Soundtrack for my remodel

We listen to a lot of music as we work.  Sometimes I think about the slideshow that I'll show to guests in the future and I hear "Anna Son" by Walk the Moon playing in the beginning.  We're rattling this ghost town.  When we're finished, and showing the completed photos I imagine  "Let's be Still" by Head and the Heart.  Some times in this project, the world is turning a little too fast and we aren't taking enough time to pause.  Yesterday as we were working on electrical "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads started playing.  Definitely not part of the chosen soundtrack.

Armored cable

We wired light boxes near an attic access.  The cables need to be in conduit or protected within 6 feet of attic access.  Ian's discovery in the process: armored cable is not symmetrical, so the screw in connectors are really easy on one end and much harder on the other. 

How to nail up a round light box

My husband suggested that as I learn new skills, I blog about how I do things.  Maybe it will be helpful to someone else.  I used to hate nail in boxes, they come with a lip that spaces them sort of right if you are going to have 3/8 in sheet rock.  But we're planning on 1/2 inch and boxes that are too shallow are a fire hazard.  So, here's my process:

1.  Measure and mark the center of your box.  I had to adjust due to the framing.  This is a closet light that can be a little off center.

2.  Measure the spacing of the nails, both horizontal and vertical (see photo).

3.  Mark where the nails should go, in my case 4 1/2 in apart and 3/4 in back.  (See photo). 

4.  Start to hammer and make sure you are hitting your marks.  Hold the box tight to the board.  You may have to check, and if you're off start the other nail (so that your nail doesn't pull back in the bad hole) , then try again.

5.  Once both nails are started, use a small level to hold the box straight as you nail.  (See photo)

6.  And nail till your box is secure.  In my example, I should have given myself about 1/4 more space on the left.  My hammer head didn't clear.  This took some creative (and not recommended) hammer work to get the nail in.  But the job is accomplished.

You load 16 tons...

Not quite 16, more like a ton and a half.  We worked on the drainage in an area in front of the house that once was a planter.  We also backfilled the drainage in front of this wall.  Something that our contractor should have done, but never did.  It feels good to have one less open trench.

Wires, wires everywhere.

The garage is wired.  The powder room is wired.  The front bedroom is wired.  The master bath is mostly wired.  We are making progress and far exceeded what we expected to get done this weekend.

Front Bedroom Wired

We completely wired the front bedroom/ home office.  On to the master bath.

Wiring for window openers

We did want to have to get up on that ladder each time we needed to open it close our clearstory windows, so we ordered openers and just got the low voltage wiring in to control them.

Ceiling electrical boxes

I've mounted boxes as Ian drilled holes for the cables.  The key to mounting the boxes is to measure exactly where the mounting nails should go.  This helps me make sure I leave the right gap for the sheet rock.

Vent in bathroom

Last week, I forgot to blog, but we got a lot of wiring done.  So far today on our labor day work-a-thon we've installed a bathroom fan.