Use Your Imagination

Welcome to my demolition.  Walls have been removed and many holes have been jackhammered.


I have to admit that though this is the dirtiest part of the project, the guy doing this is incredibly neat.  We now know why this basement is so wonky.  The floors slope and there are different levels from room to room  and in individual rooms as well. We live on a mountain and this house was built 100 years ago.  The foundation was probably hand dug and whenever they hit stone that they couldn't remove, they cemented over it.  We are finding very thin cement and lots of shale.


Each drain is jackhammered so we can check the pipes, replace ones that are not up to code and install new ones.


This is the kitchen area.  Some posts will be removed but some will remain.  The remaining ones will hopefully be wrapped in wood and will end up looking like old wooden beams.  Right now it looks like a frat house basement.



And this lovely spot is my future bathroom.  I sure hope it looks better when it's finished.  We found water under this floor.  It looks like I might have a natural bathing hole. What luck!  I have two of these backrooms.  The other one is just through that door.  This room has no windows and a very small entry. It will be a challenge to make it look like a a nice bathroom but we are going to do just that!  A sows ear to a silk purse comes to mind.



 

Another project I have happening at the same time is my patio. Tomorrow, they will be removing these huge Argentinian cedar doors to restore them.  I found two local artist/woodworkers and they are going to disassemble them, refinish them and return them to their former glory. This project will take at least 2 months and has to be done offsite. So, onward and upward and I hope to have some prettier pics to show soon.




Comments

Mary V said…
Ok these are not that exciting photos. Although I have never seen such neat demolition site! Door will indeed look spectacular refinished.
DrumMajor said…
Should you have a sump pump where that underwater spring is hiding? We have them all over the K.C. metro to keep our basements from flooding. Some have battery back-ups in case the power goes out. Linda in Kansas
Marcia said…
You are so lucky to have contractors that show up. We have been promised that work will start on the barn "shortly", "very hhortly", "maybe next week", "next week". This has been since March. Dan talks to him, emails him and he says yes he will get it done this summer. No show! Dan sent an email yesterday and had had no response. We are about ready to give up on him and maybe give up the project for now. One problem the floor in that part of the barn is gone. Dan did the demolition in March expecting the project to start. What a pain.
You're having a busy summer already!
Guillaume said…
Can't wait to see how it will turn up. If I had this basement, I would turn it into a play room for Wolfie, with a reading room for the whole family.
Mike said…
This is the fun part of the project for me. I'm sad when the pipes and wires and studs start getting covered up.
Those kinds of posts in my basement held up the house! This is exciting!
Unknown said…
That spot where your future bathroom is going to be looks just downright scary. But of course I know it's going to be amazing when it's finished.
Kathryn said…
Exciting times, can't wait to see the finishes....