(no subject)

[lit_gal]

Painters caulk is my new god.

Damn, I am exhausted, but I think I have the big repairs done, and I just discovered the neatest trick. So, you're trying to repaint rafters white after some moron painted them really, really dark brown which immediately started turning purple in the desert sun (think people... think before choosing paint colors). Anyway, my problem: no matter how small a brush I use, where the roofing material for the front overhang meets the rafter, I have a dark line, which didn't show up with dark brown paint but looked like shit with white. Really serious shitty shit even.

So, I dig through the aisles at Home Depot, and I find latex painter's caulk. OMG... this stuff is great. I just caulk the line between the roof and the rafter, and BAM it looks perfect. My brilliant white caulk even matches my brilliant white paint so well that I don't have to paint it again afterward!

Yeah, yeah, you guys probably know all this shit, but let me tell you, I have been getting a whole new education trying to paint my own house... and repair termite damage... and water damage... and frickin' four five-inch bolts which the last owner felt the need to use to attach a holder for a miniature flag. A MINIATURE flag! He had that sucker anchored so well that you could have carried out public hangings from the thing, and he used it for one of those little flags you wave. Yeah, I'm not bitter about the huge frickin' holes in my adobe. Not at all. But, one more notch in my belt because I patched my own adobe. Okay, whining, and bragging over.

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Go you, with your bad DIY self!


Gabrielle

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

I have to be DIY. The school is looking at pay cuts, and my house may fall down if I don't. But you know, it really does make me feel proud to look at it.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I think there's something fine about being able to take care of your own home.

I really hope the pay cuts don't happen.


Gabrielle

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Between the pay cuts on the horizon and the fact that my airconditioner is about to die (and all my backup money has gone into roofing and house problems lately), I may be writing some original slashfic and putting it on file sharing for five or six bucks.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Raising money with your talent is a fine idea!


Gabrielle

[ladyvirgo1956.livejournal.com]

Are you going to do a Wooden Patio or concert. If concert give it at least 24 hours to set after pouring it. If you do a wooden one make sure you put a water base finish on it so it will hold up during the rainy season. And congratulations on the painting.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

The patio is concrete, and luckily, that is one part that is not falling down.. at least not now that I replaced one of the roof posts. Seriously... how many things can break on one house in one year?

[ladyvirgo1956.livejournal.com]

You would be surprised. A lot can happen.

[postholedigger.livejournal.com]

You go girl! Home Depot is pretty much my favorite hang out in the world. Congratulations on a job well done.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

It really is a good feeling... or it will be when I actually finish. I'm getting there.

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

It's a nice feeling to get something like that accomplished.

Laurie

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

It really is! I'm almost done, and I am so looking forward to being able to just sit back and enjoy.

[zenwiccan.livejournal.com]

You are my hero! As a single woman, I really dig the *idea* of being handy around the home, but...I tend to fail or give up more often than I succeed. (I felt ridiculously proud when I even managed to fix the mini-blinds in my apartment.) If I'm ever able to own a house, I'm sure I'll be forced to do my own maintenance, so it gives me hope to hear you talk about triumphing over DIY adversity. :)

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

I might have given up, but I've had some house repairs that have drained the coffers, and the work HAD to be done. But you too can triumph over DIY!

[chaoskir.livejournal.com]

If you have to change a dark surface into a bright surface you have all the right to whining and bragging. And I wouldn't like the flag-holder-holes either.

I guess with the painting you did a great job and I guess you have to do a lot work to your house.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

It is a pain. I've been working my butt off, but I finally feel like I can see an end to the work

[nghthwk8.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your work. I watch tons of DYI shows (just can't deal with the depression of real life on the news) and I often give advice to others about what they might be doing wrong--after they mention something--but I can't imagine doing it myself. I think I'm a little to OCD, it took me 4 hours to clean the guest shower yesterday, but that's why I have others do it most of the year. When I clean, I really clean. There's no in between.

Cheers for anyone who can do DYI and find fixes for problems. Don't assume everyone knows the answer--some do, but plenty don't. Everything is a learning experience and is empowering, even if it takes you away from writing.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. And you just can't be too OCD with DIY because up close on a ladder, the flaws are still obvious, but standing on the sidewalk, it's looking darn good.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Congrats!

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Thank you, and thank you so much for the gift. It means a lot right now. I'm so tired.

[lady-quadress.livejournal.com]

To cover up holes use toothpaste. Make sure it is white toothpaste. Dab it in to the holes let it dry and then sand it down. Then paint what ever color you want on the post and Congrats on a job well done *HUGS*

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

I don't think toothpaste is going to work on adobe in the desert sun. When it gets up to 120F/50C, that toothpaste is going to fall apart. But I actually managed to deal with adobe patching compound!

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

Painter's caulk is brilliant stuff!

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

It really is. I'm very impressed.... and wondering if I should go back over some of my old work, but I suspect I'm going to say no to that.

[betagoddess.livejournal.com]

You are the Repair Goddess! Go you! *g*

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

I'm getting there! I'm ridiculously proud of myself.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

The right tool for the job is always key. And it's always a thrill when you find the exact thing you need. :)

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Very true, but if you wander the aisles of Home Depot, there are just so damn many right tools that I tend to boggle.

WOW!

[dowitch.livejournal.com]

I'm so impressed! I may use you as my inspiration -- at least I hope I get inspired. I have a piece of wood siding that I have to replace, and I want to do it myself -- I just don't know enough. Better get on it and figure it out.

Thanks for sharing -- it's very encouraging.

Re: WOW!

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. It really isn't that hard if you look stuff up ahead of time, but it is exhausting.

Re: WOW!

[dowitch.livejournal.com]

What do you find to be a good source to use?

Re: WOW!

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

I just do google search and then read EVERYTHING before I touch the house.

The good advise tends to be the same, and I pick up hints on this or that from reading so many different sites. Either that or I'm OCD and inappropriately fond of research.

Re: WOW!

[dowitch.livejournal.com]

It can't be both?

[laazikaat.livejournal.com]

Good on you, it's satisfying when it's all done isn't it? Today I'm climbing onto our mis-matched tin-roof to fix a leak. Once I have that fixed I am replacing an interior sheet of canite roofing that took water damage in the kitchen.

The fun never stops at our house.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

It really is satisfying. Exhausting, but satisfying!

[vinniebatman.livejournal.com]

Ohohohohoh,

after you did that, did you place you hands on your hips and talk about feeling manly and needing a beer?

*silence*

*coughs*

Oh, uh, me neither. I never do that after making repairs.


~Alice~