It seems that every time we go to the ReStore we find something. Among other items we found a vanity like we wanted for the first floor bathroom. That bathroom is small but we still wanted to make it as handicap accessible as possible. We didn’t want a handicap sink but did want one in which the sink stuck out over the cabinet. We found it in the color I wanted for a savings of $200.
Bathrooms
ReStore purchase
We have been going often to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. We found this shower base that will be great for the lower bathroom that will be partially handicap accessible. We can’t do 36 inch doors. We had to redesign the bathroom to use it. Also tar papered the exterior wall. It had been bare particle board for 6 years!
Revisions Continue
One more revision for the bathrooms. I changed the stool placement to make better use of the space.
Sabotoged Joists
We had installed new joists in the bathroom ceiling/floor using a level but they didn’t turn out level! We discovered we needed to do work in the basement! Plumbing had cut through one joists leaving it to sag another joists was splitting and weak. Before we could do the repairs, Steven had to remove large sewer pipes and electrical wiring. He then had to do rewiring so we would still have some electricity. While he did that I cleaned and organized. Steven also went through supplies stored in the basement into plumbing and electrical. I went through our lights and chose glass globes for the five fans we will install.
We also needed to add joist hangers at one weak spot and install a 4 x 4 to reinforce another.
Days off turn into Shopping Days
We found that we were both feeling drained and decided to take a break. We had found items that we wanted to take to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and loaded the car. When you donate you receive a slip for taxes and a coupon for 20% off. We found hardwood flooring for two bedrooms. We won’t use the reclaimed flooring Steven had that was full of nails! Save a lot of time and energy! We also found stone backsplash that I want to use at our own home, a shower base (34″ x 59″ with two seats) that we will put in the first floor bathroom, and two light fixtures. Plumbing was 50% off and Steven found many plumbing tube parts he can use. We saw a vanity but decided it wouldn’t fit. After we got home Steven suggested a place to use it and I agreed so the next day we went back and purchased it. It originally sold just under $1000 and we got it for $75. The granite is cracked but can be repaired. Steven found some pex tubing for plumbing. We also purchased some wood spindles for the stair railing.
We went to Menards and rented a truck – took 3 hours.
Goodbye Sewer Pipes
Steven spent a lot of time removing old sewer pipes. I wish I had taken a picture of the maze of pipes before he removed them! This is what is left.
Raising a clawfoot bathtub through a ceiling
The kitchen joists are finished so on to the bathroom. We removed two 2×6 joists to make a hole in the bathroom floor/ceiling. Large enough to use the hoist to raise our antique claw foot bathtub. It is on a 4 wheel platform so we can wheel it around until we are ready to install it. We also lowered one radiator to use in the kitchen and raised 3 radiators to use in the two bathrooms and hall. Our plumbing contractor stopped to answer a few questions. He’ll come again after we get the new 2×8 joists in the bathroom floor. It has been very hot (90) so I installed blinds over the south and west windows.
Looking to the Future – 1st Floor
Looking to the Future – 2nd Floor
Over the past 5 years we have had many ideas on how to improve the second floor. We resisted raising the roof (I resisted most). We finally decided it was the only idea that really made sense. The stairway to the second floor was an L shape and had a low slanting roof making it basically impossible to bring up large pieces of furniture – like a large bed. Raising the roof was the only solution and would result in a 4-bedroom house with a bath that did not also have slanting ceilings.
Second Floor Ceilings
All of the second floor ceilings are low and make the much of the floor space unusable so we decided to raise the roofs on all three sections.
