Fix This Farm

Category: Exterior

  • This house is becoming a home!

    This house is becoming a home!

    We’ve been in the house for almost 3 months now. It’s still half construction site, but it’s now officially home! We (mostly) finished the two upstairs bedrooms before we moved in, but we’re still putting the finishing touches like baseboards and framing in the windows. 

    Claire’s room is so close to being done! Cory framed in her window and completed her built in toy closet. I painted it but we haven’t put shelves in yet.  This space was previously part of her closet. It was a narrow long space, so we decided to break it up and open the access. This will be a more functional way to store her toys, separate from her clothes and true storage items. Here is the during and almost final product of Claire’s built in toy closet:   

     
      

      
    We also haven’t hung anything on our precious walls!!! I do want to hang pictures, but the thought of putting a hole in our freshly painted, newly hung drywall still makes me cringe (a lot).

    The progress has slowed down a bit now that we live here. As expected, we spent time over the summer cleaning up the property and keeping it mowed. We miiiight have even spent some time floating in the pool with friends and family! We also found some great end of season bargains on outdoor furniture. We got a sofa set for the deck, a pair of chases, new umbrella for the table and two huge deck boxes to store all of the fun new pool toys.  

      

     

    Now that it’s turned chilly we had a cover made and winterized the pool.  The one we chose is highly rated for safety, a 95% mesh weave, and will (hopefully) cut down the algae growth over the winter. We got lucky and were able to use all of the existing anchors for the cover so we didn’t have to drill into the concrete, phew! 

      

    We had some of the water hydrants in and around the barn replaced and spent several weekends clearing and burning branches. 

       
     

    Our major project in the house right now is the upstairs bathroom. It will be Claire’s bathroom and serve as the guest bathroom. I have a design plan and the tub is installed, so it should go pretty quickly now.  I’ve got a test spot of the paint color drying on the wall as I type. This is some of what I’m planning: 

    clockwise from top right: floor tile, shower tile, vanity, granite for vanity, shower curtain, and wall color

    We also replaced the water heater. Not as flashy, but oh so necessary! 

    On a more fun note, we were very generously given their outgrown swing set by Grampa (Cory’s Dad), Grandma Judy and Ben! Cory and his Dad spend most of last Sunday reconstructing it on the farm. Claire  absolutely adores it (thank you guys)! We will be spending a lot of time out there enjoying it this fall!

       

     
      
    More updates coming soon, along with more pictures of the upstairs. As always, thanks so much for checking in as we FIX THIS FARM! 

  • TA DA! New exterior.

    TA DA! New exterior.

    Without further ado, the big exterior reveal: Before & After pics

     

    Before - Front Door
    Before – Front Door

    We couldn’t be happier with the new look of the house. The new siding is finally complete and the new windows are in! There is so much more light in the house now.

    As you can see we changed two of the windows on this side of the house. The far left hand window was shortened to accommodate shelving and storage that will go in the new mud room. The second window from the right was shortened because we are remodeling the master bathroom and there will eventually be a shower right there.

    After - Front Door
    After – Front Door

     

     

    Before - road side
    Before – road side
    After - road side
    After – road side
    Before - Back
    Before – Back

    The back looks totally different! The deck is on the project list this summer as well.

    After - Back
    After – Back

    (spoiler alert – the pool is my next post!)

    We also love how the grey blue plays off the stone.

    Siding and Stone
    Siding and Stone

    We have been so touched by the kind words that so many people have sent us. Thank you for following our journey as we FIX THIS FARM!

    Two more posts to come tonight, we’ve been super busy!  – Beth

     

  • So many projects, so little time!

    So many projects, so little time!

    Hello! We’ve made some major progress since my last post. Hold on to your jig saws, here come the pictures. (I’m still a little uncertain as to which one the jig saw actually is, but I’m picking up the DIY lingo!)

    With the help of our WONDERFUL family we were able to make quick work of clearing all of the vegetation out of the “pool”. It’s amazing what 9 Peters, 2 Grahams, and 2 Cates can do when promised pizza and future swimming! THANK YOU ALL, we really appreciate it.

     

     

    The family hard at work!
    The family hard at work!
    Pool Workday
    Pool Workday
    Doesn't look like the same hole.
    Doesn’t look like the same hole.

