Days 23 - 24 - Sometimes I Listen to People

I decided to change my tactic on these cabinets. For the most part, I think it was the right idea.

Instead of sanding, I decided to strip the cabinets. More mess, but at least the risk of lead paint induced brain damage (or whatever) is reduced. Plus, I wanted my friends to stop worrying! Thanks to those of you that kept telling me... chemicals would be better in this case. So it took me a day to really listen, but HEY! I listened.

However, I really wish I had listened earlier. Seriously. Three layers of paint later, and I'm sure countless saved hours, I hit wood. But not "real" wood. It's a very light oak veneer. Which sadly is not in very good condition. It is, however, much easier to strip paint off of veneer. Who knew! It's a more solid base, I guess. I never once gouged the wood. By the last layer, it was coming off with ease.

I managed to get 1/2 the kitchen cabinets stripped and sanded. The interesting thing about my little house is the craftsmanship. Maybe it's not just my house, but the era. Even the base of these cabinets are lined with oak flooring/small planks. And the molding/trim around the upper windows and lower doors is lined with a red paint. I'm sure it was pretty back in the day. Although judging on the linoleum we took out, I'm not too sure.

One bad thing over the course of these two days....we had heavy rains. And apparently I'm going to have to move some more dirt, or eventually get some professional grading done. There was a little bit of water in the basement. I know it happens. I know I need gutter work. But it was so disheartening to see. Kinda like dollar signs flying outta my grasp. I took this on, I knew the risks, but that basement may be the death of my budget. If not my sanity.

Here's some pics of the cabinets. I'm really rather proud of myself!

2 of 8 after, plus a lower door

2 of 8 drawers before

Uppers after sanding

Uppers after

All but the baseboard is done

gooey mess

Upper doors after

The last half to go

Day 21 - DIY Kitchen Cabinets... Continued

Nothing will compliment "The Sink" more than clean, crisp cabinets and some good hardwood floors. Since we now know the floors will be original, I thought to myself... "self, why not refinish the cabinets?" Logical. Economical. Definitely something I could do on my own. This will keep the house close to in the period, since I really didn't have the budget to re-do the entire kitchen. Nor do I have any clue how to design a kitchen around the sink, right now. I'm just having the team renovate the counter top and floors.

The guys ripped out the old counter top (the same linoleum that was one the floor) the previous day. I figured this was my chance to get in there, before the counter top and back splash (ALSO the same damn linoleum) were installed and I had an open work space. Nothing to mess up, nothing to worry about. I borrowed some collapsible saw-horse like things, a small electric/orbital sander, bought some 80 grit sand paper and a mask and started to work. (on Day 20, I was using a block sander... smart, huh?)

I removed half the drawers and cabinets after I decided that sanding them in place wasn't going to work and mainly because the stupid "vintage" stove is still in the kitchen, wedged in front of the sink and beside the refrigerator. I'm calling some one to haul that POS away as soon as possible. At any rate, I removed all the hinges and handles, keeping them in a baggie for reuse or resale. I'm feeling on top of my game. I can do this! LET'S START SANDING! 

Epic. Failure.  Well, not really a failure, per se, but not exactly the outcome I was expecting. 

The first layer of paint, applied by the last owners, either peeled off like Elmer's glue (remember when you were a kid and you glued your palm and then peeled it off like a second layer of skin) or adhered like it was welded on. No in between. 

After about 2 hours, I had managed to get through to the 3rd layer of paint in some spots. The second layer was a gray and the third a (nice) pale yellow. Both of which, I am sure, are lead based paint. Which, FYI, shreds the sand paper like toilet paper. I managed to get through the 2 uppers and 4 drawers when I had to call it a night. This will be my weekend project. Or several weekend projects, including painting. Which I haven't yet made my final decision on. But I was on my way to DIY Kitchen Cabinets. Woo hoo.

On a different topic, when I got to the house earlier, there was a note in my door. None of the neighbors have really been around, so I had no idea what this was about. It was from a guy who, many years ago, had been in an estate sale at the house. (This had to have been pre-2006, which makes me wonder how much awesome stuff was in that sale!) He remembered the built in desk and colonnade and had seen the dumpster and assumed someone was remodeling and "if I (sic) was getting rid of the built-ins" to please call him. Also, if I was going to tear out the Hydrangea Tree out front, would I please let him know first, as he'd like to try to replant it at his place. Needless to say, the answer to both questions was "no", but I called him back and thanked him for his note, but I was keeping both. If something changed, I will call him back, yada yada yada, but those built-in's aren't going anywhere (why would anyone rip those out?!?!). The tree, well...that's a decision for a later time.

Day 16 - Dirt and a Blue Mud Dauber

The final piece of the mold remediation was to fill in a hole that the previous owners has left, from either removing a bush or tree or something.  This hole was right against the foundation on the west side of the house, leaving a great entry point for water. I would say it was a good 2 feet down, in a low spot to boot.

I don't have a truck. I don't even have a car that would be useful in hauling anything. Although the seats do go down, making my trunk large enough to carry a shovel and a dolly. Even my bicycle, back in the day when I had time to ride. So I had to borrow a truck.  And dirt. And a hand tamp.

This whole endeavor had "girl power" written all over it. And borrowing a truck from a friend who also just happened to have a huge pile of dirt AND a front loader thingy screamed divine providence to my checkbook! I picked up the truck 20 minutes outside of town and headed to the house. I haven't driven a truck in over 10 years and here I am, driving a Dodge Ram 2500 extended cab diesel, with these mirrors that stick out at least 2 feet. And it's LOUD. And I'm giggling!

I also borrowed the hand tamp after a coworker saw my "plea" on Facebook. That was a bonus as well.

And finally, to round out the girl power, I have Sue, my trusty farm girl turned suburbanite Mom who is LOVING my little house. She helped me to clean it out the first day I had it. And I couldn't be happier to have her along for the journey. Plus, she had no problems getting up in the back of the truck and throwing dirt like a pro! Her gift cards are just getting bigger and bigger.

We also had a visitor...a blue mud dauber. I Googled it today. This, wasp or hornet, was our constant companion as we laid the dirt out and tamped it down. I think we imported it from out in the country.

Here's our accomplishment!