My house had a secret nobody knew 😱...(House Renovation with a BIG twist)

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  • Опубліковано 15 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1 тис.

  • @KayleeKerin
    @KayleeKerin 2 роки тому +1404

    Smudo pulling the wallpaper was the most adorable thing ever! He's the goodest boy!

    • @OldZean
      @OldZean 2 роки тому +15

      He deserves extra treats for his help

    • @Brownstone31
      @Brownstone31 2 роки тому +17

      Let’s hope he doesn’t make a habit of it. lol

    • @Dardrum
      @Dardrum 2 роки тому +2

      YES

    • @reginag4053
      @reginag4053 2 роки тому +14

      I was saying "Good dog! What a good dog!" and my husband had to come in to see. He agreed that he was a very good dog!

    • @andyblyth923
      @andyblyth923 2 роки тому +3

      Definitely a+

  • @insanitycreek
    @insanitycreek 2 роки тому +570

    Ants in a beam in that condition is a very strong indicator that you’ve had termites; or that they are carpenter ants. Get a pest inspector in if you’ve not already.

    • @TJ13062010
      @TJ13062010 2 роки тому

      As far as I know, there aren't any termites living in Germany. Maybe in a few decades, but at the moment they are not living here.

    • @artor9175
      @artor9175 2 роки тому +43

      Those are very small for the carpenter ants I am familiar with in America, but they are clearly nesting inside the wood. Hopefully the colony is not too extensive. The fact that this is the first sign Laura has seen of them is a good indication.

    • @boelwerkr
      @boelwerkr 2 роки тому +64

      Germany has no termites. These are normal house ants (black ants).

    • @tree_carcass_mangler
      @tree_carcass_mangler 2 роки тому +1

      @@artor9175 Agree on all points.

    • @boelwerkr
      @boelwerkr 2 роки тому +2

      @@J.T... Ah ich erinnere mich an die Geschichte.

  • @No4murasame
    @No4murasame 2 роки тому +333

    A problem discovered gets solved. The problem didn’t get discovered becomes a bigger problem that you wish you’ve known. 😜 I’m looking forward to see you solve this👍Thank you for an exciting content!

    • @dysartes
      @dysartes 2 роки тому +8

      That's a really positive way to look at the situation - I like it!

    • @HaasGrotesk
      @HaasGrotesk 2 роки тому

      What an awesome way of looking at it!

    • @debzeb6899
      @debzeb6899 2 роки тому

      So so so true. I renovated my 100 plus old house 20 years ago as best I could as a single mama and there were bits I just couldn’t afford to do as thoroughly. Now, twenty years later I have bits I need to redo to get at stuff I had to miss the first time around,

    • @andrewh.8403
      @andrewh.8403 2 роки тому +2

      Ignorance is bliss....up to a point.

  • @DaHaiZhu
    @DaHaiZhu 2 роки тому +136

    OMG. You've just checked off another one on the list: 😱
    Asbestos: Check
    Lead Pipes: Check
    Lead Paint: Check
    Unsafe Wiring: Check
    Mold: Check
    Rot: Check
    Radon: ???
    Termites: Check
    Ghosts: ???

    • @laurakampf
      @laurakampf  2 роки тому +47

      yup, we got them all!

    • @GraceSerenityK
      @GraceSerenityK 2 роки тому +46

      @@laurakampf Man, those ghosts will be hard to get rid of. Bill Murray isn't as young as he used to be!

    • @FelixUthoff
      @FelixUthoff 2 роки тому +4

      @@GraceSerenityK mayby it's Sam ;-) then it's not that bad

    • @jannibal9273
      @jannibal9273 2 роки тому +11

      The house is over 100 years old, it will have issues. C'est la vie. Renovating/rehabbing an old house is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

    • @zteaxon7787
      @zteaxon7787 2 роки тому +6

      There are more possible problems:
      Soil pollution
      Unstable foundation
      Sinkhole
      Maybe at some point a corpse turns up.
      This is a nightmare remodel I hope the house was REALLY cheap.

  • @sgsax
    @sgsax 2 роки тому +482

    Uncovering ant nests can look straight out of a horror movie. As others have said, it's easy enough to deal with. You may need to do additional repair to timbers though. Like anything else on home ownership and renovation, anything can be fixed if you throw enough money at it. 😁 Good luck! Thanks for sharing!

    • @Piterworkshop
      @Piterworkshop 2 роки тому +58

      When you start a partial reform project it is easier to see the end of the work but when the reform is total it is very easy to reach that point where you do not know where to continue and you wonder "why did I get into this?" After that moment, the work advances by leaps and bounds. I know from experience. It is better to find the ant or termite nest than not to find it.

    • @tiloalo
      @tiloalo 2 роки тому +23

      The nest is not the issue I guess, but the timber replacement will be costly...

    • @cherylmartin4050
      @cherylmartin4050 2 роки тому +6

      Hmmm at least its little ants and not the big black carpenter ants

    • @Suz9006
      @Suz9006 2 роки тому +23

      @@cherylmartin4050 They still might be. They clearly were tunneling in the wood which is exactly what carpenter ants do. And it also means you have water infiltration from somewhere causing the damp rotting wood they love.

    • @branchandfoundry560
      @branchandfoundry560 2 роки тому +16

      @@Suz9006 You hit the nail on the head. Ants are merely a sign of the actual problem, not the problem themselves (although they do cause their own bit of damage).

