Progress in the back room(s)

Chad nails in the new floor joists.


The old joists lie in the back of the truck for removal. What can be recycled in the house or as furniture will have nails pulled. All else will be burned.


Chad cuts out the old joists from above with a chainsaw and throws the pieces down for removal out the back door.

Chuck removes old joists which are rotten.

Chuck adds bracing to the back wall to hold it in place until the new floor can be built back.

Tearing out the floor in the back of the house. The area above used to be a porch which was later enclosed. There is significant rot from water damage that was never repaired while this floor was a roof, and there are four courses of flooring piled one on top of the other. Removing all of that and replacing with good wood will solve the structural problems as well as give an inch or two more space to the upstairs back bedroom which is short.

New Kitchen Wall

The finished wall. Hooray! It looks simple, but it wasn't at all due to all of the issues surrounding the support for the upper floor.

Chad and I look at the day's work.

I'm removing plaster. Not long after this photo was taken, I had to climb down and rest due to an asthma attack. I have to remember to wear a mask next time.

Chad is putting in the bottom of the wall. Several supports are holding up the floors and walls above this area while he works.

Handing tools to Chad. To my left is the wall that is in progress.

The ceiling of the downstairs bathroom is the last of the plaster to come down. This stuff is particularly hard to remove because they used metal lathe with concrete-like plaster over it. Very hard, and very difficult to break up.

The hallway wall behind the dining room. This partition wall will be rebuilt.

Before shot of the wall between the kitchen and the downstairs bedroom. Chad and I look things over.

Gettin' stuff done!

Cross posted in my usual blog Another Think Coming:

I worked all day yesterday on the house with Mom and Chad. He built the wall between the kitchen and the downstairs bedroom, and Mom and I tore down the ceiling in the downstairs bath. Well, most of it. It was hard. Really. I'll post pictures later on my houseblog so you can see what I mean.

Today, Mom and I are going to an architectural salvage place in downtown Kansas City to see if we can find anything that will be useful for the house. Wish me luck! I'll take pictures of the place and any prospective goodies.

Aunt Mary and Uncle John are coming tonight and will be helping with my house tomorrow. :) Hooray! Progress!!!

Great News!!!!

See my main blog site's entry Alls Well that Ends Better (OR Why I love everyone today). Photos of this weekend's work is forthcoming. Happiness!!!!!