We've been renovating our old 100 year house for almost 20 years. I have learned a lot fixing up this old house. It was pretty nasty when we first purchased it. It had been a rental unit for proably 50 years or more when we first moved in.
I have stripped basically ALL the woodwork in our old house of all the paint and refinished it. Well, I think I may be doing my last door of the house, but I could discover something else down the line that needs to be done. I've left the kitchen and bathroom painted as I've discoverd those rooms don't strip as easily. Most of the other woodwork was easier to prepare as whoever painted over the finished woodwork the first time, did very little preparating (like sanding off the old finish), so the paint came off relatively easy it most areas.
I learned that the best tool for stripping the paint is a heat gun and stripping tool by hand. Most of the paint stripper chemicals I used didn't seem to work well, especially when I've left the wood trim attached, so adding stripper when things are vertical just doesn't work well. Be careful stripping the old paint, as some of it could be lead based paint and cause caustic fumes. You should keep the windows open and wear a mask. I did not and to my knowledge have had no ill effects, but don't blame me if you take this risk.
So what I've learned about Urethane (and I prefer urethane to varathane - not sure why) and I use the satin finish, but that's your preference. Always prepare the wood properly, you should sand well and put on your stain (more about that later). I applied the urethane with a foam brush in as few strokes as possible. The more you go over it the more likely you may get air bbbles. Also, apply it very sparingly, it should just be a thin coat, so you don't get any runs, drips or blobs. Let the first coat dry thoroughly (I wait at least 24 hours). Then take very fine 120-150 grade sandpaper and LIGHTLY sand again, this makes a much smoother finish. Wipe of the dust from sanding with a tack cloth (I just use a clean rag with a little paint thinner on it - which works fine) Continue to do this and your wood will be glass smooth. For any surfaces that we regulary touch or wash, I have applied 5 coats (trust me, it's worth the extra time), other surfaces, 3 is adequate. I recommend always using at least 3 coats. 2 coats will work, but it won't be as smooth or as durable. Always add a thin coat each time, once the finish has one coat, it applies very easily and it is really worth it. DO it!! You won't be sorry.
I'm on my 2nd coat on the door and I'll probably just do 3 coats and 4 or 5 around the handle and areas that get touched more. I'm also doing a small part of the hardwood floors in the hallways and I will definitely put on a minimum of 5 coats of urethane. It dries fast between coats (after the first coat) and the sanding is minimal, you don't want to sand too hard or you'll take off ALL the urethane, you just want to rough it up a bit, so sand lightly. So here are the steps in step form
1. Prepare your surface, remove paint, sand and clean
2. Apply thin coat of urethane with foam brush or applicator
3. Let 1st coat dry 24 hours
4. Using 120-150 grit sandpaper, LIGHTLY sand first coat.
5. Using a tack cloth or cloth with paint thinner, wipe off sanding dust.
6. Apply next coat of urethane. Let dry. Usually 1-2 hours.
7. Repeat steps 4 & 5 & 6 to achieve up to 5 coats.
8. Apply last coat.
9. DO NOT sand or wipe after last coat.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Yard Sales & FreeCycle
Well, I just finished holding another yard sale. I don't know how many I've done, at least 10 or 15 over the last 20 odd years. The first one was from the necessity of moving to Prince George BC from Southern Alberta in 1986 and was very successful. My sister Debbi or "De Bee" as she likes to refer to herself. I remember we worked two long hard days holding the sale and we didn't have time to eat and after we made some money (we didn't have much money back then), we went to a local buffet place and our stomachs hurt so much because we were so hungry, then we ate and our stomachs hurt so much cuz we were so full.
Anyhow, back to yard sales. The biggest sale was in our 900 sq ft garage in PG in around 1988. My uncle Henry had a lot of junk collected from renters who would vacate his places (often without notice) and leave behind stuff. Henry needed some cash and I offered to sell his stuff. He would drop a truckload of junk in the back-yard and I'd clean it up, price it and place it in the garage for sale. This went on for a few weeks and we had a garage full of stuff to sell. Lots of people came and bought, I price things really cheap, cuz what good is the junk? Someone else might as well have it. We wanted cash. We made donuts and sandwiches and sold lemonade. We had a backyard carnival that my daughters ran and gave away used stuffed animals as prizes. After the weekend was over, we made over $1300. Henry generously shared it with me, although that wasn't the plan.
Things have changed a lot since the 80's, there is so much more stuff (junk) around and everyone is cleaning out that very few want much any more. 3 or 4 years ago at my last previous sale (prior to this past weekend), I cleaned out the basement and had a big sale. It took me a week outside to prepare for it and my girlfriend, Barb, came over with a few van loads of stuff she wanted to get rid of. We ran it for two days and I don't remember how much money we got, but I think it was probably under $100, it was mostly little stuff and it takes a long time to add up, when you sell cheap.
