Holiday Over: Time For Work Projects

January is always a time to plan and get started on work projects for the year. I suggested to Handyman that he could set up a few of the small "finish up" jobs to work on throughout the winter months of January and February- he thought that was a good idea. The thing with these little jobs is that they go unnoticed when the major work season of springtime arrives. They are those pesky little things that need job lists and little bits of time here or there.

Recently, Handyman knocked out a few: attached a robe hook in an extra bedroom, put up the winerack shelf I bought while out Christmas shopping (aaahhh- you know you do that too! -buy something for yourself while out there in the shopping mode). One of the peskiest jobs seems to be our screen door in the back. I don't know why, but it pops nails, gets out of plumb and generally won't behave no matter what. I know you read this dear Handy-dandy, so put it on the list - thanks! HUGS ;)

We still have some trimwork that needs to be installed in the garage office area, and there are little maintenance jobs in the bathroom, etc. It's always something...., but it is easier when remembering the old saying "a stitch in time saves nine". Akin to "measure twice cut once", just some old words of wisdom reminding us that it pays to keep things in working order and give attention to the state of affairs around the house.

My son showed us pictures of his DIY work in his newly purchased home. Really nice work with bold color choices- Maybe he can post here! I'll ask him. Both my older sons have inherited their father's handiness and have done some impressive work in their respective residences. And like Red Green says: "if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy"

We Are People Not Machines

That is what I often say to my husband, the Handyman. He is one of those driven workers who puts his nose to the grindstone.... and I'm the flint who gives off the sparks, I guess. But I really think there is a deep truth in "to everything there is a season".

Just my idea of a rest season is a little longer than his. So we haven't done alot of projects, but Handyman did put up gutter guards to keep the gutters from clogging with leaves. I had him get out the leaf vacuum and my youngest son is using it... but it is very hard to move around; I should have bought the self-propelled type.

I am supposed to be doing the housecleaning around here, but as you can see I am blogging. I seem to have energy for other things, but not for housework and organizing and seasonal clothes changeovers.

It is the end of the outdoor season, and there are so many things I didn't do. so why am I thinking up new projects?
This is the way of the d-i-your-selfer.

Updates from Handyman

As my wife stated, we have not had much to report lately. One thing that we did do (that needed done) is to get some fresh gravel on our driveway. In the past we have gotten #57 which is a combination of #5 & #7, which is a larger more irregular gravel. Also have gotten the 3/4" down to dust (I think it is #411 or something like that). This time we went with 40 tons of #8, which is a finer (1/4"-1/2") washed gravel. It has a much nicer appearance. Supposedly it will stay in place better that the other types, but doesn't last as long. To prep for it, I sprayed the weeds/grass growing in the old gravel with some Round-up a few days ahead of time. I have a back-pack type sprayer for this which works very well.I also have nearly completed a privacy fence for a small area of our yard to provide a more private setting for our Hot Tub/Spa. When done, it will have a couple of arbored entrances, and space for additional gardens. When done, we will post some pics.

Deck Maintenance 3

This time with pictures.

This picture shows the two levels of the back screen porch and the outside deck. The entry to the porch has been cleaned with deck cleaner, but not stained.

The next picture is what the stained deck looks like. We haven't done the rails or trellis in this photo, and that is in progress now. Sorry about the doormats handing over the rail- I just don't think like a photographer would...

The birds, Handyman's nemesis, have already sullied the deck's pristine appearance. I will have to scrub it down already. I don't really know a solution for that. ( No, shooting the birds is not a solution That will have to remain your Walter Mitty dream, Handyman).

Birds are our friends... they are just obscenely messy.



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Deck Maintenance

BACKGROUND:

First a little background on our decks. I built stage one about 6 years ago. I constructed this one totally of pressure treated lumber. It is about 10x12, and I subsequently roofed it and screened it in to make a nice back porch which is entered from the dining room thru outswing French doors. About 2 years after building this deck, I built stage two deck. This deck is attached to the original deck and is @ 16x16 and also is constructed of pressure treated lumber. About 2 years after that, we decided it would be nice to have a Spa/Hot tub. This resulted in building another deck, sited on the other side of the house in a more sheltered location. Since this deck was to support a hot tub weighing up to 6000 lbs (weight of hot tub, 500 gallons of water and up to 6 people), I had to design this deck to support this load. (I always try to err on the side of caution - so this deck is substantially more than adequate). The main under structure of this deck is pressure treated lumber, with decking and trim being cedar.

PREPPING FOR STAINING:

I got good results with Olympic Olympic Premium Deck Cleaner(cost about $7 at Lowes). You use this stuff full strength in a pressure sprayer. I found it did a very good job. After you let it sit for about 10 minutes, you hose it off. After hosing it off, I went over it with my new pressure washer. This was sufficient for the enclosed porch, and hot tub deck, but I found I needed to give the 16x16 deck a second cleaning. This was due to fact that large part of it is under a large tree and it had a fair amount of moss/algae(?) on it. Second cleaning did the job here. Again rinsed and pressure washed. The decks are now ready for staining (which I am hoping t0 do this weekend, weather permitting). I will detail this operation when completed.

