Floor Replacement, Part 1

It always amazes me how long everything takes. I envision the work and think it will take 2 hours, tops. Six hours later and I'm still not finished with the first step. My wife says that's because I teach whole lessons in 15 minute increments. In two hours in 1st grade, we might change our focus 8 times. She's probably right. 

Today, I removed about half of the interior floor. The floor under the rear window had to be vacuumed out. Really. Most of the wood got cut out in about 2-3 sq.ft. sections with a circular saw (set to just less than 3/4"), but under the window I just vacuumed it. It was that rotted.

I started in the rear of the airstream, mostly because our driveway slopes and that's the easier section to work underneath. I also felt like the rear of the airstream was the most fearfully unknown. A rusted out rear frame is a major problem. It was slow going because the floor was held down by a ton of flat-headed bolts. It was exhausting work with a pry bar.

But, OH GLORIOUS DAY! The frame in the back has very little rust. I know there will be more up front (remember those holes in the roof?), but the rear end separation that causes so much trouble in vintage airstreams will not be a problem for me. 

Gosh, I hope the front looks half as good.