Day 4 - End of First Week!

Demolition is done, except for the fireplace!  They even started rebuilding today!  They framed the walls for the new bathroom, built the header between the entry hall and the kitchen so they could remove the old support, and readied the area where the plumbing is moving so the plumber can get to work on that on Monday.

Below are a few pictures of today's progress!

New entry hall.

New bathroom wall is on the left.   

The inside of the old closet/pantry become the wall on the right side of the hall.

The breakfast/snack bar will be where the wood/metal pipe is in this picture.

New bathroom - they angled the corner coming from the living room into the hall.

You can see where the old hall was by the color of the foor.

Entrance from hall to kitchen - you can see the new header.

Entry Hall - a view from the kitchen.

Back wall - they insulated the wall pocket and put dry wall up protect the plumbing that will go here.  The plumbing will be enclosed with drywall and will be a "bump out" at the end of the breakfast/snack bar.  There will be a matching "bump out" on the other side of the window for the duct work.

New Bathroom - view from the kitchen.

Next week the plumber, heat/cooling person, and electrician begin their work!

Day 3 - Demolition Continues!

Demolition is nearly done!  Still a little more to go, but most of the major demolition is complete.  The fireplace is still intact, but we need to firm up the future state of that before we destroy the existing one!

Below are today's pictures!

The wall between the bathroom and family room was taken out today.

The duct work will be moved to the outside wall next to the window.

There will be a "bump out" on each side of the window that was in the bathroom.  One will contain plumbing and one will contain the duct work.  

This is what is left of the wall between the kitchen and the bathroom.  

The round pipe is the vent for the hot water heater.  

The new hot water heater will be installed next Monday.

The clothes shoot was removed.

The plumbing will be moved to the outside wall.  

This wall will be the base for the breakfast/snack bar between the kitchen and the family room.

New hall closet.

The wall between the entry hall and the living room was partially removed.  

The lines on the floor indicate where the new closet will be.

Closet and Pantry.  This will be the new entry hall.  

Once the new header and bathroom wall are built the post in this picture will be removed.

Looking from the kitchen to the front door.  

We went to see a house that our contractor built and found the doors and door hardware we want.  Below is a picture of the doors.  He used bronze hardware and it looked great, changed our mind from brushed nickel!

Below is the fireplace in the house he built, we think ours will be similar to this (the fireplace itself, not the surround!).

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!!

Day 2

Second day of demolition - looks like there is at least one more day of demolition to go!

Entry Hall

Closet wall inside the front door still up.

Living room wall toward the kitchen was removed.

Living Room

Still a storage area, but alot was taken to the dumpster.

Living Room

Short wall toward kitchen was removed.

The wall between the closet and the pantry was removed.

Dining Room

Wall between kitchen and dining room was removed.

Kitchen

Looking from the dining room.

Walls, ceiling and floors removed.

Kitchen

Another view.

Kitchen

Ceiling view.

Kitchen

Another ceiling view - ceiling still in dining room.

Bathroom

Soffit and floor was removed.  

Bathroom

Another view.

Family Room

Nothing done in here today!

Discussed fireplace, no final plan yet, but take a good look at the brick, because it is going away.

Family Room

View from family room through hall, kitchen to dining room wall on the other end of the house!

A peep hole to the open concept!

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Today was the first day of demolition!  Much of today was doing "exploratory surgery" to see what surprises lurked behind the walls!  Luckily, there weren't any MAJOR surprises!  Tomorrow the crew will return and should complete the demolition.

Below are before (taken this morning!) and after (taken this afternoon!) pictures.  They really speak for themselves, but of course I will add some valuable commentary!!

Before:  Entry hall looking into the kitchen

After:  Entry Hall looking into the kitchen - Closet door and woodwork was removed.  The closet will be relocated, so this wall will be gone tomorrow!

Before:  Hall Closet

Before:  Pantry

After:  Closet and Pantry - Doors, shelves, and woodwork were removed.

Before:  Living Room (looking from entry hall)

After:  Living Room (looking from entry hall) - Holding area before going to dumpster and/or  temporary storage area for appliances, cabinets, and woodwork which is waiting to find a use elsewhere! 

Before Living Room (looking into entry hall)

After:  Living Room (looking into entry hall) - More holding area!

Before:  Dining Room

After:  Dining Room - flooring, chair rail, and woodwork removed.  Also, holding area overflow!!

After:  Dining Room - Better picture showing removal of chair rail.

Before:  Kitchen (from Dining Room)

After:  Kitchen (from Dining Room) - Cabinets and wall between kitchen and bathroom removed!  This is one area we were concerned about surprises, but none to be found, YEAH!!  The round pipe is the vent for the water heater, this will be eliminated by using a water heater that vents to the outside or a ventless variety.  The rectangular pipe is the clothes shoot, this will be eliminated (seems I was the only one that used it anyway!)  The plan for the remaining pipes is to move them closer to the outside wall.   The plumber has not seen the inside story yet, so hoping that he will not see any problems!!!

 Before:  Kitchen 

After:  Kitchen - The wall between the kitchen and the dining room will be removed and replaced with a peninsula with base cabinets.  The window will also be removed.   The stove will be placed in this area.

After:  Kitchen - A closer look at what is in the wall between the kitchen and the bathroom.

After:  Kitchen - Soffit above the stove - no surprises here either!  We weren't sure what hidden gems we might find in the soffits!

After:  Kitchen - Soffit on living room wall - no surprises, but needs a little duct work!

After:  Kitchen - Soffit on back kitchen wall - a little surprise, found the heat duct to the master bath.    Definitely can't be eliminated, we need heat in the bathroom!  Our general contractor has an idea, not sure what it is, but I'm sure it will work!  Keeping our fingers crossed!!!

Before:  Bathroom (I'm sure you figured that one out!)  

After:  Bathroom - This is not quite as obvious!!  Pretty much GONE!

Before:  Family Room

After:  Family Room - Floor and woodwork removed.  Tomorrow we will discuss options to update/replace the fireplace with our general contractor, a mason, and a fireplace expert!  Will let you know the results in future updates!!

Before:  Family Room (looking into kitchen)

The cabinet does not stay!!

After:  Family Room (looking into kitchen) - Flooring and woodwork removed.  This wall will be gone tomorrow!  There was a little surprise in this wall as well.  There is a heat duct to the main bath on the second floor.  Not sure how, but apparently it can be rerouted (Phew!)

That concludes the FIRST day!