 |
 |
 |
||
Photo Album: Adding on!This is the hugest undertaking ever...We are enclosing our attic and putting an outside staircase up to it to give us a little bit more space for visitors in our 2-bedroom house. We're doing the work ourselves (with the occasional help of a few friends), and we're having a blast. Maybe we'll finish sometime this millennium! This album is (generally) in reverse order, so I'll be adding pictures as we go to show our progress... |
||||
 |
 |
|||
|
View of the inside on 06-28-2010. The front wall (beside the balcony) all ready to paint! Rodrigo also has the wiring all ready to put in the light switch. The front corner, ready to paint. More wiring - there will be two outlets on this wall for lamps. Our first working outlet! The back wall with the first coat of red paint. I LOVE IT. Rodrigo mixing the taupe paint for the rest of the walls. The little chapel window all ready to paint around it. Another view of the back wall... Our friend Marcos painting! Starting to paint the taupe parts... Painting... The wiring along the ceiling will be hidden above the main support beam, but it's all in place for three light fixtures to go in. Another working outlet! Yea! The back wall of the balcony, all plastered and ready to paint. We got the insulation up this week! This is a thin thermal blanket to help with the heat upstairs. On top of the insulation went the ceiling planks. View of the ceiling... Working on the ceiling and the insulation. More ceiling views...this took a LOT of work... And yet one more... The back wall with the ceiling almost finished. Here we had to make the outside of the chapel window match the rest of the windows of the house with a white archway around it. Working on one of the walls...I like the little door. We have the latches in place and we're working on plastering the wall part. The thermal insulation on the ceiling... Another view of the insulation going up before the wood planks. Insulation... Rodrigo has also been working on the wiring... The front wall before painting... I started working on the front corner this week - we decided to leave this wall in the raw brick, but we wanted to lighten it up a bit... So I painted it white! Progress on the front wall... This is Rodrigo holding the door in place where it will go...we haven't bought the frame yet... View from down below of the balcony with the door... Another view from down below... My finished white brick wall! Another shot of the wall...not so interesting, but it took a long time to paint so it deserves two shots... Another corner that we will leave in the raw brick with built-in shelves... Back corner... We had to do something with this funky little jut-out thingy...It's part of the structure of the house... Hand-painting the cement between the bricks... Shot of the front wall before painting where it meets the roof... The back corner cubby all painted! We painted one side of this little "column" or whatever is is...then we decided to fill it in on the sides to make a complete little wall... Rodrigo sanding the floor. We still have to sand EVERYTHING, fill in the cracks between the squares, and put a clear coat on it... More floor sanding. And now WALL sanding. Over the brick goes a cement layer. Then a layer of plaster. Then you sand. Then you plaster again. Sand again. Paint. :) Sanding the back wall plaster... Rodrigo's finishing up the balcony tiles. The corner of the balcony. We're holding off on the handrail until we get all the materials upstairs... The front corner with the little cement wall all nice and plastered. Another view of the front corner. The back corner before painting Filling in the weird little half-wall. We bricked it up above and below and connected it to the window seat. The weird little wall disappearing in brick and plaster. Shot of where the window seat connects to the half-wall. We even tested paint colors today! We're going to make the walls a little bit textured and go with this dark red color... Rodrigo sanding his newly plastered wall. The back corner - making progress! The little brick white wall is on the lefthand side. The rest will eventually be red. Trying to imagine Rodrigo's view as he hangs out the window to concrete the windows in place. he he I like how this wall turned out to the right of the door with this little half-wall in the entryway. This will all be plastered and painted later... Hercules got stuck on the landing...big baby... Refusing to go down steps... Still there... Rodrigo and Sergio work on the walls upstairs (next to the door) View from the balcony, looking down at the future staircase... Looking up at the balcony Wood. :) More wood. :) Why did Rodrigo take so many pictures of wood? The side wall (next to the door) almost in place Side wall Wall on the front side of the house. This will be a little closet with a side door. View of the room with the front wall in place The side wall (again) Sergio working on the pine paneling on the back wall. This paneling will be "antiqued" in a buttery white color. The back wall paneling almost finished... Progress on the back wall paneling. Broad view of the space Inside the little closet area... Inside the little closet area again (Rodrigo actually wants to put a little bed in here!) Broader view of the closet from the outside Front entrance, looking out onto the balcony The back side of the post by the front entrance. I