Ok. So it has been a while since we've done some Home Reno. And judging by the countless requests I get for more blogged projects, there is a serious hunger to know what's next. I cannot turn my back on my legions of fans. I feel a certain onus...no, no...a responsibility to fulfil the wishes of so many. So here is Summer 2014's entry.
The word Reno is usually reserved for a 'change-in-state', but that is not what we did here. This entry is more about home repair. The idea being to return something to its previous state of quality.
After this tough winter the backyard Pool Shed did not fair so well. The exterior wood started to rot around the base, and a creature attempted to burrow their way into the structure. So it was in desperate need of a makeover.
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| All the corners were crumbling. |
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| I'm thinking either mouse or woodpecker. Hard to say which. |
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| Wood was rotten about 2 feet up every side. |
First things first. Remove the decrepit wood.
But I thought if I was careful enough that I would be able to remove all the pieces in-tact and use them as templates for the new pieces. But it is obviously an older shed as it was put together with 2 1/2" nails. (Who builds anything with nails anymore?) It was a long process of prying each and every nail out. How many you ask? 96 in total. Oh and did I mention it was 31 degrees with the humidity? No? Well it was! Not fun.
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| Prying nails out. |
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| At least the frame and roof were still in good shape. |
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| Here you can really see the damage caused. |
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| You would think that was dirt...but it is really rotted wood. It just disintegrated. |
Next it was onto cutting new pieces.
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| Don't forget to plumb your cuts! Whoever created chalk plumb is a genius! How you do this any other way is beyond me. I should also mention the person that created the electric circular-saw is not half-bad either. The person that created particleboard...you are forgettable. |
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| Once cut, screw into place. Not nail...screw! Always screw. |
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| Cut and hang the front sections. |
That was a whole days work. It is really tight in there to work. Especially at the back where there is only 16 inches between the shed and the air-conditioner.
Oh...this is where I get to tell you about one of the best Christmas gifts I have received. My Aunt Avis bought me a miniature hammer, and if you don't have one...get one! This thing is amazing. You can get into all the tight areas of almost any situation with it. In fact, when I need a hammer or claw for almost any reason this is now my go-to hammer of choice. You have complete control of every swing. Unless I am doing some serious framing work (and seriously who really uses nails any more?) this is the greatest little beast of a tool you can own. Aunt Avis really nailed that gift! (Get it...its a hammer and she nailed it! Ha! But I need to reiterate...please stop the senseless use of nails in the 21st century. For the children!).
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| Mini-hammer!!! Do my arms really look that hairy in real life? |
Ok, back to cutting and screwing in wood. 96 nails may have come out...but 125 screws went in. It is firmed up right-n-tight. Oh...and did I mention it was 31 degrees with the humidity? Yes. Well did I mention there was no breeze at all and it was super muggy? Well it was!
Once the wood is hung, time to stain the wood. Since there was no need to replace the door, I matched the colour of the shed to the door. Its called Rose Beige (solid colour). It should be called, 'not-even-close-to-beige-and-a-little-too-pink-if-you- ask-me'.
Next I cut and installed a nice cedar trim and stained it. In order to protect the wood as much as possible I also caulked everywhere two pieces of wood joined, all corners, all seams and all cracks, including the space between the bottom of the trim and the concrete. I'm trying to eliminate, as much as possible, moisture from getting up and into the wood. Time will tell if this works.
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| Caulk goes on white and dries clear. Took this pic so you can see where I caulked. |
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| What it looks like with the caulked all dry. |
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| Looking 10 years younger! |
Well that is it. Pool Shed is back to its original glory (at least until I can find a single-slopping roof prefabricated unit).
Summer outdoor project done. Time for a swim! CANNON BALL!
K&K
