Chicago Duplex Down Rehab

Our 2nd floor tenants here mentioned the ceiling in the kitchen was showing some water damage again after the last big snowstorm. I figured I had already patched that area above the kitchen with lots of tar last year, but apparently to no avail. I've know since I bought the building that the roof needed to be completely replaced, since much of it was rippled and many of the joints with the parapet walls were tearing.  I made the mistake of hiring some fly by night contractors to put a layer of paint-able rubber membrane on over 5 years ago, and I thought that would hold it for awhile, but the membrane already had started coming off in the same year.  At that same time, I did get some estimates for a 'modified bitumen roof' for about $10K.  Once of the estimators took a sample of my existing roof, and said there were 7 layers of roof, and what looked to be the original gravel roof! So, obviously, this roof needed to be completely torn off. I contacted a numbe...

After a failed attempt to get the permit plumber to redo the tub valve install, I did it myself today. Not pretty, my first attempt at joining copper pipe, but no leaks! I used a dry towel under the pipes to check for any dripping after 2 hours.  Thanks to Ed (again) for letting me borrow his MAPP torch.  *HOT* I had to remove the valve parts completely, do a lot of cutting, and rejoining.  Since the bottom of the center was now too close to the sides, I had to use two 'street elbows' to take a detour into the Tee. The blue cloth at the bottom didn't have a drop of water after a couple hours.  Both valves were completely open.  Now the valve trim sits right on top of the tile, no gap (the original problem).

I cut the door jambs and casings using a 'jamb saw' to fit the tile under the jamb for a cleaner look. Eric laid out the tiles along the tub platform as starting point without thinset for dry fit check.  The Bosch laser works great for lining them up across the room without having to draw line on the subsurface This is the 'monolith' above the shower that Eric already tiled with the glass and stone mosaic.  The green  'paint' is Laticrete Hydro-ban.  Its a rubber like paint that prevents water seepage through joints and screw holes.  Eric with fancy German construction pant setting up the threshold by cutting rug straight and sizing up Schluter edging piece.

foam insulation install Ed and I lifting heavy window into place Eric threw me a USB stick with a bunch of photos he had taken over the past few year, so I'm posting many here! two lines of gas piping and electrical  conduit running down center of building  me on scaffolding, nice spring day finished wood floor Rick smiling about crown install?? Eric  fabled staircase, many debates about  rise/run 

The master bathroom has been neglected since the drywallers finished over a year ago. Before Eric and I can start tiling, a few items needed to be taken care of. I had been looking off and on for a low voltage lighting solution for the shower, and finally came across some 2.5" 20w recessed halogen fixtures from Seagull Lighting that would work. The original plan was to put in one in the niche, and one directly above the two shower valves, but some of the framing above the shower got in the way. This is what happens when you don't plan for lighting before the framing! The 120VAC to 12VAC transformer is in an access panel on the other side of the shower wall in the bedroom. We could have put the transformer access in the bathroom, but there was no easy place to put it without having to deal with a tiled wall. I ran some 10gauge Romex cable (orange) from the transformer to a junction box in the shower wall, and then flex conduit from there to all three fixtures with standard 14...

for those that care.. We moved to 1st floor almost 2 weeks ago. Our friends that will be watching our new baby moved upstairs a week ago. So, the place is not completely finished, but certainly livable. The remaining items include: - window treatments (roman and 'solar' shades) - master bedroom stairwell landing bookcase - master bedroom stairwell wall bookcase - master bath (tile, cabinets, fixtures, glass) - doorbell transformer - master bedroom LED cove lighting - 1st floor hallway hutch - kitchen island countertop (leftover plywood in meantime) - switching remaing locks to Mul-T-Lock restricted key system We've run out of cash, and will be finishing these items as capital is EARNED through our hard work for a multi-national aerospace company. :)

painting is finally underway! We discovered the Minwax Helmsman spar varnish works really nicely on the stained trim, very low lustre. I'm using Sherwin Williams this time around. I opened an account at their Milwaukee & Fullerton location. The paint is often 30% off for account customers. That makes it less than $30/gal. I was paying $35/gal+ for Ben Moore, and couldn't find a way to get a discount on that.