Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Family Room Opening Cased
The new framed-in opening that connects the kitchen and the family room has been cased. It looks great and adds a bit more of a formal separation between the two rooms.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Project Update
The drywall subcontractor finished up the repair of the family room walls today. This evening Kristy and I spent some time taping and painting the walls. It took a couple of coats to cover the drywall primer, but it looks great now that it is complete. It was great to have Kristy help with the taping, we were able to knock it out in just a couple of hours. The family room is almost back to a pre-steel-beam-installatation state. We need to wrap the beam yet of course, but that process won't start until the 13th. Between now and then we hope to have the millwork installed and painted (not by us) and the ceiling repainted (something we will do).

The light at the end of the tunnel of our ongoing home renovation is getting brighter. Today our new patio doors were tied into the home security system and the carpet in our master bedroom was re-installed (it had been rolled back for the benefit of installing the new door). There are only a few things left to do!

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Progress Report
Now that the steel beam is installed, Baxton came out today and installed the master bedroom patio door.

Baxton is pretty much done now... we are only lacking the spiral stair and the handrail around the deck. That is scheduled to be installed on October 8th.

Meanwhile, Reid's helper re-affixed the drywall that they had carefully removed and put up new stuff where required.

The drywall tape and mud is scheduled to begin tomorrow. That should probably take two or three days to complete. After the drywall is done, then we can paint and start working on wrapping the steel beam in ash (similar to what was done up in the attic). I've already got the same carpenters lined up to do the beam wrap. They start on the 13th.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Steel Beam Installed
Reid and crew installed the steel beam today. They used a total of 137 screws to keep it in place - 46 screws in each of the end brackets, and an additional 45 screws running the length of the steel beam that are drillled vertically up into the pre-existing wood beam that is immediately above it.

(Update Mon Sep 22 07:11:50 PDT 2008 // "and and" -> "and an")

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Beam Work Started
The steel I-beam that will be installed under the existing wood beam (that spans across our family room) was delivered today. Reid and his helper have been prepping the family room for an install tomorrow. Here is a picture of one of the heavy duty brackets:

If all goes well then Baxton will be able to cut in the master bedroom door that opens out to the new deck next Monday.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Bar Counter Complete
Last Saturday, we distressed the apron that wraps around the support for the bar counter top. Kristy then sanded it down and stained it. I applied an oil varnish on it Sunday and yesterday and then today installed the solid surface slate counter top. It looks pretty good for something we pretty much made up on the fly... and should be eminently useful too as both a serving area and for seating.

Kristy is checking out a sliding screen for the kitchen window tomorrow. The goal is to be able to just hand out food from the kitchen window to be placed on the bar countertop. Cool beans.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Distressing the Bar Counter Apron
A couple of weeks ago, Joe from Kenis Loven was out to install our bar counter on the back patio. Today the five us spent some time distressing the apron that surrounds the supports for the bar counter.

After we distressed it, Kristy sanded it down, and then stained it. I'll snap some pictures later of the finished product.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Bar Counter and First Deck Door Installed
Baxton was here today as well as Joe from Kenis Loven's crew. We had Kenis design and manufacture a support for a remnant of solid-surface slate that was leftover from the fireplace hearth. The remnant will sit on the support at bar counter height (42") and function as both a serving counter and as a place for kids to eat (we have not as of yet found a suitable backless bar stool however).

Meanwhile, Baxton installed the first of the two doors upstairs that walks out on to the deck. He also added some trim around the lower patio doors to dress up the door a bit (and match what he did on the deck). Here are some pictures of the work done today.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Gutters/Downspouts Fixed
The LeafGuard folks showed up today to work on the downspouts and gutters that have been affected by the new deck patio footprint. The downspout up on the deck needed to be redirected around where the railing will eventually tie into the house trim, then down into the collection system that runs underneath the deck. Here is a picture:

Other downspouts on the ground level were also fixed.

(Update Tue Aug 26 08:51:38 PDT 2008 // added pic)

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Beam Bracket
Progress on the back patio deck project is at a standstill right now. Everything is done with the exception of the 2nd floor doors and the handrail/stairs. The material for the handrail/stairs is on backorder and the doors cannot go in until we replace the wood beam supporting the load over our family room... so we can notch the beam to cut in the door for our master bedroom. I've been working with Baxton's structural engineer, another contractor (Baxton has deferred on the steel beam installation), and some drafting skills of some friends (Dave and Tim) to get the beam and supporting brackets drawn up for fabrication. I think we finally have the design finalized (click to enlarge):

 

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Architectural Stone Installed
Dave Bartlett of Bartlett Masonry (and his apprentice Jason) started installing the architectural stone around the fireplace and the bottom of the columns yesterday. They finished it up today... check it out:

We had some of our new deck and patio furniture delivered today... just in time for Kristy's birthday party tomorrow!

