Sup aged house.

Dear reno diary:

My hands ache. My body aches. I'm out of breath and I'm dirty. I smell like old wood [ha ha] and I'm so over cob webs. I've knocked out a truck load of plank board. Enough to build a 6 foot dining table, 2 end tables and a coffee table. Jesus. And there is more where that came from. I could do my head board and bed side tables if I keep this up.

I'm looking across the room towards a window and all I see is light reflecting millions of dust particles. I'm breathing it all in. I've discovered old entry ways covered up by ply wood, then panel board and then some dry wall. It's kind of neat. Someone, 80 years ago, touched every piece of wood that I'm touching and nailed each nail in by hand. Wicked. And here I am tearing most of the interior out. I'm sure they'll appreciate it should they ever get a chance to see my masterpiece.

The thing about old houses vs. new houses is the structure. They over structured old houses. They were reinforced everywhere. Nothing was going to take them down. BUT, with that being said, as wood ages, it becomes dryer and dryer to the point where a single spark, and this house is a pile of charcoal in 10 minutes or less. I've seen it happen and that's the only fear I have. The electrical can be changed, the venting system can be changed, all inexpensively due to the walls being torn down.

With new houses, money is more important so the workers cut corners, half of them being inexperienced with materials not to code. Every friend I have that has bought a newer home, all have had to go back to the builder for repairs. Someone bought a condo and as a complimentary gift, they were given a tool box. If that isn't a sign to get out, I don't know what is.

With newer houses, you just don't get to discover walls made of brick underneath layers of drywall and panel board. It just doesn't happen. Anything built in the 70's was techni-coloured and wood paneled. 60 - 100+ years is where it's at. Now... I got supremely lucky and I'll tell you why, most old houses have had owners who have torn at least one wall down, or replaced something. This house has been untouched except for the one support wall [wtf]. It's just been layered over the years, no one took the time to tear out the old lath and plaster. The only bummer I've had to really experience is the support wall the numb skulls took out a couple of years ago. But that's it. All walls are original. They even have the original wall paper still on. The upstairs has been completely untouched. The stairwell, everything. And I like that. It gives me something to work with AND allows me to save the plank board for wicked creations. I'm also able to incorporate some of the old in with the new, like keeping the brick where it is, using the thinner plank board as a back splash, keeping the old oak stairs and making them shine. Things like that. I'm just stunned at how many inches of space I'm gaining by taking down the layers of shit from the years of trends. 4 inches on average per wall, per side. I'm gaining square footage. Lol.

Awesome.