Updating a 1980’s Reach-In hall closet Part 1 – Demolition
A problematic Hall closet offered few positives and so many negatives.
As my twins are getting older we are asking them to take more responsibility for their stuff. That’s a hard task when there is too much stuff. Decluttering and making room to put things away is part of my plan to teach my guys the life skills they need.
Despite some wire shelving, my front closet was a disorganized depository for all sorts of crap. And because it just got piled in it was useless as a coat closet. I was legitimately too embarrassed to show you a before with the contents.
Once I removed the molding I put down some cardboard to protect my hardwood floors and to contain some of the mess.
Because there was tons of vertical room to maneuver, I decided to cut my opening and then assemble and insert the IKEA Pax cabinets. Based on my opening I measured a 61 inch opening, I used a 4 foot level to make a plumb line (straight up and down) and cut the drywall using an oscillating saw (fein multimaster – worth every penny).
I carefully cut the drywall with the fein multitool so I would have less repair work to do once I was finished. Sometimes this doesn’t matter, but here I wanted to keep my edges as crisp as possible.
Pro Tips
Once you know what you are dealing with…
Go crazy with the reciprocating saw.
Don’t do more work than you need to. The old shelf supports wouldn’t impinge on the installation so there was no reason to burn calories removing them.
Buried Treasure
Whenever I DIY, I leave treasures behind, under, or on top. I always ‘sign’ my work, leaving notes behind. I also left a bottle of booze behind the new install. I figure whoever is in the midst of tearing out my work one day will enjoy a well aged drink. It’s the perfect thing to do with those rando bottle of booze you get as gifts that just gather dust on the back of a shelf in your liquor cabinet.
Up Next: Installing the Ikea Pax System.
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