Prepare the Stairs

This week we have been working in the basement.  Our biggest project is to move the staircase that leads downstairs.  We are eventually going to put a covered porch on the back of the house.  Our plan for the back entrance is to enter from the porch and be able to go straight down to the basement.  This will make future moves of washers, dryers, water tanks and furnaces MUCH easier. 

The first thing the boys had to do was take down the side wall of the stairs.  It was lovely!  Complete with vintage paneling and mouse droppings.  So glad to see that go!

 

 

 

Hubs let the boys help for a few minutes.  One with a crowbar, one with a hammer.  Yes, yes I know, they should all be wearing protective eye wear -- already added to my Wal-Mart list (insert terrible parent remarks here).

 

 

Here's a look of the wall all gone!

 

 

 

 

It's a good thing the stairs are coming out because several of the support posts were cracked.  I knew I felt like I was tipping when I carried a basket of laundry up. 

 

 

And here's a picture from the bottom up.

 

 

We have big plans for this little space.  But details for that will follow in a later post.

 



Special Delivery

The first batch of materials has been delivered for our big remodel project.
Pella was having a big sale at Lowes so we took advantage and bought our windows.  And of course Lowes offered us a Lowes credit card with an additional savings off our purchase.  We normally say NO to all the credit card offers but when you're spending a good chunk of change, you can save a good chunk of change.  So we said yes to the credit card and fully took advantage of that additional savings and ordered AS MUCH material as we could store to get started. 

In this delivery we have the material we need to make new steps to the basement and build some walls around the steps.  There are 2x6's, 2x4's, OSB and some foam board.  And we included a roll of wire 'cause that stuff is EX-PEN-SIVE (we wanted to use the credit card discount on it) and a roll of house wrap.  The windows will be delivered in two more weeks.

 

Lowes has this awesome forklift that puts the stuff exactly where you want it!  Plus it has tons of appeal to the six and four year old superheros that live with me!