Working on 200 year old homes...

[Rmarsh]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

Can be rewarding, or a PITA. I do a lot of my work in these historical old structures. Today was a day to forget....

Renovating a third floor guest bath, full gut, and replace shower, vanity and toilet. In old town, so access is difficult. Used 12" sonotube on ladder to get 2800 lbs. out. It was full mud job, tile on top of full 1" concrete, on top of metal lathe. That alone was an accomplishment.

I think this will be the last bath I do, at least on an upper floor, in +200 year old homes....

One of the toughest things I have ever encountered in demolition work is.... mud job tile on concrete and metal lathe.

Had a job where it was on the walls up to 48" high. Anything less than a full swing of a sledge hammer will result only in chipped tile.

Filling a 50 gallon trash barrel with that stuff was my first mistake......


Those old houses will have time capsules hidden behind the walls sometimes.


I was working a full gut out remodel long time ago....the masons were repairing the chimney and found a small wooden chest in the attic. Guy ran to his truck with it and sped off...I asked about it and they said it was nothing.

[nightfighter]

The only things we found hidden were the sins of the builder.... Like this joist that terminates at the chimney. Had to head it off so it won't be floating under new shower. Then sistered 2x6s to either side for the plumber to run drain through. Only challenge now is new framing too close to chimney so need to get non flammable jacket in there...

[nightfighter]

Love working upside down... but we are building instead of doing demo, so hope to have floor buttoned up soon. Just need plumber to finish rough and get inspection. Then walls and ceiling. More on that later.

Oh, existing floorboards are 4/4..... never easy. They are all going to have to come out.