  • @red_fry
    @red_fry 2 роки тому +293

    The House videos are getting better and better and I feeel like the more challenging it gets the more we get to see you with no filter and that’s really fun to see. Good luck with the ants though… 🙀

  • @jjb8171
    @jjb8171 2 роки тому +313

    I had an ants nest like that in my house. My house dates from 1854. The problem is not the ants but the wood. There must have been water damage or something like that. The wood is rotten and makes it possible for the ants to build a nest. You have to take the rotten wood out i guess. Edit: By the way, it is most likely not a coincidence that you find this nest under a relatively new window. The original window has rotted away earlier. They just did not take out all the bad wood.

    • @hiwakoo
      @hiwakoo 2 роки тому +20

      In my House, there were ants, one I knew what I was "looking" for. I could smell them. We openend the plaster over the beams and smelled if there were other nests. We had to replace several woodbeams, beziehungsweise mussten Wechsel setzen, geht alles 💪🏼

    • @elvinhaak
      @elvinhaak 2 роки тому +9

      Yes, since it is soo close to the window there has probably been a very small leak for a start that slowly gotten a way in to the wood that the ants found. But there might have been other insects before that nestled inside the wood and eaten it after the first part softened up.
      They can be quite beautiful creatures though!

    • @M1NDCR4WL3R
      @M1NDCR4WL3R 2 роки тому +3

      @@hiwakoo what does it smell like?

    • @bananenjosef1899
      @bananenjosef1899 2 роки тому +1

      👍

    • @hrodga
      @hrodga 2 роки тому +2

      @@M1NDCR4WL3R Formic acid, I imagine.

  • @glass1258
    @glass1258 2 роки тому +14

    If I was renovating that structure I’d definitely pull all the plaster and backer boards down to get a look at the structure of the house .
    It’s absolutely necessary to do this otherwise you might as well have just moved in without doing any renovations

  • @kylieharrison3782
    @kylieharrison3782 2 роки тому +5

    The house and rooms look amazing. It's like the old girl has thrown off her corset, high heels and makeup,finally being to take her first big restorative breath in forever. The house must feel so very much loved by you all. ❤

  • @mattiaspeeters4023
    @mattiaspeeters4023 2 роки тому +42

    I think you got the ants part covered! :)
    On an other note: when insulating a building from the inside all old plaster has to be removed otherwise it can act as a vapor barrier and you will end up with condensation problems. I undersand why you want to insulate from the inside, know that this is the "hard way" of doiing it. Contact me or a local architect if you want more details.
    Good work and good luck!

    • @cjw648
      @cjw648 2 роки тому +1

      I'm so glad you said that about the plaster. I bought a 100year old house and it is entirely made with plaster. I have one wall bulging out. Was only going to take out the bad section, insulate and dry wall over the top. Guess I'm taking it all out now. Guess that will be me winter project now.

  • @54mgtf22
    @54mgtf22 2 роки тому +82

    The window has leaked into the frame. No big deal. Cut it out and put new timber in.
    Love your work 👍

    • @Redf322
      @Redf322 2 роки тому +2

      Yes and spray the ants

    • @luigirotta2802
      @luigirotta2802 2 роки тому

      @@Redf322 No spray. Poisoned ant food. They collect it and bring it into the nest and will exterminate ultimatively any ant.

  • @73Ferret
    @73Ferret 2 роки тому +63

    Shame about the ants! Shows how important getting old houses back to their bones is - rot, insects, treasure etc….
    Seeing you sat on the floor reminded me of exactly the same point in all my renovations!

  • @alk1654
    @alk1654 2 роки тому +95

    We are a few steps behind you, Laura, but have a similar story-line/nightmare developing. 200 yr old house in east Germany, discovered recently the asbestos (hoped for slate..), the mould and damp and rotting wood beams, as well as stinky formaldehyde in the flooring, and we are heading to the wall-paper removal phase in the Sommerferien. What will we discover...? Viel Glück, viel Erfolg und bleib tapfer!

  • @jeremyguntz14
    @jeremyguntz14 2 роки тому

    It's as captivating as a Netflix serie, just before the end a new intriguing story is coming, so please come back very soon. Can't wait!!!

  • @toastermon2272
    @toastermon2272 2 роки тому +6

    We renovated every house we moved into mostly by ourselves when I was young, so I can just smell this room, after you ripped wet wallpapers for an hour!
    So much for childhood memories!

  • @123dexter321
    @123dexter321 2 роки тому +4

    I can understand that you want to make the framework visible and therefore insulate the house from the inside. I hope you know that there are some downsides to this. There are only a few ways to do it right and a lot more to do it wrong. Therefore I highly recommend to consult a specialist who knows which materials to use and how to execute those works properly. If not, there might be a big chance these beautiful framework-walls will convert into a self-composing construction over time.
    I really like the project and you have my respect by doing most of the work by yourself. Wish you all the best with the house and that all these throwbacks will turn into something beautiful and a home you will definately be proud of.

    • @ghuubin4726
      @ghuubin4726 2 роки тому +1

      Well said, was worried about that myself.

  • @odiesclips7621
    @odiesclips7621 2 роки тому +9

    Your spirit is infectious!! I always feel better when I watch you, Laura. Thank you!

