Monday 18 November 2013

Slow process

My bedroom is in a state of chaos, having had almost all of the furniture moved out (except the bed and nightstand), the carpet pulled out, and the trim pulled off.

(No, my house isn't tilted... and no, I wasn't drunk!)

It is a very slow process to get things patched up, what with the shifting of the house and the original wooden studs being rather rough cut and uneven (the house is 63 years old, after all).

(The former closet door with two layers of mud and tape ~ more to go.)

Having closed off the original closet and drywalled over the opening, I am now in the process of applying multiple layers of drywall compound (mud) to cover the joints (and all the other cracks and nail holes elsewhere in the room). Because the studs we used to frame in the door opening are nice and straight, and the original ones are rather wonky, the drywall edges dip in and stick out in various places. *sigh*

(This wall will become the new closet ~ looks tiny but is 10' long.)

It's going to take a while to complete this part of things, especially given that Maart and I will be winging our way south to Las Vegas on Thursday for a 5 day stint in Glitz and Glitter Ville. We are going to see Michael Bublé in concert on Saturday, take in one of Cirque de Soleil's performances (we are eyeballing Zumanity ~ they have 8 different shows going around town) and visiting the Gun Shoppe for a little firearms action. Other than that, we'll just wander around and play it by ear as to what we do.

It will be nice to get away for a bit. We now have snow here in the Centre of Canadia and temps of around -8C. The forecast for Vegas is overcast and +16C or so. I think we can handle that!

9 comments:

  1. Pony-doll, I am quite enthralled that you have chosen to blog about your current bout of DIY skills. I've been keeping up to speed with your adventures. I admire you for even having a go at some of the jobs that you have so far mastered. Good for you. I did chuckle at your comment about the house being 63 years old. You should try mine. It was originally built in 1725. Some of the main ceiling beams where once part of the hulls of ships that crossed the oceans waves long before my ancestors were cracking the skulls of the marauding English down at the borders.

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    1. I know my mentioning the age of my house would make you smile... we are infantile in the age of our architecture over here in the Colonies. There are some houses in this area that are well over 100 years old, even before Canada became an actual country. I'd love to see your house one day. It's an old church, isn't it? I seem to recall a post about a door that you brought in at the behest of your lovely lady. It was stunning!

      My house is tiny and very plain-jane, but it's home and it's comfy.

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  2. Have fun on your hols darling.

    You've worked so hard, you deserve it.

    I look forward to seeing the finished pictures. My favourite part of the whole DIY project.

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    1. I'm sure we will have a blast in Vegas! Thanks, Roses. :-)

      My favourite part is when it's all finished too, but I do enjoy the hands on process, unless it is ridiculously complicated. Then I just have to slog away at it until it's done.

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  3. I'm terrible at do-it-yerself. And I doubt I'd have the patience for it. Why not go to the root of the problem, instead of doctoring the symptoms: Blow it up, built new ? One man, one bulldozer ... And when you come back from Vegas you'll find a brand new home ! Possibly. And please don't speak to me about trivial details like money now ... :)
    Good to hear from you, dear Ponita !

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    1. Hey, part of the fun of owning a house is making it your own. I like doing that with my own hands when possible. And money IS an issue, my dear Mago, so no blowing up and rebuilding here!

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  4. Keep in mind that no wall, even new construction, is ever level, plumb, and true. There are always variations. Looks like you guys are doing a proper job fixing all surface irregularity. After it's primed and painted, no one else will ever notice.

    Have fun in Vega!

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    1. Yeah I hear you on the no plumb walls, but these old studs are really uneven! And to add insult to it all, whoever did the drywalling originally put all the sheets in vertically instead of horizontally, so every seam is noticeable and lots of the nail heads are popping. And that is in every room. Guess I just have to accept it as part of the "character" of my house because I am not gutting it!

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  5. Okay, I fall between you and the Chef with a 133 year old farm house. And we would laugh at how far off construction often was on the same wall while we were fixing her up.

    You're doing a wonderful job and I think it's great you get a well deserved break as you wait for stuff to "dry". Please sigh once for me at the Buble show and have a great time!

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