This is what my kitchen looked like before the renovation.
It has now been revealed that the tiles are probably still behind the new kitchen cabinets. Probably as it looks in the picture, but possibly partially torn down as well.
What do you think:
1. Shouldn't the contractor have taken down the old tiles before putting up plasterboard, new cabinets, etc.?
2. Is it even possible to get a completely straight wall without first removing the tiles? I mean, the tiles do protrude a bit, and therefore wouldn't the plasterboard, etc. that is put up be crooked? Or can you perhaps frame it out in some way, instead of tearing down the tiles, and thus get a straight wall?
3. Anyone able to predict the age of these tiles and adhesive/grout? The grout looks quite dark, the adhesive seems a bit yellowish to me? Risk of containing asbestos? Or is it too new/too old? If it were to contain asbestos, do I need to dismantle the new kitchen and decontaminate? Or can it stay back there?
4. As you can see, part of the old fiberboard (or whatever it is, right behind the paper bags) is dark brown, while the board is lighter in both directions. Feels a bit "sticky." This is where the stove used to be. Could they have smeared something on the board just behind the stove and if so, what and why?
5. Around the previous ventilation through the wall (image 2 - at the very back of the picture, in the corner), you can see it looks completely black. Seems to be in the fiberglass. Perhaps mold? Do you think the contractor who did the kitchen ensured to replace this, or what is the norm if it looks like this? I'm worried this was enclosed behind new plasterboards and wall cabinets. The ventilation grill remains on the outside facade, but on the inside, a kitchen cabinet covers and conceals the ventilation hole. Shouldn't this channel be insulated? I think, otherwise moisture could enter through the channel, against installed plasterboard, etc., and create mold against the interior wall? Shouldn't the contractor have done this when he put up the kitchen cabinet over the channel? What should one insulate with in that case?
1. If there was asbestos, it would have cost to remove. Would you have wanted to pay for that?
2. Yes, it's possible to get a straight wall without any problem.
3. Asbestos is only dangerous in dust form. Built-in, it doesn't matter.
4. Hard to say from the picture. The stickiness is probably because dirt gets there when cooking. They might have wallpapered down there before setting the stove.
5. It's probably black mold. If it is sealed, one can hope that they installed insulation and also something that stops wind and water from outside. Insulate with mineral wool and put wind barrier paper over the hole.
But do you think that a craftsman, if they are professional, would have left the black mold in the insulation?
It seems like even I, as a layperson, would have realized that this should be replaced before installing a new kitchen, drywall, etc.
The dark board. There was no old wallpaper there. It looked exactly like that in the picture.
That's why I wonder what the heck it is, if something was smeared on, like heat protection behind the stove,
but that might sound far-fetched?
I only feel the sticky part at the very bottom, that's the only place today where I can see a bit of the brown board,
at the very bottom by the floor.
What do you think about the age of the tiles? Any wild guesses?