  • @DarkAlleyDan
    @DarkAlleyDan 2 роки тому +9

    Usually, it's Clickbait when it's like "MORE SECRETS UNKNOWN" but oh my god every single time It's been a genuine shock and twist

    • @laurakampf
      @laurakampf  2 роки тому +5

      I wish it was clickbait 😂

  • @Gerald_Hunker
    @Gerald_Hunker 2 роки тому +3

    In spite of all those drawbacks, it's always great fun to watch you working together. As long as you keep this spirit up, nothing can really stop you ✌🏼

  • @SchysCraftCo.
    @SchysCraftCo. 2 роки тому +2

    Smudo pull down the wall paper. Was the best part. Loved it. Can't wait to see more videos soon. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend.

  • @sharleners
    @sharleners 2 роки тому +27

    Absolutely loving this house reno journey. So excited to see all the hard work flourish! And am enjoying getting to know you all a little better :)

  • @heyalicia2551
    @heyalicia2551 2 роки тому +2

    LOVED your dog's expression. I always had my dog with me when renovating my cottage (that is now long sold after making it beautiful and living there over 13 years). I discovered a window under the wallpaper also. I filled up 3 large dumpsters over the years. Different demo projects.

  • @WeekendBuilds
    @WeekendBuilds 2 роки тому +8

    take a deep breath, you got this! I found the same thing when I renovated my house. Its not a hard fix and its way better to find it now than when you've rebuilt everything. Loving this series. keep up the good work!

  • @laurelldockall2399
    @laurelldockall2399 2 роки тому

    I Love that even the dog helped. What a wonderful pup. ❤️

  • @mmuehlebach
    @mmuehlebach 2 роки тому +17

    You seem to collect all the bad luck in one go. Its kind a crazy how your videos are a great encouragement to become a home owner myself because of all the excitement and visions you can make a reality of. And at the same time you show why its a very good thing I just rent a home :D
    I'm sure your journey goes well and hopefully I finally get the courage to do something like this myself. Thank you for all your great work.

  • @zami2525
    @zami2525 2 роки тому +2

    If this was my house i would probably just demolish everything and start from zero 😂😂 i cant believe how calm and chill you are about every issue that keeps coming. Wish you the best ♡

  • @jamesfreeman5853
    @jamesfreeman5853 2 роки тому +14

    Keep your vision in sight. That will drive you forward when things get to feeling low. And, do not forget the bug spray. I am enjoying watching the process. As always, the videos are very entertaining. Good luck through it all.

  • @spacecowgurl57
    @spacecowgurl57 2 роки тому

    How awesome is that, to find original sections to your home. My Grandparents lived in their 1907 home (they were second owners) for 65 years and today because I know what their renovations were in the 1970s someone hopefully will find their root cellar and original front door!!

  • @marknahabedian1803
    @marknahabedian1803 2 роки тому +4

    A friend of mine once rented a wall paper steamer. Much of the paper just fell off without any scraping.

  • @craigcorson3036
    @craigcorson3036 2 роки тому

    Ich habe noch nie zuvor einen Hund gesehen, der beim Entfernen von Tapeten oder überhaupt bei irgendeiner Hausrenovierungsaufgabe geholfen hat. Toll!
    I have never before seen a dog assisting in the removal of wallpaper, or for that matter, ANY home renovation task. Amazing!

  • @foxwood67
    @foxwood67 2 роки тому +17

    Can of worms. You have two options when buying a house like this
    1. Do nothing. Just move in and accept its state
    2. Renovate and be prepared to take 5x longer than what you thought and 10x the budget.
    In the end you’ll be able to appreciate all the work that went into it but it’s not an easy path.

  • @gracens5548
    @gracens5548 2 роки тому

    Finding a new, not so fun, task..." so much fun! Keep the spirits high "🤣 I am seriously liking this channel.

  • @SN-sz7kw
    @SN-sz7kw 2 роки тому +22

    Are you keeping a scrapbook of wallpaper, paint chips, old newspapers, etc? A great tangible record of the house’s history. 😊

    • @ohboilien
      @ohboilien 2 роки тому +2

      Some preserved ants maybe (too soon?)

  • @zolatanaffa87
    @zolatanaffa87 2 роки тому +1

    good luck! Laura
    since you are upstairs it may be less severe than you think, the beam does not have to bear the full weight of the wall and if the infestation is limited it might be fine,
    auf wiedresehen!

  • @Eklipze3k
    @Eklipze3k 2 роки тому +11

    We bought our house in 2019, I think it was also at some point in the 80's when the previous owner had last decorated it. The difference with ours was - they were heavy smokers! All of the wallapaper and ceiling paper was saturated in nicotine and it was absolutely disgusting stripping it all off!

    • @PombalFranzOri
      @PombalFranzOri 2 роки тому +3

      Yeah that was my house as well. Also, some rooms had four layers of wallpaper. The good ones came off in big pieces, but others it was really scraping little pieces off which took forever. I spent a week just removing wallpaper and it was a small apartment.

  • @evelynedavid9564
    @evelynedavid9564 2 роки тому +2

    All that wallpaper kept that house upright !

