[BrianR]

As you can see, the old location is the lighter colored strip just along the basement stairwell opening. Oh, did I mention that the opening was too small and forced me to lay on the stairs to get past the floor at the bottom of the stairs? Yep. That was cut out real quick, but cut down on the space for the room's closet. Oh well, that much less cedar to buy later. More on that as I get to the closet during reconstruction.

So, my basement is now TOO accessible. No door or wall. So I laid one of the old doors over the opening to keep my dog out of the basement and safe from eating who-knows-what down there. Not to mention tracking the water up and down the stairs every time it rains. That will soon be remedied, too. I hope.

Anyway, up to date: The room wiring is complete. I now have six outlet boxes installed in convenient locations around the room. Plenty of amperage available to accomodate the computer setup I envision. Sconce lighting in the wall above the futon (to be placed later) and overhead track lighting above the location of the desk. Cable and telephone wires have been installed in jackboxes where they belong. Next step: fill the holes in the floor where holes have been drilled, nails and screws removed, knotholes that have loosened over the years and fallen out, gaps in the floorboards where low-quality lumber was used etc. Then I will sand the entire floor, remove the dust and refinish the floor in a nice light oak finish with varnish topcoat.

Then, according to my plans, I will install the new doors, install the wall insulation and then close up the walls. Next, I will re-insulate the ceiling/attic and install the ceiling. Properly tape and mud the joints and I should be all set to put on two coats of Kilz drywall primer and start thinking about paint and trim. No furniture will go in just yet, however. I will need the space to store all the bedroom furniture so that I may restart the process in the bedroom. I hope to finish the back rooms before winter sets in again. At least then I might see a LITTLE savings in oil. Next summer I will take on the front rooms. Once they are insulated, then I should see a BIG improvement in my heating bills during the winter of 2006-2007. I hope.

I now open the floor for your comments.

Brian