Never thought retirement would be like this
- Thread starter NancyNGA
- Start date
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
Oops!
The worst part of replacing that old lath and plaster with Sheetrock is trying to square and level the new materials. It takes a genius to install new material in a crooked old house that was built before standard dimension materials were used and make them come out looking square.
The worst part of replacing that old lath and plaster with Sheetrock is trying to square and level the new materials. It takes a genius to install new material in a crooked old house that was built before standard dimension materials were used and make them come out looking square.
You know what, Bea? That actually makes me very HAPPY! It means I didn't make a mistake by not getting it done years ago.
No regrets... That's about as good as you can ask for in life, isn't it? Thank you. :hatlaugh:
Nancy, it is just my opinion, but I think you need a more substantial support beam in that closet. And talk about an "Ahh Hahh" moment...the bedroom down stairs! Another project to put on your list! But I do love the curved door opening in that room!
Started one of my projects today (the guys left for FL). I put down engineered wood laminate floor planks in the upstairs bedrooms about 14 years ago and we had some water damage in the master bedroom and it was buckling. Started taking it up today and I must say it is much easier to lay it down (snap and lock), than it is to take it up because you gotta use a "pry bar" to remove the quarter round and then try to lift it to get it to "unsnap"! And I am taking it slow so as not to damage it and reuse some of it. And I learned a trick about using a "Sharpie" and putting a number on the back of each piece of quarter round so I will know what piece goes back in the right place! Takes alot of arm strength! Hopefully, I will not have to take the whole floor up because the damage is in a concentrated area. I have two boxes of flooring left and hope it is enough (along with salvaging the good pieces) because they do not make the color anymore! I really want to mark this project off my list! Wish me luck!
Started one of my projects today (the guys left for FL). I put down engineered wood laminate floor planks in the upstairs bedrooms about 14 years ago and we had some water damage in the master bedroom and it was buckling. Started taking it up today and I must say it is much easier to lay it down (snap and lock), than it is to take it up because you gotta use a "pry bar" to remove the quarter round and then try to lift it to get it to "unsnap"! And I am taking it slow so as not to damage it and reuse some of it. And I learned a trick about using a "Sharpie" and putting a number on the back of each piece of quarter round so I will know what piece goes back in the right place! Takes alot of arm strength! Hopefully, I will not have to take the whole floor up because the damage is in a concentrated area. I have two boxes of flooring left and hope it is enough (along with salvaging the good pieces) because they do not make the color anymore! I really want to mark this project off my list! Wish me luck!
The roof will have another support---the back wall of the closet---but only 2/3 of the way across. It's lasted at least 40 years (maybe 80 ?) like it is. Just hoping to buy 20 more. Ha!
Maggiemae, you know that ceiling picture was just a joke, don't you? I found that picture on the internet. Shouldn't post things like that, it gets me into trouble. The plaster looks fine downstairs, except for a couple of cracks, and the water mark Irma left. Hope I can match the paint.
I had to pull up all the quarter round in the kitchen when I got new vinyl flooring. Didn't want the floorers messing with it. If you don't want to split it, I found it helpful to have two prying tools, one real thin, and keep alternating them and easing them along. The quarter round in the un-altered part of my house is bigger than anything they make now, so I keep saving pieces, just in case. "In case" has never happened yet.
Sounds like a perfect job to tackle for the rest of the week. I've never done floor planks but would like to try.
Good luck! Let us know how it's going.
Oh, it did have knob and tube---two circuits. At one time the house only had two electric circuits---upstairs and downstairs! I replaced those a few years ago. It turned out to be easier than expected because they were added after the house was built, so there had been no attaching of wires to the inside of the walls, just needed to fish new wires through.
Cap'nSacto
Member
- Location
- Sacramento, Calif
Can't find where I saw where you were wondering whether to replace with sheetrock, but anyway - you don't need sheetrock there. It would be a big messy job that isn't necessary. (imo)
Finally cut down my neighbor's bush/tree today (like she has been encouraging me to do), and filled one truck load of limbs to haul off tomorrow. Will return with some lumber, and will have a *new* neighbor by then.
Last night I vacuumed the imaginary closet and thought I was catching a cold afterwards, but after sleeping downstairs it's gone. Heading off there right now to rile up some more dust just to see if it happens again. If so, all that cellulose stuff is coming out. What a mess that will be, but the great thing about dirt---it always washes off.
Update 10:23 am: Couldn't reproduce cold symptoms. Maybe I didn't stir up enough dust.
How's the floor repair going, maggiemae?
Last night I vacuumed the imaginary closet and thought I was catching a cold afterwards, but after sleeping downstairs it's gone. Heading off there right now to rile up some more dust just to see if it happens again. If so, all that cellulose stuff is coming out. What a mess that will be, but the great thing about dirt---it always washes off.
