It all started with pulling off a loose tile...

[helen99]

Wellp, I was planning to mortar up the damaged drywall to reinforce it and then stick on some new tiles using the mortar and some fresh grout. But the drywall crumbled when I touched it... revealing insulation that had decomposed into dirt. Behind the insulation were house beams disintigrated by dryrot. It is a horrid mess and I have no idea how far it extends or if the mess includes the upstairs bathroom as well. The dryrot had progressed to the point where if those beams were supposed to serve a purpose (and I suspect they were), that purpose is no longer being served. Furthermore, the dryrot looks like it extends under the tub. One corner of the tub was rusted away (which didn't show until I pulled a tile off), and moisture was escaping below. From what it looks like (without taking down the whole wall to be sure), several house beams in two walls and the floor have to be replaced and/or reinforced, after which all the drywall, tiles, and fixtures have to be replaced.

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[helen99.livejournal.com]

I have a date with a contractor. It'll be fixed. Shame about my pocketbook (that'll take longer to fix, but that too shall pass eventually).

Since I made this post, I discovered that my kitchen sink faucets needed re-sealing (they were seeping water as well). Rialian just spent all morning removing the old fixture which had corroded to the point where it was just about impossible to get off. We just got back from the Home depot armed with a new faucet fixture and some sink connectors and sealant.

Before returning home, we went to the bookstore and got a couple of books - namely, "Plumbing Step-by-Step", and "The Complete Guide to Bathrooms," "Wiring -- Complete Projects for the Home," I want to get to know my house. I've been living in it for 21 years. It and I may as well become friends...

After all that, I had to buy something just for fun... I got "The Hand-Sculpted House -- A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage". I wonder if I could build a cob shed... If I did, it would outlast my house from what they say...