DEMOLITION!!

Because we couldn't be any busier, we decided to add a major home improvement project to our list of things to do.

There are always home improvement projects to be done, but hanging new lights pales in comparison to the ones we're tackling this year.  We've actually already completed one: we added recessed lighting and a ceiling fan to the living room (eliminating floor lamps... yay!).  we also had our thermostat moved from out of the kitchen corner closest to the fireplace to the hallway by the bedrooms.  I think we get more even temps in the house now... shocker!!  We commissioned a contractor to do the job, and it was done in a day and a half.  It's fabulous, and I'm thrilled we did it.

However, last weekend, we decided to tackle a major project - we are remodeling the basement.  We spent last weekend and evenings this whole last week packing all of our stuff in the basement.  And boy, there's just a lot of stuff down there!!  

Yesterday, the dumpster was delivered to our driveway.  

Today was DEMOLITION!  And of course, I forgot to take a "before" picture.  Ugh.  Oh well.

Thankfully, a few people came over to help us:

• Eric, our neighbor from when we lived in the townhouse
• Andy, my friend since 1st grade 
• Jill, a close friend of ours
• Don, Steve's dad

Without them, it never would have gotten done as fast as it did.  The guys moved a few things to other locales first thing this morning, and then the noise began!!  Crowbars, big feet and big hammers were tools of the trade and ceiling tiles, wood wall paneling, and wall/ceiling framing came down crashing.  Between everyone, the vast majority the noise to be made was completed before lunch was delivered!!  

I put the kids down for naps at 2, and then we started hauling the junk out to the dumpster.  Then it was time to pick up the rug.  We thought it might be glued to the concrete, but it wasn't!  It wasn't glued to anything!  That makes for easy disposal!

Except that there is linolium flooring under it.  Can't have a major project without a surprise!!  So we started asking questions like... Is it glued down?  Is it tarred?  Is it absbestos?  We have no idea.  Steve plans to rip it all out to lay down the Dricore easier and have it be effective. 

So what did the demolition show us today?

1. We suspected our master bathroom has a leak.  Now we know for a fact.
2. We have had water intrusion relatively recently.  There was mold on the baseboards on one side of the room.  We could smell how dank the rug was as we were pulling it, too.
3. We really need to change out the metal water mains for PVC to create less locales in which stuff could leak.
4. There was zero insulation in the basement.  The frame for the walls were 1x's. 
5. Having open space gave us a 3-D canvas of what our space really looks like.  Now we can really plan for what we want!

 We have a loooooooooooong road ahead of us, but we have a deadline of Elektra's birthday to get it reasonably completed.  Wish us luck!!