De & Re Construction

In case you haven't heard I have been working on our house. The whole experience has been enlightening in unexpected ways.

I embarked on this adventure partially to fix all kinds of weather-tight problems but also because the house needed the work. We also had a new addition that needed to be incorporated. There is nothing like an old house, in need of some serious TLC, to put your mind a'spinnin'.

I could have covered it up like an old lady with great big glasses

But that wouldn't have solved the deep down problems. The fundamental, structural, traumas the house has suffered over the years. It's amazing at how much abuse a house can withstand and still stand.

After living in the house for several years it was just time to examine the problems and work on the solutions. Some were easy to correct and others were more troubling. Some may never be corrected, the damage too severe. But we moved on and learned to live with the trouble spots.

As we tore everything apart we discovered all kinds of hidden stuff. Bad repair jobs, fire damage, leaking pipes etc. There were some structural issues. Sagging, buckling floors. Wavy, water stained walls. Electrical connections that didn't spark.

But one by one we worked through the problems. After lots of discussion we decided to mechanically jack up the floors and then put in some serious time girding the joists. We tore down all the walls inside and out, except for one symbolic one, in order to get a fresh, smooth surface on which we could start fresh with art and light. We completely re-wired the house and now the electricity is crackling. We still have some plumbing issues to work out but the water is flowing and the plumbers are still on the job.

As I walk through the almost finished house I am amazed at how beautiful it has become. What used to be an eyesore is now my pride and joy. It used to feel confined and cramped. Now it's roomy and airy. All the inoperative doors and windows are now wide open. The buttons and switches work as planned. No more walking into a dark room and stubbing my toe on some unseen, for the darkness, object.

The key was to talk about the problems. Really communicate the fears and worries about the house. How it needed to change for continued habitation by both of us. It took a while but we got through. I think back at how the house used to be and I wonder how either of us could stand living there. When we bought the house we knew that it needed some work but I don't think either of us realized the level of disrepair. But now many of the problems are behind us and we can look forward to many wonderful years in our fabulous expanded home.

Now if I could just do something about my landscaping.

---

Currently I'm listening to Caledonia from the album "Troubadours Of British Folk, Volume 3" by Dougie MacLean