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Recent Entries to this Blog
Another Haircut!
Posted: 27 May 2015 Posted: 19 May 2015 Posted: 17 May 2015 Posted: 11 May 2015 Posted: 08 May 2015 All Entries |
Pianolady's Gardens
Built a Wheelchair Ramp
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 4:10 am Spent the afternoon/evening/night today with my husband building an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp for a family member. Not quite finished (needs handrails and rest of the curbing) but it is very strong and safe and functional as-is. We tested it out at 10:30 pm and it works great. The corner platform is 5' x 5' and the ramp itself it 4' wide. 24 feet total length. It's built in the garage for all-season access. 3/4 inch plywood, strong 2x4 framing with plenty of reinforcement. The black line is visibility paint (not a crack or gap!) since we used the top step of the old stairs as the first short section outside the door. 
( photo / image / picture from Pianolady's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Pianolady's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 455 times
Vinyl Siding Completed
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:59 am The end of the summer also brings the end of the contractors. I guess we're back to DIY-land. Before: It actually looked pretty good from the front before we resided the house...unfortunately, that was the only place it looked pretty good. 
After 
This is the "scary" side of the house to paint, I'm sure happy we won't have to think about that again. Before 
After 
Before 
After 
Before 
After 
Last edited: Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:28 am This blog entry has been viewed 501 times
Slow Progress
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 7:46 pm Now we've gotten so busy that we've had almost no progress on the deck. One of these days it'll get finished... siding isn't in yet, thank goodness. Did manage to get some more painting done yesterday (south concrete wall). We're sure going to be matchy-matchy on the paint and siding, but I couldn't think of a contrast color (and it was free to use the paint I already have). And of course, something came up and I can't finish the rest of it today! I'm starting a new job in 10 days, was really hoping we'd be done with everything by then, but it's not looking likely. 
This blog entry has been viewed 545 times
Sat on the New Deck for First Time Today
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:31 pm No it's not finished, but I could sit on it and enjoy the shade for a while. You can get an idea how the decking pattern will look now. 
This blog entry has been viewed 1217 times
Oops Part Two
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 4:55 pm This is a minor error in judgement, but a major time hog, so I'm taking care of it today while my husband's at work. If you are going to deck seal the joists, tape it before you hang them! What a PIA to do so afterwards. I think my husband was just going to forget it and go on, but I think not! Fifteen done, seven to go for today, and probably a couple more later. This dumb thing is going to take five hours, would have been done in less than one hour had we taped them before installation. Oh well, at least it's cooler today! 
This blog entry has been viewed 385 times
Oops!
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:39 pm This is what happens when you buy the wrong length of board, and discover it after you've returned the rental truck. It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done. 
This blog entry has been viewed 375 times
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Deck Footings
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:48 pm Deck Footings aren't exciting, but a must. Went down 42" just like the garage footings. Not something to skimp on, especially on a 2nd story deck. Let's just say the original footings weren't adequate (24-30"). Shame on that contractor, not even up to code (nothing about the deck he built was)! Hubby took a vacation day to get it done, at least he got paid for it. 
This blog entry has been viewed 396 times
Today's Plan of Attack!
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:09 pm It might rain this morning, so I'm waiting for that to pass. We'll be thrilled if it actually does rain though. I did get the 2nd coat of paint on the garage doors last night, and it looks like it won't need a third coat, so I'm done with that. 
If it doesn't rain on my porch posts, I'll do one more coat of primer to cover the patched areas, and then the topcoat and they will also be finished. Then I'll help hubby mark the deck dimensions and where the posts will go, then we'll dig out the old concrete piers. Not sure we'll get anything more than that done today. Depends on rain timing I suppose. Finally I have a couple flats of 4" perennials to plant, they were clearing them out at $.50 each. I can never pass that up. This blog entry has been viewed 488 times
Where We Are Today
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:42 pm Here's our home when we purchased it. 
Prior to new windows with shutters already removed.
With the new windows. We decided the fake shutters had to go, we're trying for clean lines. 
I'm considering eliminating the screen door if I can talk hubby into it, and paint the front door a bright color. 
This blog entry has been viewed 552 times
Exterior Window Trim Finished
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:09 pm The exterior trim got wrapped today. Now we wait for our vinyl siding to come in. Got to get rolling on that deck! Photos are a little skewed, everything is straight and level. 
This blog entry has been viewed 606 times
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