The time has arrived for hardwood floors to go in and I’m about beside myself with excitement. Watching those beautiful planks get installed will be thrilling for me to say the least. I’ve been waiting for this day for oh, at least 3 months now.
Last week’s progress wasn’t huge, but there was some prep work to get ready for the floors to go in. My parents went back to their mountain house for a few days, so I took that time to really vacuum and clean the floors up well to get any dust and debris up off the floors (as much as I can, anyway). The floor hasn’t been this clean in a long time. I also finished up the rest of the trim paint in the den, so that room is officially DONE now.
So, here’s one more look around before those floors go in. Installation began on Monday a.m. and should be finished by Thursday of this week. Yippee!! The foyer floor is ready to install now with our repair work done.
The living room is cleared out too, ready for that beautiful wood. I couldn’t help but take some out of the box and play around with it.
Another view of the living room.
Looking up the stairs.
Dining room with the board and batten looking back to the fireplace. Still love this shot.
Close up of the board and batten.
And one whole wall of gorgeousness.
Master bedroom. That sink and vanity cabinet are out of there now.
Hallway.
Hall bath. Still lots to do in here.
Guest room.
Den finished. All our crap is piled in here now.
One more little job that had to be done, was cutting back the threshold on the master bath doorway. My dad worked on that and got it done with his skill saw and a chisel in no time flat. Hardwoods will run to this doorway too.
The front door is sporting a new white storm door now, thanks to Lowes and their installer. They didn’t give it to me, but that’s where I bought it from. Now I won’t have any problems with water coming in here until I get that cute roof one day. It’s all glass so doesn’t cover up my pretty door and I can leave my front door open and see out the glass door if I choose too.
I’ve also been working on the pine stair treads, getting them ready to paint with my porch and floor paint. They are stacked in groups ready to install. I’ve got 4 sets of stairs to do in this house.
The treads are pretty smooth already, but I’m sanding them all down, including the edges and filling any little knots or holes with wood putty.
After putty and sanding all the surfaces of the stair treads, I primed them with oil-based Zinsser primer. This will ensure my paint sticks really well and is good to use over bare wood.
After one coat of primer, I’ll go back and paint at least 2 or 3 coats of porch and floor paint. I’m getting the same color that I used on my doors, Valspar’s Fired Earth. These stairs should look like a million bucks when we are finished with them. My plan now is to paint the treads before I install, then go back and caulk and touch up the paint where needed. We are also installing new risers using thin, smooth oak plywood. I’ll fill you in on that as we get to it.
I’ve got a mailbox project in the works that I’ll share a little later. The original mailbox post is really rickety and peeling, so we bought new posts to build a new one and my dad worked on that one day while I wasn’t at the house.
Here’s a little example of how we butt heads. This will make you smile, I’m sure.
I have to watch him every step of the way or he’ll do things that I don’t particularly want done. There have been many of them. And yes, I’m extremely grateful for his help, don’t get me wrong, but he will bulldoze ahead with how he wants to do something and lots of time it doesn’t match my vision. He likes to cut corners money-wise. I want to do things right, even if it means spending a few bucks to do it. He’ll use old wood that’s been sitting around for years, something that he stashed away. He’s a hoarder of building materials (that’s the Depression era mentality), oh yes he is. And sure, that comes in handy many times. But, sometimes I don’t want to use a crappy old piece of wood. 🙂
Anyway, back to the 4×4 mailbox posts. We actually bought new ones for this project, so that wasn’t the problem this time. He cut all the pieces and nailed them together. I came over the next day and took a look at the mailbox post.
Do you see anything different about this mailbox post? See that ledge where the new mailbox will sit? See the front post that sticks out past where the mailbox will sit. Yeah, that’s the problem. It sticks out too far. What’s the point in that?
Here’s the conversation we had:
ME: Oh, that looks really good, but why is this piece sticking out way past the mailbox?
Dad: It will look better that way, it will be nicer than other mailboxes.
ME: But, I’ve never seen a mailbox with that piece sticking out so far.
Dad: It’ll be fine, just leave me alone and I’ll get it finished. {we go back and forth for a bit on this thought}
At this point, I actually walk outside, down the driveway, looking both ways down the street. Sure enough, no other mailboxes have that part sticking way out like that. The door would not come all the way down with that piece sticking out. It’s just in the way.
I walk back in and make that point.
ME: That looks dumb, it needs to be cut off so it doesn’t stick out like that.
Dad: It’s just fine, leave it alone and paint it.
ME: Why do we always argue about this stuff?
Dad: Because you’re just too picky.
So, I dropped it for the moment. We drove back home later that day. I pointed to his mailbox when we got to the house.
ME: See, your mailbox doesn’t stick out like that.
Dad: Well, yours will be just fine.
But, I had my own plan to make it right. My brother-in-law, Bruce loaned me his cordless skill saw and I fixed it myself. 
Yes, I did. I whacked off the end of it, so now it’s the right length and looks much better.
