FREE CRAIGSLIST FINDS AND WHAT'S UNDER THE STAIRS

October 10, 2024

I have had a productive 3 days off.  On Tuesday I met up with Laura from Laura's Wood Windows and she showed me her shop and gave me a lot of pointers on how to redo our wood windows.  She did this all out of the kindness of her heart.  I contacted her with the hopes that I could pay her to give me some lessons.  So this was just our initial meet up to see what I knew and what I was looking for.  The plan is for me to take down one of my sashes and then she will give me a lesson with my own sash and tools.  I took a lot of notes and got a ton of information from her.  

On Wednesday I headed into Seattle to get a free cast iron double sink off Craigslist.  There was a moment when I didn't think I was going to get it in my car.  It is heavy but I did it.  I was so proud of myself.  Then that night I was looking on Craigslist again and found some plexiglass storm windows in Seattle.  So Chad and I ran over and picked them up.  There are 2 windows and the are way bigger than any of our windows so I was hoping we could figure out how to make them smaller to fit one or two or four of our windows.  I would like to replace the plexiglass with glass.  

On Wednesday I also made the mistake of filling out this online form for a company that supposedly makes storm windows.  I got 5 phone calls and 2 text messages from people trying to sell me new windows.  I told them all that I am 100% not interested in new windows.  

Today we went up to Anacortes to meet up with an electrician.  We need an updated electrical box.  The estimate was $7,800.  It has to be done.  There hasn't been electrical updates in that house for a long time.  While Chad was talking to the electrician I started taking apart the tiny hallway that leads to the bathroom that we are going to eventually remove.  This tiny hallway is partially under the stairs and I really wanted to see what is under there.  I didn't take any pictures but I made a huge mess.  Found cedar boards in the tiny closet under the stairs.  Found exterior wall on the back side of the kitchen wall.  We think the stairs were added after and we can't figure it out yet but I am sure we will figure it out when we do more demo.  Found grasscloth wallpaper and more wallpaper.  This house was so pretty at one point.  I am determined to try and give her back her beauty.  On the ceiling in the tiny hallway is beadboard that is painted a pretty blue color.  I lead tested it but it didn't come back as lead paint.  Why didn't I take pictures?

Looking back on my pictures I really don't have a lot of pictures of the inside of the house before we started the project.  I will have to pull them off the listing.  

This picture is from October 3 when we did another night run to Seattle to get free wood floor off Craigslist. The trailer was up in Anacortes so we loaded up Chad's car.  We had to drive with the tailgate open.  It wasn't the smartest plan.  It looks like Douglas Fir flooring and there is a lot of it.  There are a lot of boards that are pretty damaged but we are hoping there is enough to patch up the bad spots in our floor.  The stuff that is not good for flooring I am going to put on the kitchen island.  That is my plan for now.