Thursday 21 October 2010

Old School Insulation

Yesterday we removed the ceiling above what will become the office space. This is a 6 inch deep gap between the old bathroom ceiling and the floor of the attic. The ceiling was previously plaster on laths, and because it broke when we removed the old bathroom wall, we will be replacing it plasterboard - a lot quicker and easier.

The old ceiling
(or, at least, half of it)
The gap above the ceiling was full of shredded newspaper, walnut shells and the "evidence" of vermin.

The old ceiling, demolished: a pile
of "stuff" 12 inches deep
Needless to say, it was dusty, but this time also extremely smelly and unpleasant. About 20% of it (according to Stéphane, and he should know) was rat and mouse poo, all very dry and probably 50 years old.

Some of the 19 bags of detritus to go to the dechetterie
Tomorrow we got to the recycling centre. It will be interesting to see what they make (figuratively and literally) of our rubbish.

Simon

4 comments:

Diogenes said...

Interesting "discovery." Do you know if your house was vacant in the 50s or 60s?

Simon said...

We have no idea when and for how long the house has been occupied in the last 100 years or so. Not that the house being occupied would deter a rat!

Tim said...

Simon you wrote "we will be replacing it plasterboard - a lot quicker and easier." And probably a lot healthier too!!

Simon said...

Tim. at the time we decided it would be easier we didn't realise it would also be "nicer" It's just a bonus

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