And my dad, after mulling it over for a couple of days, told me the next morning that he was going to fix the mailbox post. I told him I’d already whacked it. 🙂
So, he said he would bevel it with his handsaw….which he did and it was done in 5 minutes.
All’s well that ends well. That’s the way it rolls at our house.
The floors are going down this week and should be finished by Thursday. If you follow me on Facebook, you’ll see a sneak peek over there. I can’t wait to see them ALL finished and gorgeous and share them with you!
Yep, it’s definitely a depression era thing. My two parents are the same way – my mom more than my dad. She definitely puts things back in case she’ll “need it one day”. My philosophy is that if it creates clutter, get rid of it. If you need it one day, go buy a new one. I guess that’s the “baby boomer” in me.
I love hearing about your disagreements with your dad. Neither one is wrong… just different. Sometimes that makes giving in even harder.
The floors are going to look great and I look forward to seeing the installation of the stair treads. I really want to do this to our stairs.
Ha Ha! Your mailbox story reminds me of the time I came home from work at our first house and the trees in the back yard had been cut. Yep, Daddy thought they should come down so he cut them and he and Mom stacked up the wood. Thankfully my hubby appreciated the “help”. And Daddy, bless his heart, felt good about “helping”. Father’s sometimes do know best! I know how much you value your sweet daddy’s help. You are very blessed as you know. Enjoy it while you can!
The den turned out really well. You will really enjoy that room!
I saw the peek on FB first and zipped over here thinking it would almost be finished. House looks so different from where tiu started and can’t wait to see that $8 chandelier hanging. Looking good!
I love seeing your progress! It will be finished and you’ll be enjoying it soon! I know you can’t wait! Your daddy has to be the sweetest man on earth! It’s so wonderful that he is able to help you this way. Amazing to see what he does!
I can totally relate on the issue of you & your dad butting heads because that’s me and my dad, to a T – right down to the hoarding of the old scraps of lumber! And like you, I love my dad for all of his DIY help over the years. I’m anxious as well to see your new wood floor and stair treads/risers! Keep up the good work!
That story is hysterical! I love the interaction between you both. My Dad’s just the same, but I’m more of the hoarder! My Mom used to say she grew up in the depression, what was my excuse. I just figure lots of that old wood comes from old growth forest so it’s much stronger. If it’s really gone, it keeps me warm in the winter!
Your screen looks wonderful and since thinking about your little roof, I’m noticing the extraordinary variety in my own neighborhood…something I never really paid attention to before.
Can’t wait to see what a difference the floors will make. then the real fun begins!
Those floors are going to be amazing! And your board and batten has me itching to get my dining room done too …
And I loved that conversation with your dad! My dad can be a bit of a bull at times too … just kinda charging ahead doing it his way. Not one for suggestions …
🙂
Linda
Hilarious! Sounds like some of the conversations I have had with my husband…..funny! Linda
Depression era …. that’s a whole other Blog idea!! I watched every one of Ms. Clara’s cooking video’s about Great Depression meals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OPQqH3YlHA&feature=fvst
My Mom isn’t from the depression, but she’s a building supply hoarder also. Any board you need, she’s got it from Lowe’s scrap section .. of course the boards are bent and …. hahahaha
“God love em” (what we say even further down South for “bless their heart”)
I love seeing how your house is coming along! You have such amazing taste! I have the same relationship with my mother but she never comes around & sees my side of things.
Love this blog, love your courage…
Can’t wait to see the floors – I’ve been checking in every week to see the progress – you guys are amazing!
I knew Super Daddy is getting in on the action! 🙂
I have the same storm door!
Your place is looking so lovely.
Rhoda, I am so impressed with how much you have been able to get done so far. Everything is looking absolutely gorgeous!
OMGosh!!! I’m pretty sure you just wrote about my dad!!!! So funny! All along as I’m reading about the progression on your house(which is really neat to watch!) I was wondering how it was going working with your family(mainly your dad). Then today! Wow! Hahaha! So cute! This is soooo my dad and myself! Extremely talented & resourceful but….:) And we love them thru and thru <3
Rhoda, everything is looking so great! Y’all are doing a fantastic job! I had to laugh about you and your daddy butting heads; that’s a familiar scene at my house too, with my husband. He is not, say, the DETAIL person that I am, and will often do things that I just don’t feel look finished enough. Whoowee, do we ever go round and round sometimes! I feel like a control freak but you know if something isn’t finished right how it will bug you to death until it’s done right!
Hi Rhoda,
This post made me smile thinking about my Dad. He passed away 6 years ago and saved every piece of wood that he felt could be used for something (he grew up in the depression as well). I really miss him and would give anything to butt heads with him about projects we would do. I know sometimes they just don’t see our vision, but enjoy every moment of it. Your posts are such a pleasure, I look forward to them because they bring back so many memories of doing things with my father.
Soooo much progress, Rhoda! I love all the light streaming into your house and can just picture those beautiful floors! Love the story about you and your dad… I bet a lot of us know this dynamic well!
xo Heidi