REALLY like how this post turned out, with the wall on either side... The final piece of the side wall, which will actually be a little hinged door that leads into the water tank area (for plumbing access) Broad view of the progress at the end of the day... The corner by the water tanks with the paneling on the back wall... Another view of the front side... Our new varanda upstairs full of toys Finishing up the cement work on the floor. Now we just have to finish the edges of the wooden dividers and lay in the decorative tiles. The new wall, which will provide one side of the doorframe. Inside looking out onto the balcony. The back wall (wooden) will be plastered and painted to match the rest of the concrete walls of the house. Rodrigo working on the staircase. The joint connecting the upper stairs to the landing. More router work! Rodrigo's first groove...awwwww... One side of the lower stairs all "grooved" for the steps to fit in Our friend Eronides finishes up the floor and the outer wall The semi-finished floor (at least the cement is all in place) The slate tile on the balcony (except for the one that came out...oops...). The face kind of says it all...Those roofing tiles above Rodrigo heat up in the sun kind of like a pizza stone, so he's basically standing in an oven. Side supports for the staircase Staircase progress... Staircase progress... Rodrigo cutting the grooves to insert the stairs (thanks for the router, Dad, and the plunger, Dan...) Cutting the grooves... Cutting the grooves... Cutting the grooves... Cutting the grooves... Showing how the steps will fit into the grooves on the side pieces... Showing how the steps will fit into the grooves on the side pieces... Putting together the frame for the back wall of the balcony... The frame of the balcony wall in place Almost finished with the floor! Broad view of the space... The balcony wall going into place... The back corner (without the paneling)...this corner will actually be inside the closet... Bottom frame support for the paneling to go up... Back corner with support for the paneling... Starting on the paneling! This will be stained an antique white and have an upper and lower border... Staircase progress... Showing how the steps will fit into the grooves on the side pieces... The future doorway with the side wall almost finished Close view of the concrete stain... Close view of one of the staircase grooves Rodrigo finally finishes all of the grooves of one side of the lower staircase! Lots and lots of dust... Rodrigo and his trusty plunger... The biggest drill bit I've ever seen... Rodrigo marking the grooves for the steps to go into the staircase... Laying out the frame for the back wall of the balcony Working on the floor with some helpers... Working on the floor with some helpers... Working on the floor with some helpers... Working on the floor with some helpers... Working on the floor with some helpers... Ruth (Rodrigo's stepmom) comes (partway) up to see the progress... Rodrigo's Dad helping out... Rodrigo's dad helping out with the cement mixing... Working on the floor with some helpers... Building the staircase landing... Progress on the floor... Progress on the floor... Closeup of the marbe effect on the floor stain... Progress on the floor... Progress on the floor... Progress on the floor... Progress on the floor... Progress on the floor... We laid the staircase landing partway inside the outer wall. We ALMOST drilled all the way through to the living room....it should be nice and strong. Rodrigo cuts the staircase planks with a little help from Dan and Hercules (he's great with a power saw) Building the support for the staircase landing Building the landing Building the landing Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... The back wall and windows...the front bench will have a wooden top that opens. Broad view of the progress Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... Starting on the floor... The little chapel window that will look out on the staircase and the side patio Rodrigo put in the back windows... Building the little window seat... Closing up the original door to the attic and cutting the windows Building the window seat to hide the plumbing.... The attic after about three weeks of work Drilling holes in the patio floor to secure the posts for the staircase landing The landing posts will be held in place more securely with steel rods Cutting the side pieces for the first flight of stairs Dan and Rodrigo play with power tools.... Putting together the framework for the landing... Putting the posts in place for the staircase landing The little chapel window (outside view) Starting to cut out the windows Starting to cut out the windows Putting the chapel window in place (and more rubble) Putting the back windows in place (and even more rubble) Plastering the back wall The rerouted plumbing to the downstairs bathroom More rubble.. The first of many sand piles to be sifted and bucketed upstairs for cement work The back wall before closing up the original door and putting in the windows Cutting out the hole for the chapel window Marking the wall where the chapel window will go Marking the back wall where the two square windows will go Marking the back wall where the two square windows will go Rodrigo takes a break with his favorite helper Testing colors for the cement staining (for the floor) Cementing the wall where the