Call Me Dr. Destructo

This is what I did over the last couple of nights

Yes, I tore out part of the wall that seperates the stairs from the living room. I spent all of last night (3+ hours) cleaning up the mess created in the living room and kitchen (behind the other stair wall).

I was hoping it would help the heat rise from the basement. I had partial success - at least it helped even out the temps between the kitchen, office and living room. The kitchen was always warmest, then the office second warmest, then the living room. Now they are pretty much the same temperature. The living room was actually 67.8 degrees this morning when I got up. Of course the low was only 18, so that doesn't really mean it will be warm on cold nights. Plus, with all the fans going in the living room, there is a wind chill.

Oh well, it was worth a try anyway. I had been toying with the idea of taking out that portion of the wall anyway and putting in a railing so the living room looks a bit larger. I just ended up doing it sooner than I would have otherwise. I'll have to move the wall socket and the doorbell that is plugged into it before I do the railing, but that is minor stuff. Also have to figure out how to neatly disguise the electric cord going up to the attic. I will definitely have to paint the ugly green stairway wall. I've also toyed with covering it with metalic-looking backsplash material or ceiling tiles to give the room a little warming color. But, once again that isn't a priority.

I also may be demolishing some bedroom walls to put in insulation. Have a couple of guys coming over this afternoon (maybe) to see what my options are since the walls are only 2x4. I would like them to be upgraded to 2x6 so I can use the insulation I got for the floors (R19) instea of the R11 or R13 that would fit in 2x4 walls.

Still debating moving the stove since without the heat rising very well, the insulation probably won't produce much of a noticabla differentce (if any - so far they stay between 56 and 60). Plus it is so noisy in the house from all the fans pulling air thru the registers; moving the stove would help reduce that sound (I hope) although the stove has a blower on it. The blower is on high at all times, and being upstairs I could probably put it on low. And, if I put it in the craft room, walls would shield the sound some too. However, that also means the heat would be mostly in the craft room, which is not really my first preferance.

One day I will get this heat thing figured out. Meanwhile I am getting rid of a lot of aggression and stress by tearing things apart :()

Comments

[Cop Car]

Bogie--What you are into is well above my pay grade! I did worry about the weight of the wall covering - until I read the specs that said the material is vinyl. You cannot keep us structures folks from worrying about the stress-a-trons, can you?

[bogie]

Oh, I didn't say I was actually going to put any of it back together myself. I'm good at taking apart; not so much for the other way around. Although I did get pretty good at taping/mudding sheetrock at the Deering house about a gajillion years ago.

Will start demolition next weekend - will tell the story later though.

[Cop Car]

You do, indeed, take after your mother - in being better at taking apart. It's more fun!

BTW: I was not worried about your being able to handle the weight of the wall covering (What? Me worry about my daughter?!!) but about the house structure supporting it in the coming years.

[buffy]

The demolition duo! Actually, I had just said to DH that I identified with you, but that I wouldn't be able to move the electrical stuff or close up the wall again, when I read the comments! Good luck with your project.

[bogie]

Buffy - I don't mess with electrical, but fortunately I know someone who does. The sheetrock thing isn't too bad and I should be able to handle myself. May not be professional looking, but it will look a heck of a lot better than it did when I started (really, the person before me was no where as close to as handy as I am - which is scary!)