Troy REHABlog

After selling, giving away, tossing out much of the "stuff" accumulated during our 17-year stay in New Jersey, we head back home to upstate New York. A simplified 800 sq. ft. living space ... but we own a fabulous view of the Hudson River. This will be our temporary home until we locate a house to buy.

We're already enjoying the effects of living in the 2003 Least Stressful U.S. City (Sperling's Best Places)

And we learn the power of connection DOES work! In 8 days we find a building in Troy, New York -- including a willing seller, an experienced contractor, a demolition guy, enthusiastic architects, attorney, insurance agent, and the most welcoming neighbors -- all through referrals.

This 3-story brick row house, built 130 year's ago during Troy's industrial boom, had only pigeons as tenants for the last 7 years. No wonder neighbors are excited!

Closing day ... it's ours! Three stories, side windows and a light shaft (unusual for a row house), a dumbwaiter (well, used to be), three decks (with a view of the Hudson if you look in just the right spot past the cement plant), and floors so sloped they can serve as skateboard ramps.

A water leak from roof to basement in one area has taken its toll, but full of possibilities!

Demolition is moving along. "Bear" is taking out just about everything -- except the 3 sets of pocket doors.

Asbestos removal was safely taken care of by guys in space suits. Now tons and tons of lead paint, lath, horsehair plaster, and iron pipe are making their way to the dump.

Work is slowed by rains, increasing cold and darkness. It looks another 2 weeks before architects can get in to do building measurements.

At least one floor is cleaned out -- we are able to see where my office space and Mike's studio will be. But rains continue, there's still tons of debris making the stairs into ski slopes. And Bear continues his "one more week" litany.

The lath and plaster just keeps coming! The good news is that the architects have been able to do some measurements. Liza and Brian have offered three concepts, and discussions have generated some creative ideas.

Thanksgiving and Troy Turkey Trot Day -- the Pilgrim wins! It's family tradition to watch brother-in-law Rich run. Mike claims he first declared "we could live here" 10 years ago while waiting for Rich to reach the finish line.

STILL removing lath and plaster! Have also arranged for the roof over the deck to be cut off and the 3rd floor deck removed. This will allow more light into Mike's future studio space.

Roofer has been in to fix remaining leaks. One thing this house has is a brand new super commercial roof. We wonder if that's what is holding the building together.

Meet Bear ... he's smiling because most of the demolition is done. Daily temperatures of 20 below zero don't seem to bother him.

Architects have turned the plans over to the contractor for costing. Soon we'll see if we actually have enough money in the bank for all of this!

Construction has started -- on Friday, the 13th! First comes leveling the building, inch by inch. Our contractor, George, maintains a perfectly quiet worksite so he can hear "the building talking" to him.

Things are moving now ... literally! Floor has been raised 8 inches in one direction, 5 inches in another. It's now possible to stand in the basement. Rotted floors are being cut out and replaced. Brick walls are being repaired. Temporary support walls are going up throughout the building in preparation for steel columns and beams.

Finally -- a posted construction permit! We've finally turned the corner from demolition and stabilization to construction. Lumber and supplies are now going into the building from the front, while the last of the old walls move out the back.

George continually updates us on progress ... he seems to enjoy showing off his crew's work as much as we enjoy seeing it. This house is getting filled with good vibes too.

Plumber has started his work -- new waste line, roof drain (for the winter snow), and tie-ins for the 4 baths and 3 sinks. No more stench from the old cracked pipe ... nor the ability to tell when someone on the block is doing their laundry.

With 3 inch steel columns and micro-lam beams in place, framing is almost done. We can walk into the 'rooms' on floors 2 and 3; the living space on the 1st floor will soon be finished too.

He heard Mike say he would prefer brick, investigated the cost of sandcleaning, repointing and sealing vs. framing, insulation and wallboard. Next day it was done -- and he added the brick above the fireplace into the deal too. Gotta love this guy!!

