Already 2 months!

Well, 2 months of work and there is still lots to do. I am running out of inspiration for the blog since I feel I am repeating myself every time I make a post. I talked to my digging contractor and he expects to be finished with the rock removal next week. Of course the project will be far from over but at least we will be able to see faster and significant progress.

I talked to my neighbours last week and I guess they are resigned about the length of this phase of the project. They are not as smiley as before but they still prefer us to the previous owner. I decided to change the fence for a nice and more private pressure treated wood fence. They seem to like my idea. My contractor will help me put the posts in the ground since he has to repair the existing fence anyway.
Here are some drawings I laid out. This is a work in progress.


See for yourself the progress. Une image vaut mille mots. Cheers!

Impression de "Déjà vu"

Today, after picking up my furry friend at the doggy daycare in the pouring rain (Jo was in Florida for the last 4 days for her work, lucky her), I got home and went into the basement to see how well the “Just two weeks” project was doing. On Monday they poured concrete on the roc base floor and today it was roc cutting……again. It is hard to see the progress but I know we are 1.5 foot lower the last time.

See for yourself
Before


Now


Some more pictures (taken with no flash)




Also the carpenter came to put the support for the door (V shape steel bar). I guess we will see another door (hole) in the basement tomorrow.

Another week in the Just Two weeks project

The Just two weeks project is going forward slowly but surely. The “sous-oeuvres” are completed and next week they will resume the digging in the hard rock. We have 2.5 feet to go. To my surprise the second door was cut but not removed because the structure carpenter needs to build support for the beams before removing that big concrete block. This part of the house is in really bad shape. It explained why the floor was not straight on the first, second and third floor. Also I realize that we are loosing more space than planned because of those new concrete walls (8-10 inches thick). Also we decided to keep the chimney since we want to reduce cost. It takes up some space but we will try to integrate this feature into our contemporary design. So I will have to contact our architect soon to review the measurements. I hope we can keep the original layout.

On the soft side, I feel that my neighbors (which probably think we are crazy, and they are right) are getting fed up with the project. All the dust, the noise, the mud, the trucks, the early mornings, the fence that is going down, the asphalt damage; they did not ask for it and I understand their frustrations. I guess this is what bugs me the most at this time. A three weeks excavation (digging) that is more like 2 months now is indeed disturbing. So far I can manage the stakeholder (Project management 101) and I can get a smile from them but I feel their patience is going away and the line is getting thinner. Actually the JTW project reminds me of work but Hey!! that is my job, I am a professional project manager. Enough said, lets see some pictures and movie clips.

S*** Happens

So it's been a whole week since we last posted. Things are moving along, but still slow. We now have the concrete "sous-oeuvre" starting to go up around the walls of the basement. This has also involved power washing the walls, so it's extremely wet and muddy. However, this gives me a good excuse to look fabulous in my welly boots! Some good news is that my doggie is now home and we've found a daycare for him very close by (so he won't be freaked out by the noise and cowering in the bath).

Now things were coming along nicely when Marc needed to come home a little earlier from work than usual. The workmen were cursing like workmen and there was a great deal of banging. Marc escaped the house for his evening event (prize giving for his daughter's school - proud dad!). Now I wasn't home from work until Marc also returned for the evening. Marc heard a lot of water gushing below us and went to investigate... if only it was just water... the sewage pipe had broken apart. EWWWWW! (How on earth the workmen didn't notice or didn't care is beyond me. Not impressed. **** **** ****)

It did get fixed first thing in the morning, although we'd not flushed and were leaving the plug in the bath while we showered. I should note that the sewage pipe is only in a temporary location and was moved there a few weeks ago. However it seems that the "fix" was a little too temporary. While running the washing machine this afternoon, there was a HUGE bang. Everyone in the house jumped out of the their skins. Then after we realised that the house was still there, Marc ventured down to the basement. This time an entire section of sewage pipe had come away, then while trying to fix that, another joint came away. Fun fun!

