It’s too cold outside and it’s snowing and blowing?
We rip out carpeting!
This is our hallway upstairs which had disgusting blue wall-to-wall carpeting covering random plank pine floors. *sigh*
We touched base with our contractor last Friday and he told us that he would be here in two weeks to start working on the preliminary renos and then the painting of our house. Mr. Painted Quilt and I decided that we’d better get a move on and get our work done in anticipation of his arrival.
We were both anxious to get rid of the rest of the existing carpeting and there was no better time than yesterday to start because we were virtually housebound because of the weather. By the time I remembered to take photos, we had already removed the carpeting and underpadding.
We have lived in century homes before and know to expect the unexpected so we weren’t surprised when we found a layer of linoleum on top of the pine floors. Thankfully, it wasn’t glued down but was laid on top of brown paper, then at some time was painted the red color that you see in the photos. In places it was doubled and you can see the pattern on the linoleum in the photo below.
The same yukky carpeting was on the stairs, held in place with a gazillion carpet staples. Mr. PQ does the ripping out and then removes the thin wooden strips with nails that holds the carpeting in place. I remove all the staples and nails and of course, take care of the cleaning up.
Under the carpeting we found painted stairs that have a strip of painted rubber treading nailed down the center. It was my intention to paint the stairs in any event, so I wasn’t too disappointed. I’m going to stencil the stair risers with a colonial design but not until the contracting work in completed.
All the carpeting and underpadding has been removed, bagged and bundled, ready to be taken to the dump. Today we will finish removing the rubber treading and then I will wash and scrub the floors and stairs. Tomorrow we will do the priming, then apply the first coat of paint. With any luck, by Thursday we’ll be able to strike another job from our “To Do” list.
Stay tuned for more photos of our ‘work in progress’.
Kaaren ♥
oh I love that wide plank red floors
ReplyDeletewhat a nice find! so exciting to cross things off that to do list and the contractor will be there soon!
Kathie
Such a lot of work!! but am sure it will be wonderful when it is painted :))
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky the linoleum was not glued, ours was and the scraping off was horrendous.
Look forward to the result.
looks like you have been very busy... the end result will be worth it.
ReplyDeleteSabrina
What a big job! It must feel great to see progress and to cross off things on the to do list.
ReplyDeleteLots of work going on here but it's going to be so worthwhile when you're finished! I'd never heard of rubber treading on stairs so this was a new one for me. I also haven't heard of linoleum being put over brown paper! I learn so much reading about other peoples projects so thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI think it's exciting peeling back the layers in an old home. You just never know what you'll find. Your stairs will be gorgeous after you've worked your painting magic.
ReplyDeleteHi Kaaren, I've ripped up carpet with staples before and I feel for your fingers! I know all your hard work will be worth it. Can't wait to see more pics.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day.
Betsy
O my dear Kaaren, you have a job this is unbelievable. I am in thoughts with you and wish you a lot of strength for your plan. Everything becomes good.
ReplyDeleteBest regards of Christine from Germany, Dresden
What a lot of work, but sounds like such fun. Wish I could be there to help!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't this fun!! Not. But you need to scramble some eggs to get an omlette. I love what you are going to do with the floors.
ReplyDeleteWe have been in a deep freeze here.
Removing many layers is like excavating at a dig site! It sure is a lot of work, but will be well worth all the effort!
ReplyDeleteBet you slept pretty well the last couple of nights! I stencilled on the stair risers 21 years ago (when I was 6 months pregnant!). No easy task no matter your age or condition! But you'll like the finished effect.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a lot of work! How satisfying to get it done though.
ReplyDeleteWow, you two made lots of progress with that yucky job. I detest removing carpeting - serious YUCK!
ReplyDeleteWhat a job!!!! It will be gorgeous when you are finished.
ReplyDeleteOh Kaaren!
ReplyDeleteI consider all this work, "FUN". With capital letters!!!!! I love renovating. As I have said before, I wish I was there to help!!!!!
Your "new" home will just be magnificant when finished! YOU GO GIRL. You and Mr. PQ have fun doing this.
Remember........"whistle while you work............"
I can't wait to follow along, these next couple of weeks!
BTW, a silly thought......but I would probably color match that red paint.......just in case, at some point, you might want to add that red back into your home. I love bringing in a touch of the past.
xoxoxoxoxox
It will look so pretty when you are finished. Even with the stuff you found, it is always like a treasure hunt. I was a kid and my Mom and Dad moved into a old house and the walls had 15 layers of wall paper on the walls, it was like a time capsule going through each one. That was what I thought of when I was looking at your pictures. I hope you aren't too sore.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame, what people do to old homes.
ReplyDeleteLove that old planking, are they refurbishing it?
