Fireplace progress

The fireplace insert was removed on Tuesday. It really is a small job! They were only here for maybe an hour. They took it out, filled in the original fireplace with insulation, and nailed some 2x4s vertically into the hole to frame it, and attached drywall. The drywaller came the next day and did the first coat of mud, and the second coat on Thursday. He came today (Saturday) to do the third coat, but the second was still wet so he's coming back tomorrow or Monday.

It's kind of funny; it looks like someone whited-out the fireplace and mantle.

I want to replace the baseboard heaters in the living room & dining room now. The new ones in the TV room are so much better, it's amazing. You turn on the thermostat, and the room is warm in about 5 minutes, and too hot in under 10. In comparison, the old ones take an hour or so (or at least it feels that way) to make the room comfortable. I just hope we don't need to do anything beyond changing the baseboard heaters (and probably the thermostats) themselves... hopefully the wiring is good as it is. (Hey Dad, wanna come do a project for me?) :)

Let's start a new project

Just for fun, we're going to start a few new projects. The reno still isn't complete (99% and holding) and we will obviously not be hiring the same people... but our first small(er) project is to remove our fireplace. We've already had the propane company come and take away their tank that we were renting for $80 per year, so we're saving money already.

We've had three quotes, two were around $400 and the third was $1160. I want to wait for one more place (the ones who did our flood restoration; we were extremely happy with their work) and should hear from them on Monday. Of the quotes, one of the cheaper ones and the expensive one were over the phone, the other cheaper one was in person so I think I'd go with him since he really knew what he was quoting on, not just guestimating based on what I said on the phone!

Update on the smell

Joel came by last Friday (Oct 10) and installed a/another P-trap in the bathtub. After they had run water last time, the smell came back within a day or two, which shouldn't have happened if there was a trap and that was the problem. So far so good and it's been just about a week. If it does come back, the other thought is it could be related to the vent.