419 West Main Street, Merrill

Saturday's writing ~ Saturday, September 27, 2014.
So Step, how many windows did you get in today? Um, zip.... Turns out that I need to measure better... but, I overestimated which is a good thing. Trip to hardware store. And that is never ever a bad thing!
Plus, it was "one of those funny things".... because had I not needed to go to the hardware store for a glass cutter, I never would have conversed, asked questions, and came away with these little metal brackets I will need to putty when I fix some of the wood frame windows. Makes total sense too. Of course those panes would need brackets to hold them tightly in their frames.
Unfortunately, by the time I returned to the building to trim the glass, I realized I needed a snip / cushion type pliers-thing. (I wish I had a better memory - I remembered the steps: 1) Score the glass - just once, no more, 2) Tap, tap, tap along the cut .....and here is where I goofed... I imagined just snapping the glass. No!! 3) Grab the glass with the pliers-thing and snap it quickly with a good, strong jerk.
Live and learn.
I was thrilled - thrilled - thrilled today though to get the first pane out of its metal frame. It is really goopy. First I cut the existing caulk with a utility knife, then scraped it out. Sometimes, more like chopping, but eventually the pane could pop out. I started on the alley side of the building, on one of the panes which had been replaced with Plexiglas. I figured just in case, I am not near a sidewalk and I am not starting on what could be old, brittle glass. Plexiglas seemed like a safe trial run - a good practice to get my method in place.
Part of the thrill was cleaning the exposed metal frame. I chopped the old caulk, scratched it with a metal brush, then sanded it. When I saw the nice grey/silver sheen of steel.... man, oh man, nice! Of course I had already sliced open the tube of caulk before measuring, only to realize: Um, oops, measured wrong. And just ever so slightly wrong.
I had only ordered five different panes. Once I replace with these new pieces, I will order more. Glass is surprisingly heavy! Just a bit at a time, but steadily. As I replace individual panes I will clean that particular window in total.
I took measurements for the tempered glass in the doors. Yeah, I know. Measure three times, Steph. Hopefully early this week I will hear if the individual wishes to build my carriage doors. In the original building, the west-facing garage door was actually a carriage door (I am thinking three panels..). The roof and the carriage doors I would like to be my big expenses for this first phase of renovation. The windows and the other doors I am hoping to fix myself. Hopefully...
*Oh - my color inspiration of the other night? Mmmmm. No.*

Huge, huge news: The metal trusses for the roof? There are four! Four! Why did I not see that before? Four. Four. Four. I am so excited. They are beautiful and...80 - 85 feet long, west to east wall, the ends being braced by the masonry walls themselves. Oh! They are gorgeous! I even videoed them! (Still debating whether or not to upload the video..) All along I had taken pictures of the 'x's' created by the tension rods between the trusses, but I had failed to see that there were four!

Maybe I will upload the video tomorrow...

Oh - and a package with material samples of architectural windows from friends! I call it more 'dreaming material'!!!

Lessons of the building today? Enjoy it. Just enjoy it...

Thank you. Love and Blessings!
~stephanie