are from different angles but I've circled in yellow the same bent tree to give you a perspective of how much brush has been removed.
The second two pictures are from the same perspective and the area where I'm now storing our boat but will probably house a shed later.
Again - last fall compared to last weekend.
The area directly in front of the house as you proceed up the driveway was dense with overgrowth and a lot of dead branches. The first two pictures are from different angles but I've circled in yellow the same bent tree to give you a perspective of how much brush has been removed.
The second two pictures are from the same perspective and the area where I'm now storing our boat but will probably house a shed later.
Again - last fall compared to last weekend.
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Growlertdi
Well-known member
Just found this thread. Amazing transformation.
timbitca
Well-known member
Nice progress!
Glad to hear your to-do list is getting shorter!
Glad to hear your to-do list is getting shorter!
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Nice work Brian. Really like how the floors and outdoor shower turned out.
Really like how the floors and outdoor shower turned out.renjaminfrankln
Member
Small world... we have a house on Indian Creek and I also spend a lot of time with friends downeast. Sometimes real downeast (Davis). Both places have their pros and cons!
jimmie jam
Well-known member
Very nice progress.....