chapel window will eventually go Cleaning up the attic to start working This is a REALL COOL gas lantern that we found upstairs. We're SO keeping it... Putting the next layer of cement on the wall beside the balcony where the chapel window will go Putting the next layer of cement on the wall beside the balcony where the chapel window will go Putting the next layer of cement on the wall beside the balcony where the chapel window will go The back wall before cutting the windows and filling in the little door Hercules with his nasty blanket (had to throw that one in there) The original door to the attic The original door to the attic Our new windows! Cleaning the attic to start working on the heavy stuff Cleaning the attic The little cubby hole area where the chapel window will eventually go The day our wood was delivered! The balcony completing cut out! The biggest homemade ladder I've ever seen. You could put an elephant on this thing and it wouldn't give... The delivery guy bringing our wood... Our temporary attic access... Putting the cement base down for the balcony Putting the cement base down for the balcony... The attic before we cut off the steel support rods and cleaned up to start working The mess we started out with...note the plumbing pipe running through the MIDDLE of the floor...(we rerouted that) The day our wood arrived Rodrigo filled up the balcony area with rubble (under the cement) to encase the plumbing pipes that go down to the outside bathroom. The pre-construction mess Pre-construction mess. Note the plumbing running through the middle and the white PVC pipes sticking up, protecting unsuspecting legs from steel rods. The day our wood arrived. Hercules taking a break from all of his hard work Rodrigo hangs with his best bud The future balcony area, overlooking the side patio The future balcony area, overlooking the side patio Lots and lots of rubble... The day Rodrigo decided it was a good day to break down a wall... The mess in the attic when we started Oops...we buried Hercie's nasty blanket...he was really mad... Rodrigo working on cementing the balcony Cleaning up the mess Cleaning up the mess Lots and lots of rubble!
.JPG)
|
||||
|
|||||
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG "View of the inside on 06-28-2010.")
.JPG "The front wall (beside the balcony) all ready to paint! Rodrigo also has the wiring all ready to put in the light switch.")
.JPG "The front corner, ready to paint. More wiring - there will be two outlets on this wall for lamps.")
.JPG "Our first working outlet!")
.JPG "The back wall with the first coat of red paint. I LOVE IT.")
.JPG "Rodrigo mixing the taupe paint for the rest of the walls.")
.JPG)
.JPG "The little chapel window all ready to paint around it.")
.JPG "Another view of the back wall...")
.JPG "Our friend Marcos painting!")
.JPG "Starting to paint the taupe parts...")
.JPG "Painting...")
.JPG "The wiring along the ceiling will be hidden above the main support beam, but it's all in place for three light fixtures to go in.")
.JPG)
.JPG "Another working outlet! Yea!")
.JPG "We got the insulation up this week! This is a thin thermal blanket to help with the heat upstairs.")
.JPG "On top of the insulation went the ceiling planks.")
.JPG "View of the ceiling...")
.JPG "Working on the ceiling and the insulation.")
.JPG "More ceiling views...this took a LOT of work...")
.JPG "And yet one more...")
.JPG)
.JPG "The back wall with the ceiling almost finished.")
.JPG "Here we had to make the outside of the chapel window match the rest of the windows of the house with a white archway around it.")
.JPG "Working on one of the walls...I like the little door. We have the latches in place and we're working on plastering the wall part.")
.JPG "The thermal insulation on the ceiling...")
.JPG "Another view of the insulation going up before the wood planks.")
.JPG "Insulation...")
.JPG "I started working on the front corner this week - we decided to leave this wall in the raw brick, but we wanted to lighten it up a bit...")
.JPG "So I painted it white!")
.JPG "Progress on the front wall...")
.JPG "This is Rodrigo holding the door in place where it will go...we haven't bought the frame yet...")
.JPG "View from down below of the balcony with the door...")
.JPG "Another view from down below...")
.JPG "My finished white brick wall!")
.JPG "Another shot of the wall...not so interesting, but it took a long time to paint so it deserves two shots...")
.JPG "Another corner that we will leave in the raw brick with built-in shelves...")
.JPG "Back corner...")
.JPG "We had to do something with this funky little jut-out thingy...It's part of the structure of the house...")
.JPG "Hand-painting the cement between the bricks...")
.JPG "Shot of the front wall before painting where it meets the roof...")
.JPG "The back corner cubby all painted!")
.JPG "We painted one side of this little \"column\" or whatever is is...then we decided to fill it in on the sides to make a complete little wall...")
.JPG "Rodrigo sanding the floor. We still have to sand EVERYTHING, fill in the cracks between the squares, and put a clear coat on it...")
.JPG "More floor sanding.")
.JPG "And now WALL sanding. Over the brick goes a cement layer. Then a layer of plaster. Then you sand. Then you plaster again. Sand again. Paint. :)")
.JPG "Sanding the back wall plaster...")
.JPG "Rodrigo's finishing up the balcony tiles.")
