Monday, June 25, 2012
The Norge, the numbers are in
Ok, so I promised the numbers...and now I can't find the last bill! I CAN tell you this-we used LESS electric last month using the Norge than any month previous using the Kenmore. So draw your own conclusions. But it seems to me that "energy star" might be a comparison to the electrical vampires of the 60's and 70's but they've got nothing on a good ole 50's era Norge! AND we still have to replace the seals! I'll deal with the occasional defrosts to save money, have a quieter fridge AND have a WAY cooler looking fridge!!
Random Pics
We've been pretty busy here at the Cottage working on various out door projects. So I thought I'd share a few photos of the view that inspires us, and certainly helped convince us that it was worth it to buy the cottage with the foundation issues that didn't have a garage or basement and was under 700 square feet!
Here you go, views from the front and back!
The lake sunset is from under our apple tree, not from inside-we're set back farther than that from the lake, thank goodness (erosion)!!
Here you go, views from the front and back!
The lake sunset is from under our apple tree, not from inside-we're set back farther than that from the lake, thank goodness (erosion)!!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Living Room Floor cost breakdown
I can't really give a dollar amount for the wood. It was free, but it was two trips to pick it up. I'm going to take a guess on that one. I'm also rounding because I don't have all the reciepts but know about how much everything was.
Wood: Free. Gas money to pick up: $30
Vinegar (we had a partial gallon and had to buy another, so I'm going with two gallons) $6.00
Chip brushes for the vinegar mix: $3.50
Linseed Oil (we had a partial gallon and had to buy another) $50
Turpentine: (we are going to use about four of the smaller quarts, we couldn't find bigger containers) $30
Polyurathane: $35
Brush for the poly: $6
We already had a brush around that we used for the linseed/turp mix.
Nails (I'm not completely sure until we're done, but I'm thinking 6 boxes will be used): $40
Total $170.50
Again, that's an estimate, but it's pretty close. Our living room measures about 14x20, and the hearth pad about 8'x4', so that part didn't need flooring.
Not bad for a "new" hardwood floor!
Now we just need to find more to finish the rest of the Cottage!
Wood: Free. Gas money to pick up: $30
Vinegar (we had a partial gallon and had to buy another, so I'm going with two gallons) $6.00
Chip brushes for the vinegar mix: $3.50
Linseed Oil (we had a partial gallon and had to buy another) $50
Turpentine: (we are going to use about four of the smaller quarts, we couldn't find bigger containers) $30
Polyurathane: $35
Brush for the poly: $6
We already had a brush around that we used for the linseed/turp mix.
Nails (I'm not completely sure until we're done, but I'm thinking 6 boxes will be used): $40
Total $170.50
Again, that's an estimate, but it's pretty close. Our living room measures about 14x20, and the hearth pad about 8'x4', so that part didn't need flooring.
Not bad for a "new" hardwood floor!
Now we just need to find more to finish the rest of the Cottage!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Floors!!
We started laying the floors! No pics of the process...it's basically just brush on a 1:1 water and vinegar mix and let it dry. Then brush on a 1:1 linseed and turpentine mix, let dry for at least a day. Then brush on a layer of polyurethane. This is how far we got on one box of 100 cut nails.
A closeup of the floors:
These are the nails we are using:
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Working on the new floor
No photos yet, but here's where we're at:
I have found a few "recipes" for wood conditioner to try on the VERY dry sheathing that is destined to be our living room floor. What I decided on after a few experiments is our own version!
First, we tried a 1:1 mix of boiled linseed oil and turpentine. Not bad.
Next, I tried a 1:1:1 mix of linseed, turpentine and white vinegar. This was applied to some crates we used in our landscape as a test since it looked rather like Italian dressing. It didn't work as well and obviously didn't really mix. The point of the vinegar was to kill bad stuff like mildew.
Last, I tried brushing a watered down vinegar mix on the wood, allowing it to dry, then brushing on a 1:1 linseed and tup mix. This is what we will be using, followed by a light coat of gloss poly as an extra protectant since the living room has the two sliding doors and is the entrance/exit for our rather large dog. We figured water was bound to be tracked in and out, as well as mud in the spring.