Trying to get rid of the leftover stuff was the challenge. I usually end up keeping a few things from the sale, cuz I think of another use or change my mind about whether I will need it or not, but most of it always went off to charity, usually the Sally Ann "Salvation Army" thrift store. So, I called them to arrange a pick up, which they couldn't do for 4 days, so the stuff remained under tarp under my front lawn. They called Friday and said that the appointment had gotten mixed up and we're coming until Monday. I was pretty frustrated about that. When Monday came and went and the stuff remained, I called the Sally Ann and they then asked if the stuff had been in a yard sale, I replied yes. Their response was - They don't take stuff leftover from yard sales! Now the charities are getting picky! That's how much stuff was out there. I was pretty annoyed that they hadn't said that when I called for the pick up. So then I called the Canadian Diabetes Assoc. They only pick up small household and clothing. Well, there was nothing bigger than a kitchen chair and a sewing machine table and they said they would take it, I forget how long the wait as, a couple of days I think. So there the stuff sat again, under this huge freaking blue lump in my front yard. So then I saw this big truck backing up to the lump and I sighed relief, the stuff was finally leaving and I went about my chores, only to return to the window 15 minutes later with the truck gone and still this big huge LUMP of stuff. They had taken ONLY the clothes! Great! Now I still have to get rid of the junk. I don't like taking stuff that still has some life in it to the landfill, so I had to look for other means. The Yoga club was having a sale and we delivered boxes of books and glassware to one of their member's garages. We knew a few students and they came over and picked out some stuff they could use and the pile went down a little. Of course, everytime I opened the big blue lump and people were coming by, they started looking through the stuff and I just gave it away. And of course, being the junk collector I am, I would always find another item or two to find another use for. A book I was interested in or something for a family member. So back to the charity, I called the Catholic Charities and they said they would pick it up. It was probably half the size of the original blue lump by then. And they did take it all! That stuff sat out in my yard for over 3 weeks, who know what they neighbours were saying by then. So after that, I said I would never have another yard sale!
But then I just finished my sale yesterday and I am saying that again, but will I?
It does motivate me to get rid of stuff when I have a sale, where otherwise if I just had a small box of stuff I would take it to the thrift store. But I also enjoy having someone else get a deal on something they need or want and to meet and visit with the people who go to sales. I meet my neighbours and old friends that I haven't seen in years. I did better at this sale, as I had some larger items to sell.... I still have the fridge and stove (although a friend will now take the fridge). and now that I know about freecycle.com, there are lots of willing people to come and take it away for free. Those were very interesting people who came by that I learned a few things from like the artist who is going to use our old windows to paint and do collages on. And the lady who is also renovating her home, and attended a renovating class and the class worked on her house every Wednesday night. Wish I had known about that, I could have used another 11 people's hands to work on my house. I still have some stuff left over, but I will take it to the MCC thrift shop, they don't hike their prices up like Sally Ann or VV Boutique (Value Village) and I go there fairly frequently. So I may have another yard sale if I have another big clean out, but more for the fun NOT the money. I will still use freecyle.
In case you haven't heard about freecycle, it's a website group within your own community and they are all over. If you have something to give away or need/want, you post an offering or request on freecycle. No money exchange is allowed. It's set up on a gift system, you choose who will be the recipient of your item. People requesting it, email and ask and you get to choose who gets it. You may put conditions on it, like "first to reply" or "someone in need" or "when you want it picked up". That's the great part, THEY come and get it and THEY want it!
I have a cute story about freecycle with my daughters Teddi and Alison, but I'll save that for another time.
Anyhow, back to yard sales. The biggest sale was in our 900 sq ft garage in PG in around 1988. My uncle Henry had a lot of junk collected from renters who would vacate his places (often without notice) and leave behind stuff. Henry needed some cash and I offered to sell his stuff. He would drop a truckload of junk in the back-yard and I'd clean it up, price it and place it in the garage for sale. This went on for a few weeks and we had a garage full of stuff to sell. Lots of people came and bought, I price things really cheap, cuz what good is the junk? Someone else might as well have it. We wanted cash. We made donuts and sandwiches and sold lemonade. We had a backyard carnival that my daughters ran and gave away used stuffed animals as prizes. After the weekend was over, we made over $1300. Henry generously shared it with me, although that wasn't the plan.
Things have changed a lot since the 80's, there is so much more stuff (junk) around and everyone is cleaning out that very few want much any more. 3 or 4 years ago at my last previous sale (prior to this past weekend), I cleaned out the basement and had a big sale. It took me a week outside to prepare for it and my girlfriend, Barb, came over with a few van loads of stuff she wanted to get rid of. We ran it for two days and I don't remember how much money we got, but I think it was probably under $100, it was mostly little stuff and it takes a long time to add up, when you sell cheap.