Debbie
Hi Kaaren: So much muscle work! You must have kept the cold at bay - and by Thursday when you finish this chore it will be moderating to more seasonable temps so that being outside is possible.
ReplyDeleteWe had rubber stair treads and linoleum in the 1940's when I was growing up - the house was finished in 1938 so it might have dated from then..... It would appear you have "beaverboard" as your wall treatment on the handrail side of your stairs, and perhaps in places in the upstairs hall - another relic of the late 30's, early 40's; and not up to code in terms of fire safety - the giveaway is the network of thin strips covering seams. This was an uncoated and very flammable fibreboard used mainly on temporary housing during WW2 you need to check with your insurance agent to see if it should be removed.
Hope this cold snap is over soon and you can get out and around - I don't envy you a trip to the dump in thios weather!
How rewarding it is to be feathering your nest....... I am looking forward to the next installment.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a job. What an interesting paint color. I know with your artistic eye it will be totally transformed.
ReplyDeleteWow! How exciting to see things moving along. It will be so beautiful in the end. Can't wait to see your stairs.
ReplyDeleteRandom width pine floors? You must be in heaven! I can't wait to see the stair risers when you're done with them.
ReplyDeleteHi Kaaren,
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly industrous. We are currently remodeling our retirement home. We also took up some old very nasty carpeting. Thank goodness there were wood floors underneath. However, they were too far gone to sand and restain. So we are painting them too. It sure is a slow process. I just love your red floors. I wish we had been brave enough to paint ours something other than white. Your stairs are going to be just lovely. Can't wait to see the finished product. I need some ideas.
Y'all take care, Linda
Hi Kaaren, I just ripped up my carpet too,Same color carpet! I am wondering what color are you painting your floors? I am going to do a gray since I have primitive decorations but i am not sure if I want a glossy finish.Cheri
ReplyDeleteWhat better way to spend a snowy day except of course if you were quilting or hooking... but I understand Priorities. :^)
ReplyDeleteWow, what a job! Love the plank floor under the carpet. I don't envy you the work, but I do love the rewards that follow! Keep going - you are doing great!
ReplyDeleteKaaren, those planks of wood are wonderful. Too bad they were painted and not the original varnished wood. Will you have it refinished to it's natural state? I love to see an old house with the natural wood planking, it's such a treasure. Looking forward to seeing your painting, with your talent I'm sure it will be beautiful.
ReplyDeletewill try this again.... WOW .. lots of work but will be gorgeous when you are done... if you are ever really "done"...
ReplyDeleteSue
I see that the problem with posting a comment here is that my DH has an account as well and it screws me up.... trying again... my comment was WOW, what alot of work... We drove to Calais, Maine today and stopped at Mardens, well I stopped and Tom went on to pick up car stuff... got thread and fabric and winter coats for the kids..
ReplyDeleteOh my GOODNESS that's a lot of hard work! But it's going to look SO much better than carpet - how can anyone cover hardwood floors!
ReplyDeleteYou have my symathies having to remove the staples. I can remember having to do that. I often thought they must have been given a stapler for their Birthday/Christmas because there was so many holding the carpet underlay down.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of stencils on the risers.
Wow, you really are tearing into things. A lot of work, but I look forward to seeing those stenciled stairs. I've never seen anything quite like that. Thanks for the Blocks 7-8-9!
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying the renovations you and Mr. PQ are doing. The photos are fun to see.
ReplyDeleteWhat people do "on top" and then "on top" again - one never knows.
Best time to work inside is when it is icky outside. You do have your work cut out for you but will be so worth it in the end. I can't wait to see it in person! LOL
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether to say.. 'things are looking up'.. or .. 'it's all down hill from here' ...lol... :) Good luck with it all, Jenny
ReplyDeleteI don't envy you that task, having removed carpeting before, but I can't WAIT to see what you do with everything! I dream of wooden stairs with a hooked rug runner going down them. Of course, then I wouldn't allow people to walk on the runner, so that'd defeat the purpose, but it's a dream nevertheless. ;) The wide plank floors under all that carpeting & linoleum is a true gem!
ReplyDeleteHow fun to be decorating your new old home! I know your talents will make it your own in no time at all.
ReplyDeleteWow - I can't wait to see the pine floors painted, Kaaren! Your stenciling will surely be just the touch on the stairs as well! I think it's just amazing what you find when you begin peeling back the layers of old homes!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
For some strange reasons, painting floors was considered renovations back in the olden days! My home had lots of painted floors, dark brown was the colour of their choice! lol So far we've sanded all the floors except the one room that still needs renovations. All have turned out gorgeous! It is quite the job to sand! Glad Sweetie pie has taken on that project! I read you about staples! They sure know how to tack carpets! lol Cheers!
ReplyDelete