Winter 2018/2019 DIY wood stove install- easily our biggest interior DIY thus far.
Getting this started in the peak of winter was less than ideal in some ways, but also very motivating!
I should add to this that…just full disclaimer of how unnerving it can be to have DIY (seemingly endlessly) in your living room…I love order. I love our home being (mostly) clean, things (mostly) in their place- when the home is in a place of order and rest, then my OCD cleaning/organizing tendencies can calm down somewhat, and there is a lovely extra layer of peace and calm for me. As you can imagine, that has had to go out the window this past month.
During this process, there has been a jungle of boxes in the living room- giant metal pipes everywhere, shop vac in the house to suck up the dust caused by cement board being cut (by the power tools in the house, saws and other dust/noise makers).
Our HVAC unit also was requesting attention during this time, which was also less than ideal, but again- very motivating to get this stove installed and eventually be able to heat our house off wood in the winter, rather than relying on the HVAC unit.
All that to say- it sure has been a process. And still (mid-Jan 2019) is a process! We have yet to light the first fire, and re-settle the furniture, so until those things happen, the wood stove project is still underway.
The hurdles, stress, and hassle involved with this project have been (honestly) a good thing for our marriage. I more than once found myself thinking what a bonding thing it is to overcome surprise frustrations, while learning new skills, and making progress. Its a very special thing to come together, overcome setbacks, and make our vision a reality together.
So here we are- a work in progress. Mid-winter, house under construction, marriage under construction, learning, growing, overcoming.
And I like sharing this at our current stage of the game. Its not done. (I will gladly show photos when it is), but currently, thats not our reality. We are right in the thick of it. Many hurdles down, and several more to go. Enjoying the process, learning and growing, and savoring every step of creating our dream come true life together.
Part two- chimney day! 02/03/2019
The weather was PERFECT for this. We both were in t-shirts, and I even busted out the sunscreen.
This is the big day that a hole would be made in both the wall and the overhang/roof outside. And perhaps even more importantly, the day I get the living room back! It has been a jungle of boxes and chimney pipes this whole time- the landing zone of all the materials purchased and brought home. After its all installed, I get to clean and settle into our living room again- nearly as much joy and expectation as the first fire!
Hello to the outside world, from the inside!
Hole made in the wall, pipe installed, then Jim monkeyed himself up to the roof for the second hole.
Slowly losing daylight, but it all was finished perfectly on time for an evening fire!
No smoke in the house, and temperature up to 70 degrees very quickly from pure radiant heat (no fan on).
The area is still pending the sides to frame it in, and mantle (for stockings to be hung and art to be displayed!) But those final touches could take another month or two as far as I’m concerned. We are thrilled to have it installed to the point of having a fire.
Our first night (again, without the blower on) we went to bed with a little fire going and the electric heat did not turn on until about 7am- pretty thrilled for our first evening.
This has been a wonderful project together (including all the various surprise hurdles) and we love being one big step closer toward being self-sufficient in the winter, reducing electric costs, and heating our home via wood -of which we have in abundance.
This blog is meant to be a glimpse of our little piece of heaven on earth- and this is it- unfinished, under construction, and always hope to be.
BryanHomestead 