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Deconstruction
This should be filed under "The Joys of Homeownership" or something.
When we moved in there was the Downstairs bathroom (just a toilet and sink), the Original bathroom (with ancient iron tub and washstand) that was in _terrible_ shape, and the New bathroom but in by the Former owners. It at least worked.
To avoid chopping up the floor the Former owners basically laid the pipes on the floor then built a two level platform to put the shower, sink and toilet on. Although this worked, when the shower leaked we had to cut through the ceiling below to get at the leak. Last year we had the Original bathroom restored with a new floor, sink, toilet and tub/shower and I began gutting the old bathroom. I took a multi-month break from the destruction and am now going at it again.
When it was constructed it was a real "guy" project. How do I know this? By the amount of 3 inch nails used. I'm not kidding - they used extra big, extra long nails in building the shower surround, the platform, the pseudo-cedar chest and the closet. Now, you have to understand that if I was younger, stronger, had myself a Saws-All and a dumpster to throw everything in I'd have been done with this ages ago. It's just wimpy little me with hand tools. Since I'm working alone power tools are just too dangerous. I'm also taking the time to remove every last nail from each stick of wood for safer disposal.
It's going to take a while. However, I am making progress. After I've brought the walls down to the studs comes the big problem - the Original owners removed all the windows in that room and sided over the openings. I think I'll need to call in someone who Knows What They're Doing to install a window, put in the electrical wiring, patch the floor and carry up the big honking sheets of wallboard. I can chop up and carry down the old wallboard just fine - carrying up 4 X 8 sheets of new wallboard? I don't think so.
After that, there's restoring the floor, putting in new ceil tiles and painting the walls. That I can do.
Time to get dirty.
-m
When we moved in there was the Downstairs bathroom (just a toilet and sink), the Original bathroom (with ancient iron tub and washstand) that was in _terrible_ shape, and the New bathroom but in by the Former owners. It at least worked.
To avoid chopping up the floor the Former owners basically laid the pipes on the floor then built a two level platform to put the shower, sink and toilet on. Although this worked, when the shower leaked we had to cut through the ceiling below to get at the leak. Last year we had the Original bathroom restored with a new floor, sink, toilet and tub/shower and I began gutting the old bathroom. I took a multi-month break from the destruction and am now going at it again.
When it was constructed it was a real "guy" project. How do I know this? By the amount of 3 inch nails used. I'm not kidding - they used extra big, extra long nails in building the shower surround, the platform, the pseudo-cedar chest and the closet. Now, you have to understand that if I was younger, stronger, had myself a Saws-All and a dumpster to throw everything in I'd have been done with this ages ago. It's just wimpy little me with hand tools. Since I'm working alone power tools are just too dangerous. I'm also taking the time to remove every last nail from each stick of wood for safer disposal.
It's going to take a while. However, I am making progress. After I've brought the walls down to the studs comes the big problem - the Original owners removed all the windows in that room and sided over the openings. I think I'll need to call in someone who Knows What They're Doing to install a window, put in the electrical wiring, patch the floor and carry up the big honking sheets of wallboard. I can chop up and carry down the old wallboard just fine - carrying up 4 X 8 sheets of new wallboard? I don't think so.
After that, there's restoring the floor, putting in new ceil tiles and painting the walls. That I can do.
Time to get dirty.
-m