Over a year ago we had a new whirlpool tub installed in a small spare bedroom we call the bay window room.
Today the toilet has been installed. Finally.
We had hoped to have the room all painted, but clearing out the room and re-finishing the oak floor was all we could manage to do before Bob the Plumber's scheduled arrival today.
We did not remember how much work it is to sand and finish a floor. We haven't sanded since 1976 and we haven't applied polyurethane since 1991. We also did not remember the strain which collaborating on a house project puts on a relationship.
The instructions said to abrade the floor. I have heard of an abrasion but I have never used that word in my life, but I like it. Right now I feel like doing a little abrading--and not just on the floor!
Around 3:00 AM, as I listened to the continuous July 4th fireworks, I finished the abrading of the first three coats and applied two more light coats...and in the morning I looked at the shiny floor I had created and it was very good. After a beer and getting deliriously tired, I don't know if I sanded every inch or missed a few spots, but with 5 coats on, it was good enough.
I followed the instructions on the jug of water-based floor finisher. The husband brushed on coats two and three and then we were told to give it a rest. I think we have always used oil in the past, but this stuff worked well and dried super fast in spite of the heat wave weather--our AC was blasting out into the room--so hot last night that it never shut down. At midnight I posted on Facebook that it was 87 degrees outside.
Bob the Plumber was coming at 8:00 AM. After setting the alarm for 7:00 I managed to get a little less than 4 hours sleep.
Lots of things did not go well, although a few things were successful. For instance, just when we were about to roll on the coats, we realized we didn't have the stick that attaches to the special sponge applicator. So, 4th of July afternoon we had to drive to the local Meijer and find the needed screw-on stick--in the broom aisle. Bob the Plumber was coming and we had to get those 3-4 coats (in addition to the sealer) on before Thursday morning.
Another messy detail is that the upright sander rented from Home Depot did not collect the sawdust in a bag. It blew everywhere and I had to keep vacuuming just so the husband could see what he was doing. The small edging sander did a better job of collecting sawdust in the attached bag--and that was the magic stuff. With a hint gleaned from the rental guys, I bought wood glue and mixed the clean sawdust and a little water to moisten and applied it with my fingers and a wet rag. I filled almost all the cracks in the floor boards. The boards are original to the house and are the same age as I am (old) and were showing it. The glue dries clear and you have a filler that exactly matches your wood!
Hand sanding into the corners, including the closet was the worst. As with most things in life, if you look closely and critically you see the old staple marks, some circular sander marks, and other flaws; but if you take the long view, you appreciate the concept of good enough. So here is my new floor and throne--that tall, elongated and super-flushing toilet that has been in the garage for a year. Next: the vanity.
No comments:
Post a Comment