Steel, for real...

It is cold in the house today.

It was cold yesterday too...

Probably staying cold inside for a while...

Poor Gambel...

As you can see from these exterior photos---the chill comes in from the big gaping holes in the back wall of the house. The masonry guys have started working. Eventually, they will remove more than 70% of the back wall of our house to create the opening for the kitchen addition. First we have to agree on support. Apparently, there's quite a broo-haha going on between the masonry guys and the architect.

They started by removing a few courses of bricks to put in a steel lintel (it is the long line at the top of the photo to the left of this paragraph) to support the 2nd floor. That is done, as is the addition of a brick column (upper photo, though now complete) to add support to the south side of the house. And up top, they've pulled a few courses of the brick---so there are even more open holes for the chilly fall air to make its way in... Might be worse if the architect makes them pull the "C" bars that are in place in favor of a sturdier "I" beam...ugh.

Brr. This whole construction in the winter thing might be a problem!