Our crew worked all weekend getting the insulation in so they could start drywalling this week. The 2-week delay by the electricians has put us under more pressure to get the apartment finished for renting out October 1st. We know it will be done by then, but it needs to be mostly done by mid-September so we can show it.
They started the ceiling today too-exciting! It's starting to feel all cozy up there now. Maybe this will help our heating bills.
In spite of the slight cave in of my morale on Saturday morning, Steve and I managed to finish sanding most of the boards that day.And then we started staining. We use a mixture of Minwax: 3 parts Golden Oak, 1 part Red Oak, and 2 1/2 Dark Walnut. It's a warm brown that is close to what we found underneath the layers of paint.
Our contractor recommended Pratt & Lambert 38 Clear Varnish in Satin. We tested it out on a board and it looks fine. We will probably apply it after it is installed.
Here's a close up of a few door jambs. Looks pretty good for almost 100 years old. Gotta love the nice straight grain.
I'd say we are about 75% finished with staining- not bad really. I do have some miscellaneous boards I need to strip and then there are the 9 doors, which will be arriving tomorrow. But at least the doors will be something different.
When I spend hour after hour doing the same repetitive task, I start to feel like I'm being punished for something. I either need to finish something or switch tasks. Since we are on a deadline, I don't really have that luxury. But it'll build character right?
To sum up what remains: (not for for the faint of heart)
*One bundle/stack of trim to be sanded and stained (these were glued boards mostly).
*One smaller stack of boards ready to stain.
*A small (hopefully) bundle from our wood stripper. These will need to be filled, perhaps glued, sanded and stained.
*9 doors will need to be filled, sanded & stained and have the hardware reinstalled.
*Strip some door hardware.
*Strip a handful of boards & 20 or so plynth blocks (just one layer of stripper-all have been heat-gunned already).
*Lightly sand and stain the replacement molding when we get it from Owl Hardwood. Some base molding, most window stops, shelving for closets & pantry etc...
Oh my, I can't believe I'm actually doing all this.
5 comments:
sounds like you'll have a whole 2-flat full of character!
Jocelyn - I'm starting to think we were separated at birth. I'm the exact same way with neverending tasks. Make a list of all you've accomplished already, maybe that will help. Hang in there!
I thought that you were considering moving up there yourselves? What changed your mind? I'm so impressed with your work on the wood pile! I've got 3 doors to strip and then 3 I'll have to stain to match the first two and I'm DREADING it. I can't imagine dealing with the amount that you have. I'm blogging now when I'm supposed to be hanging cabinets... I wouldn't do too well with your deadline!
That wood looks fantastic. Despite the set-backs, you're making incredible time on the place. It makes a real difference when you have "a crew" at your disposal.
Thanks for the support all. I am going to my real job today and it's bizarre, but my real job is more restful than home lately-physically anyway.
Amanda- We will move upstairs in the next year or two. It's just too much for us to finish up the loose ends down here under a deadline like this. We've spent enough money already-belive me!
This way we can finish the first floor and enjoy it for a year or two and then move upstairs. We will be very picky about tenants this time too.
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