The Hallway: Attic

The Hallway

...because every house needs a hallway.

February 18, 2007

attic

Project Status: 90% complete

Completed Items: removed previous owner's stuff; removed window trim (for reuse later); removed paneling used for walls and ceilings (for reuse later); removed old insulation and cleaned rafters thoroughly; ran separate electrical lines (one for microwave & mini-fridge, one for the rest of the electrical) from circuit box in basement up alongside chimney; put down subfloors in eaves to create storage spaces; framed in second kneewalls for outer walls of eave closets; framed doorways into inner kneewalls for closet doors; cut larger holes around attic vents (original holes cut by previous owners were insufficient); installed vent baffles and insulation; wired and installed 4 switches, 5 lights, and 10 outlets in main room; installed 5 switches and 6 outlets in eave closets; installed drywall (taped, mudded, and textured); cut and installed old paneling for walls and ceilings in eave closets; installed trim throughout closets and caulked all seams; installed vinyl tiles in eave closets; painted main room and eave closets; refinished hardwood floor; installed fixtures; painted and installed main room trim; painted and installed window trim; painted, reassembled, and installed banister; moved in and decorated; made and installed curtains

Punch List: install eave closet lights; design, build, and install eave closet doors; touch-up painting on banister; painting doors and trim at base of stairs; painting stairs

attic, part 1: work begins -- 04.04 - 05.04

"We're turning our attic into a master suite."

Someone, somewhere, is adding that exact phrase to the latest edition of "Famous Last Words of Do-It-Yourselfers Whose Houses Tragically Ate Them".

attic, part 2: drywalling -- 05.04 - 10.04

We read all the home improvement books, watched all the improvement shows. We learned about drywall screws versus drywall nails, the finer points of mudding and taping, the importance of measuring twice and cutting once.

But no one said anything about the bribery.

wooden hanger attic, part 3: eave closets -- 05.04 - 11.04

Adding much-needed storage, recycling all that paneling, and creating patented new acrobatic maneuvers that you'll never see at the circus.

Just another day here at Hall House.

corner trowels attic, part 4: taping & mudding -- 9.04 - 01.05

Yeah, we have the corner trowels.

They suck.

attic, part 5: texturing -- 02.05

We wanted to do something out of the ordinary for texture. Using paint rollers fit the bill.

Who knew there's an actual reason most people use a spray texture? Good bicep workout, though.

attic, part 6: refinishing the hardwood floor -- 03.05 - 04.05

"I think those fumes are giving me a headache."

"Really? Aren't you wearing your respirator mask thingie?"

"Does the dust mask count?"

paint palette attic, part 7: priming & painting -- 03.05 - 04.05

You thought we were crazy for our two-color living room?

Try our four-color master suite.

With stripes.

linoleum samples attic, part 8: laying vinyl tiles -- 04.05

Vinyl isn't so much "Arts and Crafts" as it is "Cheap and Easy".

old window attic, part 9: redoing the windows -- 06.05 - 07.05

"Salvaging the old windows will be cheaper than replacing them." That's what we told ourselves. Word of advice? Figure in the cost of the couples therapy before you decide if it's really cheaper.

classic retro lighting attic, part 10: finishing up -- 06.05 - 07.05