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Tile Grouted
The tile was grouted today (top and bottom). It will be sealed next week. The kids have had to stay off the tile the entire past week. On different days, different sections of the tile were installed and we were asked to stay off of it while the thinset completely cured. But today the kids were happy to enjoy the new patio with some ice cream bars (see below).

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Hearth Installed
The solid surface slate slabs were installed today, namely the hearth and the fireplace cap. Here are a few pictures of both the hearth and the project progress at large:

	The hearth stone and fireplace cap are made from solid surface Brazilian multi-color slate; the same material used for the tile. The fireplace and the bottom portion of the columns will be wrapped in the synthetic stone shown resting against the hearth. The colors of the synthetic stone and the slate look a little too close, but the slate will be sealed which will give it a permanent "wet look" that is darker than currently shown. The synthetic stone is scheduled to be installed late next week.
	This is how the intersection of the deck and the roof turned out. If you look carefully, you can see the small exposed line of the flashing that extends up the roof about 8" inches and underneath that last row of slate tile about 6". That outside corner has also been sealed up. The roofer said there was a big hole there between that corner and the deck (which he fixed). Eventually, the handrail will be installed right along the intersection to keep the kids off the roof.
	This is a shot looking back toward the house from the south corner of the deck. The slate tile is completely installed now upstairs and lacks only some grout around the curbing (not to mention the mess that still needs to be cleaned up). The first window will be replaced with a door. This door will lead into the kids study (or music room or whatever we are calling it). The large holes on either side of the windows are for the lights. The smaller holes are for speakers that will be connected to our home audio system. The second window is the window in our master bedroom. Eventually we will need to address some structural concerns before we can swap out that window for a door.
	This picture show much of what Baxton did last weekend. The column was built out to cover the storm drain system and then wrapped in fascia. The soffit cedar material was installed. And the posts were built out to hide the downspout pipes. What's next for Baxton? Siding repair... this weekend supposedly.

(Update Fri Aug 8 11:34:34 PDT 2008 // changed URL of pictures)

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Tile Progress
The tile on the upper deck floor has now been restored. The curbing still needs to be re-installed and grouted. About 6 rows of the slate tile were also installed today down on the patio floor, out on the outer edge around the fireplace and the posts. I'm trying to get the mason out here to install the stone on the fireplace and the posts before Berkeley's birthday party next week (on the 29th), but it doesn't look like his schedule is too promising. Oh well.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Roof/Deck Intersection Flashed
After our recent rain (and subsequent leaks), I hired the roofing outfit that did our Ecostar slate roof to come out and properly flash the intersection between the roof and deck. They sent a field technician out about a week and a half ago to look at the project and get the measurements for some custom flashing to make the transition from the roof to the deck waterproof. The installer came out today and installed the flashing and re-installed all of the roof tiles necessary to finish the roof.

Jason the tile setter was out all day today and has reset many of the tiles up on the deck. Still a lot of work to do if we hope to have the tile done by Olivia's birthday party (on the 24th).

Home Renovation Project: Tile Repair
Well, Jason the tile setter has been working on re-waterproofing the deck all day yesterday and today. The tile is still all torn up and strewn about the deck... but the new waterproofing is installed. I guess that is something. Baxton will return tomorrow (and work through the weekend) to finish up the soffit install, wrap the beam, and build out the column posts.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Concrete Pour #2
The new step is now poured... and the larger patio footprint as well. I felt kind of bad making Baxton (and Mike and Darren) do the extra work, but it will look far better in the end. It was a short day of work today on our project; Baxton is now stalled until the tile can get fixed. That is supposed to happen tomorrow and Friday.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Soffit Cedar Install Delayed
Baxton started installing the cedar soffit material today. He installed about 5 or 6 rows of the material and then decided to test the integrity of the waterproofing at the deck edges. Sure enough, there were leaks... pretty big ones... on either side of the deck. So the tile on the edges (and on the curb) will need to be ripped up, the waterproofing redone, and then re-installed. Baxton can't continue with the framing until the deck is water tight.

So, uh, that sucks.