  • @john_ace
    @john_ace 2 роки тому +6

    We had the exactly same situation and had to replace some parts of the beams. It's not really a big deal, our beam was more like dirt that you could scoop out by hand. There are still some beams in our house that most likely need to be replaced but we haven't done that yet and the house still stands! Your ants simply removed the rotten wood from the beam and made their nest there. You can do the repair from the inside so that nothing can be seen on the outside (perfect when you have no building permit) or you make a total mess and open up the wall completely 🙂 Take it easy, I live inside a house that was constantly renovated since i was 6 years old. Im 42 now and we still have to do repair on this and that when we find a new problem. Most people who visit are jealous of the big house with the nice interior and very big garden we own but they don't know the work we invested. The work never ends ...
    "Du besitzt keinen Altbau, du adoptierst ihn!"

  • @bryantallansmith8303
    @bryantallansmith8303 2 роки тому +1

    I love that Smudo got to help, I am sure that he was feeling left out!

  • @chrispi314
    @chrispi314 2 роки тому +3

    Your house renovation doesn't go in curves, it's a freaking roller coaster with loops and spins. Hope everything will be fine.

  • @Manu-ex5zd
    @Manu-ex5zd 2 роки тому +1

    I think that the old painting of the house is beautiful. maybe you could save a bit or reconstruct. And to keep the motivation up I would recommend listening to music

  • @pepperypeppers2755
    @pepperypeppers2755 2 роки тому +3

    12:44 You're right there is a tool! There are steamers that use moisture and heat to loosen the adhesive and then the paper essentially falls off the wall. Probably could rent one for future walls

    • @michellebyrom6551
      @michellebyrom6551 2 роки тому +1

      They're fairly cheap to buy. Given that the wallpaper came off easily with water it wouldn't have made a lot of difference though. Lots of layers, anaglypta or painted over paper need the steam.

  • @kiliipower355
    @kiliipower355 2 роки тому

    Over 20 years ago, I renovated a huge flat from the 1920s before I moved in.
    There were 5 layers of wallpaper in the master bedroom and even remnants of the very first wallpaper in the hallway.
    You still have a lot of work ahead of you, but believe me, the result will be worth it.

  • @rbelang8331
    @rbelang8331 2 роки тому +92

    It is not that bad actually (ants). You just need to find the place where the queen sits; you will see lots of white larvas around it. Spray some insecticide and... gone. You might have to check if there is no other nest around the house... (When the nest becomes too big, a portion of the nest will migrate). Sometimes, the main nest is actually outside the house (in a rotten stump for exemple); it should be one of your priority to take care of it. After, well, take off the wood, scarf the beams, etc. It happened to me once. I was discouraged but it went ok (asbestos is much, much worse...)

    • @dieterf.8826
      @dieterf.8826 2 роки тому +14

      1st of all: Ants have several queens, not just one.
      2nd The eggs are not stored near the queen, the workers move them around.
      3rd Where there is one nest, there will be more.

    • @VincentGroenewold
      @VincentGroenewold 2 роки тому +9

      @@dieterf.8826 Plus, why are they there to begin with. I would look very carefully at the structure beam.

    • @rbelang8331
      @rbelang8331 2 роки тому +4

      @@dieterf.8826 Never said that there was only one queen... You read that... One nest = one queen. Ants nest in your house walls are not born out of a spontaneous generation; in many, many case there is a big nest right outside your doors, where they are coming from (main nest... with its own queen). So, it needs to be adressed in priority. When I dislocated my cabin (in the North), I found the Queen were there was lots of activity (lots of warriors spitting in my direction, biting my rubber gloves, and many many larvas...). Anyway...

    • @manfredschmalbach9023
      @manfredschmalbach9023 2 роки тому +1

      @@rbelang8331 The ants do not come to the house unless there is rot and (biological) disintegration in the beams and posts - ants do not destroy wood - they use the already pre-damaged, wetted wood as a building site. So, after the repair and after making sure the repaired place will stay dry and solid, there is no need to kill them outside the hose. They're not a pest like wasps or cockroaches, they are beneficial organisms.

  • @elizaa4767
    @elizaa4767 2 роки тому

    Hi Laura, This brings back memories! We renovated a house in New York from 1914 and also found newspaper and carpenter ants! We replaced the damaged beams and now, 13 years later, we have many good memories of our hard work and happy years in our old little house.

  • @PeterDrimcyk
    @PeterDrimcyk 2 роки тому +17

    I would be interested to know if the window and the woodbeam with the ants is somewhat above the woodbeam in the cellar by the stairs.
    There was a really soft but dry woodbeam, maybe because of an old water damage. The ants are on the first floor, so if that beam is direcly above the other one in the cellar, i would check the wall between the two.
    If all of this match up, it's either something with the wind direction (like mould is often on the north side) or there is one rather small damage on the roof and the water was flowing in one line to the ground.
    It's a wild speculation, but as many others stated, termites who chewed tunnels for the ants or carpenter ants are unlikely, but this could be ordinary ants who profit from the soft woodbeams.

    • @michellebyrom6551
      @michellebyrom6551 2 роки тому +3

      Excellent observation. If you're right, it means that one job solves both issues. I hope it's that positive.

    • @manfredschmalbach9023
      @manfredschmalbach9023 2 роки тому +1

      That's no wild speculation whatsoever, thats the logic assessment of what we saw to date. I would, with the window above, and because I presumed it's the Eternit side of the house, think it's rainwater ingress, but the gravity theory with the same well also wetting the base beam might be the easiest explanation for the rot in the basement. There can be two reasons, wetting with rainwater ingress and an inhibited dry-out after the rain because Eternit keeps it in .... anyway, that observation might actually be very worthy.

