Another Home Improvement Project

So, last week we decided that this week would be a good time to redo our guest bathroom. It needs everything done to it-new tub, new toilet, new vanity, sheetrock, rewiring, tile, floors, everything. So we got started on Friday, ripping stuff out. We got most of it done, and boy was it dusty! The walls in our house were made during the intermediate time between lathe and plaster and sheetrock. So, there is a 1/2 inch gypsum board with plaster over top. That plaster is horrible! Our walls have huge cracks in them, and no way to fix them. They just crack again. And just try to hang pictures on the walls without gouging a huge chunk of plaster from the wall. It is impossible! (Kate knows how I feel. Her walls are the same.)
So, anyways, demo on Friday, more demo on Saturday, and then we got started running wires for a light/fan (YIPPEE! A fan in the bathroom! Finally! That would have come in handy when we had the boys for roommates, huh?) and Matt started messing around with the plumbing. We took the tub out, that was our last thing we did before we headed off to Justin's (our friend/former roommate) turnover party. (On the Prise, they have a tradition that the next person getting out of the navy receives a "short timer" belt from the previous holder. Justin was turning the belt over to the next guy. Exciting times.)
Matt woke up early on Sunday and got to work. Me? Well, I lazed in bed for a little, and then got ready for breakfast with an old friend from my Truman days. Matt and I met up with my friend and his friend at IHOP, where we had some pretty good pancakes. When we got back, I helped wire up some outlets and ran wire for the light switches, pulled yet more nails from the studs, and tried to get most of the dirt out of the little room. I figure, the more dirt I sweep up the less dirt I'll have to worry about being tracked all over the house. I had laid down plastic sheeting to try to protect the floors, but we'll see how well that works.
In the afternoon, I had to get my homework done. I have a group project that ended up being a 37 page document, and I needed to get my part done. 37 pages! Yikes. I'm glad we did it together. Anyways, while I was doing that, Justin (friend/former roommate) showed up, ready to help. Matt was at Lowes getting some supplies, so Justin came just in time. We needed his truck. So, with Justin there, I had to just worry about getting tools for them, figuring out what to do for dinner, and let the guys do their magic. That room is slightly too small for 3 people, and Justin is kind of a big guy, so I was ok with working on my homework. Anyways, with Justin here, we got a lot of stuff done. Justin finished wiring the light switches for the fan, vanity, and fan light. Matt was working on plumbing. Then they put my kitchen counter back together!!!! I'm so excited, because in order to get the pieces together, you have to come at it from underneath, which we couldn't do until we took apart the bathroom. Long story. Anyways, now there is no crack down the middle of my counter top. It looks so good! Then Justin ran the fan vent all the way outside and got it taped up. I helped him cut insulation to put in the ceiling. Did I mention that it is the coldest that it has been in a long time? Well, all that cold was coming into the house through that little bathroom because there was no insulation in the walls. What a difference some fiberglass makes! Anyhoo, here are some pictures of our project. I should have taken some before pictures, but as usual, we don't think of that until after we already have stuff ripped apart. We hope to put the tub in tomorrow and finish up with the plumbing, and get working on sheetrock by this weekend. Maybe sooner, and do tiling this weekend. We are going to get it finished up by Christmas, dang it!!!!

This is my finished countertop! I'm so excited to not have a huge crack down the middle.

This is our hallway. We've kept the guest bedroom doors closed to cut down on the dust, and we put plastic down on the floor to minimize damage to the new hard wood.

Where the plumbing for the tub is going to go. Did I mention our new tub is awesome? I'll get a picture of it when we put it in. I can't wait to take a bath in it!

This is the new vent fan/light fixture. It will make a huge difference in the room!

The new outlet. Three switches: one for the vanity light, one for the vent fan, and one for the vent fan light. Cool, huh?