Can be rewarding, or a PITA. I do a lot of my work in these historical old structures. Today was a day to forget....
Renovating a third floor guest bath, full gut, and replace shower, vanity and toilet. In old town, so access is difficult. Used 12" sonotube on ladder to get 2800 lbs. out. It was full mud job, tile on top of full 1" concrete, on top of metal lathe. That alone was an accomplishment.
So now we are running wires up vent stack chases. But they turn 45 degrees between 1st and second floors. Fun.
Today met with plumbers to design a vent and wet vent..... "Just frame us a 2x4 wall and we will do the rest." Except they need to cut into existing lead stack pipe and need 360 access. Well.... stack is located/touching a true 6x8 vertical corner post.... hmm... Yes, I said 6x8. From ground to third floor roof. Obvious signs of scabbing on many areas, and not recently. Probably when indoor plumbing introduced as pot traps used and not vented. Lot of hacked out lumber that is no longer structural....
So going to vent another hole through the roof. (and not tell Historical Commission) Throw some 2x8 bridging in floors that the plumbers will drill through
and hope they can make it work where I decide to set my new plate and framing... Lumber, saws and nail guns going in after the weather clears. Fun Fun....
I think this will be the last bath I do, at least on an upper floor, in +200 year old homes....