The whole lower level had to come out. Old paneling, water-damaged drywall, dated ceilings, a toilet that hadn't worked in years. I pulled ceilings first to see what I was working with up in the joists, then walls, then everything else. Two GOT-JUNK trucks hauled it out. Once it was empty I could finally see the bones and plan the rebuild.
-
During Pulled the ceiling drywall in the bedroom first so I could see joists and wiring before touching the walls.
-
During Kitchen ceiling came down next. Wanted eyes on the wiring runs before I committed to the new layout.
-
During Once the drywall was off I could see every electrical run and figure out what was staying and what was getting redone.
-
During Found the steel I-beam hidden above the old ceiling. Glad I pulled drywall instead of just patching.
-
During Bagged the old fiberglass as I went so I wasn't fighting itchy debris for the rest of the job.
-
During Ran a dehumidifier in the lakeside room while I worked — basement-level humidity was rotting the bottom of every stud.
-
During Cleared out the room down to bare concrete. Easier to plan a rebuild when there's nothing in the way.
-
During Old toilet, carpet scraps, paneling — staged it all by the door so a junk haul could grab it in one trip.
-
During Stacked the demo so the haulers could load fast and I wasn't paying for them to sort through a mess.
-
During Working room cleared. Stacked some lumber on the slab and got ready to start the rebuild.
-
During Cut the lower drywall off where it had wicked moisture. Studs and vapor barrier looked salvageable above the line.
-
During Old wood paneling came off in big sheets. Heaped it on the slab to break down for hauling.
-
During Two GOT-JUNK trucks took the whole demo away in one afternoon. Worth every dollar to skip the dump runs.
Want a Plan for Your Project?
Send photos and a few sentences. I'll send back a written diagnostic — what's broken, what it'll cost, and what to DIY vs. hire. $9.99, in your inbox in minutes.
Get a Diagnostic Report — $9.99 →