Kitchen wall teardown milestones

This is the second of two major projects that I want to accomplish this summer. This blog entry expands upon an item in my To Do list.

Last updated: 21 April 2008

I previously painted the varnished crap plywood doors and shelves on my 1950's era kitchen, added new drawer pulls, and attempted some crown molding trim, but precious little else has been done. I even have original 1950s countertop tile (yellow and green, and not in a good way). With the exception of the French doors that I Warren and I put in last summer, there's been no actual improvements to the kitchen. And it needs them.

This project takes down a load bearing wall to open up the floor plan. Kitchen layout plans are shown here, but still need to be finalized.

Milestones

• Partially plumb gas. I think I'll need to use an open stud bay in the S wall as a chase to come down from attic. Recess the connection point into the wall.
  
• Replumb connected gas in garage since I still need to use it.
  
• Partially run new electrical, using old exterior doorway in S wall as chase to come down from attic. Required circuit runs in the S wall are for:
• range
• microwave
  
• fridge
• wall outlets
• under-cabinet lights (switched - where?)
• switched circuit for can lighting in ceiling (where are switches?)
  
• vent
• 220V for electric range (future expansion?) or for countertop inductive cooker.
• Partially run new water line, using old doorway as chase for 1/2" line to fridge. Use open stud bay that I run the gas in as a chase for the spigot and pot filler. Recess the attach points in the wall. Use new water line for:
• Fridge
• Range top pot filler (Maybe - ah what luxury)
• Outdoor spigot - hot and cold would be nice.
  
• Create space in rest of house to store stuff from kitchen while demo is underway
  
• Move existing shelving unit to newly created open space in house
• Finalize kitchen plan, including
• switch locations
• outlet locations
• exact range location (important for vent)
  
• Complete partial plumbing, gas, and electricity to designated places in wall using finalized plan. Existing gas must stay in place for range until it is moved. Electricity can be disconnected in interior wall and extension cord used temporarily for fridge and range.
• Install range hood in new location on S wall
• Move range to new and final location on S wall. Disconnect gas line in interior wall.
  
• Move fridge to temporary safe location
• Remove electricity from interior wall.
• Place glue lam conveniently near interior wall.
  
• Build temporary support wall on either side of interior wall. Staple on plastic sheet to protect house from dust.
• Demolish wall. Replace with glue lam.
  
• Rough clean
• Remove temporary support walls and plastic sheet
• Clean some more
  
• Repair wall where plumbing, electrical, and gas now run.
  
• Install new cabinets on S wall.

Open questions:

• What about the kitchen floor? Renew at this time?
• Neighbor with similar modification indicates permit from City is not a burden. Understand permitting process.
  

To purchase:

• range vent
• cabinets for S side of kitchen
• glue lam