Demolition is now in full swing. The lathe and plaster makes it very dusty, so we have been wearing masks and gloves. We have torn down the walls in all but the upstairs bathroom and the kitchen. The process has been physically challenging, but at the same time rewarding. While it is difficult to sometimes picture the final product through the clouds of dust and piles of rubble, I am proud of the fact that we have done everything on our own so far. This renovation has become a huge learning experience for me, as someone who normally works in a classroom, not a construction site. Luckily, Kyle is a very patient teacher and has made sure that I don’t seriously injure myself.
Lessons Learned During Demo Thus Far: 1) It is not “laughing plaster,” it’s lathe and plaster (there is nothing funny about this chalky, horse-hair mixture :p). 2) Never try pulling the lathe (wooden slates) off the wall in the middle of the board, because they tend to snap and stab you. 3) Using a sledge hammer to break up the plaster before pulling it down with the crow bar makes a world of difference. 4) Working as a team is the best way to tackle any demo project. Be grateful and accept all offers of help! 5) If you find a clump of leaves in the wall, it is not fascinating early settler insulation; it is just an old mouse nest. 6) Be careful when you swing the sledge hammer. Sometimes it bounces back. Pulling down the walls has also led to some really neat discoveries. We have found old shoes, toys, and schoolbooks. Kyle also uncovered the original front screen door in the living room wall! Still perfectly intact, we plan on using it when we take out the old screen door. All of these findings act as clues to the people who inhabited this house over the years.
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About MeKyle and I just became new homeowners. The house we purchased is not what one would classify as "move in ready"; in fact, it is quite the opposite. Built at the turn of the 20th century, our Victorian style house is both beautiful and terrifying in its ancient status and will be a project in renovation. This is a documentation of our triumphs and lessons learned, as we deconstruct and reconstruct this house. The end result? A space that we can proudly say we created. Archives
December 2016
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