Under the Boardwalk…or Porch – Bajo el malecón…o el porche
Under the boardwalk, we might be having some fun. Under the porch… not so much. The project started on Sunday, October 7. The floorboards were not looking great, but we were optimistic that it would be a project that Douglas could finish in one weekend, maybe two.
Bajo el malecón, nos podríamos divertir como dice la canción, pero bajo el porche no tanto. El projecto empezó el domingo 7 de octubre. La madera del suelo del porche no se veía bien, pero estábamos seguros de que era un projecto que Douglas podría terminar en uno o dos fines de semana. ¡Qué optimistas!
Here he is looking happy before he starts.
Mira qué tan feliz se ve antes de empezar.
Soon he was pulling up boards, with an audience.
Pronto había empezado de quitar las tarimas del suelo, con una audiencia.
Crème was furious not to be allowed out to supervise.
A Crème le enfurecía no la dejáramos salir para supervisar.
Unfortunately, what he found was not pretty. It was looking like all of the joists were going to have to be replaced. We were still optimistic that would only extend the project by an extra weekend. Three weekends would not be that bad.
Desafortunadamente, lo que encontró no era bonito. Se veía como tendríamos que sustituir todas las vigas debajo del suelo. Todavía teníamos el optimismo de creer que eso sólo extendería el projecto por un fin de semana más. Tres fines de semana – no sería tan malo.
That day Douglas was able to pull up all of the floorboards. It was obvious at that point that we were going to have to replace all of the framing and not just the joists.
Ese día Douglas pudo quitar todo el suelo. Entonces podríamos ver que no sólo las vigas, pero toda la madera allí abajo tendríamos que sustituir.
The local hardware store closes at 1:00 pm on Sundays, so there was no way to buy the wood that he needed. Besides, it was getting late, so he stored the new floorboards in the dining room. We did not want to risk them getting rained on and warped outside.
Como la ferretería local se cierra a la una de la tarde los domingos, no había manera de comprar la madera que necesitábamos. Además, ya era tarde, así que Douglas guardó las tarimas en el comedor. No queríamos arriesgar que se desformaran en la lluvia afuera.
The following Sunday, October 14, he pulled everything out from under the porch, including a lot of rat poop. Something had been living under there.
El siguiente domingo 14 de octubre, sacó todo debajo del porche, incluyendo mucha caca de rata. Algo había estado viviendo allí abajo un buen rato. ¡Qué asco!
He then laid some treated plywood down there so that it would be easier to slide things in and out. That weekend he finished all of the framing and got the joists in.
Después puso madera contrachapada tratada sobre la tierra para que sería más fácil guardar y quitar cosas de allí abajo. Ese fin de semana, terminó de enmarcar y colocar las vigas.
Finally, on Sunday, October 21, it was time to start laying the floorboards. It was something we had planned to do the first day, and it was already weekend number three.
Por fin el domingo 21 de octubre, era hora de empezar a poner las tarimas. Era un trajabo que pensamos hacer el primer día y ya habían pasado tres fines de semana.
Crème continued to shout instructions from the kitchen door. At least, that is what I think she was saying. She was quite vocal but could have just been yelling insults at Douglas.
Crème continuó gritando instrucciones de la puerta de la cocina. Al menos eso creíamos que hacía. Gritaba mucho pero podría ser que le estaba insultando a Douglas.
All was going well until Douglas found one board that was shorter than the length he had ordered.
Todo iba bien hasta que Douglas encontró una tabla que era más corta de lo que habia pedido de la ferretería.
That was annoying, but then there was another one and then another one. He had to admit that there was going to be no way to finish that day. Once again, our local hardware store was already closed.
Eso le molestaba, pero después encontro otra y otra más después de eso. Por fin tenía que admitir que no iba a poder terminar ese día. Otra vez, la ferretería ya se había cerrado.
Crème was unable to get out to inspect his work herself, but she sent a minion to check on everything for her.
Como le fue imposible a Crème salir para inspeccionar el trabajo de Douglas ella misma, mandó a uno de sus miniones para hacerlo en su lugar.
Saturday, October 27, was the first Saturday that Douglas did not have to work all day this fall. Normally he does not return until after dinnertime, but this Saturday he would be free at noon. The gods were determined that this project never finish, so it started raining on Friday night and continued all day Saturday.
El sábado 27 de octubre fue el primer sábado en mucho tiempo que Douglas no tenía que trabajar todo el día. Normalmente no vuelve los sábados hasta depués de las ocho de la noche, pero este sábado estaría libre a mediodía y podría trabajar en el porche. Los dioses estaban determinados de que nunca terminara el proyecto así que hicieron que llovería empezando el viernes por la noche y continuando todo el día el sábado.
We cannot win! Hopefully, this project will be finished someday. Just not sure when that day will be.
¡No podemos ganar! Ojalá, este proyecto termine algún día. ¿Una idea qué día será que termine?
Happy Homemaking!
¡Espero que todos tus sueños caseros se cumplan!
I am a teacher, traveler, artist, writer, homemaker and a whole lot more. In January 2009, I bought the Cape of Dreams. It was the second house that I had ever owned, but it was the first that I bought by myself. I now live in the house with my husband Douglas, our dog Kahlua, and Crème de Menthe, the cat. Because, what life is complete without a little Kahlua and Cream? I love arts and crafts of all kinds, and I refinish furniture as well. We are slowly redoing our entire house. You can read about my projects on my blog www.CapeofDreams.com
Oh my, this has been quite a project. If it’s any consolation I was afraid, from the picture in the previous post, that it was going to impact the house foundation. The new porch floor looks really nice. It will be a space that’s nice to be in when it’s finished. Hope the rest of it goes smoothly.
Oh my, I don’t know what I would have done had the foundation been compromised. Cried! Looks like Douglas has to work Saturday and Sunday this week, so I don’t know how we are ever going to get this done.
Fortunately/unfortunately, Saturday is a night game. So will have time during the day, but will miss dinner and bedtime with the fam…
It’s so close to being done, and it looks great already! The blue tarp curtain makes it look especially cozy. I hope Douglas followed Creme’s instructions carefully. We need to replace or sand the heck out of our front porch boards … I hope we don’t find a similar problem!
Fingers crossed your project goes much smoother. You have a lot more cats to help out, so that’s one advantage.
Creme got rather upset with me because I resorted to poison to kill the massive ant colonies that I found living in the old decking, and joists. We are against using toxins, but there were just too many, creating too much damage and invading the house which is a solid no-no for any insects. Will escort most strays out of the house, but ants just don’t take the hint…
it’s killing me that Douglas’ shoes & gloves match in the 3rd pic 😀
sorry to hear that it’s turned into a much bigger project. that sux your hardware store closes at 1 – wth? must cater mostly to workmen during the week?
what did you do about the boards being too short? it’s going to look great when it’s done, just keep thinking about that part 🙂
Douglas is a fashionista. The hardware store only closes at one on Sundays, but that is usually the only day Douglas can work on home projects. We took the boards back and they gave us new ones, which we measured before bringing home!
Didn’t even notice that I had both red finger and toe gloves that day. Mere coincidence i assure you. coordinating my outfits on weekends is about as far down priority list as it gets. I just like something colorful after a week of black, white and gray…
What a frustration, but soon it will be beautiful and you’ll forget the mishaps.
Inshallah as the Muslims say. God willing. I’ll feel much better once it’s done.
It’s a big project. It’s taking more time than you were hoping, but it’s better to have a sound frame. If you’re lucky, it’ll be ready for spring to sip sweet tea on the porch!