Status Report

Sewer main is somewhat unclogged. We can now flush the toilet without water backing up in the basement, but the pipe was too clogged to allow the camera to go more than 20 feet from the cleanout. The plumber advised we go easy on the toilet paper, at least until his return December 28 to scour out the sewer main using high-pressure water. Then we can try the camera again and see if the sewer line is damaged and if so how badly.

We have three guys giving us cost estimates for installing living room flooring and repairing (termite damage) and refinishing the bedroom floors. Should have all the estimates by the end of Monday.

Mildew remediation completed. Spore density test came back much much lower. What a relief.

I need better photos for this blog, if I'm going to ask people to look at it and advise me.

The Kitchen

Sometime in this house's history (possibly the 1980s), the kitchen was redecorated. The original multicolored linoleum flooring was buried under white ceramic tile, the backsplash became white tile with blue Delft-style accents, and the countertops became blue-gray laminate. No idea what the original sink was like.

Scheirich Kitchens medallion, under the sink

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However, the kitchen cabinets seem to be original. They are battered but well-made and still solid. Here is what they looked like on a manufacturer's postcard (image from the blog Viewliner Ltd.).



In one of the base cabinets, I found a wooden cutting board stored in a bracket mounted underneath the drawer. The cutting board itself would have been very attractive, if it had not been for the impressive crop of grey mildew growing on both sides.

The fuzzy cutting board

Mounted on a wall cabinet by the sink, there is an odd little metal thingy. It seems to be some kind of hinge, maybe a base for a swinging arm? What could it have been used for?

What is this mysterious doodad?

A hole has been cut in the blind corner cabinet to accommodate a dishwasher.