Still Under Construction

My house's exterior has now been completely converted from barn-red cedar shake shingles and asbestos tiles to an elegant soft moss green vinyl siding. Makes the house look bigger and newer—and probably worth more money.

The construction crew's in the backyard, rebuilding from scratch the tiny second-floor alcove and stairs down to the backyard. My father-in-law, who's a musician rather than a carpenter, built the original one—which the construction crew demolished—31 years ago. By demolition day, the original was sagging and rotting in places; rot-resistant pressure-treated wood wasn't available back when it was built. But for a guy who had to learn to construct such things, my father-in-law didn't do a bad job. He had to build the alcove and stairs because when this house was built in the 1960s, the building code didn't require more than one exit in the house, believe it or not.

After the crew finishes the alcove and stairs, all that will be left to do on the exterior is to rebuild the front stoop, now narrow and of crumbling 30-something-year-old cement, out of pressure-treated wood. It'll be wider too. The current stoop is just wide enough for one person, so if my husband or I go up it with bags in our arms or with bouncy children right behind us, we're in danger of falling off it.

I keep meaning to post pictures, but then I forget to ask my husband to take some on weekends. We'll eventually get around to it.

Updated at 2:12 p.m.: I forgot to mention that after all the exterior work, the crew will tackle our upstairs bathroom, which must be completely gutted. Can't wait to say good-bye to the ancient pale-gray tile and the ugly yellow toilet and tub!



construction remodeling EditorMom