April 2, On demo day three we removed the soffit (area above the old cabinets) in the kitchen. The cabinets we ordered go to the ceiling so this needed to be removed. We discovered that the soffit hid a vent pipe that was not flush with the studs along with electrical wires going in several directions. As we removed the soffit, original insulation and dried up mouse poo rained down on my husband; not his favorite part of our demolition. I laughed, hard.
After we removed the soffit
We also started to take up the laminate kitchen floor. This task has proven to be our biggest challenge during demo thus far. There were two layers of laminate, including the original and one that seemed to be 10-20 years old. The glue holding it down was disgustingly sticky. After a half hour of not getting very far, we took a break and headed to our storage unit to get a floor shovel and other tools to help, “work smarter, not harder.” Unfortunately, the tools didn’t help as much as we hoped but eventually we figured out a system of chiseling the laminate, tiny piece by tiny piece. After getting about half of it up, we moved on for the day. We decided it would be better to work on it slowly over the next few days.
Kitchen tile before
A sticky mess
Next, we pulled up the carpet that was throughout the house. Our plan is to put new carpet in the bedrooms and lay down luxury vinyl plank throughout the rest of the house.
Carpet before
Hardwood after
We couldn’t put carpet in the dumpster so it’s in our spare room for now.
One of the most interesting parts of demolition is what we uncover as we are taking apart the house. On the first day, I was scared shitless by a collection of old plastic bags the previous owner kept in a drawer. The bag moved quickly as I was pulling out the drawer and my mind went straight to rat. We found a baking sheet under the corner cabinet, along with some Sweet and Lows stuck to the back wall. They must have dropped behind the cabinet. There are remnants of the original wall paper and, as I mentioned before, the original tile floor. Even if we do continue to say, “Why in the hell would they do that?” I enjoy the story these items tell about the history of the house and it’s previous owners.
Baking Pan
Sweet and Lows
Original kitchen wall paper