Attack of the Carpenter Ants - Before & After

It started with a leaky roof. 

The ceiling seam connecting the original back porch to a 1970s addition 

leaked every time it rained. And the windows all had a permanent foggy look.

The house was built in 1907 and the front looks pretty.
But wait til you see the back!

Like most renovations, the leaky roof turned into a major project.

When Rob, our contractor, tore into the ceiling, he found a huge mess. 

Carpenter ants, who apparently prefer wet wood to make their nests in, 

had attacked the ceiling, the wall, and the framing around the windows.
It was more than an ant farm. It was an ant estate!

The more Rob removed, the worse it looked.

 The insulation was sopping wet and the wood crumbled to the touch. 

Who knew tiny little ants could do this much damage. 

 He finally recommended we just replace the entire wall and put on a new roof. 

Of course, that lead to a discussion about the old plate-glass windows. 

They did let in a lot of light as well as cold air and moisture. 

We couldn't open them in the summer and couldn't use this room in the winter.

I decided I'd prefer windows that matched the rest of the windows in the house 

instead of the 70s look. Might as well get good energy-efficient ones while we're at it. 

The insulation then got new lap siding, the kind carpenter ants don't like! 

Inside, we got fresh new wood and a smooth dry ceiling. 

A little paint made it look like it had always been part of the house.

Indoors I painted the trim around the windows a crisp white
and stained the new raw wood to match the old walls.
Now, the room is warm, dry and cozy year-round.

Everyone enjoys this room now . . . except the ants!

Linking with:  Dwellings, Rustic & Refined, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm,
Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Bella Rosa Antiques, Savvy Southern Style,
Maison de Pax, Knick of Time, Ivy & Elephants, Elizabeth and Co., Northern Nesting,
From My Front Porch to Yours, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life,
Adirondack Girl at Heart, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, French Country Cottage,
Shabby Art Boutique, Meadowlake Road, Creative Country Mom, Shabby FuFu, Thoughts from Alice