Prioritizing Exterior over Interior

Original bath:  notice the duck taped corners.

Because we have been living inside of the home we are rennovating, it has affected the priorities of the job.  We needed a clean bathroom sink and shower.  We have spent our first year using the original bath.  I cleaned the fixtures so that we could even consider using them.  In the last few months, the roof on the side wing of the house had begun to leak when it rained and it is the section we have done the least amount of work outside of removing the drywall. 

This lower roof is the "wing".  It now is dripping in several places with each rain.

 Our month of September brought an abnormal amount of rain to Charleston.  After weeks of intermittent rain, one afternoon the roof of the original bath gave way.  It was only two weeks after our guest bath and utility room shower were completed.

We were very quickly faced with open drywall.  Someone asked about insulation.  This Freedman's cottage had no insulation throughout the house.  Little protected the owner's from the elements.  Greg is working on electrical to finish up our mechanical inspection, but realized he had to work on the exterior because of the lack of layers.

He tore off the aluminium siding, then removed the wood siding revealing the inside of our house.  This section is located on the back corner next to our neighbors home.

View from inside to our neighbors courtyard.

Greg spent last Saturday working on this side of the house.  To drywall without getting the exterior sheeting and moisture barrier in place would leave nail pops on the drywall when we did it later.  With winter coming, we need the protection from the elements.  For me, it has been a new experience to be warm around the heating element, yet the walls be cold from the outside temperature.  I understand now what insulation does for a house.  Below is the new sheeting and Tyvek-type moisture barrier.  We plan on using a cement board siding to help with the maintenance.

The original layers of the exterior.

These pictures show the process of properly layering the house for element protection.  

The goals for the rest of October are to finish electrical and get electrical and plumbing inspections.  Then, we want to hang drywall in the center two rooms to provide a central insulated space to face the coming winter months.  Before moving forward with further renovations, Greg feels "the wing" section must be shored up to prevent mold and rot from the water.  As much as we would like to make the living area more comfortable, we have to complete the shell.  Replacing the sill, raising the wall height, and setting a new roof are in the near future.  Up to now, our neighbors have not seen much change with the exterior.  We are sure to evoke reaction to the difference.  Until next time, know on the weekend when you may be playing, we are investing sweat and tears to our little white Freedman!