(I started writing this post yesterday evening, but did not finish it. I had an Apple Notebook computer which I had in bed with me. Not only was it not an ideal set up (my kids have no problems), I was tired, and found myself nodding off).
Yesterday, I was invited to a client's to be part of the August birthday lunches. My birthday is Monday. There were two others in this small office with August birthdays. Not much of a population dispersion! The beauty of the internet is that I can do much of my work for clients from home. Truthfully, it becomes a little isolating, and I welcomed the face to face contact. I got lots done in a short amount of time, so that was good too!
This time in the office meant time away from the house rehab. This client has resident experts in painting and carpentry, so I shamelessly pump them for information. As they are busy with their paying customers, this sideline house rehab does not allow me to pinch their people! Fortunately, I have my own resident experts. My carpenter experts who will tackle the water-works damage will be in next week.
My own interface is to be hands on enough to re-acquaint myself with time and cost of things to do for future rehab projects. Plus, whatever I do means a paid hand does not do, and that helps my daughter out as she will ultimately pay for costs incurred. I have a vested interest in giving her a little of my sweat equity. Given the temperatures and the need for ventilation meaning turning off the AC, this sweat is rather profuse. My body is still acclimating to this physical load, and my failure to finish this post that I started is a testament to how sorely needed that break was.
While enjoying a lunch, I responded to a colleague's challenge to do an 8 week weight loss. Biggest % loser wins. I have already dropped about 4 lbs from my immersion into this project. Though I bemoan my physical condition, I have outlasted my 23 year old daughter on work days.
Hannah joined me for part of the day yesterday. We washed walls down. I was reminded that my own home could use a bit of this too! She washed, and I rinsed. One of the upstairs windows was completely blackened from the outside. I managed to clear that up with the help of paint remover and fine steel wool followed by a paper towel in some Krud Cutter. That worked well too for a few places that were still tacky from grease on the cabinets.
Hannah had some afternoon appointments, so I was left with the company of The Mamas and the Papas on the CD player and some other things that I could not identify. Mahler symphonies are not likely good work music, but I wished for something more than I had.
I set my mind that I would sand and prime all of the cabinet doors. This is not a task I have ever done before--though I have sanded and primed plenty of trim and doors. I treated every door like a much loved child. I sanded, determined if there was some more grim that needed to be removed, cleaned, sanded and then wiped down with mineral spirits.
I primed the cabinets with the Zinnser's BIN. It expressly says not to use TSP on the label. My preference is to see an admonishment and a reason for it. As I would say to my daughter when she was 2 years old, if you go to the river unattended and you fall in, you will turn blue and die. You simply cannot tell a 2 year old that they will drown. Too foreign. You need to really spell it out with kids
I would like to see similar language on this TSP warning: If you use TSP and this product, you may cause the world to get wobbly on its axis..etc. I used TSP, but I figured that any residue was ameliorated by my sanding and mineral spirit wipe down. I may be wrong. I'll report it if I see any weirdness in the finish or if I start to grow a horn between my eyes--or even a third eye. I also wet sanded with 320 grit waterproof sandpaper. Let me tell you this...those cabinet faces were smoother than a baby's bottom.
I still need to sand after the priming. And I will do so in between each top coat. My arms are appreciating today's respite from that work. "Wax on; Wax Off" is great for working little muscles in your arms and shoulders--and those muscles will let you know just how little work they get from ordinary life. My body continues to respond to this work load---in a lurching, hesitant fashion--but responding nonetheless.
I went to the paint store to get paint product. I've never used anything but Benjamin Moore, and that is what will be used on this house. My order was a bit tedious, but the folks at the store were helpful. My paint will be ready tomorrow. . .
And here it is tomorrow..... I picked up my paint and had a lovely chat with the store manager. He is one of those folks that just loves life. He is turning fifty soon (another August birthday!), an event I assured him that he would survive. He mentioned that his best friend died just his week. Kidney cancer, that was operated on, but was not successful. A reminder that grousing about turning older (or our weight, hair color, lack of hair or hair sprouting from inopportune places) is a luxury.
I have chosen to use the Benjamin Moore Aura paint. I'm looking forward to getting some paint on the walls as soon as I get the walls in shape to put some paint on them. Dirt. Holes. Dirt. Gashes. Hannah and I spackled today. We will need to sand and spackle some more. We used the pink that turns white when dry spackling.
I sanded down all of the primed surfaces on my cabinet faces. I then decided to try my luck with Bondo. Unfortunately, the can that I was given did not have the measuring cup. I'm sure that I measured it incorrectly, and I'm pretty unhappy with my inept mixing and application. I did sand the primer at the back of the cabinet faces and began applying my first coat of paint. I'm using BM's Cabinet paint (though I had originally thought I would use their Advance paint. The color is Chantilly Lace (Oh! what a magnificent off-white), and the paint is a jewel to work with. As I'm doing the cabinet backs, I rolled that on originally and then switched to brushing.
While I was waiting to be helped in the store yesterday, I spied this wondrous tool, the Pelican Paint Bucket. You can put your roller and your brush in it, the paint does not thicken as fast as it does in a tray AND, they make liners for it AND it has a magnet that holds your brush in place. I have to say that it made my job with the cabinets go so much easier. It is stout enough to not tip over, and is well balanced in the hand.
I reminded Hannah what a big job it is to have to paint these cabinets. But they will look very classy and elegant when done. Here are some of the color swatches that I put together for wall and trim colors. The Chantilly Lace is quite versatile. It will be used with the other colors as trim--
Today I sanded the prime and put a first coat of paint on the cabinets. What a transformation from dark, dirty pine to creamy white. (I'll get pictures once I'm done). To say that this cabinet project is a big job (in addition to all of the other big jobs in the house) is an understatement. It is not really that many cabinets as you can see to the left. However, I'm being very careful with the prep, and my arms, hands and shoulders are a beneficiary of the sanding and painting. I have a feeling that after this project, I'm going to take a long hiatus from painting.
After my first session of tack strip removal, it occurred to me that this stool could come in handy. In addition to the tack strips, I had to remove the staples. Some of them were beaten down so much (though still had the carpet padding tufted in) that I resorted to using a scratch awl and a small nail pull. Using the little hammer side of the nail pull, I could tap the scratch awl underneath the staple. More often than not, only one end was released. Grab the recalcitrant side with the nail pull or needle nose pliers and you are rid of your stable. In one room, where the carpet had been moistened (by God knows what and how often) the staples were rusty.
My husband was kind enough to pull together tools for my daughter and I, though he was clearly dubious. Our tool bucket (that my husband called a North Carolina tool box) was chock full of useful stuff. You can see a similar item pictured right.
One of my goals was to see what was underneath the carpet on the stairs. The home has linoleum and carpet except for about 10 sqf of tile in the downstairs bathroom. My tool to get started on this job was a linoleum knife pictured left. It is a terrible looking thing. I don't watch slasher movies, but I suppose if I did, this would be a central implement to such an evil doer.
Having never had carpet, the carpet tack strips were something new to handle. The bottom less bucket of tools had just the thing: a Wonder Bar. In case you are unfamiliar with this tool, here it is. . . 
