Last weekend I installed the sheetrock on some framing I installed at the bottom of the basement stairs.
Hate to admit it, but T@# was right. There is not a damn thing that is square or level in this house!
Not stopping at that, I started ‘rocking up sections of the main basement dividing wall around pipes, etc. This involved installing makeshift framing, as well.
This past weekend (yesterday, actually) I ripped out this mung old washing machine platform. It was so far gone that a section of it had basically become dirt! There were even roots in it!! 😮 Once I got that cleaned up, I removed the two main sections of old sheetrock from the wall in that area. The lower one had suffered some water damage and the top one was just beat and ugly (holes, etc). Went to HomeDespot and picked up a couple sheets of ‘rock, a pre-hung door and some spray foam insulation.
Hanging the new rock went OK for having nothing square. I foamed the massive gaps around the inside basement door frame (probably original to the house (1900)). Planed down the edge of the door to allow it to actually close again. Lined the door stop with foam weather stripping. Installed a new dead bolt, which is less about security and more about keeping the door firmly shut! In all, that work was well worth the gross mess that is stuck to my hands still today from the spray foam. And I was wearing latex gloves!! But, the important part is that there is very little breeze blowing into the basement from this doorway now. There is a little, but it is not all that bad any more. (Historical note: it was about 18F yesterday and today is below zero).
Then I tackled the pre-hung door. I seriously need to get a longer level, as all I had was my old torpedo level which is about 8 inches long. But, let me just say this: NOTHING IS LEVEL OR SQUARE IN THIS HOUSE!!! And that includes the jamb that came with the pre-hung door setup. The F? Yup. The upper latch-side corner of the door does not touch the door stop…by a good 3/8″. I checked the door with a T-square and that is square, so it has to be the jamb. SOB. Anyway, I managed to get it hung/installed in such a way that it mostly closes properly. Tonight Jenny and I are heading from the train to Lowe’s to get a door knob.
After the door was hung, I called for our test cat. Remember, all this effort is so that the cat boxes can be moved to the basement so that I can build book cases were the cats boxes currently are. It took the test cat, Stanley, about a minute to escape. There is a hole under the stairs. That is for next week.