DIARY OF A RENOVATION: WEEK 1 CONSTRUCTION
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As you can imagine, the first week of construction is the busiest week. We have an extremely aggressive timeline so there's no time to waste. Here's a quick recap of what happened and where we stood at the end of the first week.
Day 1: Demo Day Demo Day is always exciting because it means the project is starting! Since this house was built in 1959, it was necessary for us to get a lead and asbestos test prior to demolition which we did and...of course, there was evidence of both. What that means is that you have to contain the lead and asbestos. This is accomplished with the help of a hazardous materials team (pros). Don't do this yourself! Once it's done, they do an air test to make sure all is clear and we're good to go...here's what the scene looked like during the process!
I believe if your house was built before 1970, you are at risk of having lead and asbestos in your home so be sure to get your renovation spaces tested before you begin demolition. They become hazardous to your health when they are airborne! Do not risk your health over a few hundred dollars. Unfortunately, during demo, you also find surprises you were not anticipating. In our case, removing baseboards revealed a possible termite infestation...ugh!!
The homeowners just bought the house so there was a termite inspection done by the homeowners earlier in the year. I contacted the termite inspection company to come out to test the area again. It turned out to be an old infestation and only in the front of the house, but to be safe, they recommended an exterior treatment. Better to be safe than sorry! It was a very productive week overall. Besides all the design decisions and materials that needed to be specified (I'll write a separate blog post on that), the construction crew did a great job of pulling electrical throughout the house, framing the baths for the new layouts, and getting the plumbing rough-ins started. Here's what it looked like by Day 5...I was very happy with the progress!
Stay tuned for Week 2 of this Project!
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