Category: Progress

Here are recent perspectives on the interior demo state. We are closing in on the end. One of the last areas is removing the rest of the old roof seen on the left in the lower of the two photos. At the moment the bare 2x are visible as the drywall and insulation have been taken out. The plywood path seen in the same photo on the floor covers the mostly filled trench containing the incoming air duct for the masonry heater which can be seen holding up one pair of the scaffolding wheels.

Some photos showing the original roof which was covered over when the patio was turned into indoor space. Notice the sistered 2x8s attached to the rafters keeping the current exterior from collapsing. The main dining room gets this treatment next.

Demolition of the restaurant proper is underway. The first surprise was finding that all the bricks, meaning those in the Garden Room and Main Dining Room are simply sitting on sand, explaining why the floors were so cold.

One of the requirements for the Temp-Cast masonry heater is a 2″x15″ duct bringing in outside area. With the heater essentially centered in the building, this means about 25 feet of ducting to simply get to the outside. Being able to pop up the bricks and not have to cut through a slab is welcome.

No slab will make installing radiant heat in the dining areas much easier too. Out come the bricks, then some lite digging, 2″ of rigid foam and before you know it we are walking on pex in concrete.

Excavation of the legacy roof is also underway from inside the building. The exposed sections show that, like the Grand Canyon, the building has layers, and there will need to be many supports put in place to keep what ought to be kept where it ought to be.

On the west side of the restaurant is an apartment. The outbuilding used by Fred and Isaline blocks it some. There was a set of sliding glass doors through which passage to and from the Green Room, the southernmost dining area with all the plants, was possible. It is the first place to benefit from construction.

How is there construction at all? Not joking: out there in the multiverse is one where we are doing all of it. Let’s collectively take a breath and be glad that isn’t the case. Back in this universe, Mary actually was out last fall and simply met Dorell Drake of Drake Construction somewhere and asked if he knew any contractors. That simple.

Well fast forward to January and don’t fall down when you learn that Dorell referred Brett Buchanan who it seems knows all kinds of folks and suddenly we have a crew here on the regular. We are thankful and honored to have this interest and attention from Dorell and Brett.

Here are some photos of what was and where we are now. Ultimately, it’ll be a 2 bedroom with the door on the north currently leading to the courtyard is being moved to the west wall which is also getting a set of sliding doors.