Fears in Mid-Renovation: The Humphreys House Berlin, MD

We have owned the Humphreys House on Baker Street for six weeks now, and we are full on into the renovation. Panic and fear have set in, but maybe they are typical in a project such as this.

 

We have torn into the walls of the project, not fully knowing how long it will take to complete, or what we might find — the unknown can either be scary or incredible. The kitchen has been fully gutted, and the bathrooms are next.

 

Some of the fear comes with the question of safety and what harmful items might have been used in old construction. We knew the roof shingles were made from asbestos, but that didn’t concern me. But since realizing the old wall insulation we have been removing in the kitchen could very likely contain asbestos fibers, I have begun to panic at the health consequence. This is always my first reaction to things, rather than calmly looking at what can be done to remedy the situation.

 

 As the weekend wore on, and research has been done, I feel better knowing we have taken safety precautions and will proceed with care and caution. Luckily, the demolition phase of the project is soon coming to a close. We will definitely be adding a HEPA filter to the new HVAC system, and be sure the house is checked out to ensure it’s clear of dangerous asbestos.

 

The other fear that has surfaced has come from our 7-year-old, who ran into our room in the middle of the night because of a nightmare … that the new house is haunted. I believe he has been overhearing conversations of ours with friends who have asked if the house is haunted. As with any old home, that is always a thought. Knowing the history of the home, and those who lived there, we feel confident there are nothing but positive vibes from any past residents.

 

And with Halloween just around the corner, I can't help but think about it as well. Most definitely we are going to add more lighting to the walk-up attic, so there are no dark corners left!