Construction Day 1

So, we are under construction. In case you haven't noticed, fixing up the house, I should say contiuing to fix up the house, is one of my goals for 2008. (Look at the side for the rest of Becky's Goals 2008). We have contracted with a man to do various things around the house. Usually, we would do the work ourselves but I am a little occupied right now with James and Brian is in the middle of busy season at work. Sometime I will do a post about all the work that we have done of the house till now but today I will post about Tuesday's work (Construction Day 1) and Wednesday's work (Construction Day 2).

Here are the pictures from Tuesday. These are the back of the house before and after. I, obviously, have not painted yet. I will.

.

We had the back door replaced. It was rotting out of it's frame because of bad water drainage. We had this repaired by having gutters put on the house a couple of weeks ago. I know, I think it is weird too, that houses don't come with gutters but in Texas they really know how to build 'em cheap. I mean who doesn't want to walk out of their house during a Texas rainstorm and take a shower with the water spewing off the roof? I know I do!

We replaced some siding, the piece with the exterior doggie door. Now you see it. Now you don't.

We had some 1x6 put up along the bottom to cover some water damage, gutters would have come in handy here as well, on the rest of the back siding. Thank you Stephanie Johnson for the idea. It is way cheaper than replacing all the back siding and doesn't it look nice? (I am so glad most of my house is low maintenance brick).

We had a window box with termite damage fixed. Yes, we had termites and now we don't. Apparently termites infect virtually all homes in Texas after 15 years. Our is 19 years old. Unless you preemptively treat them. Now, we know that. If we ever buy a house older than 5 years again we will insist on termite treatment NO MATTER WHAT! We will also get gutters immediately. I guess we live and learn.

I would have posted these pictures yeasterday but while I was putting this post together the phone company came and decided it would be a good idea to cut my cable line. Idiots! Seriously, now I know why I have VOIP besides it being way cheaper. (I pay $200 for a year with free long distance and all the other features).