Marc and I spent the next long while in rubber gloves and boots, holding our breath... Fortunately it seemed to be washing day for everyone in the triplex, but putting all the pipe back together was no easy task. (French: **** **** ****!) We've also secured it from the ceiling in a lot more places now. But I can only hope it holds until we need to replace it with the long-term solution.

On an entirely different note and to say a little thank-you to Marc's brother and his family for taking care of our furry boy, last night we tried the "apportez votre vin" resto "La Raclette". The fondue was amazing!

Head Room

Marc and I are finally back in Montreal together at the same time! It's been TWO WEEKS since I've seen the basement, so while I couldn't wait to see Marc... I was also very anxious to see the project progress :)



To be honest, it's a little disappointing to still see there is so much more to dig, but it's what I was expecting. Anything more would have been surprising, but I still wanted more! (It seems I'm a rather demanding woman, but I won't poll for thoughts on this matter.)

Unfortunately we missed the SIDIM Expo this year, which I would have liked to attend and get some interior design ideas, but Saturday (yesterday) was the last day and we didn't have a chance to get there (plus finishing the basement seems a mere pipe-dream at the moment). Instead, we went to SkyVenture to watch the younger family members skydive in a tube. Forget about the kids! We definitely need to give that a try.

Since Marc and I have spent the last few weeks eating out for every single freakin' meal (I ate waaaaay too much deep fried goodness in Texas) it's been really relaxing to cook at home today. But the diet starts Tuesday (I have fun dinner plans for tomorrow).

Slowly but surely

Yesterday I came back from my road trip for work across the province. I was anxious to see how much work was accomplished. I tried to keep my expectations low but, has the money meter is turning, I was wishing they could accomplish a lot and the digging was easier than expected. When I got home I passed by the back alley with the car. The work site was almost the same as before except for the little pile of rocks. Joanna is still in Texas for her work and she is coming back end of next week. We chatted yesterday on Skype. It reminded me when she was living on the West coast and me in the East. I am looking forward of her return home. Also our doggy is still at my brother. I know he likes to be there and he has a lot of people looking after him but we miss him. Also since the work takes longer than expected (Just two weeks lol) I feel that I am abusing of my brother’s family hospitality.
After parking the car I came home and went directly to the basement. Going down the stairs I could not see much work done. I turn on the light and I saw all those lines on the ground.
They used a concrete saw to cut thru the rock and to make it easier to break the hard ground with the jackhammer.As I walked further I saw that I was able the stand up with about 6 inches free above my head. So most of the right side of the house has now at least a 6.5 feet clearance. Woohoo! I’m happy that they made some progress but I hope they did not work the whole week to get to that result because there are still lots to do. I will call the contractor Tuesday to get his feedback. We have to be patient I guess! This is a long weekend with a holiday on Monday. So I will go get the kids today and try to get some rest because I am travelling again the whole week next week.
Now it is hockey time in Montreal, Cheers!

Rock digging. Our fears are confirmed

It is with mixed feelings that the work has resume. The costs were reevaluated in light of the past digging. The main problem is the 3 feet of rock. The new method chosen to get thru this hard material is to cut it with a big and heavy (and expensive) concrete cutter. This machine needs a hard surface to maneuver so that is why last Friday they made a ramp and a thin concrete floor in the basement. I so wish the ceiling was the right height :-( but we are happy that the “Just two weeks project” is back on track. The down side is the cost. We come to the point where we are starting to have doubts about the ROI (return on investment). So the rock issue will increase the price tag by 35 % worst-case scenario. On the other hand, this will give us 2600 square feet of living space in a premium location in the hearth of the city which worth almost the price we paid for the whole house. Years ago in London they use that method to enlarge living space by the bottom and English courtyard were born. The house structure is the place we cannot cut too much on cost; this needs to be taken care by professional. We will try to squeeze costs on other items and do more ourselves on certain area. Also we have potential of increasing revenues with the 2 rental apartments but this is another subject.
The next time we will have a post on the blog a lot of digging will have been done. Joanna and me are leaving the city for the next week, each on our side for work. My lovely neighbors will take care of looking after the project and the house. So I am looking forward to see the progress next Friday.

PS Sorry for my English but my British partner is not here to correct me