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| dry run over the cement floor |
After the grandkids had gone (and was it ever quiet in the house!) I began a few dry runs of the Italian Mono Serra (Denver Grigio) tiles we purchased at Rona's for the basement floor, deciding on a staggered look that Marie had suggested. This looked good and I had to only cut one tile in every four rows on the straight wall using the two pieces as shown above. The angles of the other side where the room came to a peak necessitated cutting every tile along the wall but with my little wet saw this was a breeze. Rather than disconnect the propane line to the Napoleon stove and create a headache resealing the connection I moved it around as I layed the tiles. I had left enough space under the stone so the tile and mortar would fit underneath to give the wall a finished look. It took a month working a quarter of the room at a time - cutting outside and mixing the mortar, laying tile, grouting (Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA UC02 - colour: pewter), then moving furniture onto the finished area. In the centre of the room I had to cut a 6 inch hole in one of the tiles to accommodate the Hubbell poke-through which will feed the ethernet, television and electrical wires and eliminate running wires along the floor. I used a $5 diamond blade on my hand grinder and working slowly in a circle and successfully cut the hole - without breaking the tile. Do it outside as it creates clouds of dust. This method had many negative reviews on YouTube but it worked fine for me!
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| the heavy cast iron Napoleon propane stove |
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| almost half way |
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| cutting hole in tile - patience is the key |
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| installing Hubbell poke through |
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| mixing mortar and watching the snow come down |
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| past the half way point! |
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| last bit under the stairs, with grout |
I finally finished under the stairs, cutting another hole for the drain there and finished the grouting. What a relief. I then waited a few days before painting the door and window trim and installing it, then put up the blinds. This unofficially ended the house construction begun in 2012 although we still had a few other tasks to do - putting in the stair lights, installing the railing and finishing the electrical work in the basement. Marie in the meantime suggested a trip to Florida for a break. I could hardly refuse, ready for a reprise from laying tile as well as the depressing winter that just wouldn't end. When we left for Montreal and the airport in Plattsburgh on the 21st of April there was still two feet of snow on the ground. May was just around the corner and I certainly hoped the sun would start melting the white stuff before we returned on the 2nd. gws
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| Good job master! |
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| trim and blinds up! |
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| April 20th |
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| heading for Montreal, view of Mt Megantic from Notre-Dame-des-Bois |
