Back To The Basics

 Jim has started the demolition of the basement bathroom. The first part is taking everything out and redoing the plumbing.

These two photos  the best before pictures we have. 

Vanity is out and the mirror ready to go. One of the problems we are having with this project is where to put the stuff we remove from these rooms and cupboards and closets. Some places are getting crowded. 

There was a little closet where Jim is working that held our paint cans, and painting stuff, and most of it needed to be thrown away anyway. That space is going to be in the bathroom to fill in the notch where the door is now.

The shower is gone. 

 

This view is from the inside of the bathroom. The closet on the left side of the photo will be narrowed just a bit. 

We hired someone to come in and remove the concrete floor. 

The house filter and soft water system had to come out so Jim can redo the floor drain under them. From here you can look right into the bathroom.

Starting to dig.

Perhaps those reading this blog don't need to see all these photos. They are a reference and storage place for ourselves as well. 

Step By Step

Jim had to replace the landing at the bottom of our stairs because he was furring

(In construction, furring are strips of wood or other material applied to a structure to level or raise the surface, to prevent dampness, to make space for insulation, to level and resurface ceilings or walls, or to increase the bean to a wood ship. Furring refers to the process of installing the strips and the strips themselves.)

that back wall in order to install the insulation that was never put there. The contractor, who I am suspecting didn't do a very good job building this house, used 2x4s, the short way leaving an empty 

1 1/2" space, instead of the long way which would be a 3 1/2" space and room for insulation. This, Jim did, put the insulation in, shortened the landing and made new risers for the stairs. With a router, he made a very nice riser out of oak because it was cheaper than the other, even though he hated to paint it white, but that is what we are going with for trim. 

We took a video of Jim sliding it in. I know it was in the camera, but somehow it wasn't on the computer when I went looking for these photos. 

Very nicely done.

And, we are not doing flooring next and the photo is in my phone on my computer, so you will have to wait. 

Bathroom next.

 

To Sleep Or Not To Sleep

I came across this comic in my photo sorting. It represents a real truth in my marriage at least. Anytime I ever wanted to tell Jim "something important", he would promptly fall asleep.  I used it once in a while on purpose when Jim complained he couldn't get to sleep. That is a "walking on eggshells" moment, since I couldn't let him know I was doing it on purpose. It worked if I did it right.