Instead of installing the soffit material, Baxton formed out the patio extension we decided to have him do yesterday. We are widening the deck by about a foot on either side and another foot in depth. This will align the edges of the patio with the outside edges of the column posts... which are going to be built out for the benefit of hiding the drain pipes. Also, Baxton will pour the new step tomorrow as well.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Mantel Installed
Baxton was able to knock out quite a few items today. The most exiting item was the installation of the fireplace mantel (see first two pictures at right below). We made the mantel ourselves (even the kids helped!) out of a 4x12 we bought at Second Use for $20. We all took turns distressing it and we sanding it. We used the same dye/stain process on the wood that we used on our hardwood floors in the attic. It came out pretty good.

Baxton also completed the drain pipe install (see second two pictures below) and also took care of the mechanical run for a duct that provides exhaust for a fan in the mudroom. The vent was extended out through the deck fascia (see third picture).

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Progress Report
Lots of work on the back patio deck project was accomplished today. In the early morning, Bob from the Allied Roofing (the company that installed our roof) dropped by to figure out the best way to flash the intersection between the roof and the deck. Jason was here too and between the three of us we came up with a good game plan to fix the problem of the water leaking down to the lower patio. Bob is going to order some custom metal flashing to step up the roof over the slate tile. He'll also flash around the corners. After he is done then Jason will re-install the tile in the area for a nice watertight fit. Hopefully it will work. Here is a picture of the area in question:

Jason spent the rest of the morning installing the final pieces around the curb of the deck and completely cut in the corner drains. He'll come back and grout it on Friday (tomorrow).

The fireplace subcontractors returned today to fix the damage to the fireplace that occurred during install. I had my doubts about whether it would look OK, but (to my surprise) they did a really good job. Here are a couple of pics:

Baxton was busy jackhammering out the back step. We decided to make the footprint smaller for the benefit of increased floor space in the patio area. He'll pour a new step next Monday; after that we will be ready to tile. Baxton also installed the fascia around the upper deck (see picture above at right left).

(Update Mon Jul 14 07:45:39 PDT 2008 // right -> left)
(Update Fri Aug 8 11:34:34 PDT 2008 // changed URL of pictures)

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Irrigation Moved
My landscape contractor, Tony, came out to the job site this morning and moved some of sprinkler heads and sprinkler lines. The old sprinkler lines are now running below the footings for the deck beam, so we thought it would be prudent to run new lines around the patio that will not be subject to such strain. Tony brought his son ("Junior") and Berkeley was happy to play with him for much of the morning.

Home Renovation Project: Fireplace Installed
The fireplace was installed today... that's the good news. The bad? Well... a little over a month ago the fireplace sales rep was out to take a look at the site and inspect our current gas lines to see if the supply was adequate (which it was thankfully). At the time, he informed us that the fireplace we ordered required line voltage (120V). Both Baxton and I were present and both of us asked for confirmation (Baxton said something like "Are you sure?" and I said something like "It doesn't run the ignition off of batteries?"). Anyway... it was somewhat of a surprise. So, at some expense, we ran some electrical conduit and wire out to the fireplace in the same trench as the gas piping.

Can you guess where this is going?

Yes, it turns out the stove's ignition system is in fact battery operated. So we ran the line voltage out to the fireplace (and up through the fireplace foundation) for naught. Thanks for that!

To add insult to injury, the installers put a huge dent in the front of the stove that they will have to address one way or another... either by part replacement (if possible) or by completely replacing the stove for another one. Aargh.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Rain Rain Go Away
It rained here pretty hard through the night and into the morning. The storm included lots of thunder and lighting... which is rare for around here. The deck easily handled the large amounts of rain; funneling the rain to the corners and down the drains. Unfortunately, it also found a few holes in the seam between the house and the deck. Water was dripping down the seam and getting the lower deck all wet. Obviously not what we desired. So, with the long weekend ahead of us, and the weather not cooperating in the short term... progress on the project has ground to a screeching halt. Bummer.

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Tile Progress
The tile installation on the floor of the upper deck is going well. We are installing the same Brazilian multi-color slate that we installed in the attic bathroom and wet bar area.

So far... so good!

(Update Fri Aug 8 11:34:34 PDT 2008 // changed URL of pictures)

Home Renovation Project: Back Patio Deck: Waterproofing the Deck
A team of masons showed up today to lay down the tile backer board and then put the first of two coats of waterproofing over the entire deck (the red stuff). After the second coat is completely dry, then the tile install will start (possibly as early as Friday).

(Update Fri Aug 8 11:34:34 PDT 2008 // changed URL of pictures)