Removing the Flooring

While some of the floors were poured concrete or hardwood, the bathroom, kitchen and dining area had vinyl sitting on a plywood subfloor. The bathroom only needed the plywood removed so that went quickly. The kitchen and dining were more challenging. Under the plywood were many more layers.

There was a layer of fiberboard and beneath that was four layers of linoleum-style flooring. They seem to have been some of the ugliest patterns available. There also seemed to have been what looks like a fire in the kitchen as there was a tarry smell and black marks on some layers.

Some places had cardboard placed as fillers to even out the layers.

There are quite a few nails and staples left in the bottom hardwood layer. Beneath this are the floor joists.

This pretty much ends the teardown of the first floor of the house. The furnace needs to be pulled and that will be the end. A neighbor with a similar house received a $70,000 estimate for repairs to his house. The county has a value on the house of $30,000. If you pay this amount to repair the house, what is its real worth? How many people would want to move in to town?

The town has many things to think about, including if it wants to exist again. The costs to rebuild the town's water, sewer and roads have not been evaluated yet. So far, half the residents do not plan on moving back. Some can't because of age, disease or financial reasons. Others are stuck in a difficult situation. They can't afford to repair their homes and can't afford a new house. One in this situation is on Social Security and doesn't make enough to qualify for a low-interest loan to make repairs.

The answers aren't easy nor coming quickly enough for anyone right now.