(Not quite the same as viewing the newly finished floor with your own 2 peepers, but for now, it will have to do.)
Before and After Binoculars
(Not quite the same as viewing the newly finished floor with your own 2 peepers, but for now, it will have to do.)
The Bread Man is Back!
Yes, you'll need a sponge to wipe off your keyboard.
Braided Italian(a.k.a. Harry Potter's scar):
Rustic/Country Italian:
Ciabatta (and the handsome baker):
And he's not done yet, folks. He is in the process of converting grams to cups to make a Black Guinness Bread (found on tastespotting.com).
Braided Italian(a.k.a. Harry Potter's scar):
Rustic/Country Italian:
Ciabatta (and the handsome baker):
And he's not done yet, folks. He is in the process of converting grams to cups to make a Black Guinness Bread (found on tastespotting.com).
Stalagmite Icicle
We have had this slowly growing stalagmite icicle growing from the condensation from our furnace.
Well, we did until Thursday and Friday when the temperature reached 61--I'm not complaining. Although, right now it is 23, windy, and snowing.
Well, we did until Thursday and Friday when the temperature reached 61--I'm not complaining. Although, right now it is 23, windy, and snowing.
Sealing
Now that the floor is all sanded, we have put down one coat of sealer and two coats of Minwax Water-Based Polyurethane. The sealer had a very strong odor! Thankfully it was 60 degrees outside and we were able to draw some of the air outside through the window fan. It was absorbed/evaporated really quickly, so we had to work fast.
We chose to go with the water-based polyurethane because we 1) didn't want to risk any spontaneous combustion with the oil based and 2) weren't willing to live in a house that reeked of fumes. The water-based barely has any smell! We have to sand once more and put on one last coat. Then it is on to the molding and framing the doorway from the closet into the back room.
We chose to go with the water-based polyurethane because we 1) didn't want to risk any spontaneous combustion with the oil based and 2) weren't willing to live in a house that reeked of fumes. The water-based barely has any smell! We have to sand once more and put on one last coat. Then it is on to the molding and framing the doorway from the closet into the back room.
Ceiling to Floor
Well, we have made it down to the floor finally. We rented a four radial floor sander for four hours on Sunday. We started at 80 grit, which took off the layer of varnish/finish that on the floor. (I liked that part the best because I could actually see progress!) Next was 110 and then 170. It looks like the last person might have used a drum sander because there are spots along the floor that are lower than the rest in a methodical kind of way. We could have gone with a high grit to begin with, but both of us kind of like the character that (some) of the dents and scratches give the floor. Unfortunately, the big shoe mark watermark is here to stay. We don't really want to use the caustic liquid that is required to remove it and it will most likely be hidden underneath a small area rug. Convenient!
The next step is to finish the edges around the room. For the most part, we were able to get within a couple of inches of the wall. I felt like I was driving a bumper car when the sander bounced off the wall. (Thankfully the only damage done was a small corner of dry wall came off--easily hidden by molding-- and a few scuff marks that might be hidden or can at least be painted over.) This process is going to take a while longer (grrr...) and hurts the knees and back more. But, the floor will look great when it is done.
Perhaps this will be the impetus to tear up the rest of the rugs in the house (she says wishfully thinking...)!
The next step is to finish the edges around the room. For the most part, we were able to get within a couple of inches of the wall. I felt like I was driving a bumper car when the sander bounced off the wall. (Thankfully the only damage done was a small corner of dry wall came off--easily hidden by molding-- and a few scuff marks that might be hidden or can at least be painted over.) This process is going to take a while longer (grrr...) and hurts the knees and back more. But, the floor will look great when it is done.
Perhaps this will be the impetus to tear up the rest of the rugs in the house (she says wishfully thinking...)!
Filling in the Gaps
The wood floor had some large gaps at a couple of its edges. When the molding goes back on, it will most likely cover 99% of the wood that Kevin put in, but we wanted to be on the safe side. Also, we haven't quite figured out how we are going to finish off around the chimney, so Kevin tried to get it as close to the brick as possible. Not an easy feat!
Closet Re-Do
In the process of tearing up the rug in the back bedroom, we also decided to take the rug out of the closet that connects the back room to the hallway. It had been covered in part of the bathroom demolition and remodeling and not very well protected. It too was covered in dry wall and plaster dust. So, out it came. Of course, this meant that the molding that we made had to come off, which meant some pealed dry wall paper and a couple of dents small holes. I learned how to skim and repair!
Due to the lower ceiling in the back bedroom, Kevin also had to rethink the previously finished transition from the closet into the bedroom. He pulled off his new/old molding and built out the "corner". I finished that off.
When I painted the closet before, we used the left over glossy paint from the bathroom and I was unimpressed with how it went on. There were wrinkles and drips on the walls--it just looked messy. I have never had that happen before. So, I took the opportunity (knowing that we were going to have to repaint) and sanded down the blah of the last painting job. The new paint looks much better. Now to get a nicer looking light for the room...
Due to the lower ceiling in the back bedroom, Kevin also had to rethink the previously finished transition from the closet into the bedroom. He pulled off his new/old molding and built out the "corner". I finished that off.
When I painted the closet before, we used the left over glossy paint from the bathroom and I was unimpressed with how it went on. There were wrinkles and drips on the walls--it just looked messy. I have never had that happen before. So, I took the opportunity (knowing that we were going to have to repaint) and sanded down the blah of the last painting job. The new paint looks much better. Now to get a nicer looking light for the room...
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