Painting

Now that spring is mostly here (below freezing likely for tonight) we have started some home clean up chores (primary repainting our deck). We have an appraiser visiting on Wednesday morning as part of a refinancing scheme, so we want the place to look “spruced up.”  The forecast is 70s and 80s at the end of the week; I sure hope the freezing weather will be past us for good after tonight.

Deck painting: The main deck is 12′ by 16′ and has railings and a ramp that provides access from the driveway and garage. The deck is wood but the ramp is steel. It had been several years since I last painted the ramp and part of the deck; weather and use have taken their toll and it’s time to paint again.

I began by wire brushing and scraping the ramp to remove the loose paint. The ramp features a tread pattern so this job takes a while. After a wash with warm soapy water and letting the ramp dry off I began painting with an oil-based paint.

Oil- based paint sure takes longer to dry than latex paints. While the ramp was drying I used a ladder to get to and from the main deck and accessed the front door. When we let the dogs out we had to hand-carry them over the deck railing; Pam handed them to me from the house side and I stood on the lawn side to receive them and put them on the ground. (The dogs apparently thought this transfer was a novelty and didn’t object much.)

Pam worked on the deck sides and railings. Using a two-tone approach on the rails, the tops  were painted red and the boards painted grey. These boards also had to be scraped and wire-brushed to remove the flaking paint, so the precess was not very fast.

We kept at it and by 6:30 or so had most of the work done. Given our tired shoulders and arms, we called it a day. Some detail still needs to be done but the bulk of the work is complete. The ramp and deck look much nicer now after all our effort.

We know the before/after difference may not seem substantial and this is the type of maintenance that does not draw a lot of attention. It just makes us feel better that the place is neat and tidy. It’s more a matter of what you don’t see (flaking paint) than what you do see.

Pam’s two-color paint scheme

Ramp after paint job

We’re looking at replacing the deck planks with Trex-style material; this would cost around $1,000.00 but is needed as the existing wood planking is getting splintered and cracked. (Pam doesn’t want a vet bill for removing a large splinter from a dog’s foot at some point.) I’ve already replaced the wood in certain spots where it was getting pretty soft. We have tried to paint the deck but – due to the original stain used when the deck was new – a paint job does not stick for more than a season or two. Replacement is the best solution. It’s on the list, hopefully to be accomplished before Sanderling season starts.

Another project I plan to tackle is adding steps to the rear deck; the original steps were in bad condition and I had removed them a few years back. Municipal code requires that a house have at least two exits; adding the replacement steps will bring our second exit back into compliance.

Yard work: I mowed the entire lawn last week and found the hose and sprinklers. Our irrigation water has been turned on for the year and much of the lawn needed some extra water. Until recent rains came through it’s been pretty dry and the lawn responded well to getting some extra moisture.

High country prep: The RV needs to be opened up and we will begin to get it ready to take up to The Lot as soon as the weather cooperates. Only a few items to take care of this year; fill one of the propane tanks, check the awning mechanism, new light fixture for the dining area, general check of all systems, restocking with food, bedding, and clothing items and we should be good to go.

Chipper: I had called PowerTek with the serial number of the chipper to see if I could get a date of manufacture (which turned out to be September 26, 2002). I needed this information to fill out the request-for-title paperwork. (I hope to move forward with the title work this week.) I then did some more minor work on the chipper by removing the hydraulic motor and greasing the splines. This was recommended by the manufacturer; the guy at PowerTek suggested I grease the splines even though the procedure is not mentioned in the manual.

At work: My assistant, who had come from the Sheriff’s Office Patrol division, decided he wanted to return to Patrol after two weeks in IT, so I am again without a helper. This is kind of a PITA as I now have to reverse a lot of paperwork and reorder my work plans. Bummer.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

In preparing a set of maps for my brother (so he could find the Sanderling lot for a Memorial Day visit), I realized yet-again the challenges of accessing that location. Three maps and some copy machine time later (maps for state/local/neighborhood), the route should be clear.

Send us some positive vibes for a successful appraisal.  We are trying to determine if our mortgage is still under water; this part of Colorado has not fully recovered from the great recession.

Happy Trails.