The Kirkpatrick's D.I.Y. Project 2006 (Year Two)
Floor Prep
February 25, 2006
I have to admit that I was NOT looking forward to becoming a weekend laborer
again. I've enjoyed having weekends off. We got to visit Mike's grandfather and uncle
in Pennsylvania, we went skiing, hung out with friends, etc. The things NORMAL people do.
But the house isn't going to finish itself. So off we went on Saturday morning. We were
going to work Saturday and Sunday then come home. Of course, nothing ever goes right for us.
First, Mike couldn't get the heater in the trailer to work. Or the water heater. Until he realized
the valve on the propane tanks had gone bad. He replaced that and got the water heater to light.
He went back into the trailer to try the heater again only to discover we had a water leak. He
never did get the heater working. So we had no heat, no running water and no plumbing.
Knowing it was supposed to get REALLY cold Saturday night (it was already very windy), we
decided to come home. But not before getting some important work done.
The first chore of the year is staining the concrete floor. We don't
want carpeting and don't want to pay for wood, vinyl or ceramic flooring.
Being the do-it-yourselfers that we are, we opted for stained concrete.
Never seen stained concrete floors? Stay tuned. In a few weeks you will
be in for a real treat. Assuming we don't hit any more snags, that is.
Before concrete can be stained, it has to be cleaned. Really well.
While Mike was off playing handyman, I started cleaning the floor. That
involved a scrub brush, hose, and squeegee (to direct the water out of
the house). We couldn't let the water run just anywhere.
Once the floor in the main living space was cleaned, Mike moved all
of the stuff that was sitting in the garage into the kitchen.
Including my very dirty motorcycle. Hmmm... Does
keeping my motorcycle in the kitchen make me a redneck?
Mike sweeps the dirt out of the garage so we can finish scrubbing.
Before scrubbing, Mike would like to make the boot impressions,
inadvertantly left by the concrete finishers, disappear.
It didn't work. But they are subtle and will lend the garage some character.
When we were done scrubbing, Mike prepared the well pump for heat tape
(to keep it from freezing) while I went exploring with the dogs.
The forest in winter.
Our driveway when the trees are REALLY bare. It will
be nice when things start to get green again.
Next week, we hope to get the floor stained.
I forgot to mention that it actually felt good to get working again!