    We did have to call in the professionals for several projects. Getting the water back on was quite a feat! The well for the whole property is run off of the barn electricity so we had to have the Duke power meter relocated. It was previously housed on a dilapidated shed. Once the box was relocated, the power lines re-routed, and finally connected then we could turn on the well. It took 4 different visits from 4 different crews. Then, Claire and I spent a day with the plumber replacing pipes in the well house to get the water actually running again. We finally have water in the house! Thankfully the pump seems to be working fine but the pressure tanks will need to be replaced soon. Add it to the list… it’s a darn good thing that I enjoy making lists.

    We’ve also had carpenters Joe and Mitch out working on the house. They pulled all of the rotten cedar siding down and put up OSB and Tyvek in preparation for the new vinyl siding. They also installed all of our new doors. We made modifications to 3 out of 4 doors on the house.

    Even Tyvek is an improvement!
    Even Tyvek is an improvement!
    Tyvek with new storm door.
    Tyvek with new storm door.

    Since the house was retrofitted for handicap access it had a big sliding glass door as the front door. We re-framed and replaced that with a traditional wooden front door. We closed in the porch overhang into a small mudroom and added a storm door.

    Cory’s office door was replaced with no major modifications. However, we did have to replace some water damaged sub flooring.

    Joe and Mitch working their magic.
    Joe and Mitch working their magic.
    Cory's office door installed.
    Cory’s office door installed.

    The biggest change was made to the door in the living room. In order to increase access to our outdoor living space we wanted to open the area up as much as possible. So the wall, bay window and small door all came out to make room for a 9.5 foot, 4 panel french sliding door. I’m so excited that it completely changes the space and adds a view of the pool!

    Back door onto deck.
    Back door onto deck.
    Back door open.
    Back door open.

    The siding and window crew started today, so check back soon for the official before and after pictures. I can’t believe the difference already!

    Thanks for following our journey as we FIX THIS FARM. xoxo – Beth

  • NEW ROOF!

    NEW ROOF!

    I’m so excited that the exterior transformation has begun! Check out the before and after of our new roof.  It was raining when I took the after pictures but the new roof is grey and best of all, not missing huge chunks. HOORAY!

    Before:

    Roof before

    Roof Before 2

    In progress:

    roof under construction

    AFTER:

    IMG_4994

    New Roof 1

     

    IMG_4999

    Next step… siding, windows, and doors!

    Thanks for checking in 🙂

    -Beth

  • Projects, projects, projects!

    Projects, projects, projects!

    Throughout this adventure you’ll probably learn three things about me. I get bored easily, I prefer to multi-task and I finish what I start (eventually). The first two tend to get in the way of the third one as Beth can attest to when I installed hardwood floors in our old house. This is going to be a major DIY project for us, and it will really challenge us… but we’re diving in head first.

    So with that in mind we have started three projects at the same time (told you). We’re going to post on the progress of each of these projects separately using categories within the blog so that you’ll be able to keep track of the progress on a single project by just filtering on that specific tag. We’re hoping this will be the best format but we’ll see how it goes.

    Project #1 – Exterior

    We’re really excited about this one. This should really start a massive transformation on the house.

    • Scope: Replace the roof, siding, windows and doors.
    • Code Name: Curb Appeal
    • Project Lead: Beth
    • DIY? No, we’re calling in the professionals on this one.
    • Blog Category to Follow: Exterior

    Project #2 – Pool

    I used to be a Life Guard and Certified Pool Operator but there’s nothing in my old books about this. I don’t think shocking it with chlorine is going to cut it.

    • Scope: Remove all debris from the pool, repair the pump and plumbing, replace the liner and generally get the pool functioning again.
    • Code Name: Terrarium
    • Project Lead: Cory
    • DIY? For now…
    • Blog Category to Follow: Pool

    Project #3 – Upstairs

    This may be broken down into three separate projects in the future.

    • Scope: Gut the upstairs with new insulation, drywall, floors and re-do the bathroom.
    • Code Name: Claire’s Domain
    • Project Lead: Cory
    • DIY? You betcha.
    • Blog Category to Follow: Upstairs