We will be using a liquid nails/wood adhesive and cut nails to install the floor.
I have found a few "recipes" for wood conditioner to try on the VERY dry sheathing that is destined to be our living room floor. What I decided on after a few experiments is our own version!
First, we tried a 1:1 mix of boiled linseed oil and turpentine. Not bad.
Next, I tried a 1:1:1 mix of linseed, turpentine and white vinegar. This was applied to some crates we used in our landscape as a test since it looked rather like Italian dressing. It didn't work as well and obviously didn't really mix. The point of the vinegar was to kill bad stuff like mildew.
Last, I tried brushing a watered down vinegar mix on the wood, allowing it to dry, then brushing on a 1:1 linseed and tup mix. This is what we will be using, followed by a light coat of gloss poly as an extra protectant since the living room has the two sliding doors and is the entrance/exit for our rather large dog. We figured water was bound to be tracked in and out, as well as mud in the spring.
We will be using a liquid nails/wood adhesive and cut nails to install the floor.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Norge vs Kenmore so far
We didn't think to check out per day electric usage with the Kenmore, so I will have to report back after a month so we can compare bills. It won't be exact because we haven't used the blower on our wood stove recently, but it will give a reasonble idea anyway.
What I can report however, is the Norge is SO much quieter when running! Unless it is completely silent in the Cottage, I have to stand right next to it and focus to see if the compressor is on or not. Even when there is no noise, you need to be in the kitchen to hear it. Not so with the Kenmore. Our fridge we had at our other house was equally noisy, so I can't say it's a Kenmore issue, more of a new vs old issue. I think the newer models are just louder when operating. The only "exception" is we haven't perfected the placement of the drip pan and it rattles occasionally on the Norge. Obviously we don't plan on moving it around (except when we replace the floor) so once we have that down, it won't be an issue.
Speaking of the floor, we think we have found flooring for the kitchen now. If you look at the photos in my previous post, you'll see a faux brick linoleum in the last one (of the Norge and Bengal). It was our inspiration-when we bought the Cottage, there was another layer of peel and stick faux wood over top of it-except for under the stove, where you could jsut see a bit of the faux brick. The faux brick lino is in rough shape, so we decided why not replace it with the real thing? We have to get more "fill in" bricks, but we came across a selection of old cobblestones (they look like bricks) and will be installing them in a running subway tile pattern. It should help keep things cooler in the summer too, since they should transfer the coolness of the concrete slab below. We just need to locate some more old clay bricks now!
What I can report however, is the Norge is SO much quieter when running! Unless it is completely silent in the Cottage, I have to stand right next to it and focus to see if the compressor is on or not. Even when there is no noise, you need to be in the kitchen to hear it. Not so with the Kenmore. Our fridge we had at our other house was equally noisy, so I can't say it's a Kenmore issue, more of a new vs old issue. I think the newer models are just louder when operating. The only "exception" is we haven't perfected the placement of the drip pan and it rattles occasionally on the Norge. Obviously we don't plan on moving it around (except when we replace the floor) so once we have that down, it won't be an issue.
Speaking of the floor, we think we have found flooring for the kitchen now. If you look at the photos in my previous post, you'll see a faux brick linoleum in the last one (of the Norge and Bengal). It was our inspiration-when we bought the Cottage, there was another layer of peel and stick faux wood over top of it-except for under the stove, where you could jsut see a bit of the faux brick. The faux brick lino is in rough shape, so we decided why not replace it with the real thing? We have to get more "fill in" bricks, but we came across a selection of old cobblestones (they look like bricks) and will be installing them in a running subway tile pattern. It should help keep things cooler in the summer too, since they should transfer the coolness of the concrete slab below. We just need to locate some more old clay bricks now!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
The Kitchenaid is clean and the Norge is in!
All clean!
The Norge and the Kenmore it replaced:
And it took a little work, but here is the Norge and the Bengal in the same shot:
The Norge and the Kenmore it replaced:
And it took a little work, but here is the Norge and the Bengal in the same shot:
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