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<\/a><\/p>\nThere’s obviously a lot still to be done, but I’m delighted. The porch was a good piece of improvisation once we discovered how bad the back end of the house was. The bedroom is now small, but the “flow” from room to porch to outdoors is harmonious. And the porch, even without framing and screens, is pleasant sittin’ spot. Or will be once I drag a chair out there. Too tired to do that last evening. <\/p>\n
Although we worked only half as long as on Tuesday, it was solid labor without a break. I measured and hung the floor joists while the Monk cut. Then I attached the plywood flooring and sheathing while the Monk measured and cut. He kidded me for hammering like a girl, using a too-light “girlie hammer,” but I got my part of the job done. <\/p>\n
That is, until I finally went on strike. He put up the last bits of the wall and installed the doorknob while I sat, offered unasked advice, and drank tea. (He’s gone through life without managing to pick up a word of Yiddish. So I had to explain it was now my job to kibitz while he schleps. \ud83d\ude09 )<\/p>\n
Happy. So much more ahead, but that’s later. Today I drag that chair onto the porch and watch the misty rain fall.<\/p>\n
Now. Calling all tool guys. <\/p>\n
I have — had — a nice Milwaukee 1\/2-inch drill. On Tuesday, during heavy use, it began tripping the GFI outlet it was plugged into. The Monk then committed an oopsie. He plugged it into one of the remaining really, really old circuits in the house and blew out the breaker. Didn’t just trip the breaker, but apparently killed it. (I have spare breakers, but in the spaghetti of wiring in this place, I haven’t yet figured out which breaker it is. My old faithful electrician will be out this week to check that.)<\/p>\n
Not really a problem; that circuit is small and hardly used. I pulled everything off it while awaiting a safety check. The drill, on the other hand, is a sorry loss.<\/p>\n
I still have mucho drill work to do on my own. Must get my hands on another drill. Half-inch again, but this time I think I’d prefer a hammer drill. Amazon’s best seller in that category is this Black & Decker<\/a>. Affordable but I’m not sure of its durability or handleability. A nice DeWalt is over $100 at Amazon and even farther over $100 at the local lumberyard. Ouch. Besides, contractors have told me that, for their purposes at least, DeWalt isn’t what it used to be — though if you still like your DeWalts, I’d like to hear from you.<\/p>\n So. Suggestions, please. Half-inch hammer drill. Durable and decent to handle. Oh, and I prefer corded (the cost of replacement batteries being too steep and too many battery-operated tools being underpowered). Looking forward to hearing your recommendations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" First we were halted by rot beyond measure. Then by a week of rain. Then by The Wandering Monk machete-chopping his shin. But after all that, we reached our first goal on The Great Foundation and Screen Porch Project. We are finished for the time being. We started May 1 and wrapped up May 31. There’s obviously a lot still to be done, but I’m delighted. The porch was a good piece of improvisation once we discovered how bad the back end of the house was. The bedroom is now small, but the “flow” from room to porch to outdoors…<\/p>\n