Workdays 9 and 10 "Bertha"

The work has been monumental the past two days. So much so that I couldn't even muster up two brain cells to rub together last night to post to the blog. I'll make it up in tonight's post, I promise.

First and foremost we are the bearers of a beautifully sanded floor, done entirely by our devoted Miss Sandy. She not only finagled the use of the sander (aka "Bertha") for free, she also manhandled her into submission and did the entire job by herself.

As if this weren't enough, she showed up at 5:30 am so she could complete the job in time to get home and make breakfast for a house full of guests. I am in awe.

Today it was all hands on deck including Sandy's best guy Pat. He made short work of taping and drywalling the corners
and has the best knife work of us all. Thank you Pat!

Dan was at work taming the dry wall at the corners

while Ellen was tackling the spackling in the back room.

Ken spent a lot of time today not only making more dust,but sweeping it!

It's a lot of floor to sweep let me tell ya!

Yesterday we (Ken and I) started priming the ugly brown paneling. We managed to get the entryway mostly done and finished it today. It looks good (if I do say so myself) and not just a little bit good, it looks like something we might've even picked out for ourselves on purpose. After the color is on it's going to shine.

There is paneling in the front entryway, in the first booth on the left, and in two other rooms in the front part of the space.
Sandy and I finished priming the larger room down at the far
end of the front space and tomorrow she'll finish up the rest. There is still the little bit of paneling to deal with in tiny little hallway between the quonset hut and front room. We're trying to sway our one-man design team (aka Bill) away from the idea of lining the walls in faux fur...suggestions anyone?
The place is really starting to look sharp!

Ken's friend Steve came by in the afternoon for a consult on all the wires sticking out of the walls and ceiling (remnants from the building's former tenants). After getting the go-ahead Ken got right to work demolishing what wasn't needed. Sadly I missed him in action. Not wanting to miss his
moment of demo glory, I asked him to re-enact it.

As you can see I had mixed success...

Okay, let's try that again. Take two...

Oh well, nice idea, poor execution on my part.
Better stick to the day job.

How 'bout a still shot?Okay, this I can handle!

We thought we were totally done with wall demo until Ken and I decided we wanted one of our booths to be in the spot right next to the room we'd designated as an office. This decision of course led to more demo. Not to worry, the guys were starting to get a little antsy with nothing to destroy and the deed was accomplished in an hour by the trusty team of Marnie and Bill! We may or may not be done with demo...we'll just have to wait and see.

Here's the former wall coming down,and almost there,
et voila, finis!
At least for now...

The doorway will be closed up tomorrow.

Stay tuned for the continuing saga of the renovation FOUND!

Workday No. 8 "Spackle, Sand, Sneeze, Sweep"

Found is really starting to take shape!
Walls are nearly all prepped for paintingand drywall has been added to the opening we decided to close.

The paneling has been lovingly and creatively sanded

and the dry wall mud is being slung freely.

Bill, our resident sculptor has been using his skills to
get all the corners and edges nice and sharp

and it's working!

The space seems so vast now Ken thinks we'll all
need wheels to assist the customers. Need a case opened? No problem, I'll be right there!

It is such satisfying and honest work. I think it safe to speak for the others in saying that we are exhausted. Thankfully the progress we made today upped optimism about the reno time line. I know for sure we'll make it now!

Back room all cleaned and swept

Front room clean, swept and ready for floor grinding.Sandy will come in at 5am tomorrow to do the floors,
while the rest of us deal with the drywall and finish up the wall prep.
Stay tuned for more!

Workday No. 7 "Spackle, Sand, Sneeze"

31 days until opening and man are we ever up to our eyeballs in dust...

Drywall is being attached to the places where the walls came down and the walls are being prepped for painting. Looks a little like the walls have chicken pox don't you think?

There is still glue scraping to be doneand it's the hateful on-your-hands-and-knees kind of work. Ick.

It's starting to feel a little daunting but I refuse to give in!

Workday No. 6 "Cookin"

We are a'movin and a'shakin and you'd better not stand too close or you'll get hit in the head with flying debris or (god forbid) that nasty old glue. In fact you better not stand still for too long or the neighbor's little white dog might mistake you for a fire hydrant, if you know what I mean...Bill.

It was another packed day at Found with all hands on deck
including those handsome and most helpful young'uns.

First order of the day...destructionfollowed by the never ending glue scraping.

Poor Sandy. She got put in the naughty corner (soon to be known as the dressing room) and got stuck with the evil corner scraping. The good news, by accident I discovered that one of my paint scrapers actually works at getting the nastiest of the glue off. The bad news, you have to either sit on the little rolly cart thing or get on your hands and knees. No one wants to do this job but unfortunately it's all headed our way - I'm buying four more brand new shiny paint scrapers tomorrow morning. Oh joy...

Ellen tackled the floor bolts

while Marnie made short work of the door frame.

Ken dealt with the lightsand all things made of wire.

Bill handled the power tools and the pry bar

and kept busy as our resident spider monkey.

Eli joined in the demolition and used some mighty fancy footwork to take down a wall.


Victory!

Zach fished the screws from the former wall studs

while his brother Jake tapped the nails out.

Me, I did a little bit of everything, flitting from one job to the next
trying to keep my shoulders and arms happy. I must admit,
the highlight of my day was using the power saw on the door jam.Grrrrrr.

Sandy brought in this beautiful counter which she recently
scored at one of Dan and Ellen's tag sales. It looks great in the space and has really nice metal feet. Suh-weet.

At the end of the day we piled all the construction debris and the
last piece of carpet into Sandy's box truck


while we got caught up on our favorite TV show,
American Pickers.


Then Sandy & Zach unloaded all 1,700 pounds
of the stuff at the nearby solid waste center. Your heard right, 1,700 pounds. Thank you Sandy and Zach.The space is really open and airy since the walls started coming down.
The ideas are really flowing now. We are living in our dream.

Work Day No. 5 "Momentous"

It was another exciting day at FOUND!

We hammered out organizational details all morning (figuratively that is)

and met with our landlord Mike. Then (insert loud enthusiastic drum roll here)
we signed our lease! Momentous indeed!

Bill and Marnie are inand so's Sandy.Ken and Deb are on boardand Ellen and Dan are raring to go!Hooray for us!Our broker Tom came by to wish us well and
demolition began almost immediately after wards.
Marnie, Bill, Dan and Sandy wielded the heavy weapons
and Ellen and Ken were on hand as support crew. Me, well I was tethered to my day job up at the college.
Bummer.

When I returned after only a few hours I couldn't believe my eyes!

Wall in...Wall out!What do you suppose they found in there?
Wall up,Wall down!

Marnie and Bill put their best karate and soccer skills to good use.
Mission accomplished, now what can I destroy next?How 'bout this...and this...
Going,
going,
going,
(you can make it Dan!)
Gone!
WOW you guys.

Rest of the walls come out tomorrow
and then we take onthe floors.

Photos today by Deb and Ken