Anyone who has gone down into our basement will remember that the stairs going down were rickety and misshapen--with steps too tall and treads too short to accomodate all by the very long-legged and short-footed. Then this summer the supports under the stairs rotted clean through and the right side (going down) detached from the wall and fell through making the climb into the basement increasingly exciting. So, once Connie finished with the bathroom, she set to work on our stairs (with a brief diversion with the gutters above this side of the house to deal with the source of the problem). Here, Connie is peeling away the outer wall to reveal the horrors underneath.
And what horrors there were: a spread of black mildew 6' tall, 20 feet across and an inch thick on the wall. The smell was truly intoxicating (but not in a good way).
Now the wall has been scraped and the stairs are gone and the only way up or down is this little ladder.
To cover up the black foulness, Connie painted something truly noxious over it. Eight hours later the stench still makes our eyes water.
Here are the stairs, not quite complete, from a different angle. Next, a railing to stop us from flopping to our death over the side of the steps and cement to patch up giant cracks and holes in the flooring that the old stairs were masking.
Simon hasn't grown 6" taller, the stairs are up higher because they are now to code, being the requisite height and depth stairs are supposed to be. So anyone over 5' is at a real risk of a concussion going into our basement. (Which means any of us barring the cats are in serious risk.)
A helluva palaver to eliminate black mildew in the hopes of preventing migraines.
And what horrors there were: a spread of black mildew 6' tall, 20 feet across and an inch thick on the wall. The smell was truly intoxicating (but not in a good way). 
Now the wall has been scraped and the stairs are gone and the only way up or down is this little ladder.
To cover up the black foulness, Connie painted something truly noxious over it. Eight hours later the stench still makes our eyes water. 
Here are the stairs, not quite complete, from a different angle. Next, a railing to stop us from flopping to our death over the side of the steps and cement to patch up giant cracks and holes in the flooring that the old stairs were masking.
Simon hasn't grown 6" taller, the stairs are up higher because they are now to code, being the requisite height and depth stairs are supposed to be. So anyone over 5' is at a real risk of a concussion going into our basement. (Which means any of us barring the cats are in serious risk.)
A helluva palaver to eliminate black mildew in the hopes of preventing migraines.
2 comments:
Thank God for Connie - she seems to be rebuilding your pace bit by bit!
xM
We may have to imprison her in the basement - she makes noises about eventually wanting to move on to other jobs...
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