I'm demolishing stuff

[yossi]

I think I'm in love with my crowbar. Best goddamn tool ever.

Anyway, I'm going to be tearing some shit down and then (hopefully) building it back up, so that it looks better than it did before. I figured I'd post some pics of my experience. I'm a total novice, so any tips or tricks would be welcome and appreciated. Otherwise, feel free to gaze upon my puny destructive powers.

This is from when I first saw there'd be a bit of a hiccup in my painting plans. I was sanding to prep the wall and noticed some bowing in the paneling. I pulled off the trim from underneath the window, and there was a bad patch job done with spackle.

Screen stretch 1

Being the inquisitive person that I am, I started ripping panel off the wall and hit drywall. Water damage/possibly termite. At this point I was pleading with various and sundry deities that it wouldn't be too awful.

Screen stretcher 2

Screen stretcher 3

 

[thør]

Go for it! But do it carefully.

 

[Not Normal]

Is that drywall or plaster? They are totally different beasts.

Destruction is way more fun than construction, BTW. I bought a sledge hammer last week to destroy my porch steps. It was fun.

 

[yossi]

http://imgur.com/DBZyTkK.jpg

About as far as I got today. I didn't feel like dealing with the electric on the left side of the wall and it was getting late. But so much fun! A lot of aggression was gotten out on paneling and very old dry wall. Looks like the original stuff from the 50s when the house was built. They had it attached to the studs with finishing nails.

 

[Cathleen]

Crowbars are good, but sawzalls are great fun!

Have fun and be safe.

 

[thør]

http://imgur.com/DBZyTkK.jpg

About as far as I got today. I didn't feel like dealing with the electric on the left side of the wall and it was getting late. But so much fun! A lot of aggression was gotten out on paneling and very old dry wall. Looks like the original stuff from the 50s when the house was built. They had it attached to the studs with finishing nails.

No insulation in the exterior wall?

 

[Cathleen]

No insulation in the exterior wall?

I just noticed that too.

Yossi, you're going at it, girl.

 

[yossi]

Go for it! But do it carefully.

I'm trying to be. I have the electricity turned off in the room and I bought a nifty pair of protective goggles.

Is that drywall or plaster? They are totally different beasts.

Destruction is way more fun than construction, BTW. I bought a sledge hammer last week to destroy my porch steps. It was fun.

It's panelling atop dry wall and the patch around the window was either plaster or spackle. It came off very easily, so I assumed spackle.

 

[thør]

I just noticed that too.

Yossi, you're going at it, girl.

And, the window is framed incorrectly.

 

[Cathleen]

And, the window is framed incorrectly.

Now you're just showing off. ; )

 

[thør]

Now you're just showing off. ; )

No, just amazed....

 

[The Greek]

Crowbars are good, but sawzalls are great fun!

Have fun and be safe.

Agreed. Sawzalls work great. Just be completely aware of where your electrical and pipes are to avoid a nasty surprise

 

[yossi]

Crowbars are good, but sawzalls are great fun!

Have fun and be safe.

Sawzalls...they sound intriguing. I'll look into that.

I'm hoping to learn as much as possible. I have family coming in August to help me redo the bathroom.

No insulation in the exterior wall?

I just noticed that too.

Yossi, you're going at it, girl.

None. After I saw that, I knew I'd need to do more than just patch the studs that were damaged and patch the wall. I'm gutting the room to put in insulation on the exterior and interior walls. One for energy purposes and the other for sound proofing.

 

[thør]

I'm trying to be. I have the electricity turned off in the room and I bought a nifty pair of protective goggles.

You need to talk with some locals about what insulation is right for you and you may want to change the window out for a more efficient one.

 

[Cathleen]

No, just amazed....

Kind of looks like you can just push it through. I don't know about framing (heck I don't know much about construction), but it looks to be missing stability of sorts.

Yossi, have fun.

It's bedtime for me. 'Night.

 

[thør]

Kind of looks like you can just push it through. I don't know about framing (heck I don't know much about construction), but it looks to be missing stability of sorts.

Yossi, have fun.

It's bedtime for me. 'Night.

G-night.

Yossi,

You've got a bit of work, but it should go good for you.

 

[neci]

tear it up, girl.

 

[StrayKat]

I envy you. I wish I could do something like that.

 

[Not Normal]

Good Job, Yossi. Its a great way to learn.

 

[yossi]

And, the window is framed incorrectly.

Oh bleh. Of course it is. I'll look into that as well. Thank you for the heads up!

You need to talk with some locals about what insulation is right for you and you may want to change the window out for a more efficient one.

Noted. I was thinking rolled insulation until I saw the stud spacing. There are a lot and they aren't space evenly. One has 9.5", another 10", etc.

G-night.

Yossi,

You've got a bit of work, but it should go good for you.

I hope so. I have my fingers crossed.

tear it up, girl.

I do love wrecking stuff. It's been a good workout.

 

[SuprSalor]

Looks more like dry rot than termites to me, hard to tell exactly from the picture. One is just as bad as the other and Thor is correct, framing is definitely out of code. Some DYI books and some contractors advice on building codes and you should be able to do the job yourself. It ain't rocket surgery, but does need to be done right. Measure twice and cut once is the carpenters rule.. take your time, understand the steps involved and you'll be fine. Save a ton of money and the pride in the job when you do it yourself.

 

[yossi]

I envy you. I wish I could do something like that.

It's one of the most satisfying things I've done in a while. I suppose this is how it feels when you own something so big and it needs fixing.

Good Job, Yossi. Its a great way to learn.

I have to remind myself not to get ahead in my mind and overwhelm myself. There's so much that I want to accomplish, but it'll be small steps. I don't have the money for big steps.

 

[yossi]

Looks more like dry rot than termites to me, hard to tell exactly from the picture. One is just as bad as the other and Thor is correct, framing is definitely out of code. Some DYI books and some contractors advice on building codes and you should be able to do the job yourself. It ain't rocket surgery, but does need to be done right. Measure twice and cut once is the carpenters rule.. take your time, understand the steps involved and you'll be fine. Save a ton of money and the pride in the job when you do it yourself.

I'll grab some window framing books from work tomorrow and read up on it. If I'm going to put the effort in, I may as well do it correctly.

 

[thør]

I'll grab some window framing books from work tomorrow and read up on it. I I'm going to put the effort in, I may as well do it correctly.

Just take your time and study up.

 

[yossi]

I got the front bedroom completely torn out - I had family obligations for the holiday, so demolition took a back seat for a while. Everything came down relatively easily. My brother came over to add some muscle and since he's got a good 7" on me, he came in handy.


picture here

This is one of the inside walls, the studs look more evenly placed than the outside wall studs. I haven't measured them yet though. One helpful thing done by the builders - they marked the studs on the drywall. I could swing a hammer without worrying overly much. I'm going to get an electrician to look at the wiring. It's old and looks original.

picture here

Some studs need to be replaced because of termite damage. Not as many as I thought, but enough. The studs are 1.5x2.5". An odd size and not up to code today, but I'm not replacing them all so not sure what to do there.

Anyway, progress thus far.