Demolition

The only piece of this project that extended beyond the kitchen and dining area was flooring. Searching for flooring that was durable, looked good in a contemporary kitchen, and could hold its own in the rest of the house that wasn’t being upgraded proved challenging. For durability, solid wood was the clear choice. After hours of browsing and comparing floor samples to cabinet samples, a hickory with a beautiful grain stood out.

The order was placed and I began removing the carpet and padding. A long, tedious, and physically demanding job but eminently doable for a reluctant do-it-yourselfer.

Using a sharp box knife I cut the carpet into strips and rolled it up. The more challenging task was removing the staples and taking up the padding. Sections of carpet and padding piled high and waited for garbage collection day.

I removed all the carpet and padding and started on the vinyl floor in the kitchen. That proved to be glued in a way that defied my attempts at destruction so I left it for the contractor who would demo the cabinets, soffits, and mudroom.