State of the Bathroom

The removal of asbestos had severe ramifications on the bathroom. Our bathroom had never been at all appealing, but it in several senses it took a turn for the worse. Our only bathroom window disappeared along with both the outside cladding and the inside (asbestos) fibro. All of a sudden there was no longer any natural light - except that which shone through the holes in the 'Bradford Thermofoil'.



In the process of taking out the asbestos Dad had also ripped out the bath and mouldy vanity cabinet. The bathroom was on a concrete slab, along with the veranda (extending on other side of sink and shower head wall) so we were still able to use the shower.
All that stood between us and the elements while in the shower was that blue aluminum foil sisalation. During winter showers tended to be especially swift. Not the most relaxation-inducing mode of ablution, I can assure you, especially when it is understood that the sisalation was all that stood between us and the main road.
As it is inconvenient to have water going everywhere, we soon took corrugated plastic, salvaged from off the roofed area between the house and garage, and enclosed our shower area. The choice of material was very organic, despite being plastic, as the lichen stubbornly remained in situ - in defiance of a hasty scrub brush. (This corrugated plastic was also what Dad used to close over window openings, after taking windows out during the asbestos clean up.)


We also cut a hole in the sisalation for some natural light. It made a huge difference during the day.




The bathroom, as can be seen, drastically changed. (Compare these pictures to the original photos in Preview on Camera.) Aesthetically and psychologically it changed for the worst, but hygienically - despite appearances! - it was generally an improvement. The room could become dirty (the wind somehow blew even pine needles in), but it certainly wasn't mouldy. (Our friendly lichen doesn't count!) The air circulation was excellent.