Trying to get rid of the leftover stuff was the challenge. I usually end up keeping a few things from the sale, cuz I think of another use or change my mind about whether I will need it or not, but most of it always went off to charity, usually the Sally Ann "Salvation Army" thrift store. So, I called them to arrange a pick up, which they couldn't do for 4 days, so the stuff remained under tarp under my front lawn. They called Friday and said that the appointment had gotten mixed up and we're coming until Monday. I was pretty frustrated about that. When Monday came and went and the stuff remained, I called the Sally Ann and they then asked if the stuff had been in a yard sale, I replied yes. Their response was - They don't take stuff leftover from yard sales! Now the charities are getting picky! That's how much stuff was out there. I was pretty annoyed that they hadn't said that when I called for the pick up. So then I called the Canadian Diabetes Assoc. They only pick up small household and clothing. Well, there was nothing bigger than a kitchen chair and a sewing machine table and they said they would take it, I forget how long the wait as, a couple of days I think. So there the stuff sat again, under this huge freaking blue lump in my front yard. So then I saw this big truck backing up to the lump and I sighed relief, the stuff was finally leaving and I went about my chores, only to return to the window 15 minutes later with the truck gone and still this big huge LUMP of stuff. They had taken ONLY the clothes! Great! Now I still have to get rid of the junk. I don't like taking stuff that still has some life in it to the landfill, so I had to look for other means. The Yoga club was having a sale and we delivered boxes of books and glassware to one of their member's garages. We knew a few students and they came over and picked out some stuff they could use and the pile went down a little. Of course, everytime I opened the big blue lump and people were coming by, they started looking through the stuff and I just gave it away. And of course, being the junk collector I am, I would always find another item or two to find another use for. A book I was interested in or something for a family member. So back to the charity, I called the Catholic Charities and they said they would pick it up. It was probably half the size of the original blue lump by then. And they did take it all! That stuff sat out in my yard for over 3 weeks, who know what they neighbours were saying by then. So after that, I said I would never have another yard sale!
But then I just finished my sale yesterday and I am saying that again, but will I?
It does motivate me to get rid of stuff when I have a sale, where otherwise if I just had a small box of stuff I would take it to the thrift store. But I also enjoy having someone else get a deal on something they need or want and to meet and visit with the people who go to sales. I meet my neighbours and old friends that I haven't seen in years. I did better at this sale, as I had some larger items to sell.... I still have the fridge and stove (although a friend will now take the fridge). and now that I know about freecycle.com, there are lots of willing people to come and take it away for free. Those were very interesting people who came by that I learned a few things from like the artist who is going to use our old windows to paint and do collages on. And the lady who is also renovating her home, and attended a renovating class and the class worked on her house every Wednesday night. Wish I had known about that, I could have used another 11 people's hands to work on my house. I still have some stuff left over, but I will take it to the MCC thrift shop, they don't hike their prices up like Sally Ann or VV Boutique (Value Village) and I go there fairly frequently. So I may have another yard sale if I have another big clean out, but more for the fun NOT the money. I will still use freecyle.
In case you haven't heard about freecycle, it's a website group within your own community and they are all over. If you have something to give away or need/want, you post an offering or request on freecycle. No money exchange is allowed. It's set up on a gift system, you choose who will be the recipient of your item. People requesting it, email and ask and you get to choose who gets it. You may put conditions on it, like "first to reply" or "someone in need" or "when you want it picked up". That's the great part, THEY come and get it and THEY want it!
I have a cute story about freecycle with my daughters Teddi and Alison, but I'll save that for another time.
Friday, July 25, 2008
What do I have to say?
I guess I have a lot to say or I wouldn't have created this blog. Let me tell you a little about myself and you will see why. I am from a very large family and my biggest "Claim to Fame", (I guess you could call it, because it always gets a lot of attention right away) is being the oldest child in a family of 15 children. I have 11 sisters and 3 brothers. You will probably hear a lot about them and my four daughters and five beautiful grandchildren. I am a 5 pin bowler and I work for the Provincial Association as Secretary. We live in a house that is 100 years old and we are constantly renovating and restoring (sort of) our home, which takes a lot of time. These are some of the topics I will be sharing.
I'm a pretty creative person and thrifty so I will be posting tips I've learned by renovating and decorating our house on a limited budget. I'm pretty good at organizing (although it's difficult cuz I'm such a junk collector). I've held many garage sales and organized many large events.
I'm a pretty creative person and thrifty so I will be posting tips I've learned by renovating and decorating our house on a limited budget. I'm pretty good at organizing (although it's difficult cuz I'm such a junk collector). I've held many garage sales and organized many large events.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)