Day 12--FINALLY Progress!

Today was quite simply the best day we have had yet!

Our focus for today was on completing the garage wiring.  So we started out by following the aluminum wires from the breaker box to the receptacles.  We also had some pretty lofty plans to make the new homeowner's life easier:  install more garage receptacles!!!  Only one existed in the entire garage.  This is NO way to have a garage wired up!  So both Dad and I agree to add three more!  Of course, that meant extra work for us, but if there is one thing I've learned from Dad, it's about doing a job right.  And as a homeowner, we both wanted more receptacles!

That's not to say we didn't have our problems.  In the first hour, I made a huge boo-boo!  I was fishing tape down to Dad from the ceiling, but I was having the hardest time getting the wire to go down the wall.  This house is so-well insulated, and the fish tape kept catching on the thick insulation just inches after being pushed through the hole.  We tried over and over and over again.  Finally Dad suggested sending more wire down the wall to kind of give it a "push" of sorts.  Well, I sent more down.  Still nothing.  I tried to wind the tape back up, but it was stuck.  Dad couldn't understand what I meant.  I meant stuck!  As in stuck!  It didn't make sense to him!

Well, I was quite honestly getting nowhere, and this tape was stuck on stuck.  So guess what!  We had to cut into the drywall yet again!  And I heard Dad making all sorts of comments!  haha...he had never seen such a thing.  I climbed up on the ladder to see what he was looking at.  My oh my.  I had really done a number on that fish tape!  So THAT was how our day was going to start, huh?!

The fish tape was literally STUCK on STUCK!  It had wrapped around itself so many times.  And THIS is why you don't push too much tape into the wall.  Oops!

A new patch job all because I sent too much tape down the wall!  Agh!!!

We were able to get the tape out of our large hole in the drywall (we had to expand it!).  What a setback!  We have honestly just not been good with fishing on this whole house!  It's supposed to be easy!  We wired that receptacle, then were happy to find we could fish side-to-side to the original receptacle.  Woo hoo!

I cut out spots for the two new receptacles on one wall, then went up in the attic to make some more holes for the wire for the new receptacles.  It's so funny to me when you're working in the blind.  I strategically picked a good location on the wall for one receptacle.  Well, once up in the attic, wouldn't you know it, a "stray" piece of wood had been installed during the build most likely.  It was right in the way!  Just a guide piece of wood or framework or something.  But it was right on top of my wallplate on top of where I wanted to be!  Oh the joys of remodeling!  It's those small things that get ya and make projects tough!

No wall outlets in a garage?!  Umm, no thanks!  We would add two on this wall!

Adding a wall outlet.  You are welcome, next owner!

But we were able to wire up a new receptacle.  At this point, we were going to be done, but I decided another one (for the total of three new) would be best on that long wall.  So more of the same.  Cut a hole for the receptacle, drill a hole for the wires.  I did the prep work, Dad did the finishing work.  It was going smoothly!

As we were working, I was very excited to see my painter show up!  He has been itching to get into this house, and I was more than happy to give him half the house!  He did one coat on the master bathroom and all three bedrooms today.  He is so efficient!  Agh, it's so exciting!  The house is coming together!!!

Dad and I also installed a new receptacle above the garage door opener.  The previous owners had literally been using an extension cord to the ONLY receptacle in the garage.  Much like the wire for the wall opener button unit, this wire was left out in the open.  So you literally had a bright orange extension cord running up the wall, across the ceiling, and down to the motor.  Silly!  So we cleaned it all up and installed an outlet right above the opener.  So clean now!

Before:  An extension cord ran to the back wall and plugged into the only outlet in the garage!

After:  A new receptacle right above the opener.  Voila!  Clean and crisp!

Dad tied it all together, and we completed the garage circuit!  Four new outlets!!!

We had a flurry of activity going on today. Dad installed a single outlet into the workshop (we had to leave one outlet open yesterday), so now that circuit is complete. I sanded the numerous patches in the workshop and re-mudded where necessary.

I installed a toilet in the Main Bathroom.  I also addressed the leaking 1/4-turn valve under the sink.  I simply could not get it to work, so I called it a manufacturer's defect!  I went to the hardware store, bought a new one, and guess what...no leaks!

The Main Bathroom.  It looks so much different!

I completed the faucet in the master sink complete with the brand-new drain lines.

The old way of doing things.  Nope!

All fresh and clean!

After Dad was done in the garage, we moved in to the kitchen!!!  Agh, that's our last room!!!  We were able to GFCI-protect three receptacles in that room, and we are literally down to just three receptacles left in the entire house!  We still have the crawlspace lights, furnace, and outdoor lamp post light to re-wire, but inside, we are almost done!!!

At the end of all of this, we mowed the yard (thanks for staying behind to help, Pa!), cleaned out the gutters from thousands of helicopters, re-installed my gutter with new nails, re-attached a downspout.  Dad headed for home around 6:45 P.M., and I stayed behind to vacuum, sand, and patch some holes.  Knowing that my painter is going to be moving fast, I wanted all the prep work to be done.

Getting ready for the painter again tomorrow!  Sanding those patches!

I know you are going to find this hard to believe, but my gutter didn't drain very well...

The gutter, downspout, and outdoor light re-installed!

Look at those two new receptacles where NONE used to exist a day earlier!

It's hard to put today into adequate words.  After the NUMEROUS frustrations we've been having, today was just an amazing day.  It was honestly really the first day that went well.  And so it feels great!!!  It feels beyond great!!!

I really just feel like today was the day that got us over the hump.  It's been an uphill battle the whole time, and something just switched today.  It really feels like it's all coming together, and that makes me beyond excited!!!

I'm hoping we can finish ALL of the electrical work tomorrow!  Agh, what a day!!!  I headed over to Mom and Dad's at 7:15 P.M. to play with my nieces and grab some much-needed supper.

Oh, and for the FIRST time since I purchased the house weeks ago, the water is staying on overnight!  THE WATER IS ON!!!

Such a great day!