Entry tags:
House: destruction
So we hired Shawn based on his detailed estimate, with the understanding he would be able to start on January 14th. We asked our draftsperson to finish the drawings so we could get permits. Then the solstice and year end holidays happened. Finally, the drawings were ready, and Shawn found the time to turn his estimate into a formal quote. Last week, I obtained permits, Shawn obtained an electrician's quote and got a plumber to scope the drains.
So, to review: we had a house with a garage that we would never use because who needs a car when you can take transit?:

Lots of carpets that were filling the house with toxins and allergins:

An ugly non-functional "decorative" fireplace mantel:

And numerous walls that had to be removed or moved:

Now, my parents were kind enough to rip out the carpets during their annual American Thanksgiving visit (which was just about the ONLY positive thing that happened during said visit). This was important because we had to find out just how much of the extreme amount of toxins and perfume infesting the house was ingrained in the walls and floor (which would be hard to get out) and how much was just in the !@#$% evil carpets. Turns out about 90% of it was in the evil carpets. It's not safe yet, but we're getting there. But other than that, things stood pretty much as they had when we bought the place (sans furniture, of course -- the above photos are from my initial visit when they still had it set up with stuff for showing).
Enter Shawn and his crew. After only 3 and a half days of demolition, we no longer had a garage:

The walls and ceiling were down in the back half of the house:



The bathroom was gone:

The living room was full of stuff like salvaged doors, vanities, and ugly non-functional decorative fireplace mantles:


And the EVIL, budget-breaking knob and tube was exposed for all to see:

Meanwhile, in the basement, the entire ceiling was pretty much gone, the idea being that this would make the plumber, electrician, and HVAC person much happier and faster (and in the long run, cheaper):


Meanwhile, outside, what I think was the third bin in as many days was full to the brim:

And a 300 pound cast iron bathtub sat in the yard, patiently awaiting its fate:

I think they definitely earned their coffee and cookies:


And that brings us up to date. Soon to come: restructuring photos.
So, to review: we had a house with a garage that we would never use because who needs a car when you can take transit?:

Lots of carpets that were filling the house with toxins and allergins:

An ugly non-functional "decorative" fireplace mantel:

And numerous walls that had to be removed or moved:

Now, my parents were kind enough to rip out the carpets during their annual American Thanksgiving visit (which was just about the ONLY positive thing that happened during said visit). This was important because we had to find out just how much of the extreme amount of toxins and perfume infesting the house was ingrained in the walls and floor (which would be hard to get out) and how much was just in the !@#$% evil carpets. Turns out about 90% of it was in the evil carpets. It's not safe yet, but we're getting there. But other than that, things stood pretty much as they had when we bought the place (sans furniture, of course -- the above photos are from my initial visit when they still had it set up with stuff for showing).
Enter Shawn and his crew. After only 3 and a half days of demolition, we no longer had a garage:

The walls and ceiling were down in the back half of the house:



The bathroom was gone:

The living room was full of stuff like salvaged doors, vanities, and ugly non-functional decorative fireplace mantles:


And the EVIL, budget-breaking knob and tube was exposed for all to see:

Meanwhile, in the basement, the entire ceiling was pretty much gone, the idea being that this would make the plumber, electrician, and HVAC person much happier and faster (and in the long run, cheaper):


Meanwhile, outside, what I think was the third bin in as many days was full to the brim:

And a 300 pound cast iron bathtub sat in the yard, patiently awaiting its fate:

I think they definitely earned their coffee and cookies:


And that brings us up to date. Soon to come: restructuring photos.