Update 10:23 am: Couldn't reproduce cold symptoms. Maybe I didn't stir up enough dust.
How's the floor repair going, maggiemae?
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Nancy, finally got all the damaged planks pulled up. Had to take a day off after that first day because even though I stated that it was a lot of arm work, when I got up the next morning I realized it was also a lot of lower back work! My back was sore for 2 days! I need to go to Lowes and get some underlayment before I put down the new planks. I have read that Pergo Gold is the best and only Lowes carries it. Hope to get finished the first part of next week. But I'm not in a rush. It's in an upstairs bedroom so it's not seen by anyone but us! I'll take some pics.
Sorry about your back, maggiemae. Comes at a bad time, doesn't it. Sometimes I can work through stuff like that and it actually gets better, and sometimes it gets worse if you don't rest. Never understood the difference. :shrug:
That's what I like about this current job. It's upstairs where no one can see it but me and the cat. She is thrilled to find there is a new "space" in the house to explore, but somehow she feels guilty being in there. Every time I go near there she comes running out. What's she up to?
I'm about to put up my first board. :lol:
Please do post pictures of your floor.
ps. Georgia is beating the heck out of Florida (so far)! I don't think I've ever seen such a lopsided GA/FL game.
That's what I like about this current job. It's upstairs where no one can see it but me and the cat. She is thrilled to find there is a new "space" in the house to explore, but somehow she feels guilty being in there. Every time I go near there she comes running out. What's she up to?
I'm about to put up my first board. :lol:
Please do post pictures of your floor.
ps. Georgia is beating the heck out of Florida (so far)! I don't think I've ever seen such a lopsided GA/FL game.
Closet update: Finally finished thinking today, and got the short wall framed in. Just needs a few more nails. I do not care for this kind of work at all. On TV they just build a wall on the floor and then hoist it up, but this room is taller than it is wide. And a square wall wouldn't have fit anyway.
Left and Right sides. Sixteen inches apart, except the first one.
From now on it will be *really* hard, because the only restrictions on this wall, other than straight up and down, were what you *imagine* could go wrong in the future. From now on it will be adjusting for things that *actually* go wrong that I didn't think of. And most of it will be overhead. Yikes!!!
On TV they just build a wall on the floor and then hoist it up, but this room is taller than it is wide. And a square wall wouldn't have fit anyway. Left and Right sides. Sixteen inches apart, except the first one.
From now on it will be *really* hard, because the only restrictions on this wall, other than straight up and down, were what you *imagine* could go wrong in the future. From now on it will be adjusting for things that *actually* go wrong that I didn't think of. And most of it will be overhead. Yikes!!!
Crossing this one off my bucket list.
The last chance to remove that cellulose insulation had arrived, and I decided on the spur of the moment to do it. It's a small place, and only took 3 or 4 hours, but I probably wouldn't do it again, if I had known how much trouble it was going to end up being.
Picking it up was like reviewing the history of the house. On top was the usual street grime, then a layer of sawdust and pieces of shingles. A little deeper and it's clean, like new, but on the very bottom---coal dust---soot from the old coal fireplaces!
So far so good, but then I decided to try and vacuum up some of the soot.
The filter on the shop vac came loose inside. Coal dust shot back out the vent for blowing and filled the air almost instantly. You could hardly see. Kept most of it isolated to just the closet, but not all.
Lucky I decided to wear a dust mask for this job. Came out of there looking like a coal miner, not his daughter. Just to show I'm not exaggerating, this is the worst of three dust masks.
So far not allergic to it. Don't know what those cold-like symptoms were all about the other day. I'm thinking of putting down this new rock wool stuff, instead of fiberglass. It looks easier to handle.
At least this was really good strength exercise, and the coal dust gave my hair more body. It all washed off.
The last chance to remove that cellulose insulation had arrived, and I decided on the spur of the moment to do it. It's a small place, and only took 3 or 4 hours, but I probably wouldn't do it again, if I had known how much trouble it was going to end up being.
Picking it up was like reviewing the history of the house. On top was the usual street grime, then a layer of sawdust and pieces of shingles. A little deeper and it's clean, like new, but on the very bottom---coal dust---soot from the old coal fireplaces!
So far so good, but then I decided to try and vacuum up some of the soot.
The filter on the shop vac came loose inside. Coal dust shot back out the vent for blowing and filled the air almost instantly. You could hardly see. Kept most of it isolated to just the closet, but not all.
Lucky I decided to wear a dust mask for this job. Came out of there looking like a coal miner, not his daughter. Just to show I'm not exaggerating, this is the worst of three dust masks.
So far not allergic to it. Don't know what those cold-like symptoms were all about the other day. I'm thinking of putting down this new rock wool stuff, instead of fiberglass. It looks easier to handle.
At least this was really good strength exercise, and the coal dust gave my hair more body. It all washed off.
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
Crossing this one off my bucket list.
