The kitchen is moving forward

We have identified a contractor

We have a not unreasonable quote

We have water damage and mold, possibly from the pompe a chalor drainage issues that were eloquently documented on the previous version of my blog that are lost to the ravages of my previous web-host.
In short, the pompe a chalors are configured to drain into what looks like the interior of the external wall… YAY!

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The bizzarro pony walls that, upon removal, were not set into the floor as if someone had trenched through they tile and concrete to put up some 1/2 walls. They actually built the walls to the original foundation, then poured some more concrete, and laid tiles.

Just what you want to find…

Now we have a trench around the kitchen…

We are going to abrade, treat, level and have tile laid on top.

Demolition

Beyond the cursory removal of the floor, and discovery of the trenches, I have removed the metal framing from the trenches as an expedition to see if there was any other hidden gems.

So far so hunkey dorey.

In 6 days we do the real demolition.
With the exception of the wall with water damage, we are doing the work ourselves.

Oh, I forgot to mention that there is some more water damage from the bathroom sink on the other side of the wall. The drain lines do not appear to have been assembled with glue. Press fit… yup. we were afraid to buy a 300 year old house. Ours is 20 and is an emotional wreck.

Speaking of water, There are 3 water pipes which beg addressing.

The sink has a hot and cold delivery line. In ‘Murica I would have had a valve for each under the sink. Not so here. There is a water manifold buried behind the washer which is buried behind the bathroom wall heater. I am supposedly able to turn things off there.

The contractor suggested that turn off water to the house, cap the lines, and turn the supply back on. That is what I will do Monday morning before the demolition starts.

The dishwasher had a single cold supply. It is on a valve.

Here is the fun one…
Plumbing has always been a terror.. So many different fittings. Threaded, Compression, Push-fit, Flare, Crimp, Barbed, Sweat, Press, Quick-connect, Slip, NPT…

Plumbing here is even more terrifying (to me.)

We go to the hardware store and show a picture, the employee askes if I measured the diameter (of course I didn’t.)

He says that it is either a 12/17 (pronounced douze-dix-sept) or a 15/21 (pronounced quinze-vingt et un).

That is fucking terrifying

Except it isn’t. Those are the French equivalent of good ole ‘Murican 3/8 and 1/2 inch fittings.

I bought 2 end caps of each flavor. I bought a replacement valve for the dishwasher as well… just in case.

What I had planned to do

I had bought some 2 part silicone putty for making simple molds of things. The plan was to shut off the water, take the fittings apart, make some molds, reassemble and take the molded piece to the hardware store to see what fit.

Demo day

Demo day is going to be fun. we have 3 couples coming to join us. the kitchen isn’t big enough for all of us.

My task this weekend is to identify the fuses associated with stove, oven, vent and outlets. Then we clear out all the kitchen stuff. The pantry is safe for now until itis time to do the new floor. The dishwasher is going into the garage until the kitchen is assembled.

Monday we shut off the fuses, disassemble the various appliances and outlets and terminate the exposed wires safely.

We are saving a good amount of the old cabinets and butcher block countertop. Some for the garage, some butcher block going to friends.

I may try to put the kitchen sink outside in it’s cabinet. Rig it to the garden hose and use it for dishes. The IKEA pressed wood may not like the rain I expect. I may tarp it, or we may end up doing dishes in the bathtub.

In order:
Remove stove
Remove counter tops and cabinets except sink
Address sink. it is big and heavy.
wall mounted cabinets
vent hood

There is a bizzarro feature in the corner we have to remove as well. It contains a cubby for the dishwasher and holds the oven. That all goes too.

soon we will have a well laid out kitchen with actual drawers.