I have been deferring car maintenance for I while and finally knocked some out.

Oil change. Check.

Tire rotation. Check.

Front CV axle replacement. Check.

Interior carpet spot cleaning. Those old spills were on my nerves, but knocking over the recycle bottle bin was the final straw. I had no idea I wasted so much beer in the bottom of those bottles I throw out. I will try to be less wasteful in the future. Check.

Next is replace the transmission fluid and filter. I have the parts and it’s an easy job. Less than 30 minutes. Problem is the job is obstructed by an exhaust pipe that looks solidly rusted into place. Loosening that could add several hours to the task and risk snapping/breaking/bending something that will mean I then have to do an expensive exhaust repair.

And I’m also still deferring replacing the valve cover seals. They are leaking on both sides. That’s probable an easier 1 hour job with low risk of something ganging agee.

And finally, I still haven’t replaced my timing belt. That includes all new belts, new pullies, idlers, coolant drain and replace, tensioner, water pump and thermostat. This is also a pretty easy job unless I can’t get the crankshaft bolt off. Then it becomes a wrestling match with me trying to gain sufficient leverage, (but not too much). I’m a little afraid to get it all disassembled and then need another part and have no way to get it. I hear parts stores deliver now. I may try that out.

Still more to do. I ran some wires to where I think the kitchen lights will be, with plenty of extra wire to let me move it a couple of feet either way. Then installed the insulation.

Original insulation was R-19. I bumped that up to R-40. I used the old layer running perpendicular to the rafters and a new layer inside the rafter bays. On the ends, I used r-30, because I was limited to the space available. R-19 goes into a 6in deep cavity. R-30 fits into about a 10″ cavity. I put black plastic shells in first to ensure air movement along the roof interior.

In the last picture you can also see a new white beam, made from 2-2x8x16. Glued and screwed together for added strength. They will take the place of the supporting wall just behind it and the ceiling will be cathedraled after that with R-30 insulation. The vertical walls are getting improved from R-11 to R-15 in most places and bumping the wall thickness to 6″ from 4″. The R-11 insulation I remove is getting salvaged and put in the garage/workshop attic, which is currently around R-2 (if that). The blown in insulation there is so thin that the drywall is visible in most of the garage attic.

Next: God knows what. Likely removing the 2×6 rafters in the “dining room” to permit cathedralizing the ceiling there, then installing the r-30 insulation in that part.

Alternative: recounting the bathroom doors: originally 36″ wide doors. But there just insnt room for them to open all the way without striking the opposite wall. So. Reduce to 32″ door. RIP out frames, drywall, install new frame, new drywall, paint, trim, alignment. (Sigh).

I’m doing a lot of projects around the house. It’s time to put in the deck. I get a handyman to do the labor (young guys work) and head to Lowes for supplies.

….

Nothing. The shelves are bare of pressure treated lumber. (What decks are made of).

It seems everyone else is taking advantage of the “working from home” and putting in decks too. Lowes claims the are three months ahead of their sales targets and can’t say when they will ever get any more. They won’t even take orders and deliver it as it comes in. It’s like the permanent .22LR shortage that hit when Obama got elected.

I finished moving the rafters up. So I thought I would let you all gawk at the pictures, even those spammers who still think it’s the 90’s and trying to drive blog traffic to their essential oils, health supplements, and magic prayers businesses.

First, I got all the rafters above the old support beam. Making it pointless. Then removed it in sections.

A big project. I’m glad it’s done. Stuff some insulation in and close it up with vapor barrier plastic sheet. Then layout the kitchen.

Edit: I’m not really done. I still have to reinstall the knee wall in that side of the attic.