45 custom-sized Pella windows -- some more than 7 feet high -- are installed. Building is full of activity -- electrician, plumber, heating and cooling team, masonry crew and framing crew are all working at the same time. The building is no longer looking like a lost cause.

George moves his attention to the outside, rebuilding the bay window cladding. Michael Lopez of TAP tells us the bay windows mean Italianate style, and we learn about building colors usual to the 1870's. We're going nuts looking at test paint colors, so ask the neighbors to vote. But it's clear they are simply happy for any change.

Masonry crews are repairing, patching and repointing the upper rows of brick, ripping down dead ivy vines as they go. Window frames are getting the first paint they've seen in a really long time. All this should put the building in good shape for another 100+ years.

All the work is on the outside because we're still waiting on the sprinkler installation plans. George breaks the news -- gently -- that we won't make our July move in date. Everything hinges on the sprinklers and each step along that path seems to be "two more weeks." As a former insurance underwriter, I know sprinklers are a really good thing. As a homeowner who's anxious to move in, I'm just plain frustrated! If the building occupancy remained 3 apartments, instead of converting back to a one family, sprinklers wouldn't be required -- go figure!

Good news is the front bay has been totally rebuilt. The neighborhood eyesore is now the best looking building on the block!

Everyone is getting in the act! George was hired to work on the facades of three adjacent buildings, the building across the street, and another building on the next block. By the end of the summer, our block will be transformed.

Still waiting on the sprinkler installation -- UGH!

The big news ... sprinkler parts are finally here! This nifty system from Wirsbro works off the cold water plumbing. Now Bob, our crackerjack plumber, will be threading 4 lines of flexible pipe to each of the 50+ sprinkler heads.

While all the waiting inside the building, attention was turned to outside. We had three 60 ft. ailanthus trees removed -- may be called Tree of Heaven, but without any redeeming qualities here on earth. Another sign of urban neglect erased.

Back decks have been repaired and iron railings added ... starting to look less like a tenement from the rear too.

Almost 2 months of work, but the sprinkler system passed the required flow test and is done!

Insulation starting ... and Bob has taken care to also insulate every inch of water lines in the third floor ceiling. The coldest of winters won't be a threat.

Insulation done, drywall delivered, and walls begin to take shape. BUT ... the drywall contractor pulls their crew out because they are missing $70 on a $9800 payment. To 'restore their trust' and resume work they'd like another $5000 advance payment even though their contract states next payment isn't due until the drywall is complete. We hold to contract terms and they agree to proceed ... but I'm now the one who needs to have trust restored!

Walls taped and sanded ... but it hasn't been easy. Drywall contractor AGAIN stopped work, demanding final payment prior to completion. When I decide to take our chances on locating replacement tapers -- even though we are desperate to move -- they agree to finish. Quality work, but building customer relationships is not their strong suit.

Sheetrock saga delayed us a few weeks, but now things can really start moving. After deciding to leave the tiling work in the hands of a professional, Mike and I (well, mostly Mike) hauled some 30 sheets of cement board back to the store. Wood floors, rotted out by years of water intrusion, are being patched. And we now have a new sewer line -- may this be our last surprise.

OK -- so it's another Turkey Trot Day in Troy and we still couldn't offer Rich a place to shower after the race. But we've got lots to be thankful for -- like floor tile, painted walls, appliances in boxes, a loving family, wonderful friends, and a new home on the horizon.

George is working hard to orchestrate the wild dance of contractors so we can move in before year-end. The city engineer says a working bathroom, locks on the doors and finished electrical will get us a conditional Certificate of Occupancy. Every coat of polyurethane on the wood floors drives workers out of the building for the rest of the day -- how does Extreme Home Makeover do it all in a week??

Home! With a wild flurry of activity and the need for lots of flexibility (handrails aren't really that important, are they?), we move in on December 22nd ... just in time to welcome everyone home from college.

Thanks to George, Bob, Willard, and all the wonderful contractors -- it's a most wonderful Christmas gift!