.JPG "The corner of the balcony. We're holding off on the handrail until we get all the materials upstairs...")
.JPG "The front corner with the little cement wall all nice and plastered.")
.JPG "Another view of the front corner.")
.JPG "The back corner before painting")
.JPG "Filling in the weird little half-wall. We bricked it up above and below and connected it to the window seat.")
.JPG "The weird little wall disappearing in brick and plaster.")
.JPG "Shot of where the window seat connects to the half-wall.")
.JPG "We even tested paint colors today! We're going to make the walls a little bit textured and go with this dark red color...")
.JPG "Rodrigo sanding his newly plastered wall.")
.JPG "The back corner - making progress! The little brick white wall is on the lefthand side. The rest will eventually be red.")
.JPG "Trying to imagine Rodrigo's view as he hangs out the window to concrete the windows in place. he he")
.JPG "I like how this wall turned out to the right of the door with this little half-wall in the entryway. This will all be plastered and painted later...")
.JPG "Hercules got stuck on the landing...big baby...")
.JPG "Refusing to go down steps...")
.JPG "Still there...")
.JPG "Our new varanda upstairs full of toys")
.JPG "Finishing up the cement work on the floor. Now we just have to finish the edges of the wooden dividers and lay in the decorative tiles.")
.JPG "The new wall, which will provide one side of the doorframe.")
.JPG "Inside looking out onto the balcony. The back wall (wooden) will be plastered and painted to match the rest of the concrete walls of the house.")
.JPG "Rodrigo working on the staircase.")
.JPG "The joint connecting the upper stairs to the landing.")
.JPG "More router work!")
.JPG "Rodrigo's first groove...awwwww...")
.JPG "One side of the lower stairs all \"grooved\" for the steps to fit in")
.JPG "Our friend Eronides finishes up the floor and the outer wall")
.JPG "The semi-finished floor (at least the cement is all in place)")
.JPG "The face kind of says it all...Those roofing tiles above Rodrigo heat up in the sun kind of like a pizza stone, so he's basically standing in an oven.")
.JPG "Side supports for the staircase")
.JPG "Staircase progress...")
.JPG "Staircase progress...")
.JPG "Rodrigo cutting the grooves to insert the stairs (thanks for the router, Dad, and the plunger, Dan...)")
.JPG "Cutting the grooves...")
.JPG "Cutting the grooves...")
.JPG "Cutting the grooves...")
.JPG "Cutting the grooves...")
.JPG "Showing how the steps will fit into the grooves on the side pieces...")
.JPG "Showing how the steps will fit into the grooves on the side pieces...")
.JPG "Putting together the frame for the back wall of the balcony...")
.JPG "The frame of the balcony wall in place")
.JPG "Almost finished with the floor!")
.JPG "Broad view of the space...")
.JPG "The balcony wall going into place...")
.JPG "The back corner (without the paneling)...this corner will actually be inside the closet...")
.JPG "Bottom frame support for the paneling to go up...")
.JPG "Back corner with support for the paneling...")
.JPG "Starting on the paneling! This will be stained an antique white and have an upper and lower border...")
.JPG "Staircase progress...")
.JPG "Showing how the steps will fit into the grooves on the side pieces...")
.JPG "The future doorway with the side wall almost finished")
.JPG "Close view of the concrete stain...")
.JPG "Close view of one of the staircase grooves")
.JPG "Rodrigo finally finishes all of the grooves of one side of the lower staircase! Lots and lots of dust...")
.JPG "Rodrigo and his trusty plunger...")
.JPG "The biggest drill bit I've ever seen...")
.JPG "Rodrigo marking the grooves for the steps to go into the staircase...")
.JPG "Working on the floor with some helpers...")
.JPG "Working on the floor with some helpers...")
.JPG "Working on the floor with some helpers...")
.JPG "Working on the floor with some helpers...")
.JPG "Working on the floor with some helpers...")
.JPG "Ruth (Rodrigo's stepmom) comes (partway) up to see the progress...")
.JPG "Rodrigo's Dad helping out...")
.JPG "Rodrigo's dad helping out with the cement mixing...")
.JPG "Working on the floor with some helpers...")
.JPG "Building the staircase landing...")
.JPG "Progress on the floor...")
.JPG "Progress on the floor...")
.JPG "Closeup of the marbe effect on the floor stain...")
.JPG "Progress on the floor...")
.JPG "Progress on the floor...")
.JPG "Progress on the floor...")
.JPG "Progress on the floor...")
