Should be hot here at the BOL, and in Houston. It was hot yesterday and most of the day was saturated. There was a short period where there was some shade and a cool breeze off the lake, but thankfully, I was working either inside, or in a giant hole in the wall.

I did get the window mostly installed. I got some sheathing up, and some flashing tape. I still have housewrap and more flashing to do, as well as figuring out trim details and what I want to cover the foot of wall above the window and below it. I might put the brick back eventually, but probably not this year.

With my buddy helping to steer, and a “skate” under the window, it wasn’t as hard or scary as I expected to get the window in place. I bought the skate years ago, but knew where the box was in the shed within 2 feet. Worked a treat too. Prepping win! Now if I could just find the leftover housewrap I’m pretty sure I have somewhere…

I was supposed to go home last night and be meeting the A/C contractor at 8am to replace my coil unit, but he couldn’t get the warranty approved. We’re going ahead with the replacement and will try to get the compensation afterward if needed. The family will all be home Sun, and I need the air working. So I’ll be up early to head home, and meet the guy at noon.

Three years. The enshittification of everything is spreading. Even a brand like Carrier uses mexican factories and NAFTA (and what replaced it) to destroy the working class and make the financial shenannegans boys happy. Warranty payouts are three years away boys, let’s make those quarterly numbers! That’s a problem for future us…

All the more reason to buy older proven stuff when you can, to buy for quality and longevity when you can, and to have spare parts if they are available for simple things.

There will be a reckoning. Some people are not going to like it.

Meanwhile, stack money. It’s the universal prep.

nick

More hot and humid? Or more overcast and relatively cool? Only time will tell. Yesterday was hot and humid when the sun came out but it got cold and windy before too long. And I set up the umbrella for shade… But just as I finished up it came down in buckets.

Fortunately, I had finished for the day. Well, with brick removal. I’d have done another hour or two of carpentry getting ready for today if I didn’t need to make a supply run to Lowes. I got the whole in the wall covered with plywood to keep the rain and critters out overnight, and did my run. Neighbor drove his truck so I didn’t need to unload my window from mine. I bought gas and dinner.

Today I need to be weather tight by about 6pm at the latest, and it’s definitely doable. Getting started in the morning will help, but honestly, morning or afternoon, I’ve only got so much gas in the tank, and when that runs out I’m spent. If I had Saturday here I’d have no worries. As it is, I think it will be tight.

But we do what we can. And work on improving…

nick

(and stacking just in case.)

But as long as the weather cooperates, I think I’ll get there. Yesterday rained just enough, and not too much, so I could work as long as I was able. It was hot, but no direct sunlight for most of it, and there was even a cool breeze for part of the day. Late afternoon the sun came out and started to broil me, even though it was in the low 80sF. So I looked around and found an umbrella to set up for a little shade. Then the wind picked up and a storm blew through… but after I went back to work outside and reset the umbrella. Adapt improvise, overcome.

I got almost all of the chimney removed, except for the firebox insert, and the hearth. Indoors, I removed the top 2 ft of the fireplace above the mantel. I could be quicker, just pulling the whole wall down and letting it break apart on the floor, but I’ll have a heck of a mess to clean up and it goes pretty fast removing one brick at a time.

I did a better job staying hydrated too.

Today I have to get all the brick work out, and start the process for roughing in the new opening. I have to support the ceiling joists temporarily during that, and I hope I have enough materials. I was planning to make a Lowes run once I had the wall and ceiling open and knew for sure what I’d need. Pretty sure I need at least one sheet of plywood for the roof opening, and one sheet of drywall to repair the ceiling. I’ve got studs and wall sheathing. And plastic sheet if I have to just cover the whole thing and staple it up to make it weather tight.

Then Friday, I’ll install the window, wall and ceiling sheathing, and button up to head home. Still have to be up early Sat morning for the A/C guy to install the new unit. I have a feeling I’ll be back up here soon to do the trim out and final finishes. And it just occurred to me that code will require an outlet in the wall under the window. I’ll have to at least install the box and romex up to the attic. Without opening walls there’s nothing nearby to grab, and none of the old system is grounded anyway. Fractal.

Always be working. And stacking doesn’t hurt.

nick

I just hope this cool spell continues. It was a light misty drizzle for part of the day, and it stayed cool with a cool breeze throughout the overcast day. The drizzle stopped early too. Just enough to get the grass too wet to mow. I want a couple more days like this.

I got a bunch of brick removed. I’m down to the last couple of feet of chimney, and the firebox. All the indoor brick is still up. It’s progress.

Today I’ll keep at it, weather permitting. I’m trying to drink more electrolyte drink but keep forgetting. The sun is still there as I have a little pink even through the t shirt. And it’s filthy work. Fortunately there’s a lake right here and the water is bath water warm.

Work on something every day. And stack.

nick

But at least the temps have been held down by the overcast and rain. It drizzled on and off all day but I was able to work in between and it ended up a beautiful night. 76F when I went to bed. More like that would be nice.

Spent the day trying to do stuff and accomplished my goal for the day. Got more chimney down. I’ve got a pretty big pile of debris and I’ll have a lot more before I’m done. Hopefully someone will want some free brick rubble. Someone usually does.

Today I’ll keep at it. I don’t think I’ll try for an early start. My hands are starting to feel the strain, I’m not used to picking up brick, or holding and swinging a 5 pound sledge hammer. Getting old is not for the faint of heart.

But I’m making progress and getting work done. And stacking in between.

nick