Termite Bungalow: Part 1

A little history first.  This is not my first major renovation--It's probably the 4th I've done on this level.  But I'm rusty.  It's been awhile because I've been buying mostly lipstick jobs and such--they are my favorite.  But I have a soft spot for these sweet little mill houses, and sometimes they need major surgery.  Like this one.

I've rented this place out for several years, which is strange, because I've never rented a home in such terrible shape.  But I did because a tenant begged me to rent it to him so he could move out of a warzone in Charlotte.  Besides, it wasn't the best time in my life to do such a major rehab job.  So I promised myself that, as soon as the tenant moved, I'd renovate.  You can guess what happened.  It took him 8 years, but he finally moved--relocated with a new job.

So, here we go . . . .

The "Termite Bungalow" is almost 100 years old, according to county records. It's currently a 2/1, about 1450 sf, and sits on a tiny 1/4 acre lot, hedged in by other similar bungalows. 

Usually, I'm a big fan of asbestos siding, only because it's tough and holds paint well.  So I usually leave it alone for rentals.  However, although this will start out as a rental, I do anticipate selling in the next few years, and most people are afraid of this siding.  I just have to learn how to properly side over it. 

Here's the LR with original fireplace, although it was blocked up long ago . . .

And here's the ugly kitchen:

Do you think I should replace the windows?  ;)

Ain't she a beaut?!?! Actually, as ugly as things look, I hope you can see that she does still retain some of her original charm, like 2 original fireplaces (although blocked off), plaster walls, picture rail, etc.  And she has several other redeeming qualities, like that big front porch, 9-foot ceilings and really big rooms (smallest is 14x14).  So, she's got a lot going for her.

Doesn't look all that bad, huh?  Unfortunately, looks can be deceiving.  You see, we learned not too long ago that termites had been using this sweet little place as an all-you-can eat buffet.  We found an area of damage (basically, they ate the bathroom), but it's the damage we can't see that worries me.  We had the house treated (as best we could, considering that the crawlspace has just 3 inches clearance on the back end), and bait stations have been monitored.  Thankfully, they're all clear now.

Considering the problems (termite damage, crumbling plaster, knob-and-tube wiring, original windows, crumbling doorways, etc.), and the fact that we want to add and bedroom and bathroom and move the kitchen, among other issues, we decided to gut it. 

So, join me on my adventure while I restore this sweet little bungalow.

Stay tuned to see if the termites left us anything to work with.