    • @lb5368
      @lb5368 2 роки тому

      Well done! I hope Laura & crew see this comment and consider whether it holds up! 👏

  • @VeretenoVids
    @VeretenoVids 2 роки тому +2

    Oh Laura! I feel for you! We have dealt with sugar ants since we bought our house--fortunately no live termites or carpenter ants, but they are so frustrating and, well, creepy. Good luck with evicting them! (We also need to rip the wallpaper off the living room walls, but have been putting it off because it has 47 layers of paint over top.)

  • @pat_link_
    @pat_link_ 2 роки тому +55

    House renovation is two steps forward and one step back before you start seeing changes happening

    • @e.458
      @e.458 2 роки тому +2

      Renovating in cha-cha-cha!

  • @roarmaus
    @roarmaus 2 роки тому

    When I had to remove vinyl wallpaper I used a similar spikey roller and after that I sprayed the area with a mix of hot water and laundry soap. Let it soak up for a few minutes. Kinda fun to see how large of a strip could be sloooowly peeled off the wall. A flat scraper was good, too. Less likely to nick the wall than a metal one.

  • @oliverschroeder42
    @oliverschroeder42 2 роки тому +6

    So krass wie gut die Videos geworden sind
    und wie Laura sich verändert hat.
    Fame aber auf dem Teppich bleiben, tut so gut dir zu zusehen.

  • @prosie1968
    @prosie1968 2 роки тому

    I love your little teaser clips…you have a flair for drama! And the buildup to the 🤡, you’ll be nominated for an Oscar.

  • @rogermoyson5185
    @rogermoyson5185 2 роки тому +3

    Hallo Laura, die Wände an der Innenseite isolieren beinhaltet grosse Risiken. Der Wasserdampf aus deinem Keller kann an mehreren Stellen in die Isolierung kondensieren und dort entstehen dann wieder Feuchteschäden und Schimmel. Ausserdem können deine Wände an der Aussenseite kaputt frieren weil es dort keine thermische Ausstrahlung mehr gibt. Auch an den vielen Wärmebrücken die bei eine Innenisolierung entstehen, wird sich vor allem Kondensat und schimmel bilden. Alles dass was Du eigentlich nicht willst. Du kannst die Aussenwände also besser nicht isolieren. Aus der Berechnung der Wärmeverluste geht hervor dass Du durch die isolierung van den Aussenwänden wenig Energie sparst. Sorge für eine Strahlungsheizung, aber keine Wandheizung. Es gibt viele möglichkeiten: Strahlplatten, Heizleisten, Fussbodenheizung, IR Strahler. Schade, dass Du meinen Rat bezüglich der Herangehensweise an die Schimmel- und Feuchtigkeitsprobleme nicht befolgt hast. Ich habe den Eindruck dass Du wenig Unterstützt wirst durch Experten, die es doch bestimmt auch in Deutschland gibt. Ich wünsche dir viel Erfolg. Roger

  • @foos.998
    @foos.998 2 роки тому +1

    Laura, this is such an amazing series. To see you working though all these issues, things that were acceptable back in the day but aren’t anymore is fascinating. And the fact that you’re smart enough to bring in professionals and do it right. It’s all so educational and I haven’t seen anything like it. Thanks for chronicling this.

  • @MartinPHellwig
    @MartinPHellwig 2 роки тому +3

    Ants have probably displaced the termites, which is a blessing in disguise. However you need to inspect if this hasn't caused structural damage. Ant have also a heat signature, so at night you should inspect your house with an IR camera to have a preliminary idea of the potential damage and work from there.

    • @boelwerkr
      @boelwerkr 2 роки тому +1

      She lives in Germany it's to cold for termites. What you see is all the work of black ants (called "Hausameisen" house ants in German) They only remove the rotten parts of the wood to make space for their colony. By doing that they save the so far not infected wood. It's not the first time seeing that.
      It's a half timer house all you can see on IR are the wooden beams because they are hallways a little bit wet. It's better to check for damp places around the windows.

    • @MartinPHellwig
      @MartinPHellwig 2 роки тому

      @@boelwerkr I stand corrected.

  • @EthanBlanton
    @EthanBlanton 2 роки тому

    Having renovated an old house (not quite this old, just under 100 years at the time), many of your observations resonate. The peaks and valleys of demolition and quiet work, the surprises ... and particularly the feeling of "six months ago this was more of a house than it is now". Your attitude about these things is much better than mine was, though!

  • @jannibal9273
    @jannibal9273 2 роки тому +41

    They don't look like carpenter ants, but that beam sure has been "chewed" up, the ants may have been there a long time. They are attracted to places that are damp - check your roof and rain gutters for leaks, it's imperative to stop any moisture working its way into the house, and most especially the wood framing. I would have an engineer or an experienced carpenter look at that beam. If it is structurally compromised you'll have to replace it. I don't know if there is an "easy" way to check for damaged beams through the rest of the house. If only we could "x-ray" houses! I would invest in having the house fully fumigated and clean it up on the outside to remove trees growing out of the foundation, any old stumps, clean out rain gutters, patch roof areas, etc. There are treatments that can be done around the perimeter of the home that will keep ants and termites (if you have them where you live) out of the house if you do them regularly as recommended by the exterminator.

