Day 8: Stairs from Garage Door 

Day 8: Stairs from Below 

Day 8: Stairs Built 

Day 7: Looking for a Flooring Installer

We have 1 1/2 boxes of 3/4" Bruce oak strip flooring and the flooring that was removed during construction. I am looking for a flooring installer who could install 61 square feet of flooring so that it doesn't look like a patch job. The subfloor is new and ready for installation. We are looking for someone to install the flooring and the stairnose molding around the new opening.

Day 7, Landing Framed 

Day 7: Landing Framed

Jody and Zach worked on framing the landing today, insuring that there would be accessible storage beneath it. They tell me that it was a challenge because nothing is plumb or level, but they were able to do it. The electrician added the network cabling and outlets which I have to add the plugs to. It looks like we will be ready for the framing and electrical inspection on Monday and we will try to move the family back into the house tomorrow night. Jody tells me that we will have stairs by tomorrow. That's good because I'm getting tired of going outside to traverse the floors of our house.
The stairway will take up more room in the house than the old spiral one but I think that it will give both the upstairs and downstairs more usable, safe space.
I tried to find stair nose molding that would match the Bruce oak flooring upstairs but I found that the product that was used was only sold at Home Depot and they don't stock it anymore. I found that Ken's Carpets in San Rafael could get me a close match. Since we want to patch the flooring upstairs with the flooring that was removed and the 1 1/2 boxes of unused flooring, most of the flooring stores wouldn't reinstall the flooring. Floorcoverings of Marin might be able to. If anyone knows of a good flooring installer in the Bay Area, please post a comment.
The electricial also installed an outlet in the "garage" so that the flourescent light can now be turned on and off with a pull chain. WE HAVE LIGHT IN OUR GARAGE!!!!

Day 6: False wall that we want to put built-in shelving into. 

Day 6: First Floor with temporary bracing 

Day 6: First Floor 

Day 5: Stove hole patched 

Day 6: Stairs begin, stringer cut 

Day 5: Temporary Railing 

Day 5: Temporary Railing 

Day 5: Subfloor done and temporary railing 

Day 4: New Framing 

Day 4: New Framing

Day 4: New Framing

Day 4: Plumbing and Framing

The plumber came today to thread the gas pipe that originally went to the old stove. The pipe was going through the rough opening so he threaded it and capped it. The carpenters put in the new joists and framing for the stair opening. Computer is back up: power has been partially restored but not completely: the kitchen stove is still not connected. Still very quiet here. I'm here alone and I miss my family.

Day 3

Day 3: New Fuse Box

Day 3: the new Electrical Box

Day 3: New Electrial Wiring

New Electrical

Day 3: Demolition & Electrical

The electrician came today to reroute all of the wires that were in the floor to be removed. His assistant was here until 6:00 finishing up. When he left, about half of the house had power: no computer, no stove, some lights. They also put in a new electrical panel on the outside of the house.

Day 2: Demolition

Today, the crew removed the rest of the flooring and exposed the existing framing in the wall and the floor. The gas line goes right through the new opening, so I got a change order today to get a plumber in to terminate the line safely.
They have been able to save quite a few of the hardwood floor planks so we can redo the floor with them when it is all done.

Looking through floor. 

Day 2: Looking up through floor 

Day 2 

Lots of wires 

The old stairs 

Day 2 

Stairs Removed 

Before Demoltion 

Before demolition 

Demolition 

Day 1: Demolition

Today Jody, Jesus, and Lair removed the stairway and started to remove the flooring. They also cut back the carpet downstairs.