Friday, September 27, 2013

Before / After - North Side of Cottage


BEFORE
This photo was taken before power washing showing the "real" condition of my pitiful cottage after the shutters were removed. The attic vent near the peak was rotted out, the mildew was out of control, my siding had weathered very differently due to Cabot stain failure, etc. You can see the mildew on the front too.

AFTER
I took this photo yesterday. The attic vent was replaced with a very small window that had to be installed sideways because of the structural beam on the other side. It's covered with plastic in this photo. Now I will be able to look outside when I'm working in the small room on the other side. I have it set up for wrapping packages, using my paper cutter, and other crafty things. The finished attic space on the other side of the eyebrow windows is much larger with a full dormer looking out the back. My PC is up there and this space has central air. The smaller room does not. Now I can set up a fan in the window in the summer. The shingles are only primed in this photo. The men are making replacement pickets for the ones that are damaged by rot. NOW are you impressed? I have to pinch myself every time I go outside and see the miracles being performed by my skilled craftsmen. More later so stayed tuned!
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8 comments:

helene said...

LOVE IT! White on white is definitely right! Your cottage looks like something Tasha Tudor would draw! Do you ever decorate outside with pumpkins? I know you can't do that while under construction, but they would look so perfect sitting on your brick with that crisp white background!

Attic Clutter said...

love it):)

Mama Pea said...

You are going to feel as if you have moved to a new house! So good to know there are still tradesmen in business who do a good and conscientious job! (But I know all this took a lot of hard work and coordination on your part, too.)

Ann Louise said...

Wow, it's looking good!

Lee Owenby said...

Wow! What a difference. Love the new look.

Cindy D. said...

GORGEOUS!

jusaweecatnap said...

Looks terrific. From the perspective of a realtor, how do you document all the work to present to some future prospective buyer (hopefully, a long ways off)? What do you need to reveal? Well, you've already revealed a good deal here...And then there are details for taking a tax break when you sell it. Any advice?

Content in a Cottage said...

justaweecatnap....
I don't have to reveal anything I have done on a seller disclosure. I am painting my house. All of the repair work is cosmetic. Nothing structural was done. It's just routine maintenance. Paint peels and trim rots. Mother nature can be brutal on a house. The environment isn't kind to houses either. Old-time painters say they never saw things turn green they way they do now...fences, flagstones, etc. And what about the way light-colored roof get those unsightly streaks? At least I don't have that issue.
Now I am going to get on a maintenance schedule with my workers and have my house power washed every three years and keep up instead of catching up. Anyone who buys my cottage in the future will be thrilled. :)