Walls come down!!

Yesterday we set out to haul most of the trash and debris to the dump. Unfortunately the dump wouldn't let us dump because we had "too much stuff." Soo we made more debris and took down some walls.

This wall is coming down to open up the dining room to the rest of the house.

Note the one crooked stud on the near side of this 15" wide wall....

All That took the Swakon boys all about five minutes.

They also took down this little center wall in half that....

Great Stuff!!!

Great Stuff Expanding Foam!!! It's SOOO versatile you can use it ANYWHERE!!!

Use it to install drywall!!

Use it to hold your floating laminate floors in place!!

 Turn a door into a wall!!!

Use it under the kitchen sink for your plumbing!!

Install doors with it!!

Repair your roof and eves with it!

 

Flat tire?? No problem!!

Use it to hold the dryer vent in place!!

 Use it for whatever the heck this is!!!

GREAT STUFF!!!

 

AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE!!!

While I was at work...

Work has begun! After a couple trips to Home Depot we started cleaning up the place. Eric and Ryan hauled off the washer and dryer to the dump along with a ton of other trash that was in the house and the yards.

We tore up the floating wood floors in the front room and the master bedroom in only 10 minutes. only to find tile underneath both. Eric and Ryan also started tearing up the tile floors in the Florida room, Jamaica room and the front room (you'll figure out which room is which when you see 'em).

                      

Tree Frog!!

We have a Squatter!! Eric found this little guy in the house for the front porch light. He was a little dehydrated but jumped out finally.

Closing Day

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!!

Closing day is here!!! The wait hasn't been long. Eric found the house only 6 weeks ago. Less than a week later he put an offer in on the place and BAM!....house. Today he is meeting with the lawyers to close and then the fun can begin!

Just some background on the house: Its a 2012 square foot, 4 bedroom, 2 bath house in Palmetto Bay. The lot is 17,000 square on the canal system. We are less than a 5 minute drive from Eric's parent's house and an even shorter boat or car ride from his brother Ryan's house. Its sounds perfect! There is just one small problem. THE HOUSE IS TRASHED!!! It is one of those houses you look at and say: 'how did people live here?'

Among other things the house needs: a new roof, new concrete sub floors and floor finishes, all new bathrooms, an all new kitchen, and numerous walls knocked down and/or moved. This is gonna be fun! We have our work cut out for us. Yes, WE are going to try and do as much work ourselves as possible. We have spent the last month in kitchen and bath showrooms, flooring outlets, appliance show rooms and of course home depot. Its gonna be a long road but we will keep you updated along the way!

Here are some BEFORE photos of our beautiful new home while we wait to start work.

The University of Miami mail box will be the first to go!!!

 

After the mailbox goes the bars will go...only house in the neighborhood with those beautiful bars.

 

The view from the front door. Maybe the previous owner was a dancer...?

 

Pink counter tops, olive walls...

 

 Loving the sea theme...BUT look! The vanity is brand new!

 

Yep, those are Hannah Montana stickers.

As I said before, we have our work cut out for us. This is definitely going to be an adventure.

                                                                                                             -Laura