Better Than Botox

Getting geeky, just for one moment, may I call your attention to Botulinum Toxin.  Sausage poison.  Botulism.  One of the most potent neurotoxins known in nature – a small amount in the wrong place will render one, uh, dead.  But administered carefully, it does a lovely job at erasing wrinkles (by paralyzing the muscles of the face).   Just a little shot’ll do ya. 

This post is so named because I was thinking of how incredibly drastic the change in the look of 1234 Reed is.  This is no Botox.  This is a full on chin lift, cheek lipo, laser treatment and hair implant.  The limestone at the bottom and the front stairs aren’t in yet, but I couldn’t wait anymore to post this.  

Also included, a picture of Davie working hard on the telephone line for the kitchen.  You go Davie!

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Window, Window, on the wall…

So hey.

I’ve been laying down on the job again, failing to update the blog- but will make up with it with this post.  It’s an exciting time at Reed Mansion (ok, it’s only 2000 sq. ft, but compared to our current house it’s big). 

Since I last wrote quite a bit has happened.  Infrastructure-wise, the interior framing is complete.  The bathroom layouts are all figured out (tho no plumbing is in yet).  The HVAC ducts, wires and chiller lines (also a pain in the butt to figure out logistically) are completely roughed-in.  All of the electrical junction boxes are located and mostly installed, with about 30% of the wiring complete.  Ceiling lighting is installed on the third floor.  Plumbing rough-in starts within the week.  HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical permits are all either completed or being processed and will be ready for pickup soon.  Framing inspection should happen next week!

Once the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical – both line (outlets, lights)  and low voltage (cable tv, phone, ceiling speakers, networking) are all roughed in, the walls will be ready to be insulated, sheetrocked, taped, spackled, primed and painted.  Once that happens, it’s gonna really start looking like a house.

But the big story is the facade!  In the course of a week the front of the house (see early pictures) was torn down and re-framed.  The work started on Monday April 28th and by the end of the day on Friday the framing, sheathing and two top floor windows were installed.  This Monday, May 4 the remaining windows and front door will be installed and the new brick starts going up on Tuesday, May 5 – Cinco de Mayo!

I’m attaching some photos of the exterior and will try to get some interior pics done today to add to the collection.  You can see the layout of the front pretty clearly – a 3′x8′ door and two 3′x6′ windows on the first floor, and three 3′x6′ windows side-by-side on the second and third level.  Between the first and second floor there will be a row of smaller “transom windows” representing where the 2nd floor in the front of the house “used to be.”  At the moment the Tyvek home wrap is sort of hanging down in front of where the transoms will be, so it’s hard to see that feature. 

To explain the part about where the second floor “used to be” : In the final interior floor layout the first few feet of the second floor will be removed, creating an open air space on the first floor and a second floor balcony in the front.  The transoms are situated where the floor joists were as a symbol of the original layout.

Thanks for visiting!

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Shows the area where the limestone blocks and entry stairs will be. Basement window on the right side.

Clear shot showing the 2nd and floor windows in place. Tyvek is draped down over transom windows but you can see where the first floor door and windows will be.

Second and third floor.