    • @tsalVlog
      @tsalVlog 2 роки тому

      it's hard to tell on my end, they looked like the right color to be carpenter. the other option is they took over a former termite nest.

    • @tonyjover
      @tonyjover 2 роки тому +7

      @@tsalVlog no termites in Germany. They're 'ordinary' ants that have simply found some damp/rotten wood and made themselves a comfy home. Laura has to evict the ants, fix the source of the damp and then replace the rotten timbers. Really not a huge deal.

    • @boelwerkr
      @boelwerkr 2 роки тому

      In a half timber house all wood beams have to be there, you can't simply ignore them. :-)
      And the ants are simple black ants. They remove soft wood to create space for their colony. They normally live in old or fallen trees. Now they live in homes with space in the walls. So they are caled "Hausameisen" (houseants) in Germany. Have them in the wooden beam is better than the alternative. They slow down or even stop the rot by removing infected wood. The alternative would be slowly expanding rot up and downwards.

    • @tamurlane6
      @tamurlane6 2 роки тому +2

      I'm not completely versed on the tech, but I think a FLIR camera or other thermal imaging camera can detect moisture. I'm not sure how well that works in the type of walls that Laura has, but it might be an option.

  • @chelseamiller5568
    @chelseamiller5568 2 роки тому

    Oh no, I’ve been binge watching these and now I think I should stop because I’m already stressed about my (not as old) old house, I can’t stress about yours too!

  • @neilperry2224
    @neilperry2224 2 роки тому +18

    It's peaks and troughs in renovating a house or a flat .
    Never put yourself down about your intelligence, you're as bright as a button as we say here in the UK. All the best to you, if you ever need a spare helper just give me a shout.
    You'll need to get the house fumigated.

  • @diegosancho
    @diegosancho 2 роки тому +1

    Hey Laura!, The problem is if they were termites. No worries for the ants. You can extermintate easily creating a bait with any food that they take, mixed with 5-10% of borax. (I used jam, cooked rice, and creamcheese for different kind of ants) Kisses from Argentina! :)

  • @cherylsimmons4540
    @cherylsimmons4540 2 роки тому +6

    Some advice - keep a bathroom on the main floor. Just a sink and toilet. Get an exterminator for the ants.

    • @Meluforever
      @Meluforever 2 роки тому

      there is a toilet on the mainfloor yet.

  • @pamil1923
    @pamil1923 2 роки тому

    Ha ha, I never thought I’d watch a whole video of people and dogs peeling wallpaper but I did and I kinda loved it!👍🏼☮️

  • @jamesjensen5000
    @jamesjensen5000 2 роки тому +3

    Always vacuum up ants found in buildings otherwise they just relocate deeper into walls. Vacuuming removes them and disposal... spray areas immediately.

  • @LisaMarli
    @LisaMarli 2 роки тому

    It is bad, but it is good you found it now. You can kill the nest and repair the damage right now when the house is already torn apart. And this really is the best time to repair the damage.
    House remodels always find old problems that need to be fixed. Such is the nature of House Remodels.

  • @stevejohnson1685
    @stevejohnson1685 2 роки тому +3

    We've remodeled almost every house we've bought over the years. My wife really hates it when studs, electrical cables, and plumbing is exposed, but I love that phase. Houses are fungible. You can move stuff, remove stuff, and install stuff to your heart's content, and still have a house!

  • @moze_R
    @moze_R 2 роки тому +1

    I think better to know than not know? Though not good news, dealing with this challenge will just add to your knowledge. The adventure of homeownership, right? You got this. Thank you again for bringing us along. Love 💕 to Smudo.

  • @aikovanhulsen4798
    @aikovanhulsen4798 2 роки тому +3

    sorry about the ants! from the looks of it I get the feeling the termites were there first but I'm not sure. Usually ants invade after termites. Carpenter ants. (the big boys) come next. My polite suggestion would be contact a pest control company to advise you. And I heard you briefly suggesting insulating from the inside: That works only when the outside envelope is water tight. Be careful with that. I'v e seen houses where it rains inside when the sun shines outside. I'm not so worried about mold: When you ventilate and expose everything to open air and sunlight it will be gone soon. I know it's a giant job you took but you have the spirit and strength to overcome all this. Please keep at it and soon it will get better. glad you have good help. I wish I lived closer, then I would come and assist. Wallpaper and the adhesives used are prime mold and mildew growers. If you have more to remove, get a steamer. That works so great and does double duty. : Wallpaper just falls off and the steam kills the mildew/mold. Wash all walls after with steam and detergent. If you leave traces of size (glue) on walls it will hit you on the nose when you try to pain over it.

    • @MB-xw1tu
      @MB-xw1tu 2 роки тому +1

      The only problem with the termite possibility (I'm an entomologist in North America), is that while termites have invaded europe and have moved in to parts of southern Germany, they aren't native. I looked this all up when the sill plate seemed to be dryrotted (And some of the stuff behind the wall looked suspiciously like damaged soil tubes... which are diagnostic of the presence of subterranean/structure damaging termites.) But that was a few weeks ago and I don't remember when they were first found in southern Germany but I feel like it wasn't long enough ago for this level of damage (there is a european research group that tracks insect and disease invasions, and monitors the leading edges).
      Someone in another comment said carpenter ants don't eat wood. Which is TECHNICALLY true. However they do damage wood by excavating tunnels and cavities for nests etc. They just don't eat the wood they remove. And you are also right that the wood is most likely attractive to them for a reason. It is damp, it is damaged in a way that made it available to colonise. And some species of carpenter ants (though I don't know if its any of the notable structure damaging species) actually excavate into wood to eat colonies of fungi and mold (some even make little farms to grow their food on).
      Agree on the steamer too. Although my experience with plaster is that I would repair places where the keys of the plaster have broken so it is falling away from the lathe, but still largely attached. However I know nothing about the heating/insulation method they are using, which makes all treatment of plaster secondary. I just know that when I see a house with plaster walls that has wallpaper almost everywhere I know what to expect!

