Apart From You

Current status at Milly: No Internet.  The AT&T guy came out but was unable to install due to a weak signal.  He submitted a ticket for another technician to diagnose the lines to the house from the hub to ensure there were no damaged wires.  That technician left us a door hanger with the following box checked:

• I am very sorry to inform you that our network will not support AT&T Advanced TV/U-verse at your home/business.  Please call 1-800-288-2020 if you have any additional questions.

This is a problem since my husband and I work from home.  It is also irritating since the previous owners mentioned that it was a big shebang when AT&T began offering their services in the area and we double checked with the company to ensure that we would be able to access internet.

Reality is miles apart from advertising.  Disappointed! 

We are exploring other options.

On the renovation front, we discovered that the MDF sub-floor top layer is actually particleboard. 

Particleboard is created by combining resin and sawdust.  MDF (medium density fiberboard) is created from wood fibers.  Therefore, BOO. 

That's the dust/sand from the carpet padding rubbing and breaking down over the years.  Say it with me - no carpet!

Removing moulding!  We are undecided whether to keep or replace the moulding.  There are issues, such as...

Water, rot, and possible mold.  We are also undecided whether or not to tear up the drywall under the north-facing windows to check for mold since we discovered mold in the northern side of attic during the inspection.  There are a lot of undecisions being made.

We are using power tools!  Well, only DH has so far in order to test the removal of the particleboard.  Also, a circular saw through particleboard kicks up mucho dust.

Although it is glued down, it's glued down shittily! Yay for crappy construction work!  ... 

One 3" section down, 498039284932 more to go.

The front and garage door had hardwood floor, and underneath that hardwood floor was lauan, a substance similar to plywood, not as strong, but it makes up for that by....

Being extremely annoying to pry up since it splinters through the different layers. We had to take turns, it was that hard!

Task: Moulding and Floors
Sunday: 4 hours vacuuming, hardwood floor removal, particleboard test cut.
Monday: 2 hours moulding removal, lauan removal
Tuesday: 3 hours sobbing in the AT&T guy's arms, complete lauan removal, and complete moulding removal from first floor.
Total Hours: 9 hours
Total to Date: 13.5 hours

Carping on Carpet

I hate carpet.  I really, really hate carpet.  That's why we're removing it!

My eyes are super eyes.  They can see through fogged safety goggles.

This is what happens to carpet when you have a cat.  Do the world a favor and don't get a cat.

This is a built-in bookcase in the study. 

This is the carpet under the built-in.  Did I mention I hate carpet?  Not sure yet if the thought of it there will haunt me for the rest of Milly's life.

We got super masks for the second day and a nice argument over Bane or Darth Vader resemblance, along with terribad impressions.  Have you heard a female Bane?  Yeah...

Our growing pile of waste!  You're welcome, Earth.

MDF under the carpet padding.  On top of OSB.  Countless hours of sawing and scraping awaits!  Please, please don't be glued down.  And please, please let there be a sale on 1/2" tongue and groove plywood sub-floor...  A girl can dream.

The original homeowners (once removed from us) left messages!  Or hoodlums.

Onto the molding removal!  Since it's over that lovely urine stained MDF, it's got to come up.  Hopefully we'll be able to salvage and reuse.

Task: Carpet Removal
Friday: 2 hours carpet removal

Saturday: 2.5 hours carpet removal, half of the carpet tack removal, and some molding removal.

Total Hours: 4.5 hours