Sept 2007-Feb 2011

This post is a catch-up of sorts.  Here's what we've done to the house in the last 3 1/2 years that we've owned it.  Well, actually what we did the first year and a half since we've lived in Alabama the last two years...

First big project was a fence for our sweet boys...

We replaced the windows from this:

to this:

Back of the house when we moved in:

The back of the house after we (with the help of Randy!) built the new deck and put in french doors and siding on the back of the house:



We built a shed with wood siding which we later painted white to match the house (again, Thanks to Randy Scarborough!):

This was our foundation...

We replaced all the crumbling brick piers with these cinderblock ones.  (LOTS OF $$$$!!!)

Then after we replaced the foundation we put a brick 'skirt' around the bottom of the house. 

Before, there was nothing but the random piece of plywood or backerboard propped against the house:

After:

When we moved in, the two story side porch was falling down, thanks to age and to a tree that fell on them:

They got rebuilt, but will not be completed till the remodel is complete. 

We also replaced the roof and did some other home projects.  First year and a half of projects equals about $45,000.  And we haven't even begun...

First Blog Post!

Hey everyone!  Today I was sitting on my bed watching HGTV (what's new!?) and as I watched Sarah's House chronical Sarah's remodel journey I decided that I should chronical mine and Gary's remodel journeys.  Since I doubt HGTV cares to do a show on my house...here's Soward Bayne House blog!  I will be uploading before pictures, remodel pictures, and hopefully in the not-so-distant future, after pictures.  So, enjoy our journey!

This is a picture of our house when it was built by John M. Soward in 1893.

This is the house in one of the many snows in December 2010.

This is a picture of the historic house sign we put up in early 2009.

Well, that's enough for now.  I don't really know how to blog, so all this trial and error is wearing me out.  Plus Rocky IV is coming on in a few minutes and Gary and I have a date with the TV. :)  Much more to come soon, especially when the remodel starts next month!