  • @caroles5258
    @caroles5258 2 роки тому

    That sound of the wallpaper peeling is so satisfying. Oh no, ant nest.

  • @jimhibert
    @jimhibert 2 роки тому +16

    There are two types of houses - The ones with termites, and the ones that don’t have them yet. Not a biggie.

    • @VincentGroenewold
      @VincentGroenewold 2 роки тому

      The ants could be after the termites, meaning the beam is possibly damaged.

    • @PuffiKartoffel
      @PuffiKartoffel 2 роки тому +2

      In central europa neither termites nor houses made of wood are that common so this saying doesn't really apply here

    • @alexwood2156
      @alexwood2156 2 роки тому

      @@PuffiKartoffel Houses made of wood are very common in central europe. Just 'cause you can't SEE the Fachwerk, doesn't mean it isn't there. Especially older houses are probably mostly wood.

    • @PuffiKartoffel
      @PuffiKartoffel 2 роки тому

      @@alexwood2156 sure they're common enough, but the majority of houses (at least in austria) is still made of brick or stone, especially the very old ones, since wooden houses historically haven't fared so well with our climate. Yes, I know people who have hauses with a wooden main structure, i just wanted to point out that the original comment isn't correct

    • @alexwood2156
      @alexwood2156 2 роки тому

      @@PuffiKartoffel In my expirience, 2/3 of all houses made for living here in germany have at least some wooden structure to them, like the roof or an extension. You're right with the termites though, except for a rare case of invading species, those little buggers simply cannot survive in our climate. (Yet ... well see what happens with climate change ...)

  • @suebrook6008
    @suebrook6008 2 роки тому

    Kia ora from New Zealand!! Wallpaper removal is such a terrible job but you guys have done the worst of it now. Working with friends is the best!!! Onward and upward!!

  • @rosecottage4872
    @rosecottage4872 2 роки тому +3

    I can't wait till next week to find out more about the ants in the wall! Is this going to be the only place in the house with this problem??

  • @corinneculbertson4798
    @corinneculbertson4798 2 роки тому

    You inspire no matter what. You take it one project at a time it’s smart. . I still want to renovate. It’s soulful. And experiencing it with you is an honor. I wish I had some money to help you with this project. Your home is still a gem 💎. Thank you, and your friends 👬 👫 for including us.

  • @tripwire76
    @tripwire76 2 роки тому +3

    Holy Infestation Batman!
    You could rename "Haus Lieselotte" to "Haus Nexa Lotte" - might be an opportunity for a cooperation.

  • @sarahanna68
    @sarahanna68 2 роки тому +1

    spray it, and replace the framing, you are the best, you can do this. great team work so far.

  • @vasari9198
    @vasari9198 2 роки тому +7

    Who else expects spiders in the walls?

    • @ncc74656m
      @ncc74656m 2 роки тому

      I'd be more worried about the spiders behind you!

    • @LordDragox412
      @LordDragox412 2 роки тому

      @Daniel Andersen Decoy snails.

    • @laurakampf
      @laurakampf  2 роки тому +1

      Pretty close actually 😂

    • @vasari9198
      @vasari9198 2 роки тому

      @@laurakampf I guessed spiders because I know they bother you, and because this house seems to be trying to torture you.

  • @asiandrmr
    @asiandrmr 2 роки тому

    6 months?! 😲 How has it already been 6 months!? Time flies! Love you videos!

  • @georgebartholemew8444
    @georgebartholemew8444 2 роки тому

    I've been using those rollers for 40 years, never thought of them as a torture device. Learn something new every day.

  • @basvanderwerff2725
    @basvanderwerff2725 2 роки тому +1

    wallpaper on the ceiling i never seen that before, it always cool finding old newspaper behind wallpaper

  • @Frugal_granny
    @Frugal_granny 2 роки тому

    When we started our renovations, and began removing wallpaper…. We discover it had 12 layers of historically unique paper (some were cloth) on the walls. One on top of the other. The time capsule of paper designs were amazing! It dated back all the way to the 1850s, when the house was originally built! The hose sits in eastern South Dakota on the train route that Laura Ingles-Wilder traveled during her life in Minnesota & South Dakota.

  • @mihailmihaylov9617
    @mihailmihaylov9617 2 роки тому +1

    Vinegar solution breaks down walpaper glue more efficiently than just water ;)

  • @peacefulreiki
    @peacefulreiki 2 роки тому +1

    Renovating my home place at the moment too.
    I empathize with you, Laura.
    I know the feeling of unfolding slow motion inner catastrophe while being exposed to never ending new "surprises"...
    But eventually we find way to deal with them, and it gives us strength to keep going.
    You'll get through this, and will be an even shinier human being from it!

