Basement came full of old crap.
Washer and dryer on east wall.
Workbench under kitchen.
Original stairs were a little shaky.
Useful shelves? Not.
Prepping to install C-channel and remove support post.
This L-beam will support one side of the wooden girder.
Mica threatens me with the mini sledge.
The L-channel is in place. Holes are drilled.
Drilling through the steel is slow going.
C-channel is in place on the other side. Bolts tightened.
Cool artsy photo of the C-channel.
Removed shelves and lots of crap.
Bolts all tight and the column is knocked down.
Time to start tearing up the old concrete.
Concrete floor is being more trouble than I thought.
There is a lot of floor left to break up.
Time to pay professionals. They tear it out in hours.
It all got carried out in chunks by hand.
They pour and hand-trowel the new concrete.
As it cures I get ready to acid etch the color.
More curing. 30 days.
Looks so much larger now.
Poured on the acid and letting it set for six hours.
Acid is curing, turning color.
You can see the mist rising from the acid.
It is sure looking umm... interesting.
As it dries I start to get a little worried about the color.
What have I done!?!
The same shot, but now I sealed it with clearcoat! Whew!
Looks a 100x better once it has been sealed.
Marbelized finish is a little psychadelic.
Grade school art project?
Framing the plasma TV space.
Display cubbies are framed.
I sure make a mess.
Big mess, sheetrock going up.
Sheetrock and insulation.
Framing is done, time to sheetrock.
Sheetrock going up.
Sheetrock is ready for mud and tape.
Library nook is sheeted and ready to be taped.
You can see the failed attempt at shelves going into the library. Boo.
Have to rebuild the old shaky stairs.
Stairs are complicated!
New pine stairs start at the bottom.
Stairs are built.
Look very nice... except for top stair. Very crooked. Oh well.
First coat of stain.
Mudding and taping the sheetrock.
Mudding and taping the basement.
Library book shelf started.
Library nook being mudded.
Paint on the walls and the wainscotting going up.
Wainscotting being installed.
Chair rail is installed all around.
Final look for the stairs.
Last coat of stain applied and sealed.
Painting the display cubbies.
Furniture in, tree potted.
Living room finished!
Office finished!
Pub table and chairs were gifts from the fam.
Library has a pellet stove for heat.
Leather recliners are super comfy.
Post-sale: new owners are converting the basement to a duplex!