.JPG "Progress on the floor...")
.JPG "We laid the staircase landing partway inside the outer wall. We ALMOST drilled all the way through to the living room....it should be nice and strong.")
.JPG "Rodrigo cuts the staircase planks with a little help from Dan and Hercules (he's great with a power saw)")
.JPG "Building the support for the staircase landing")
.JPG "Building the landing")
.JPG "Building the landing")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "The back wall and windows...the front bench will have a wooden top that opens.")
.JPG "Broad view of the progress")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "Starting on the floor...")
.JPG "The little chapel window that will look out on the staircase and the side patio")
.JPG "Rodrigo put in the back windows...")
.JPG "Building the little window seat...")
.JPG "Closing up the original door to the attic and cutting the windows")
.JPG "Building the window seat to hide the plumbing....")
.JPG "The attic after about three weeks of work")
.JPG "Drilling holes in the patio floor to secure the posts for the staircase landing")
.JPG "The landing posts will be held in place more securely with steel rods")
.JPG "Cutting the side pieces for the first flight of stairs")
.JPG "Dan and Rodrigo play with power tools....")
.JPG "Putting together the framework for the landing...")
.JPG "Putting the posts in place for the staircase landing")
.JPG "Starting to cut out the windows")
.JPG "Starting to cut out the windows")
.JPG "Putting the chapel window in place (and more rubble)")
.JPG "Plastering the back wall")
.JPG "The rerouted plumbing to the downstairs bathroom")
.JPG "More rubble..")
.JPG "The first of many sand piles to be sifted and bucketed upstairs for cement work")
.JPG "The back wall before closing up the original door and putting in the windows")
.JPG "Cutting out the hole for the chapel window")
.JPG "Marking the wall where the chapel window will go")
.JPG "Marking the back wall where the two square windows will go")
.JPG "Marking the back wall where the two square windows will go")
.JPG "Rodrigo takes a break with his favorite helper")
.JPG "Testing colors for the cement staining (for the floor)")
.JPG "Cementing the wall where the chapel window will eventually go")
.JPG "Cleaning up the attic to start working")
.JPG "This is a REALL COOL gas lantern that we found upstairs. We're SO keeping it...")
.JPG "Putting the next layer of cement on the wall beside the balcony where the chapel window will go")
.JPG "Putting the next layer of cement on the wall beside the balcony where the chapel window will go")
.JPG "Putting the next layer of cement on the wall beside the balcony where the chapel window will go")
.JPG "The back wall before cutting the windows and filling in the little door")
.JPG "Hercules with his nasty blanket (had to throw that one in there)")
.JPG "The original door to the attic")
.JPG "The original door to the attic")
.JPG "Our new windows!")
.JPG "Cleaning the attic to start working on the heavy stuff")
.JPG "Cleaning the attic")
.JPG "The little cubby hole area where the chapel window will eventually go")
.JPG "The day our wood was delivered!")
.JPG "The balcony completing cut out!")
.JPG "The biggest homemade ladder I've ever seen. You could put an elephant on this thing and it wouldn't give...")
.JPG "The delivery guy bringing our wood...")
.JPG "Our temporary attic access...")
.JPG "Putting the cement base down for the balcony")
.JPG "Putting the cement base down for the balcony...")
.JPG "The attic before we cut off the steel support rods and cleaned up to start working")
.JPG "The mess we started out with...note the plumbing pipe running through the MIDDLE of the floor...(we rerouted that)")
.JPG "The day our wood arrived")
.JPG "Rodrigo filled up the balcony area with rubble (under the cement) to encase the plumbing pipes that go down to the outside bathroom.")
.JPG "The pre-construction mess")
.JPG "Pre-construction mess. Note the plumbing running through the middle and the white PVC pipes sticking up, protecting unsuspecting legs from steel rods.")
.JPG "The day our wood arrived.")
.JPG "Hercules taking a break from all of his hard work")
.JPG "Rodrigo hangs with his best bud")
.JPG "The future balcony area, overlooking the side patio")
.JPG "The future balcony area, overlooking the side patio")
.JPG "Lots and lots of rubble...")
.JPG "The day Rodrigo decided it was a good day to break down a wall...")
.JPG "The mess in the attic when we started")
.JPG "Oops...we buried Hercie's nasty blanket...he was really mad...")
.JPG "Rodrigo working on cementing the balcony")
.JPG "Cleaning up the mess")
.JPG "Cleaning up the mess")
.JPG "Lots and lots of rubble!")
.JPG)
