Prep Day for #DemoDay

Back in the day, there would have been no prep day! Chris would have had his sledgehammer, prybars, crowbars, and POW, BAM, ZAP - #DemoDay would have been underway.

This time--we are all about saving the trim, keep the dust to a minimum, saving and protecting the hardwood floors on the first floor, and working smarter not harder! So today we prepped for the CREW that will arrive tomorrow!

What does PREP look like?

• Removing the bedroom doors and closet doors
• Removing all the trim and jams from the doors
• Removing all the baseboard and window trim
• Disconnecting all the radiators
• Removing the antique light fixtures
• Protecting the first floor hardwood floors in the foyer
• Creating a tunnel of plastic in foyer to minimize dust in downstairs

We had our morning coffee on the front porch--this is now part of our morning routine when Chris is home--and then we started to work around 9:30 AM. 

We first worked on the trim. Chris was pretty successful with removing most of the trim without much damage. You wouldn't believe how much trim there was from 3 bedrooms and the hallway. It filled the 8' bed pickup truck. There will be lots of pulling nails, stripping, and refinishing in the future.

During the process, we found a postcard dated
June 1, 1892.

Ironic as June 1st is Chris' birthday. Not only that, but we were told the home was built in 1900. Finding a postcard behind the baseboard that was postmarked 1892 makes me wonder if the home is actually older than we thought. I hope to research the names on the postcard and see why I can find out!

Next we worked on protecting the wood floors in the foyer. I had saved all the boxes from the move as I figured we would eventually use them for something!  We first laid the cardboard on the wood floors, then put OSB (cheaper version of plywood) on top for a thick layer of protection. The plastic tunnel was next. I am hopeful that the tunnel will minimize dust in the living room and dining room. Only time will tell! 

We finished up around 6 PM, showered, and headed to The Slate Pub for some nachos and a few cold beers! 

Link to more pictures from Prep Day ~ Aug. 20.

Historic Fact: This area is named the Slate Belt. I had never known that even though I grew up less than 2 hours from here. In the mid 1800's slate was mined in Bangor and the surrounding towns. 

"The Slate Belt of Pennsylvania lies at the base of Blue Mountain, a ridge of the Appalachians, and contains numerous beds of quality slate.  Started in the mid-nineteenth century in Bangor, PA by immigrants from Wales, the slate industry spread rapidly to nearby towns.  Slate was used for a number of purposes, including blackboards and flooring, but mainly it was used as roofing tile, because of its durability. Roofs made of slate can last hundreds of years." More . . ."