Month: March 2014

I draw up floor plans and apply for a residential building permit. This will cover the work done by my general contractor, and the remaining plumbing work that still needs to be inspected.

I begin work on the household network by removing CATV coax cable plates (which were screwed directly to the drywall) and installing old-work junction boxes that have been modified to accept conduit connectors. ($36.22)

I continue work on the household network, installing junction boxes and running conduit.

I also purchase a couple 4′ x 8′ sheets of drywall ($13.68) as a test to see if they can fit down the staircase and turn a tight corner into the lower level. The sheets make the turn, but just barely. The stairwell walls will need new paint.

My application is approved and I purchase a basement remodel building permit for the remaining work on the house. ($540.06)

Ice dams continue to worsen and melt water continues to seep through the drywall and damage the bedroom ceiling. I strongly suspect that there is more to this than meets the eye. Unfortunately, I will not be able to address the root of the problem until spring at the earliest.

I added a conduit connector to the rear of the exterior cable TV service box and connected it to the new household network conduit.

At some point the house had a gas fireplace. The flipper took it out, but left the gas line and shutoff valve in the basement ceiling… hiding it behind drywall. I remove the orphaned gas line and shutoff valve and capp-off the black pipe junction. ($2.41)

I also find and rewire an ungrounded AC outlet. ($8.22)

Per building code, I install two new wired and interconnected smoke alarms. ($64.78)

I accidentally dropped a new, unopened can of Great Stuff insulating foam and the sidewalls of the can rupture, exploding its contents all over our partially-demolished bedroom. I scramble to contain the spraying can with my hands and get it out of the house, but it’s too late. The foam ruins tools, walls, and carpeting.