Basement Door Demo
Since we’re working on getting new stairs down to the basement, we decided to also start working on the first floor bathroom again. Part of that work involved removing the old door that opened into the basement.
Posts Tagged "basement"
Closing Up the Basement Wall
Bob was over a few nights ago, helping us get the last bit of plywood up along the wall (by where our basement stairs will go). That said, he was off doing his own measurements for the stairs while Liz and I measured and cut the plywood for the last remaining section.
Stair Repairs and Tackling an Odd Shape
With the space behind the stairs cleared up, Liz finished her measuring. With all the lines in place, I cut the board with a circular saw, and Liz came in afterwards to do some cleanup work with the multitool.
Fine Tuning the Plywood
Liz and I spent time tonight working Bob in the basement. We had him assess our work from Saturday, and he showed us how (and why) our measurements resulted in a board that didn’t quite sit right when we tried to dry fit it. While our measurements were quite accurate… we made the assumption that the top of the wall…
Saturday Basement Day
Once we got done with our cleanup (removing a lot of trash, doing a quick pass with our shop vac), we worked on cutting up some plywood to continue strengthening up the walls.
Basement Wall Work
After work, Liz and I suited up and headed to the basement. I have to tell you – it was not an easy or pleasant thing, to keep that momentum going. The last thing I want to do after a day of work is to come home… and then do more work.
Measure Twice, Measure Twice Again
Everything else mostly fell into place after that, though it was a bit slow going. The first set of measurements took a while, as Liz and I talked through the logic of what needed to be recorded, and how those lines translated over to the plywood.
Adding Plywood to the Basement Walls
The board, cut to fit along the studs, with a 30 degree taper at the base, as well as notches for the electrical outlet and floor joists.
Plotting the Stairs
The big cement pour was a large step for us, and the stairs will allow us to start to bring down boxes from the second floor. We’ll have to clear out more space in the basement, but the eventual goal is to relocate most (if not all) of our “things” on the second floor, down to the basement.
Basement Cleanup
After work today, Liz and I went in the basement to clear up some of the debris that accumulated during Liz’s solo run a few days ago. She had put most of the demo debris in bags, and continued clearing out the space above where the stairs will go. For my part, I started hauling out bags of trash and drywall.
Liz Solo Demo Run
I came home around 7:30PM, and on opening the door heard all sorts of banging and crashing from the basement. When I opened the door to the first floor bathroom (which also leads to the basement), I saw this.
Final, Big Cement Pour in the Basement
After a very busy week involving us getting 45 bags of cement, setting up a new support beam, and cutting/prepping the pit… the big day finally arrived. Our final basement pour, which will give us a whole, solid floor again. Something we haven’t had in quite some time.
Cutting Cement and Final Basement Prep
Big night for us in the basement! With a second column pad poured, and a new support beam installed, and a first pass taken at lowering the pit depth… we were ready to cut a clean ledge for the pour, and to do a final pass at getting things to the proper depth.
Cement Pour Prep: Lowering the Pit
The striped line on the bottom represents 4 inches (the actual depth of what we need to get). The line above with the arrows is adjusted for the height of the laser level itself. So if the red dot is hitting that line, we know we’re good.
A New Support Beam in the Basement
Bob getting the second column prepped. Note that these are not the final columns, and are just to help raise the joists up a little more. Again, look to the line and the red dot on the left.