Technically, we started in the Front Room (also called the "jut" room or the apt's bedroom) We started ripping down the ceiling and we also got rid of the closet. Unfortunately, there was piping and electrical wiring inside the closet walls so, we put that room on hold.
The Living Room was the next to have it's ceiling torn down and is the first room to have it back up. The ceiling demolition started with the drop-ceiling tiles. We were able to leave the Lath in the Living Room, luckily. We rented these disposable dumpsters called Bagsters. They are from Lowes. They are a nice alternative to a dumpster, if you won't have a ton of material and if you aren't sure how long it will take you to finish the demo project. You can keep them as long as you want. After the ceiling came down, we cleaned up and headed home. The next Wednesday, DW's most amazing cousin CK came over to help hang dry-wall because he has a lot of experience with it. Thank GOD someone knew what the hell they were doing! Everyone came out alive and well and the ceiling looks pretty good. A little more Spackle and sanding ought to do it up right :-)
Before: (Notice the ugly drop-ceiling and the exposed electrical wire stapled to the tiles...classy huh?)
During Construction
After (Nice Job BOYS!)
DW also re-wired a light switch, which was fairly easy because the planks in the walls were so wide. He then went to add a second switch (he is such an over achiever!) He discovered, after ripping off the plaster off of the wall where he wanted to add in the switch (at the other entrance to the room), that the wall in question just happened to be the main structural wall of our gigantic house. In Victorian times, in a brick house, that meant a BRICK wall. Hello rotating circular saw! How nice to hear you cutting into my lovely brick wall. It had to be done, however. So, now we have two light switches for the Living Room light. Props to the Pig (DW) for figuring that one out!
This pic shows (very badly) shows part of the brick wall and the open hole from the saw with exposed electrical wires.
Here it's all closed up! It still needs a little more Spackle and sanding just like the ceiling, but what doesn't in this house! :-)
The next step in this room will be, to finish scraping the walls free of the Plaster/Spackle job. The interesting wall design appears to have been inspired from a topographic map in The Middle School science fair. Then, a light coat of Spackle on the walls and a sanding. Then, prime and paint the walls. I should probably start choosing a color. I think I'm feeling green. (Isn't that a Sesame Street tune?) Either way, definitely a warm tone to compliment the woodworking's stain and probably medium to dark shade, just because the room is very large. It can handle it. It's 16' x 26'.
I'd like to thank the clean-up crew (that includes me, but I shouldn't be thanking myself!) of MOL (Mother-in-Law extrodinaire), MG and JG (MOL's very good friends).
I'd also like to thank the Demo Crew of Mr. J and Son, as well as B'ob (Father-in-Law).
I'll post about the front room next. Sorry about the tardiness of this one. We were at the house so much, we didn't have time to download the pics before now. Hope all is well and <3 to you and yours :-).
God Bless,