  • @Guenther-Eichinger
    @Guenther-Eichinger 2 роки тому

    Bei so alten Häusern fällt mir immer wieder den Film „Geschenkt ist noch zu teuer“. Ich hoffe es wird nicht so schlimm für Dich.
    Alles Gute weiterhin.

  • @HannesMrg
    @HannesMrg 2 роки тому +1

    For the wallpaper I usually rip everything off that comes off easily and then use water and a spatula for the little bits that stay behind. Lean on the side of spraying it too often rather than too little (like every few minutes) until it almost peels of itself.

    • @triciac1019
      @triciac1019 2 роки тому +1

      Good to know, I have to do some peeling myself. Thank you!

  • @Werner_Richter
    @Werner_Richter 2 роки тому +2

    Hallo Laura!
    Bitte mach doch ein Smart Home aus deinem Haus und denk an viele Extras wie: elektrische Jalousien, elektrische Dachfenster usw.
    LG Werner aus Bayern

  • @lightgiver7311
    @lightgiver7311 2 роки тому

    I soaked my wallpaper walls with diluted fabric softener after using the needle tool. Came off amazingly.

  • @mothersuperior6751
    @mothersuperior6751 2 роки тому

    My parents first home Reno. Mum pulled at the wallpaper near the baseboards in the Master bedroom. The paper pulled in one long sheet up the wall, across the ceiling and then down the opposite wall. Leaving her draped in it. Laughing hysterically.

  • @willynthepoorboys2
    @willynthepoorboys2 2 роки тому

    Termites, woods worst enemy, I feel so bad for your set back but you can overcome this. Thanks for the video.

  • @milema8155
    @milema8155 2 роки тому

    Smudo tearing down the wallpaper made my afternoon!

  • @HistoricHomePlans
    @HistoricHomePlans 2 роки тому

    6:06 😅 That's exactly what happened to me. I thought I could just remove the wallpaper and paint the walls and ceilings. But lots of plaster was loose! I guess the wallpaper was holding the house together. 😆 So I ended up demolishing ALL of the interior plaster. But on the plus side, I was then able to insulate inside the ceiling and roof framing very easily.

  • @petalss5325
    @petalss5325 2 роки тому +2

    Lol, that exact dish minus beans is actually a really common Korean meal. Rice, fried egg, soy sauce, sesame oil with an optional butter or seasoned seaweed paper(조미 김). I used to have that every other day or so, growing up xDD I mean it's super simple but so good and filling!!
    Really enjoying this house renovation series :-) Keep it up!!

    • @lb5368
      @lb5368 2 роки тому

      I love that dish! And it's very easy to customize for every taste - add mung bean sprouts or some crispy onions, or even grilled meat if that's your thing, any way it is served is delicious. (Fun to see Sriracha sauce being used here)

  • @kirstenramone9290
    @kirstenramone9290 2 роки тому +1

    I LOVE watching the progress of this house coming together. I can’t wait to see it when it’s done.

  • @cadavreambulant3626
    @cadavreambulant3626 2 роки тому

    I love the old black designs on the walls

  • @farpasfritas
    @farpasfritas 2 роки тому +1

    Rice, beans, fried eggs is one of the most everyday dishes in Brazil.

  • @pteddie6965
    @pteddie6965 2 роки тому

    Thanks for the video, Laura. It obviously is going to take a long time to get this house in perfect shape, but that is your goal, correct. Keep your eye on your goal, the prize.
    Don't get discouraged. Just keep on putting one foot in front of the other and keep dealing with and solving each new difficulty as it presents itself. My old typing teacher used to say that problems are only opportunities to conquer and improve yourself.

  • @RogierYou
    @RogierYou 2 роки тому +1

    Run CAT6 network cables before closing the walls to locations where you plan AV, office, WiFi extenders inside and outside! The house. Also where you might want to install security cameras etc.

  • @JB-le6zm
    @JB-le6zm 2 роки тому

    I just want to say.... THANK YOU for removing the wallpaper! We bought our current home 4 years ago. The previous owner PAINTED the wallpaper in the hallway area. I haven't attempted the removal process because I know what a mess it's going to be🙄.

  • @ErickBuildsStuff
    @ErickBuildsStuff 2 роки тому

    Laura i suggest you get a thermal imaging camera like Flir and scan everything if you can find some heat signatures. that way you can know which all beams needs replacement.

  • @monalingan9523
    @monalingan9523 2 роки тому

    I am thoroughly enjoying watching this renovation of yours. You have an excellent group of friends. Even your dog got into the swing of things.😁

  • @RMarie62
    @RMarie62 2 роки тому

    1982 August was the year my son was born be happy be safe enjoy your journey

  • @richardsandwell2285
    @richardsandwell2285 2 роки тому

    A big advantage of insulating walls internally is it increases the width of the windows cills this makes them better for putting pot plants on. One thing external insulation is good at and that is maintaining the thermal mass of the bricks, but that is not always a good thing, it can take heating a longer time to warm a room up.

  • @oxwilder
    @oxwilder 2 роки тому

    You've GOT to frame some of that wallpaper! That would make incredible wall art.

  • @SweIceMan
    @SweIceMan 2 роки тому +1

    This is so weird. I literally spent the day today tearing down old wallpapers so i know what you´re going through. Keep up the good work!