We, my studly guy and I, purchased this way less than charming--a craftsman wannabe-- bunglelow last June. We saw possiblities galore that would take some addin' on and fixin' up, but nothing fancy and it shouldn't cost too much...we thought.
We put our thinking caps on, the creative juices started flowing and the designing began. We would carve out a new kitchen on the existing rear and within part of the add-on, continue the front porch around the corner for a spacious screened in outdoor room, move a wall to create a foyer, turn the one bath into a powder room, add a laundry room, downstairs master bedroom and bath, reconfigure the upstairs rooms, move the stairs (too narrow, too steep, and too in the middle of things), add a bath upstairs, bump up the roof....whoa there, Dreamers. Yep! We would need to bump the roof due to having only 6' ceilings upstairs...one of the bedrooms, a 9 x 9 box, was only 6' at the door decreasing to 30" at the windows.
Well, I think you get the picture. This was not going to be a small project. But we weren't thwarted.
We received the variance for side and rear set backs in September, got the plans drawn up and submitted Bid Requests to 3 quality, reputable builders by November.
One declined to bid and two came back at a number, approx $250/sq ft, that couldn't be supported by the location or our financial where-with-all. What we had was a clear need to rethink the whole thing.
To be continued....

After putting on our thinking caps regarding our design and construction options, we decided to act as the GC on the project, breaking it into 3 phases:
Phase 1 consisting of demolition, foundation, framing, and sheathing.
Phase 2 roof, windows and exterior doors, HVAC, Plumbing, Electric, Siding including soffit and trim.
Phase 3--finish work: porch including railing, ceiling and floor; kitchen and bathroom cabinets, stairs, trim and moldings, painting, floors, fixtures and appliances
Phase 4: Hardscape, Irrigation, and Landscape

Phase 1 to be handled by one contractor. Luckily, the one we ended up with,a result of bid process and negotiation, is the exact one we wanted to begin with. He came with great references, experience AND is a good personality fit.
Phase 2 by individual subs chosen by bid process.
Phase 3 conbination of indidvidual subs and personal labor
---------
We began by removing much of the interior trim, all the interior doors, and all the windows to reuse in the new interior. This was done more for a desire to keep some of the history of the 1910 structure than a cost savings, which after factoring in the labor of removal would be slight to none. The windows have that jailhouse look with 3/1 divided lite. We won't be using them as exterior windows in the new house, but rather some will be used between rooms for the purpose of light and air movement...and just because I like the look of interior windows. SG (Studley Guy) will alter them somewhat by reconfiguring the divided lites by adding a hortizontal muntin (right word?) about six inches from the top of the top sash. This will remedy the jail bar look. I spent at least a full week pulling nails out of the removed mouldings and trim. Developed a nice callus on the palm of my right hand.

Then we had to take down a black walnut tree that had the misfortune of being located smack in the middle of our future addition. SG did the take down, I, along with the best neighbor in the world, did the nipping and hauling out to the alley. We stacked the fire type logs close to the alley for free-for-the-taking and piled the leaf branches for city haul away.


The builder, while waiting for the building permit to come in, started the demolition of the interior. No surprises found,yet. We had previously determined that this 1910 bunglelow had not a speck of plaster on its walls. There was gypsum board throughout. Now that dates this house to the mid twenties at the earliest since drywall wasn't even available 'til somewhere around then. No lathing, nothing that would point to a plastered past. So much for the accurancy of government records.
---------
I have arranged with a local salvage guy to haul away the to-be-stripped aluminum siding. Our builder is cooperating with this effort by agreeing to pile the aluminum rather than toss into dumpster. I like the fact that it won't end up in the landfill. Salvage Guy had the opportunity to pick up his first load on Monday.

Last Friday, the kitchen and deck were pulled off the to-be-renovated portion of the house. We were really bummed to find out that had happened while we were away. Had been told that it would happen on Monday after our return, but things shifted into place faster than contractor originally planned. However, the neighborhood enjoyed the brief but vastly exciting take down, I am told.

Speaking of the neighborhood, this activity really does infringe on the peace and quite and orderliness of the place. Hope goodwill doesn't wear thin during this process. Our builder is very consciencious, but sometimes he isn't here at days end and the area doesn't always get carefully canvased. I make a point to do a walk around to pick up bits of construction rubbish.
-------