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Repairing the Studio
Today, January 21, the floor joists and flooring have been repaired, the new floor covering with insulation is installed, and the walls are almost ready for painting.
Main beams structurally sound
Despite the forebodings from the professional restoration folks I slowly understood that the studio did not need to be torn down.
But it was a full four months after the fire before I realized that the main beams that rested on the cement piers were sound.
But it was a full four months after the fire before I realized that the main beams that rested on the cement piers were sound.
Floor joists were repairable
I could see for myself that the walls were unharmed and that only a few floor joists were burned badly enough to require being reinforced with other 2x10s lumber.
Floor repaired
The first major job was to repair the damaged floor joists and replace the broken plywood flooring.
We did not attempt to replace insulation between joists.
We did not attempt to replace insulation between joists.
Testing undercoat sealer
After the floor, the first thing I did was to buy and test shellac-based undercoat paint that could permanently seal the odour and hide the black soot deposits on the wall.
Holes broken in the ceiling were the BIGGEST problem
The fire had spread to the roof outside the studio, not up through the wall, as the restoration expert had assumed.
Outside was a storage box which which had been ignited by the floor insulation.
Flames from the box had spread flames to the underside of the roof.
Outside was a storage box which which had been ignited by the floor insulation.
Flames from the box had spread flames to the underside of the roof.
The big debate
I long considered only hiding the damaged ceiling and only using the main studio area on a three-season basis.
Bob to the rescue
In order to be able to regain year-round use the studio my son Bob commited to do the most of the back-breaking work of replacing the ceiling insulation, sealing that with plastic and covering all with gypsum board.
He had to do this while standing on a scaffold!
He had to do this while standing on a scaffold!
Kate and Bob
My daughter, Kate, came to put her mark on the studio during the first week in November.
After doing yard work Kate cleared up the tools and work table in the studio and did some plastering.
When Bob came on his weekly visit Kate screwed the gypsum panels to the ceiling joists while Bob held the panels in place.
After doing yard work Kate cleared up the tools and work table in the studio and did some plastering.
When Bob came on his weekly visit Kate screwed the gypsum panels to the ceiling joists while Bob held the panels in place.
Ready for plastering and painting
I was able to remove and seal off the destroyed south facing windows and insulated the new wall.
Bob finished the job by applying the gypsum panels on the third Thursday of November
Bob finished the job by applying the gypsum panels on the third Thursday of November
Ceiling closed-in
When Bob returned the following Thursday he finished the gyprocking of the ceiling
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