Peter and Candy's Cottage Renovations

Below are pictures that depict our cottage as purchased and the various stages of renovations.

Exterior

The cottage had wood plank siding directly on the studs followed by a black paper, batt insulation and a plastic vapour barrier. The roof was a plain metal.

The original siding had gaps between planks where the wood had shrunk over time. Bugs (wasps), and mice have made homes in the walls and attic. In this picture we have already added a bedroom window. A lot of the cottage is resting on cinder blocks thrown on the sandy ground. This side had very little overhand from the roof.

The old siding is being removed and a better frame put in for the window.

Rotten framing replaced around back door and floor joist reinforced. Back door and solarium window are replaced with new window. New OSB board covered with 1" rigid foam is installed around the entire cottage. The south roof is extended overhang.

The narrow main door was replaced with a new 36" wide door. Deck boards were removed so that rotten footings and joists below patio door replaced. The new OSB board and rigid foam installation has been completed. There was a vent in the roof that was once used for a wood stove that would have been in the interior of the cottage. This was actually now only venting air directly out of a bedroom. This vent and the old chimney have been removed and roof patched.

New board and batten siding has been installed.

A special stain that is good for life, has been applied to the siding. Replacement deck boards installed.

The framing for the soffit above the patio door was rotten and infested with carpenter ants. This was replaced. New metal roof and soffits installed.

The roof was extended higher to add an additional 1" rigid foam insulation and a nice air gap for venting. A ridge vent runs along the entire length of the cottage. New exterior light installed above the door.

Vent installed for bathroom fan.

Bathroom

Original 3rd bedroom

Removed bunks, old ceiling and wall covering

Levelled floor, added insulation, plumbing, electrical

Laminate floor, drywall, ceiling, bathroom vanity, shower, and toilet

Primary Bedroom

Original bedroom

Installed window, taped gaps in siding.

Swap window with one from dining area, new electrical.

Ceiling insulated, doorway framed.

Insulation and drywall, Shiplap wood on one wall.

Removed french doors, framing and Shiplap wood on opposite wall. Drywall on other walls.

Walls painted, Door installed

Stapping for ceiling.

Bedroom #2

Original bedroom

Framing extended to ceiling. New plumbing to kitchen. New electrical. New drywall on one wall.

Drywall completed. Floor leveled and new flooring installed. Wall with door replaced and doorway made wider. New baseboard heater.

Furnished

Ceiling

Old foam ceiling and vapor barrier removed.

New 3" rigid foam insulation added and cracks filled with spray foam.

Reflective 'bubble wrap' insulation installed.

Plumbing runs through heated part of ceiling and interior walls.

Living Area

Original living area. Ceiling was foam panels which is a fire hazard. Interior walls did not reach the ceiling. Ceiling fan had broken blades.

Removed ceilig and dirty old carpet. Installed new light.

New electrical and plumbing in ceiling. Wall dividing solarium removed.

New insulation for ceiling and smoke detector. Doorway to primary bedroom made wider and secure on both ends.

Installing new vinyl plank flooring with cork underlay.

Wall extended to ceiling and wood replaced with new cedar shiplap planks.

Started to install strapping for ceiling.

Dining Area

Original dining area

Removed wood buring stove that was taking up too much space.

Removed old drywall. The old window is too wide and there is not enough space between it and the door

The wall with the sliding doors and wood stove had badly water damaged studs, joists and other structure. Carpenter ants were in the wood behind the soffet. Here is temporary support while the wall is remade.

New framing and smaller window for the dining area window. New footings for under the sliding door wall.

New drywall and heater. False stone behind our electric fireplace. Work started on new flooring.

Hall

The original bathroom was very small and mostly occupied by a shower.

The electrical panel was not very secure in the wall and faced what will be our new bathroom.

The shower has been removed and much of the counter and old drywall. A new wire in protective conduit installed up to the driveway so I can charge my car.

This area's floor was not raised and insulated like the rest of the cottage. Once the old bathroom fixtures were removed we added the missing insulation.

New wall framing on the right. New insulation and drywall on the exterior wall. The electrical panel has been re-oriented to face this room.

This corner of the hall floor has a significant dip in it so wood and self leveling cement used to level it.

Flooring installed and drywall added to other walls.

Kitchen

The original kitchen.

Removed old vinyl flooring, ceiling, and started removing cabinetry.

All old cabinetry removed. Sink and drawers left free-standing. New electrical for lights, outlets, and future range hood. Re-rounted electrical for stove. New Drywall. New PEX piping to sink.

New flooring

Lower cabinetry installed

Countertop installed

Sink installed

Solarium

Original solarium.

Removed carpet. Started to remove dividing wall.

New ceiling insulation.

Dividing wall removed. Old wood wall covering removed. Old french doors to bedroom removed and opening framed. framing extended for pot lights (temporarily attached at this time.) Ceiling silver insulation added. Discovered that door was not properly framed and was stiff to open/close and glass cracked.

New drywall. Replacement door was never used. There is insufficient height to properly a frame a door.

Levelled this end of floor.

New cork underlay and vinyl plank flooring being installed. New drywall around the windows and new electric heater installed.

North end of solarium. Under the carpet is a trap door.

South end of solarium (future 'office' space). Box covers plumbing and electrical to utility room. Ethernet jack in far wall. Added additional heater (on wall behind the box).

Utility Room

Added silver backed rigid foam panels for winter insulation. Later the electrical wiring was replaced and mess of wires and boxes cleaned up. Water was being pumped from the lake, but our plumber fixed the well below the utility room so now we have very good water all year round.