Deconstruction before construction...

Deconstruction before construction....

September 17th --This is the week of another big round of demolition.  We're around the half-way mark on this project.  While there has already been a good deal of demolition (i.e., the original rear wall of the house), now we are getting to more interior demolition -- so far this week, a new doorway into the existing upper-level bathroom and removing the internal chimney stack.  Upon reflection, the demolition phases are probably the most difficult and stressful of this process in terms of the toll on my psyche, especially living among the ruins, as I have chosen to do.  In addition to the pure destruction of demolition, there is the aftermath .... construction dust, the clean up -- which is really nothing more than my attempt to impose some order on a chaotic process (for me, it is a pretty good coping mechanism).  Although the demolition so far has been on the upper-level, today the demolition is on the main floor, where the current wall between the dining room and a small bedroom will come down because it needs to be moved to increase the size of the small bedroom into what will be the guest suite. This is a load-bearing wall, so it is a big deal to take down.  

Once again, preparation is key.  In the foyer there are two doorways -- one leads into the main level bedroom that will be enlarged into the guest suite (which is sealed off in the photo to your left) and the other door leads into the current living room/temporary kitchen (which is sealed off in the photo to your right).  When the load-bearing wall comes down there will be lots of that nasty construction dust.

Here is a view of the load-bearing wall that will come down.  To the left of the heat register is the chimney stack that will be removed. 

The framers need to construct two temporary support walls on each side of the load-bearing wall to support the second floor before they take this wall down.  The next photo shows that the load-bearing wall is gone and you can see the two temporary support walls.  

Tomorrow the framers will need to insert a beam where the load-bearing wall was that will take the load where the upper-level floor joists meet.  The structural engineer has declared that a support post will also be constructed in the basement to help support these loads.  All I care about is that this old house doesn't fall down.  

Since they have removed the chimney stack, here is a view, from the upper-level bathroom into the main level, where you can see one of the temporary support walls.  Yes, there is a giant hole in the floor of the only remaining bathroom and source of running water in the house.

Somehow in the process of all this demolition, the sewer line for the upper-level bath (which travels down to the main-level floor before going into the basement) was compromised.  That means there is a leak and to avoid the risk of contamination, I cannot use the upper-level bath room facilities until the plumbers can repair this problem. The best contractor in the world has already arranged for the plumbers to come by tomorrow to address this problem.  

Well, that presents an unexpected challenge when the contractor tells me I cannot spend the night in the house.  Fortunately, I have some back up plans and will spend the night at the home of some very dear and generous friends. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The contractor is really putting the pressure on the framers to get their part of the job completed, so there is also more framing progress in the midst of demolition.  Behind the saw horse in this next photo you can see the framing for the fireplace along the south wall of the mast bedroom.  Yeah, this is a total indulgence, but how wonderful will this fireplace be on a snowy winter night?

More framing progress...this photo (to the left) shows the framing for the shower in the master bathroom and behind it you are actually seeing the framing that will close the wall to the existing upper-level bathroom.  And this photo (below) shows the area that will be framed in for the toilet, adjacent to the shower.

Probably because I really can't believe there is this giant hole between the upper- and main-levels of the house, here is another view, this time from the main-level looking up.  As you might imagine, I will be very happy when there are no more of these holes in the house.

I am packing up my stuff to head out for the night.  I'll be back in the morning to meet the kitchen designer, and I hopefully will return to a repaired sewer line so I can be back in my house.