3/25/19:
Building Summary: Today I started off by stripping off more Romex sheathing. This was followed by a trip with Padre and Wag down to Sparr Farm Supply. There, we obtained wire staples and some conduit fittings for the outlet boxes at the front of Jacobhouse (and for the DSL route along the north side). We also looked for single-gang bracket boxes and ‘stretch-tape’, both of which we needed three of. They didn’t have the boxes, and the stretch-tape was over 10 dollars a roll, so we decided to order both those items online.
I returned to Jacobhouse after that, and there, finally cut and attached the support-beam that I’ve been writing about for two or three days. As a mini-project, I also fortified the milk-crate that we’ve been using for the step-down into the kitchen.
Commentary: Ever since the big electric day, I’ve had plenty to do at Jacobhouse. I like it. There was, of course, always things to do before, but this is different. Now there are logical and orderly steps to take, and there are plenty of them. No aimlessness, no indecision. Only moving forward.
As for highlights, I do have one of note to share. It concerns the blue plastic crate that we were previously using as the step-down from the porch into the kitchen area. The thing was at least thirty years old (I’m fairly certain I may underestimating that number), and every time someone stepped on it, the top would crackle and split just a tad more. Providentially, Alan left some plywood behind on Saturday, and with that piece along with a few other bitsof scrap wood, I steadied the step and gave it a bit more heft*. The task only took eight or nine minutes, but it has made a massive difference in entering and exiting my future abode. Methinks it’s a change that could have been implemented sooner.
But as a fellow I know once said. You don’t use should or could to build a house. Only would can fulfill that roll, and then only if chosen wisely.
Final Note: The new roll of Romex isn’t here yet**, but there is still much to do at Jacobhouse. I need to mount the switch box for the kitchen/porch light, and today we determined that I would frame-out the wall around the panel box. This will allow there to be enough room for an outlet near the floor – something for the portable air-conditioner to plug into.
Additional Note: There’s less than one week left to the FedEx business grant contest! Click here to vote for Master Blend Cattle Company; it is always appreciated.
*Now the make-shift step possesses enough weight so as to not shift about whenever someone steps off of it.
** We just need a little bit more Romex to bring electric to the kitchen’s south side for an above-counter outlet. When that is all in place, it will be time to order plywood for the floor. My feet, knees, and spine will rejoice when I no longer have to navigate Jacobhouse’s current ‘sparse’ floor.