Misc. boiler work & tools purchased.

     While Bob is still sourcing all the components for the boiler install, I've been doing small little tasks to make his job a bit easier.  I ran a new thermostat wire down through the living room wall in to the basement and connected it to the boiler, I ran a new copper fuel oil line to the tank outside, amd I connected the electrical wires for the burner and switches.

     

     I also started removing and disassembling some of the black pipe that fed the cast iron radiators in the house.  We will be splitting the two floors into two separate heating zones.  I also bought a pipe vise, a cutter and a threader for up to 2" steel pipe.  I got it all on craigslist for under $200

        Lastly, I got the first order of parts in for the boiler. More stuff is on the way:

Ceiling demo in piano room

     Well, nearly all the wiring in the basement and piano room is finished with the exception of the ceiling light fixture in the piano room.  I've been putting off the ceiling demo in that room because its such a messy nasty procedure. Pulling plaster & lath down onto yourself has got to be one of the shittiest tasks ever!  I got my hazmat suit on today along with my goggles and my Covid mask and I got to it:
 
 

Next issue of business in this room is to de-nail all the studs, wire the ceiling for light, insulate,  and then hang the sheetrock.

Wires, wires, and more wires.

     I've been running wires. Seriously, Ive been running wires everywhere for like a week now.  It started in the piano room(by the way we call it the piano room simply because it had a piano in it when I bought the house. It no longer does nor will it) because I decided that we need more outlets. Then I decided to try to power up the switch in the living room which controls the ceiling fan/light. From there, I decided to add more light in the basement so that Bob can see when he comes to activate the boiler.

     Anyway, 125 feet of romex later, I have lights everywhere in the house. I even have a light switch at the top of the basement stairs that will tun on the lights in the basement before you go down the steps. Nice huh?  I wired up a new circuit for the boiler and ran an emergency shut off switch for it(also at the top of the stairs).  Finally I called up Bob to come over and see what needs to be done. 

      This is Bob the HVAC/burner tech.:

     Bob said to say hi to everyone. Yes, he usually has his eyes open when he works, but I guess he blinked when I snapped the pic.   Anyway, Bob wired up the boiler, ran some of the fuel lines, and the fuel filter,  he measured every thing for the manifold, circulator, zone valves, expansion tank, and a million and one other important components.  I ended up with a very long shopping list of things to buy so he can fully install the system.

          For now, I'll leave you with a few snapshots. I've got to go try to make some money to pay for all the stuff I need to buy. It's tougher than usual because my paychecks are cut in half due to hourly cutbacks at my job.  This virus thing has shutdown the economy and I'm feeling the squeeze.

     

The metal roof has been completed.

      Yes, a whopper of a storm rolled through here on Monday, and the roofers did not attempt to install the roof in the pouring rain and high winds.  However, on Tuesday they made up for lost time!

     The roof is complete and it looks fantastic. The only drawback is that it looks so nice that it makes me really notice how shabby the white trim looks.  I'll need to get up there ASAP with a scraper and re-paint the white trim under and around the eves.  And yes, the roof above the porch will be getting some new crisp black shingles soon.

      I hired a professional metal roof company to do this job mostly due to the extremely steep angle of the roof (12-12 pitch), and because neither Rob nor I had ever cut metal panels on angles to conform to a dormer window.   

     The company I went with was USA Home Improvement Solutions  in Scranton Pennsylvania. They were a pleasure to deal with every step of the way.  Their price was real nice, and the work looks better than I expected.  If anyone is looking for a metal roof in N.E. PA, give them a call at (877) 872-3398

       Here's some photos:

 

New metal roof for the house

     The third item of importance at the house today was the arrival of all the metal roofing materials.  Yes, this is the big surprise that I've been mentioning in the last few posts.  I saved my pennies, and pulled the trigger on a brand new metal roof for the house.  This will be installed on the very steep(12/12 pitch) main roof of the house above the third floor.  There is currently very old and crumbling shingles on that roof. Although it is not currently leaking, a new metal roof should ensure a nice dry home for decades to come.

       Here's a few photos of the roof as it sits now, and the new roof panels which will be installed on Monday:

Heat in the house soon.

The second thing that I accomplished today was to get the boiler up onto the concrete pedestal. It is now in place and ready for Bob to come over and connect the electrical and plumbing to it.

       

I cannot imagine what it will be like to have heat in this house.  I'm looking forward to it!

We discover a message from the previous owners.

       Today, was a really satisfying day of work at the house for three reasons.  Let me tell you about the first reason.

       Robin came along and began demolishing the piano room. I had her rip out all the wood paneling and the trim moulding.  She discovered that the wall that backs up to the kitchen was re-framed, re-wired, and sheathed with plywood rather than drywall under the paneling.  This will make for a perfect structure to attach the sheetrock to.

       She also discovered the old wallpaper on the plaster walls was in fairly good condition under that paneling.  But the best thing she found was some writing on the wall in the corner where the south wall meets the west wall:
 

        Yep, we found the build date! I had estimated the house to be built in 1875 from photos I found online, but this is the first piece of evidence found during the renovation that indicates that the house is actually fourteen years older than my estimate!
        Rob and I had found a date on the lumber of the second floor addition when we demo'd it three years ago, but it was a date that the lumber was milled. It was in the 1940's and it had the name of the customer who ordered the lumber: Dr. Maxwell Cohen.  This extremely cool message that Robin found is signed by Christine Cohen, the doctors granddaughter.  The house was built in 1861.

First day of work on the house.

      Today my wife Robin came along to the house.  While I was making a concrete pedestal for the new boiler to set on, she emptied out the piano room in anticipation of Robbie hanging all new sheetrock in that room.
      I forgot the camera, so Robin snapped a few pictures with her cellphone.  You can see what a mess the piano room is, as we have been using the table saw and the compound miter saw in there.
I still need to demo the ceiling and rip out the remaining wood paneling.

               Down in the basement, ten bags of concrete mix went quite fast with the electric cement mixer.

        This coming Friday(4/10)  a real big project will begin.  Materials are scheduled to be delivered and work should begin thereafter.  I'm not going to tell you what it is yet though.

        Lastly, I got a bunch of flooring material in for the entranceway and first floor hallway.  Here is a snapshot of some of it.

   

Stay tuned and stay well!