Old House Renovation Journal

[mbb308]

Interesting first day dear...while the house next door to us...wasnt that old..and a rental sadly neglected...it was home to pigeons and also squirrel's...then someone finally bought it and the pigeons kept flying around when they put the new roof on...wondering WTF happened...their home was gone....keep the comments coming dear...I enjoy reading about your day....

The one we did four years ago was home to an entire herd of pigeons (okay, I know they come in flocks, but for as much sh*t as there was, it looked more like a herd). They were fun to finally get rid of - and it took closing the place up completely to confuse them and make them go.

 

[Arden]

Oh... did I mention that we have BATS! They fly down through the walls into the basement, and stay there in the winter. Always gotta be ready to duck!

 

[mbb308]

Oh... did I mention that we have BATS! They fly down through the walls into the basement, and stay there in the winter. Always gotta be ready to duck!

Your house is built like this one. It is the old framing method called "balloon" framing, where the wall studs run all the way from the foundation to the attic. When a balloon house catches fire and the fire gets in the walls, the roof is off it in no time.

New wall studs are short. Each floor is built as a complete platform, and then that story's walls are built and stood up. The next platform is built on top of those walls, and so on. It's one of the improvements of modern building methods, because it is "draftstopped" by design - there isn't the wall chimney between each stud. This type of construction is called "platform" framing.

One of the things we will have to do to bring this house up to modern code is to install fireblocking between each stud. Either wood or mineral wool insulation is acceptable.

 

[wildrose70]

The one we did four years ago was home to an entire herd of pigeons (okay, I know they come in flocks, but for as much sh*t as there was, it looked more like a herd). They were fun to finally get rid of - and it took closing the place up completely to confuse them and make them go.

They do make a lot of do-do...my boys used to raise them...and that was fun for mom of course..lol

 

[mbb308]

They do make a lot of do-do...my boys used to raise them...and that was fun for mom of course..lol

With your recipe book and selection of casserole dishes, those pigeons would make quite a batch of bargaining chips!!!!

Off to the rack - morning comes early - mostly too soon.

More naily old trim tomorrow.

 

[wildrose70]

With your recipe book and selection of casserole dishes, those pigeons would make quite a batch of bargaining chips!!!!

Off to the rack - morning comes early - mostly too soon.

More naily old trim tomorrow.

Hey i cook a mean squirrel too...see yu tomorrow.>>>>>>

 

[mbb308]

Hey i cook a mean squirrel too...see yu tomorrow.>>>>>>

Small animals don't stand a chance in your kitchen....the traps,and the recipes.


Ready for another day of dirt and work....we're claening up as we go....it's incredible how much grit and grunge is behind the old woodwork.

 

[wildrose70]

Small animals don't stand a chance in your kitchen....the traps,and the recipes.


Ready for another day of dirt and work....we're claening up as we go....it's incredible how much grit and grunge is behind the old woodwork.

yes those little ones fit better in the 40 qt casserole......oh I know we removed woodwork too when doing remodeling...my funniest thing was knocking down old plaster!!! Give me a hammer and I go nuts...but what a mess....we did that to 2 bedrooms and the whole hallway going upstairs...walls were badly cracked...the only route to go....

 

[mbb308]

yes those little ones fit better in the 40 qt casserole......oh I know we removed woodwork too when doing remodeling...my funniest thing was knocking down old plaster!!! Give me a hammer and I go nuts...but what a mess....we did that to 2 bedrooms and the whole hallway going upstairs...walls were badly cracked...the only route to go....

Plaster needs to flex only 1/360th to ge in stress enough to start to crack. If it gets wet, say no more - it returns to its component parts. New drywall is the best repair - remove and replace. Drywall will flex some, too.

McC loves to tear out plaster, but hates to clean the mess it makes. The mess goes everywhere, too.

 

[wildrose70]

Plaster needs to flex only 1/360th to ge in stress enough to start to crack. If it gets wet, say no more - it returns to its component parts. New drywall is the best repair - remove and replace. Drywall will flex some, too.

McC loves to tear out plaster, but hates to clean the mess it makes. The mess goes everywhere, too.

Ohhh yes the mess the dust sifts from one end of the place to every little nook and cranny and horrible to clean....all this is bringing back memories of all the re-modeling we did....wow how did I survive...

 

[mbb308]

Ohhh yes the mess the dust sifts from one end of the place to every little nook and cranny and horrible to clean....all this is bringing back memories of all the re-modeling we did....wow how did I survive...

Somehow, we do. Off for another day of dust and dirt.

 

[Arden]

Plaster needs to flex only 1/360th to ge in stress enough to start to crack. If it gets wet, say no more - it returns to its component parts. New drywall is the best repair - remove and replace. Drywall will flex some, too.

McC loves to tear out plaster, but hates to clean the mess it makes. The mess goes everywhere, too.

Drywall and plaster dust are the pits... it does go everywhere, and you wind up consuming a percentage of it too.

One word: filtration MASK...

 

[Harmless Pig]

Drywall and plaster dust are the pits... it does go everywhere, and you wind up consuming a percentage of it too.

One word: filtration MASK...

Rockwool is fun, too! And this other insulation (it looks like pencil shavings). God, that sh*t is uncomfortable!

 

[mbb308]

Rockwool is fun, too! And this other insulation (it looks like pencil shavings). God, that sh*t is uncomfortable!