The last chance to remove that cellulose insulation had arrived, and I decided on the spur of the moment to do it. It's a small place, and only took 3 or 4 hours, but I probably wouldn't do it again, if I had known how much trouble it was going to end up being.
Picking it up was like reviewing the history of the house. On top was the usual street grime, then a layer of sawdust and pieces of shingles. A little deeper and it's clean, like new, but on the very bottom---coal dust---soot from the old coal fireplaces!
So far so good, but then I decided to try and vacuum up some of the soot.
The filter on the shop vac came loose inside. Coal dust shot back out the vent for blowing and filled the air almost instantly. You could hardly see. Kept most of it isolated to just the closet, but not all.
Lucky I decided to wear a dust mask for this job. Came out of there looking like a coal miner, not his daughter. Just to show I'm not exaggerating, this is the worst of three dust masks.
View attachment 44168
So far not allergic to it. Don't know what those cold-like symptoms were all about the other day. I'm thinking of putting down this new rock wool stuff, instead of fiberglass. It looks easier to handle.
At least this was really good strength exercise, and the coal dust gave my hair more body. It all washed off.
Nancy,
I really appreciate these posts!
They serve as a reminder, for me, to just leave things as they are and maybe take a nap instead of trying to improve my surroundings!!!
Thanks again,
B
But Bea, a year from now will you remember what you did yesterday?
:sentimental:
layful:
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
I hear ya and you make a very good point, have fun!!!
I predicted my new neighbor would start with landscaping. This is his progress already. I would enjoy doing what he is doing. In fact I think he likes landscaping better than renting. So would I.
If my old neighbor sees the property after he gets through clearing up all the junk and trashy plants and bushes, I bet she will wish she hadn't moved. She said she loved her house, and the only complaint I ever heard was that she didn't have enough closet space.
11/1/17
He has cleared all the way to the back. That will help with mosquitoes back there. He even tore down her new partial fence. There is an advantage to those who rent property to keep every building possible, no matter how dilapidated. You can depreciate it on your income taxes. So the antique 2 car garage will probably remain. The foundation has collapsed (termites).
11/3/17
If my old neighbor sees the property after he gets through clearing up all the junk and trashy plants and bushes, I bet she will wish she hadn't moved. She said she loved her house, and the only complaint I ever heard was that she didn't have enough closet space.
11/1/17
He has cleared all the way to the back. That will help with mosquitoes back there. He even tore down her new partial fence.
There is an advantage to those who rent property to keep every building possible, no matter how dilapidated. You can depreciate it on your income taxes. So the antique 2 car garage will probably remain. The foundation has collapsed (termites).11/3/17
Wow, what a difference! Are those your bushes on the property line? Have not been on here much this week but your project is coming right along. Dang, be careful with that coal dust. You probably needed one of those heavy duty masks (I think they are called resprirators). Be careful! I am like a "slug"...can't seem to get a project finished. But come "hell or high water", I am getting this floor finished this weekend! Went and got the pergo underlayment and just need to get started. It is not a big project and should not take long. I am tired of looking at the "construction zone"! I have too many irons in the fire right now...need to get focused and finish one project and move on to the next! I want to take the carpet off the stairs going upstairs but need a good plan in place before I start ripping carpet up! It's always something!
I was wondering what you've been up to. Hope your back is fully recovered.
Yes that is my hedge. I started those plants from cuttings. Keep forgetting the name of them.[SUP]*[/SUP] They are 3 years old (after 2 years in pots), and need trimmed, now that you mention it. They are doing better than I expected they would.
I understand about being a slug, but sometimes it's because things get in the way and you lose your momentum. Today is household stuff, which I'm even procrastinating on.
Tomorrow it will be mostly goats and the big SC game to work around. Other times it's because you've got too much on your plate and you start spinning. That's when you need focus I guess. I've still got those trees to clear from the back fence, but it's been too hot here until now to tackle them. That is a very labor intense job for just one person. Couldn't do more than 2-3 hours in the heat. (That's my excuse anyway.)
When I have to go somewhere special, like the dentist, I have to fish some decent clothes out of my makeshift closet---a pile on the bed. That is my construction zone.
Speaking of carpet on the stairs, that's another thing I have to do. I put some stick on pads on the stairs to keep the cats (when I had 2) from scratching the wood with their toenails when they ran up and down the stairs. Those pads have finally started to come loose and need to be replaced, maybe with something more substantial? Waiting until after this closet is finished and the soot has cleared out. Ha!
[SUP]*[/SUP]Japanese Euonymus
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I have come to the conclusion that I will use any excuse to put off working on this floor project! Decided I needed to blow leaves today since it was so nice outside (except "humid"). This is a picture today from my front porch. The leaves have finally started to have color. As you can see, there will be many more leaves to rake, blow, or mow before it's over. But, hey, maybe I can put off the floor project until after Christmas? LOL
