All the electrical work is done, just needs to be inspected -- hopefully today, but otherwise on Tuesday (Labor Day holiday on Monday in the US). 6 outlets, two 3-way switches and 3 overhead lights on the new side, new 3-way switch and 2 more outlets on the older side.

We started construction work on the garage addition July 22nd. I'd gotten the building permit (took 3 trips to city hall in one day, but I did it!). Since there'd been a garden next tot he garage, I'd spent the previous weeks moving the plants I wanted to save, giving some of them away, and then levelling the ground next to the garage.

We have a great guy, Scott, who's doing the bulk of the work.


I learned that a term for someone doing renovations (amateur to semi-pro, I think) is sometimes called a reno monkey (thnkas Lara!), but having seen some of the really tight spaces Scott was fitting into under the decking, I think reno ferret might be more appropriate.

Anyway, the ground was still too high next to the garage (the wood of the decking needs to be not touching the soil, to avoid transferring damp), so Lyle and I moved dirt to lower down the yard.


Scott put in the soma tubes, filled them with concrete, then the supports went in, then the deck on top of that (less expensive than a poured slab).



Here the framing is mostly up, plywood siding is going up, and the floor is insulated and covered with first layer of plywood:


As of this past weekend, the roof is done. Then Scott put in rafters, is working on insulation, installing door and windows, etc.


We're waiting for the electrician now, so we can't finish insulation or put in the sheetrock yet. Meantime, the Tyvek and aluminum sheeting is going on. Also, we're making a doorway between the two halves of the garage.


Here's the garage from the street, before and now:




Yes, we are just about doubling the size of the garage. Plus we bought a small shed to put most of the yard stuff into, so the old side of the garage can house primarily the print shop and bookbinding stuff (need the concret pad for that stuff!). No, the car will not be in the garage -- only managed that once since we moved here in '96...

The electrician will be adding a couple of things to the older side as well as to the addition, so that there'll be more than one outlet and one bulb to light the place up. We still have some more insulating to do of that side too, but once we're all done, we should be able to heat the building with one or two space heaters. In the summer we have the windows for cross-ventilation, and a lovely Maple tree for shade.