Well, we cut down the need for rockwool insulation today - we took out two small walls to salvage the studs and cut them up for fireblocking around the perimeter of the second floor. The first floor walls have a bottom plate - it doesn't run all the way to the mud sill. We'll only need rockwool for a couple of bastard holes and the penetrations for the wires and pipes.

 

[wildrose70]

I'm sort of curious dear...what is a bastard hole...is that what you call it when you get mad...I'm serious....never heard that term before...besides I'm bumping this up b/4 bedtime....

 

[mbb308]

I'm sort of curious dear...what is a bastard hole...is that what you call it when you get mad...I'm serious....never heard that term before...besides I'm bumping this up b/4 bedtime....

That would be a non-technical term for a hole that is f*ed up. These places have things going on in them - one stud bay had a let-in diagonal wood brace in it, and one had a piece of bracing for the top of the staircase. The rockwool will be easier to use in those cases because it is flexible.

And thanks for the bump. You never know who may come visit and add a little tidbit for the mind.

 

[wildrose70]

Well I'm always interested and that makes sense.....besides what do I do at 5 in the morn....wish my scanner was working right.....darn puter's!!! I wld post the old pic of our house....

 

[mbb308]

Well I'm always interested and that makes sense.....besides what do I do at 5 in the morn....wish my scanner was working right.....darn puter's!!! I wld post the old pic of our house....

Well, when you do get the scanner working, you know where to put the picture. That's what we do here - old houses, and the silly people who get a kick out of them.

The staircase is trying to come apart and fail on us, and we don't weigh all that much. I guess that we'll have to attend to that today - tomorrow at the latest.

 

[wildrose70]

Well, when you do get the scanner working, you know where to put the picture. That's what we do here - old houses, and the silly people who get a kick out of them.

The staircase is trying to come apart and fail on us, and we don't weigh all that much. I guess that we'll have to attend to that today - tomorrow at the latest.

Well I have a scanner and scot and I put the software in again...but for some dumb reason it is being a pain in the ass>>>
Hey you be careful there...dont need any more bumps on the head!!

Well if we are sillly for liking old houses....I think we're in good company...always been a passion of mine....

 

[mbb308]

Well I have a scanner and scot and I put the software in again...but for some dumb reason it is being a pain in the ass>>>
Hey you be careful there...dont need any more bumps on the head!!

Well if we are sillly for liking old houses....I think we're in good company...always been a passion of mine....

We're pretty darned careful - neither of us is a spring chicken any more. And it was the bump on the butt we are worried about - that, and not having to fix the thing when it's trashed.

 

[wildrose70]

We're pretty darned careful - neither of us is a spring chicken any more. And it was the bump on the butt we are worried about - that, and not having to fix the thing when it's trashed.

Since I know how old you are I get a chuckle out of that statement!!!.....and yes you don't need to make extra work for yourself....

 

[mbb308]

Since I know how old you are I get a chuckle out of that statement!!!.....and yes you don't need to make extra work for yourself....

Chris has about 4 and a half years on me, so now, you know how old he is, too. We're just not 23 anymore, all balls and no brains. We don't heal quite as fast, and the pain hurts a little worse and lasts a little longer.

Ready to hit it - out the door. Hope that your day is wonderful.

 

[mbb308]

Just wandered in from another exciting day of old trim removal and general clean-up. We got a visit from the customer's main construction person, and he was really pleased at the rate of work already done. That is always good to hear, too. We also discussed how he wants to repair the broken staircase - now, while it's still easy, as opposed to later, after it breaks and becomes a real pain to fix.

 

[Arden]

Just wandered in from another exciting day of old trim removal and general clean-up. We got a visit from the customer's main construction person, and he was really pleased at the rate of work already done. That is always good to hear, too. We also discussed how he wants to repair the broken staircase - now, while it's still easy, as opposed to later, after it breaks and becomes a real pain to fix.

I have a curved staircase that I wanted to have the paint stripped off of on the step surface area. I've tried several different folks, no one wants to strip the paint the old fashioned way... everyone wants to take the whold darned staircase apart and dip it to strip it. It's frustrating because the staircase is unsupported, and there are already cracks in the plaster on the underside of the stairwell.

I feel like it would compromise the structural integrity to tear the whole thing apart and re-assemble. Hammering would definitely take its toll.

If I didn't get physically ill around chemicals like that, I'd do it myself...

Just another old house frustration...

 

[mbb308]

I have a curved staircase that I wanted to have the paint stripped off of on the step surface area. I've tried several different folks, no one wants to strip the paint the old fashioned way... everyone wants to take the whold darned staircase apart and dip it to strip it. It's frustrating because the staircase is unsupported, and there are already cracks in the plaster on the underside of the stairwell.

I feel like it would compromise the structural integrity to tear the whole thing apart and re-assemble. Hammering would definitely take its toll.

If I didn't get physically ill around chemicals like that, I'd do it myself...

Just another old house frustration...

Are you stripping stain or paint - or both?

You can use a heat gun and do it yourself - it's just as tedious as it can be, but mindless. You can put on some music, sit on the stair, turn on the gun, and go for hours. It's amazing how you can focus on the few square inches under your nose while doing this stuff, and how the time will melt away.

I will only strip paint on a cost-plus basis - the time can't be figured - it just takes too long.

I agree with you - if it ain't broke, don't take it down.

Use ventilation.

Post back or PM if you need more info....