Day 4

Pictures weren't very interesting so I didn't include them.

Plumbing and electrical work has started. Had to make decisions about where the lights and outlets go. Also had to figure out which medicine cabinet. Robern - with the outlet inside so that we can charge toothbrushes and razors!

Showering at the Y is getting old!

Day 3, Monday July 13

Monday was Day 3. It was plumbing beginning day. David spent the day getting the measurements and getting the supplies so things were quiet here.

Day 3

All of the demolition is done. We went to our contractor's shop, who by the way has as good as internet prices or better on stuff (http://www.tkbsupply.com/ over on Taraval in the SF sunset). We ordered:

• Jason 527 tub
• Toto Soiree bath fixtures
• Toto Aquia II dual-flush toilet (we put this one in downstairs a year ago)
• various other parts to make plumbing complete
  

We have already purchsed a Duravit sink with 2 faucets and Restoration HW cabinet for the corner. We have a cabinet maker making a stand for the sink rather than the very modern one you can purchase from Duravit.

2 new windows that are the same size are being built by a window shop and David will pick those up on Tuesday.

On Monday, they'll begin the plumbing work.

Day 3 - electrical revealed

So, this old wiring is called knob and tube (K&T) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knob_and_tube_wiring) . It occurred to me today that with these walls open, we can upgrade the outlets in the landing area outside of this bathroom (we keep our iMac there) and in our current master bedroom. As part of this, we will have to upgrade the master box anyway so we should just go ahead and add these extra lines now.

All of these black wires are an asphalt covered cotton cloth. There is no grounding (in any of the house) and I also just learned on that Wikipedia page that we may not blow in any insulation anywhere in the house where this is present.

Right above the shower - not sure where it goes as it heads up into the ceiling beam.

Day 3 - old plumbing mysteries revealed.

The mystery of the nice amount of hot and zero cold in the shower is revealed!

So if you look closely at these (double click) , the hotwater was replaced with copper at some point in its life. The cold never was changed out, but they put a copper fixture on the end of the galvanized. I'm no chemist, but over time, 2 dissimilar metals will corrode and like years and years later, bad stuff happens. The newer copper goes upward, through the attic to the north side of the house, down through and interior closet (exposed) and down through the "sink room/stairwell" downstairs to the basement. The replacement pipes for this will be 3/4", not 1/2" and will stay along the south wall where the bathroom windows are. Some walls on the 1st floor will have to be ripped out and repaired to insert plumbing.

See new copper making a turn here (pic from behind, hot on right)

Newer copper here on the hot only.

Day 2 - old plumbing and wiring exposed.

I think this explains the lack of cold water in the shower. Little bit of corrosion there.


Wiring looks nice and safe. Our new bathroom will have electrical outlets!!! Can't wait for that!

Day 2

Day 2 photos. Notice the large hunks of copper. From the shower pan.

End of Day 1

Dust everywhere! Raspberry pink still visible!

Before pics