Addition Subtraction

The backyard has undergone quite a transformation since work started in November.  This is how it looked when I bought the house.  The little brown building on the right was an addition off the first floor which was identified in the listing as the master bedroom.  That was the first to go.

Next up was the enclosed back stairwell.  Gone are the days when you could head up to the 2nd floor, pause at the landing and survey the backyard from that little window on the left. Or reach out of the window on the right and adjust the reception on the dish tv.  Oh, and this is also when the gigantic mess took root in the backyard and refused (get it? No?) to leave.

 Now, boom, yellow siding is gone.  It was beautiful out that day.  Look at the sky.

The back stairs (and surrounding walls) have joined the trash heap on the ground.  The stairs from the basement to the first floor are still there but as you can see the stairs going to the second floor are gone, leaving a ghostly shadow etched into the brick.  Hey, be careful walking out of the back door on the top floor.  That first step is a doozie.

That lower set of stairs on the right are gonzo and there's finally a clear view of what was the original back wall of the building.  The doorway at the bottom on the left leads to the basement.  You can't really tell but you actually jump down about 3 feet to be on an even level with the basement floor.  That door and a window hole to the right will be closed up and there'll be a two story deck built off the back wall.  But why explain it when you can just look at the pictures below.

Some of the garbage has been hauled away and the little orange things that look like pumpkins are concrete footings for the back porch. Also, the electric company came by and put a meter on the wall.  The cables back there are such an eyesore but I will want electricity in the house so I guess it's one of those things you put up with.

The difference this day is a little bit of a mystery but if you look up you'll see a blue tarp hanging off both sides of the house.  It's because the roof is gone (yikes) and except for the tarp the top of the house is open to the elements.  You can see it better in pictures from the font of the house.  I'll put those up soon.

Still tons of garbage in the backyard.  I mean, that's just what you get I guess.  But...look what else!  The porch is taking shape.

What's different?  Sure, the porch is framed and wrapped in Tyvek but look at the back wall. It's gone!  Well, a bunch of the bricks have been removed to make room for the new back doors. Before they took the bricks out I asked Bill, the architect, how they could do that without the whole building falling down.  He kind of laughed and didn't seem worried about it so I didn't sweat it too much either.

Doors are in and the porch is almost finished.  It's clad in cedar and smells really good.  I don't know how long that fragrance will last, it's certainly not as strong now as it was at first, but I love love love the porch.  When you come over you can press your nose up against the wall and enjoy it for yourself.

More progress has been made. You can't really see it in this picture but the ceiling on the 2nd floor is done and this project is almost complete.  This particular day was unseasonably warm and rainy and all the snow melted and washed away.  Which was good because someone stole my snow shovel.

So just to recap...

          

It went from this                                                                             to this.

At some point there'll be railing added, like in the drawing below...   

which is good because when you're inhaling all that glorious cedar aroma you'll need something to hang onto.