The project continues into week #8. This week, with Labor Day on Monday, was a short one, but work did get done. If you remember, this project also includes work on our back yard, driveway, and back deck. This is the deck attached to the house – as opposed to the one attached to the garage. It will be bigger and more functional than the current one. Foot traffic into the house will be rerouted and the driveway reconfigured here.
Given the amount of previous work done, there was a need to reorganize the site a bit on Tuesday September 7th and Wednesday September 8th. Excess materials were returned for credit and site trash and leftover pieces of “stuff” (shingles, lumber, plywood, etc.) were picked up and carted away.
On September 9th, work on the back deck went into high gear. It was removed and carted away.
Surprisingly, there was an old asphalt landing under the dirt here that I found while removing a decades worth of leaves that had blown through the lattice found a home under our mudroom!
On Thursday September 9th, the father and son team from Ready Installs (Jon and Jonny Victor) measured for the new piers for the house deck. Later on Thursday, it rained a lot – AGAIN.
Meanwhile Mike Astrella (electrician) was busy getting light positions chosen, as well as working on the rough electrical for both the upstairs and downstairs of the new building.
On Friday, I made a few supply runs to Home Depot in Auburn and EW Electrical Wholesalers in Worcester to get overlooked electrical supplies and materials.
Also on Friday, the house deck piers arrived.
On Saturday, September 11th, the piers were installed and backfilled.
That’s the progress for the week of September 5-11. We are getting there. Hope that you are enjoying these summaries!
Mark A. Morin 
Looking good, can’t wait to see it, Lynn’s a lucky girl
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Thanks! I’m a luckier guy!
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Progress is looking good. Silly question but are the pliers the white posts? I’d not come across the term before (bar for the hand held tool used for holding wire and the like).
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Ignore me it’s early and I obviously can’t read simple English words without inserting letters that just aren’t there 🤦♂️
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We’ve all done that, both early and late! Yes, the piers are the white concrete supports.
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Things well and truly taking shape now Mark. Looks fantastic. 🙂
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Cheers Dave!
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Great progress Mark, with the removal of the old deck and the new piers fitted ready to take the new deck
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Cheers Dave! Hopefully this week will see further progress as we cannot use the back door, only the front and the bulkhead.
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OHH Mate ! exciting stuff, Alright, sorry mate just call me the child! a number of questions, 1st, ok you uses those giant piers on the big deck so why do you need them on what we would call a landing, my only thinking is you have a lake and the ground is unstable! 2. what is a mud room! 3. when you say shingles I feel they are a modern style , not like the ones one would have found on Daniel Boone’s cabin. Now for the stupid one, both the houses on either side of you have shutters , I wouldn’t have though you would need them unless you get really hot summers, and they look to small to do that kind of work , but I had to ask!!
Tell Lynn she isn’t alone, Jill has mowed all the lawns we have had in the three houses we have owned since marrying 41 years ago, I have finally got a gardener to do it now as the block is to large even for her!!
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Great questions and comments all Pat, thanks for them, and I’ll do my level best to answer but if I don’t let me know. On 1, the ground is quite stable here – as you can see lots of nice sand that goes down deep. The building codes determine the depth and that is a function of the frost level here. The deck will act as a landing, but is an extended one if you will. 2. A mud room is a small room where you take off or put on your shoes and boots when you come into or are leaving the house so you don’t drag mud and snow onto your otherwise clean floors and rugs. 3. Not sure about the shingles question – we used asphalt roofing shingles, which Daniel Boone would not have ever seen! 4. Shutters here are decorative only and usually not functional unless you buy a house over 150 years old. I’ll tell Lynn she has a lawn pal down under! The good news for Lynn is that there will be a lot less lawn to mow after we’re done, though she will have a ball landscaping with flowers as she loves that. And she can always have me mow – she just prefers doing it. I’m a lucky dude! Hope I answered your questions – how’d I do?
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Looks great Mark.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Thanks Pete
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Coming along well, Mark! 🙂 The deck coming down and the piers going in is a lot of work, although it doesn’t look like that when all you can see is the pier tops at the end of the week! But it lets you get the deck under way now!
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Yeah John, like an iceberg! But the electric service needs to be moved too, so it might take longer 🤨
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Wow that is going to be lovely once it’s all finished (jealous!).
Cheers Roger.
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I’ll share it with ya Roger if you visit! Big game room!
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I am keeping my fingers crossed that you get at least one good BBQ on either deck before the winter starts to kick in.
It is looking great, and even with the short week seeing progress must put a grin on your face.
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I appreciate those wishes of luck Anthony. It might be possible on the house deck anyways – the garage deck is going to be for hanging out. The biggest challenge now is materials shortages due to COVID. But winter here can come early or late – always a guessing game in Massachusetts. I am smiling as I really see the possibilities here – and it will get done!
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Its great to see more progress and I think the renovations on your house are going to make it look even more like a New England-style house 🙂 Looking forward to seeing more!
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Thanks Jeff – I know that I’ll have several more weeks to share – and I hope that it’s been enjoyable for you all. I’m hoping that it’s all done before snow flies.
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Looks great, Mark. I love how that guy works the Sawzall with a big ol’ stogie in his mouth!
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That’s great! I’m sure you’ve seen this, but I can’t hear or see the word “deck” without my mind instantly going back to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbazGVrbN-g
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Now no dissing the Kiwis Mikko! (that’s for the Aussies to do).
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It’s funny because it’s true!
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