January 28, 2004
Master Bath Demo
Let me start by saying...
I HATE COCKROACHES!
Nothing unusual about that - most people do, and if you don't there's something wrong with you.
After ripping out the fiberglass surround on the master tub - I found the goddamn motherload of cockroach dens. No, I did not scream like a girl (on the outside) but I did spray the hell out of them. God bless Raid. (note can in first picture!)
Mouse a.k.a. The Crack Whore
Okay, for those of you new to the class, the former occupants of this house were drug dealers. I have no idea what these people did to our cat, but she's completely different over here. For the past 2 years we've considered her to be the attitudinal aloof cat. You can't touch her, much less pick her up. She never makes a peep and is rarely ever seen. In general - she hates people.
Sooo, the other night, the missus and I are finishing up some work here and who strolls up? Mouse. And she's a chatter box, all rubbing up on our legs, letting us hold her, pet her. She's purring fer pete's sake. I think she's a crack whore!
Time to play another round of "Find the Cat" but this time it's a bit more challenging...
The Choo Choo Lounge
The Choo Choo Lounge (a.k.a. The Train Room) is empty and ready for demo.
Guest Bath Demo
We've pulled all the fixtures and are starting to rip out the tile in the shower.
Kitchen Demo
Started pulling cabinets etc. After some creative temporary plumbing solutions, I was able to disconnect and pull the washer and dishwasher. We're getting quotes today on fixing the hot water feed. It's a bit beyond my capabilities...
January 24, 2004
Day Five
Before I get to news of the renovation, first I have to share the bittersweet farewell to our massive pine tree in front of our house. It was sadly beyond healing and needed to come down. Losing the tree completely changes the front of our place. In fact, I'm not all that sad to see it go. I'm just sad for the tree. I'm sensitive that way...
(click images to enlarge)
But at least we have plenty of firewood to get us through next winter! (pat yourself on the back if you find the cat...)
In renovation news: We enlisted the help of "Uh-oh, Him" today. I have to say we kicked some ass. We finished filling the dumpster to it's most compact and fullest, yet left a little room to sneak in the last minute things on Monday before they drop a new 20yarder and haul this one off.
We finished pulling all of the carpets, clearing out the train room (which I'm now dubbing the Rat Pack Choo Choo Lounge. Guess what we're going to make that room... yup, a hipsters palace... I can't wait!
Then to finish off the day, we pulled all three swamp coolers (or as they should be called Legionnaires Breeding Facilities). On our final cooler Mr. Harvard himself came up with an ingenious solution to preventing the cooler from smashing into the sliding glass door once I removed the last screw. The process is hard to describe but lets just say much wooting was done and I actually got a gay man to high-five me.
Our many thanks to "Uh oh" for all his hard work today. You're so butch! And to the missus who also kicked ass on removing the lovely mirrored tiles in the living room, getting all the quotes lined up for next week, hammering out the landscaping plans and for making the best goddamn tuna fish sandwich I've ever had! You're the best!
Now if you'll excuse me, there's a cocktail and a couch with my name on it. I'll be lucky if I get three sips before I fall asleep. Big Saturday night folks - watch out!
January 22, 2004
Day Two
The 20 yard dumpster is almost full and we haven't even started the real demo yet. It's all junk that was left behind by the previous owner/tenants. And there's so much more junk, so much more. We haven't hit the train room yet.
Two big suprises yesterday: we need to run a new gas line (there's a leak under the slab) and after the rains the other night, we discovered there's a serious leak in the roof of the train room - better to know now rather than later.
The beast is finally gone. Here I am using my favorite powertool ever - my Milwaukee Sawzall®.
January 20, 2004
Day One...
Of actual work. The dumpster's not here yet, which makes getting right down to business a tad difficult. But the Missus finished taking out all of the drop ceilings and removing doors, pulling all of the 10,000 nails in the walls and removing switchplates. I stripped the film off the clerestory windows and pulled back the carpet to see what we had to deal with underneath. Much de-cobbing and general job planning. We also began dismantling the behemoth teal entertainment center (c. 1981) in the living room. The missus figured out where they hid the drugs... inside a vent in one of the guest rooms.
Out our front door
This is what we've had to look at for the past 3 years. Time for that to change!
(click image to enlarge)
Window Film
My day started with stripping off the window film on the clerestorys in front. So many people put this stuff up to help cut down on the heat but it's the ugliest crap you've ever seen. Think really bad DIY auto tinting.
(click image to enlarge)
Kitchen
I'll just say a few things. First, these photos are way too flattering. Everything looks much cleaner that it really is. The walls are not intentionally yellow, that's 40 years of dirt, grease and nicotine. And everything is way too sticky for comfort. Also, note the Jim Bob plumb job. At some point the hot water line was cut and this was their ingenious solution. The water line runs around the corner of the house, into the guest bath, through - right through - the kitchen, into the master bath. All exposed.
(click images to enlarge)
Guest Bath
A total gut job. Everything goes. Note the the hot water feed up top coming in from the side of the house...
(click image to enlarge)
Time to get cracking
We officially own the house now! WooHoo! Upon further investigation, it's still totally nasty, but totally doable.
The dumpster arrives tomorrow but we've already begun tearing some stuff out. The Missus spent most of yesterday pulling the drop ceilings out of the kitchen and baths. Not too many surprises hidden up there, but we definitely will need to run a new hot water line. The whole reason for the drop ceiling was to conceal the exposed pipes they ran last time. What a hack job. Looks like Jim Bob had his brother in-law (who wants to be a plumber) do it.
I went ahead and pulled a few things out of the master bath and started pulling up the carpets. Unfortunately, they're glued down.
The heirs came and took a large chuck of the train set before we closed - not much is left there at all. Now I don't feel so bad. Pics coming tonight!