Mill Creek Haunted Hollow: Construction BLOG |
Started by adding crown molding to the top of both bay windows, with some ornamentation at the center.
It was a bit tricky getting those mitered cuts just right.
This is the larger of the two bay windows. I'm very happy with how it turned out.
Also added some trim molding around the base to hide the seam and make it look nicer.
And here is the smaller bay window, all trimmed out and ready for paint.
And a little later in the day, both bay windows with their first coat of paint.
Smaller bay window with paint.
Larger bay window with paint.
And here is the apothecary, almost done, with a clean driveway!
Both bay windows are framed and the next step is to put in the rest of the glass.
There's still a lot of work to do, like trim, paint, door, etc. But it's looking good.
I'll make another pass with the level before securing the frames together - just to make sure.
Here's a side window of one of the bays being dry-fitted.
And here's the window frame from the outside of the bay where it will eventually live.
The two side windows complete - with glass installed. You're looking at the outside of the left and the inside of the right.
Putting together the frame and grid for the large bay window.
Weep with me over the broken glass.
This is the larger of the two bay windows. Four of these panes broke at some point (don't know how) so I'll have to go back to Lowe's and get new ones cut.
If I'm lucky, I'll be able to build the smaller window tomorrow. I already checked and all the glass is intact.
Some of the shorter grid pieces, routered and then painted. Added a hook in the end so I could let them hang dry.
Many of the corner pieces were too long to hang, so I laid them across the table to dry.
The first thing I did was move a bunch of stuff outside so I could sweep and rearrange a lot of the tools and benches. (notice clean floor)
This may look like a terrible disaster, but the fact that I can walk to the tool box, have access to the shop vac, and my compressor is free are all good things.
Again, to the untrained eye, this may look messy, but I insist you look at the floor! NO SAWDUST! No scraps of wood. Sadly, this is much better than it's been in months.
Okay, from this angle it still looks terrible, and I admit, I still have some sorting to do. From this angle, you can see how the garage door can close down to the point of the bay window on the front facade.
Cutting some of the front pannels, using the cider cart as a shop table.
The two front window/door panels framed.
I had to remove all the trim around the garage entrance and cut the corners. This is the left side fitting in place.
Both sections in place. A center post is in place which will support the structure. Each of the bays will be hinged and will have the ability swing open.
This is what they look like closed. Flush with the wall.
This is what they look like open. You can see the post in the center.
Obviously, I haven't finished these yet, so you have to picture these as as finished bay windows that will be like apothecary shop displays.
Here's a shot of the other side. This panel is larger, and will be a bit heavier. I might have to put a caster wheel on the bottom to help when I want to open and close the panel.
A good shot of what it would look like with both sides open.
The larger side, seen open.
One more shot with both panels open to the driveway.
Set up some skeletons across the balcony.
A few more tonbstones in the graveyard.
Another shot from the graveyard showing off the tombstones and the other tower.
There's always cleaning up to do, and in this shot, you can see I'm working on one of my giant spiders, who is without an abdomen at the moment.
Had to get the Pumpkin King up right away.
Put up most of the tombstones. Still painting a few.
The girls helped by putting the pumpkings in the pumpkin patch and on the front porch.
And I still have to get the ladders down, clean up the cider cart, clean up the garage, etc., etc.
The last few sections have been assembled and secured. It's taken a lot longer than I wanted, but it's finally in place.
And the painting continues.
And more painting is needed.
About to head out in the early hours. A long drive ahead of them.
The van is completely packed with her stuff. I wonder how much of it she'll actually need at college?
Most of the sections of railing have been carried up to the balcony and are waiting to be installed. Of course it started raining.
Majority of the pieces tacked in place. Everything looks good. I need to go through and anchor to the posts with 3" deck screws.
Here's the view from the driveway. I'm so used to seeing the house without a balcony railing, I really don't know how I feel about putting it up now.
Our electric glass-top cooktop was in really bad shape. One of the burners had died and everything else was going fast. It took 40 minutes to boil water! The glass top was cracked and filthy. It had to go..
Had to run a gas line to the kitchen island, but now, after years of wanting, I have a brand new, 5 burner gas cooktop! I'm so excited, I don't know what to cook first! Probably bacon.
A beautiful experiment on the new gas cooktop.
It takes some time with all the routering, but the finished product is nice.
A detailed shot of the top rail. I'm very pleased with the look and it feels great to rest your hand on.
Close up of the bottom rail. A bit hard to see, but it has the same under beveling as the top rail.
Routered all the posts and positioned them on the balcony.
Another shot of the balcony.
Work area with plenty of cedar sawdust and chips. Smells fantastic!
Introducing the e-tape man bandage.
Ah, that fresh smell of cedar. Heading back from Lowe's with more wood for the new railing.
Glad 10 ft sections can fit in the van.
Ripping down the sections of baluster to 2.5 in width.
Added the corner pieces to the mansard roof and added the top roof trim and "iron work" to the roof section by the octo-tower.
A closer view of the trim over the garage. (Ignore the section of gutter laying across the two dormers.)
The corner piece of trim for the roof and the painted attic dormer.
A decent shot of the other attic dormer - now complete.