Dave Lotte

Things are looking up.  Humidity is at an all time low of 34 % max temp is 79 F.

With the main bathroom, living room, kitchen and part of the dining room floor waterproofed and sealed, the humidity in the house is coming down nicely.

Even after opening the windows to vent the fumes of the sealer - raising the humidity up to 60 % - the next day ? Back down to 34 %.  Of course, the temperature in  the house never changed with the windows open for 3 hours ( it will take more than that to make a difference 😁)

Spilled a bit of water dumping out the dehumidifier - one side is sealed the other is not.

If you are thinking of sealing your basement floor to reduce humidity, do lots of research first, as this floor is not constructed using standard practices and i would not want you to make your situation worse.

One of the little things on the list is window blinds.
Since the windows are not properly framed in yet, what to do ?

I just found out about " temporary blinds".
Folded paper, cut with sharp knife, peel and stick up.

Do all 8 windows for the cost of one good blind.

Jay Angler wrote: Maybe made out of a metal mesh frame covered in fabric?

Not even on the list right now 😁

Matthew Nistico wrote:

Jay Angler wrote: burning your hand is *not* a good thing!

That situation is in need of a permanent solution. .... painting it white.

Agreed.  When i do not have 15 things that need to be done last week, i can paint the standard grey door - white.  Other than that ... it is one of the hottest days of the year...37 C in the shade.

Anything more than that would have to be acceptable by a better half - if i had one 😁😁😁

Still cool in the bunker though 😁

With the humidity dropping to 36 % in the house it is now time to start cleaning out each room, sealing the floor, so it is waterproof.
Hopefully this penetrating sealer will seal the last bit of moisture IN as well.

As for the temperature, dehumidifier running 24/7 - still emptying it twice a day - holding at 72 F (22 C).

Late afternoon, tried to go into the house and burned my hand on the door.

Outside of door 160 F (72 C)
Inside of door 68 F  ( 20 C )  ( back porch )
Around door handle is a bit warmer ( see pics )

With the rough in inspection for the electrical inspected and PASSED, time to cover everything up !

All the pre-cut wainscotting has been reinstalled,  now getting drywall put up.  Some trim pieces of wainscotting yet to install....

Going to be very interesting moving into the Earth Sheltered Hobbit Home....

During the last month,  since it is May,  the temperature has swung up and down.  For one week, its nice and warm,  next week it is 0 C and then the next week it is 27 C  then its back to nice and warm....

In the old farm house whenever the temperature changes you feel it the next day.

Nice and warm -  yeah ! Turn the heat off,  enjoy.
Next day, freezing.  Darn.  Turn the heat back on for a week.
Jumps up to 27 ? Turn the heat off again, and the humidity rises and the house gets hot enough to affect sleep.

The new home ?

With the dehumidifier still running,  it is holding at 66 F ( 19 C )  ..... constantly.  No change all month.  The humidity has finally dropped belkw 40 % - concrete is drying out.

0 C ? For a week ? 66 F and it feels warm when you go inside.
27 C ?  For a week ? Feels cool and dry inside.

Today i noticed it went up 2 degrees to 68 (20 C )

Nice.

Good thing the chair rail is basicly a half wall...

Gives me a solid place to store the leftover wainscotting pieces.

Later on i will decide if i would like to surround the entire dining room or living room instead of just the exterior walls.

Had to put a new top on the "Meighan" wall.  Probably spelt it wrong too. 😂😂

New top, all 4 walls in back porch are done,  all thats left is the living room wall.  Final trimming out will be done later.

Still working on it.

While i wait for the inspectors schedule,  i am still working on the wainscotting.
3 largest walls in the back porch are mostly done, bit of fine tuning and trim needed - but so far so good.

I have had some people tell me i should throw out the cut off boards of wainscotting putting in part boards looks ugly - about 18 - 20 inches off EACH board.
I do not agree.
Figure the back porch is the best place to use part pieces.
So far, 28 - 37 inch verticals done with cut offs - which equals 86 feet of board - or 9 - 10 foot planks.
Severely reduced the amount of garbage being thrown out as well, and suitable for a workshop or storage room.
Main house is all single planks.

Now to number each board and take it all down for the inspector - but it is ready to go !!