PRESSURE WASHERS:

My only experience is with the electric powered pressure washers. I originally purchased a Karcher brand electric pressure washer (yellow color). It was a piece of junk . After one season, the plastic elbow failed at the glue joint. I called Karcher and was told I would have to buy a new part since it wasn't "defective". However, when I called the supplier for Karcher parts, the parts people knew immediately what part it was, because it was such a common problem. Why buy another junk part for a junk pressure washer, and have to pay for it along with shipping and handling every few months. My solution - trash can for this worthless piece of s..t. I have noticed a huge availability of "factory refurbished" Karcher units. Something is only as strong as its weakest part - and this pressure washer definitely had a "guaranteed to fail" part. But now I wanted another pressure washer. My first inclination was to get a heavy duty gas powered model. The gas units cost more, are more cumbersome to operate (larger, bulkier, gas storage, starting, etc). These factors outweighed the versatility/power advantage that the gas models offered. So, I was at Home Depot and almost purchased one of these models, when I happened to notice the Husky electric model. It looked similar to the Karcher one but upon close observation, I noted that the fittings were brass, it had quick connect/disconnect brass fittings, had more power (psi). It felt much more solid. So I ended up getting it (I think for about $169). I have had no problems with it and am very happy with its performance. I might mention that we only occasionally need a pressure washer - like for deck cleaning, etc., and this one is easy to use and does a great job for our use. Easy to store, set-up, etc., and I don't have to deal with gas, oil, spark plugs, tune-ups, pull cords, etc. Now if I was using one daily on a commercial/professional basis (heavy duty usage), I would opt for the more powerful gas units.

Deck Maintenance

We have been too busy to post here. Sorry. The weather hasn't cooperated with a smooth sequence of deck maintenance, but that is what my husbands latest home project is. He cleaned the decks and now will be re-staining them ( weather allowing). I charged up the camera batteries so I can take pictures of the process- although you have to miss out on the recording of the green algae buildup and darkened areas of wood. I can hear your exclamations of disappointment now! ;)

I didn't quite get to finishing the paint job in the back room, so that is waiting for me, as well as painting the lattice. Oops... that is a job leftover from last year, along with the mucked up porch painting ( I had no responsibility in that mess!) Just a reminder to Handyman ( who reads this) that cheaper paint in another type than previously used was not the best choice. Remember to get some polyurethane type after we tediously scrape off the old peeling stuff.... Whenever that will be, now.

I'm tempted to blast it off with the power washer. I really like using the power washer.

Now the focus has shifted to the garden and not being "Wonder Woman" the house is not going to get much attention until I get all the flats of plants planted and more of the weeding and mulching done.




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Handyman Gets Busy

It's hardly ever what you plan, though. I let the Handyman know I was talking about the Kitchen remodel, but in the meantime he has found his hands full with the breaker to his office switching off every few minutes. He has been troubleshooting and conferencing with a buddy who is an Electrician. Right now they think it is a breaker gone bad. Who knew that breakers could break down when you most need them? The Handyman has been remarkably calm given the fact that it kept switching off the electricity while he was doing invoicing. Come to think of it...I'm remarkably calm; I'll try not to think of that too much.

Anyway, I don't think he is going to post until this thing is straightened out. Actually, until his computer is able to get up and running, he can't post, not liking or being familiar with mine. Never fear though.... I do enough talking for the both of us and I'll just chug along with telling my version of the Kitchen.

It's always something, isn't it? Is this a variation of the ..... ominous music Mushroom Factor ...or something altogether different?

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Maintenance

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

That bathroom drywall rot I mentioned? I spoke to my husband about it right after writing that post, and it is on the list for this weekend. yay. It is always true that it is easier to keep something maintenanced than it is to fix it (the mushroom factor comes into play here...)

My husband might forgotten his lesson from the gutters. I know it mightily impressed him last year. For years, he had put off replacing the gutters... parts of the house were without them, and we were having all sorts of moisture grief. I tried grading the soil around the house.... putting in drains from the existing ( what was left of them) gutter pipes. I think my husband was wavering between getting the job done and doing it himself. He wavers alot which is why he married me... I don't waver much... I like to make decisions, weighing the pros and cons,planning, making lists... all that kind of stuff). But then he decided to get the job done ( git 'er done!) and it made a world of difference. He almost couldn't believe it. Gutters are a definite improvement to the house.

I remember reading in the 'Old House Journal' years ago about some of the different forms of gutters that old house ppl can run into. Gladly ours were fairly straight forward. Although, come to think of it, when we first moved in we had to scab the supports because the previous gutters were probably the hanging kind, like the barn had. So to make the modern gutters hang straight we had to attach wood supports. Forgot about that. But with the job done on the new gutters it really improved the appearance, too. Sort of like the difference between a wrinkled shirt and an ironed one... neat gutters make for a natty appearance along the lines of the house. I chose a gray color to match the metal roof.

Oh yes, that reminds me of that roof. You have to keep it up, although it seems to last for ages. My husband daubed all the fasteners and then painted it with a special paint. I have to go ask him what kind. wait a sec. Okay, he sealed the nails with roof caulk and then the first year painted with zinc paint. The second time it needed painting he used Sherwin Williams metal roof paint. I told him he needs to co-author this blog. He writes well, much better than I do, and he knows whole lots more about this topic. I think one of the things that has helped him in learning so much about home maintenance is that he isn't afraid to ask questions. He asks scads of questions. Sometimes that annoys me, but he learns alot and is best buddies with the more knowledgeable people at the Home Improvement stores, like Lowes and Home Depot. But I do all the planning and lots of the research. Sometimes we clash a bit on the nuts and bolts of the final plan. Eventually we work it out and are happy with the result.


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