We're coming along. Francisco Ramos and his crew of masons have finished our porch columns and pored us a new sidewalk on the south side of the house as well as a new concrete pad for our firescape. Hal and PT along with with Josh and Jeff have constructed the front deck, buildt the fire escape in the back along with an 8X8 deck for the lucky person renting 5053 1N. Hal tells me the front and rear porches will be done this week-end. We still need to install our fiberglass columns and build the steps in the front. The deck in the back needs a little more. It might be a little optimistic to have all this done by Monday. We'll see. Wrought iron railings will be put on the front porch in about two weeks. The backyard fence and new rear doors could be up next week.

Inside Mike the electrician put in a solid three days and he tells me he needs another two to finish the rough. Dave the plumber starts Monday and he expects to have his rough done in 4-5 days. Zach is assisting Mike and Dave. When the walls are ready for paint we'll start putting down the new hardwood floors. There is some light at the end of the tunnel. but remember the first rule of re-hab: expect the unexpected.

Making Progress

Making Progress

The garage all torn down.

The rear porch is all gone thanks to Jeff's hard work.

Josh and Zach (Right) tired out.

New fire escape being built.

Conner the dog guarding the new columns!

Rough Start

Whoever said you needed to crack the eggs to make an omlete had in mind the rehab of 5053 Commonwealth. If you are wondering why you are still looking at pics of Fransisco and crew building the front porch it is because they are now building the porch for the third time. To refresh your memory the porch came down the first time because Fransisco put it up crooked in the rain and fog. He put it up crooked the next time in good weather. We also didn't like the fact that the grout lines were at least twice as large as the ones on the house itself. Rehabbing is the art of replicating the past. This porch did not look  anything like the past. It was also wobbly. So down it came again. Now there are rods in the columns to keep it up, the grout lines are looking like those on the house and I think we finally have a winner. Fransisco to his credit does want to get it right. The garage and fire escape are down thanks to Hal Belanger and his crew. The glass block is in place around the basement windows thanks to Eric Moore of Grosse Pointe Glass Block. Nobody is coming through 5053 basement windows. Hal and PT, the carpenter, are ready to put up the new fire escape and build the front porch in the coming week.

Another little set back this week was discovering that the hardwood floors at 5053 are 3/4 inch which means they will not tolerate sanding. This is why they were covered with tile or carpet. I don't want tile or carpet in the living spaces. /though, we will be putting ceramic tile in the kitchens and bathrooms. So I have bit the bullet and purchased new hardwood for the first and second floors. I also needed to buy plywood so my new floors would be level and not squeak. We got a great price at Erickson's in Ferndale at $1.70 sq. ft. The third floor is pine. Nothing wrong with a pine floor.

After Labor day we will continue the tear down of the back porch,build the fire-escape and finish the front porch. Inside, Eugene will be working on the floors and Mario will be prepping walls on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

All in all a rough week for the re-hab  of 5053 but we got through it and I am excited about what is going to happen next. Stay tuned. We are just getting started.

Eric Moore Glass block man!