One work week has passed since we started renovation works on Monday the 18th of August, and despite the non-working holiday on Thursday, 21st of August due to Ninoy Aquino Day, many tasks have already been completed.

As the first step, the workers focused on dismantling and demolishing sections that needed to be taken apart or drilled down. It is not all done yet, but we are getting there. Check out the photos from our progress below!

DISMANTLING DOWNSTAIRS

Did you know that in the Philippines, there is a thing called a “dirty kitchen”? I don’t know why we call things “dirty” when they are really not – like dirty ice cream (street food ice cream). The kitchen in this particular house did get very dirty though, and you will see that in a later post! And I am glad to say that the “dirty kitchen” is now being re-branded to “daily kitchen”.

That aside, the dirty kitchen cabinets have all been removed just after two days, which was impressive.

Although the kitchen cabinets went quickly, what the foreman told me they had a hard time with was taking down the chandelier. They had to remove it 7 or 8 (?) meters from the high ceiling in the living room. He said that it was very securely attached with a solid chain from inside the ceiling. They drilled a hole through and took down the entire chandelier instead of dismantling the lamps first. Nothing like Phantom of the Opera scenes happening there!

The workers exhaled in relief once the chandelier removal was executed safely, and all other extracting activities seemed like a piece of cake. Some other tasks were much simpler, like the loose rolling blinds and the old pin lights.

UN-BUILDING UPSTAIRS

Upstairs cabinet removal was running slightly slower because everyone was helping out downstairs first. The removal of drawers and cabinets happened only later in the week, but is progressing steadily.

BATHROOMS

I was amazed with the bathroom progress. Where there used to be tiles, sinks and toilets was left the base of where they used to stand or hang from. It would not have been easy to remove all the concrete, but the workers efficiently used the demolition hammer for this task.

Yesterday, they had just asked for another one of the automatic hammers for swifter completion of the task, especially in the master’s bathroom where much work is expected to be done.

OUTSIDE

Finally, on the outside, The Action Woman also asked to try a new color of paint on the roof. The original chocolate brown will be replaced with what looks like a slate gray. It was a custom mix from Wilcon, and it was very nicely done!

And so that wraps up the first week of our renovation. I am glad to share all the tasks that we have accomplished across the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and even the roof!

Do you think we progressed well? What do you want to see in the coming progress update?