Not really…we’ve been a bit busy lately, and I don’t think anything we’ve done can be considered “quiet work”   I usually do not talk about projects until they are done, but thought I could at least share some of the progress of this month’s endeavor.    We’ve been working on a renovation at Quantico Marine Base and it takes a little more coordination and team work than our usual projects….and a little longer than a few weeks to get  approved and started.  We actually met with the facility manager months ago and started at the beginning of February.  I won’t show all the photos…yet… but will share a bit of a teaser with you.  Our first task was to get this huge brick wall down.  It used to be a reception desk, but hasn’t been used in years, it had to go.  

The best way to tear down a wall? Pound the brick out of it!

Give a guy a sledge hammer and tell him he gets to demolish something and he’s all over it!  Tearing down the wall took a bit longer than we expected, so I brought in reinforcements… didn’t want to spend all day on this part!   

Alex cleaning up the remains of the wall

After we cleaned up,  Sorin and crew came in to do some painting and I took that big piece of artwork home to play with it.  I did not realize how bloody heavy it was!  It was carved from some sort of hardwood, and it needed some TLC.   I’ll show you just a little bit of what it looks like today, as I am saving the final photos when we are done with the entire project.   

Copper leafing highlights the carved wood

Once that wall was down, we had a great place to add a fireplace.   I found this  fire-box insert from Dimplex, it’s LEEDs certified, has PuriFire air purifier and is safe for use in this building.   

Dimplex 45" electric built-in Purifire Fire-box

The next step was to get that portion of the project going, so  Pam and I packed up the truck with tools and materials and headed off to Quantico.   

I've got a saw and not afraid to use it!

   A few hours later…   

all framed out

Ready to install the firebox!   

fireplace in place!

So today, I start the building of the hearth, surround and mantle.  So far I’ve got the hearth portion built out…   

the beginning of the hearth

And after I post this post, will be heading out to our “workshop” and getting that beloved saw out again to start on the mantle.   

that's alot of oak!

 It’s not really been quiet around here, the sound of saws, hammers, drills and a couple of curse words – we’re making progress!