2022 Year In Review

Holy buckets, did we accomplish a lot at the Swanson Bungalow this year!  From our addition of a second bathroom to a brand new roof, we really touched a little bit of everything in this house.  And it was not without its surprises and challenges as well!  We had surprise electrical issues that involved rewiring half the main floor and dropping all our knob and tube, and an insurance requirement for the garage that meant a complete makeover of its exterior.  

If it weren't for our short trip to Chicago, I'm not sure we would've felt we had much summer at all!  But we made really great progress on so many things, that it was definitely worth the struggles.  We are nearly out of "need to do" projects in this house, and after six years that is a really nice place to be. 

The Bathroom

This was really the one project we were really set on doing this year.  After planning on adding a basement bathroom since we first saw the house in 2016, moving the big kids downstairs and having the little kids in 2020, and getting ready to have six people using toilets... I knew it was time.  I had been collecting equipment for the bathroom for several years, and getting things in place also meant getting things out of storage.  

Since there was no roughed in plumbing area, that meant we cut through the concrete to convert the former storage and laundry into a workable bathroom, laundry nook, and storage hall... the laundry area and the hall still have a few things left to go, but having a second bathroom has changed so much about how we live in this house.  

As part of the project I started converting our basement windows to glass block, and the bathroom and rainbow room are significantly better sealed than the hopper inserts these replaced.  Part of me wishes I still had operable windows, but this is the right move for this house.  And with egress windows in both of the basement bedrooms, there is still really good emergency access.

The Roof

The roof wasn't something we did ourselves (on the house at least), but it is a huge improvement over the failing shingles that were there.  The best part: I'm never going to have to touch the roof again.  Since we shifted from asphalt to metal, we went from a roof that last 15-20 years to one that should last a century.  It's also the perfect backdrop for installing a solar array, and we are so looking forward to that project in 2023.  

The only real downside to metal is the cost.  It was the largest single expense we've taken on with the house.  But knowing we were spending twice the money for 5x the longevity (3x in the next 50 years), I figured it would save us both money and stress in the long run.  It did trigger a few exterior projects for next year: I really need to work on the attic windows, counterflashing along the roof, and finally finish painting the exterior.  Oh, 2023, I'm coming for you!

HVAC

The same day we got our roof permit, had hail crash though our roof vents (which killed half of our main floor electrical), and tried to start a very dead A/C condenser, we signed the contract for a new HVAC system.  This was HUGE for us!  It's possible it was a bigger deal than the roof, because it officially stopped our house's dependence on gas for heat.  

While I recognize that the majority of local installers aren't ready to eliminate gas-fired furnaces in MN homes, I was determined to find someone who would do it.  Back in 2019, we switched from gas to induction, and in 2021 we replaced our gas water heater with an electric one.  This switch had been coming for a while!  But finding someone to do it was the hardest part.  So, I looked at system specifications, back up systems, and state requirements, then contacted a few manufacturers to see who was installing their heat pump systems already.  I landed on a Daikin system that combines their FIT inverter with a modular blower and our existing ductwork.  And when the time comes for us to add conditioned space to the attic, we can add a mini-split system to the existing inverter. 

The Garage

The garage was a project I really hesitated on doing.  I didn't want to do it, and I honestly hoped a tree would fall on it.  BUT after investing my time and energy into fixing up the exterior, I'm really proud of how it came out!  Insurance required replacing the roof of the garage as part of the insurance claim from the roof-vent-hail-disaster, so the financial incentive got us to the point where we could really invest a little more to make it special.  

I started with the roof, painting the siding the *right* green, and adding a mural to the garage door.  I was able to exercise some new knowledge with window work, and I really love how this little window came out!  I'm feeling more confident going into the attic windows now too.  With help from the kids and my partner, we added a French drain around the perimeter, and I really hope that helps prevent the consistent flooding our garage gets each year.  It's another thing to look out for in 2023, along with fixing up the interior.  

Small Projects

I also had a lot of small projects happen this year!  I started 2022 by finally finishing the telephone niche and the kids' station in the kitchen.  I did a little more work on the library and the rainbow room, and I got most of the way there on a makeover in the side garden (complete with it's own drainage upgrade).  

It's been quite a year, but with all that we pushed through this year, there isn't much left on the "must-do" list, and we are definitely moving closer to projects for fun instead of projects to fill a need or alleviate a disaster.  It took us six years to get there, and I'm glad we've taken the time to really go through this process and get things done the best way we can the first time.  Onward!