Straining on toward the goal...

With the siding/window project finished I've been busy staining.  I find my self reflecting on the fact that I just stained our entire house in NC in the spring of 2021.  Fortunately this one doesn't involve 25 foot ladder work.  

We used a T1-11 Reverse Board and Batten rough sawn product (on 8" centers) with ripped 1x3 battens from treated lumber.  I'm very pleased with the outcome.

For the windows, we kept it simple and affordable with the Pella 250 series vinyl clad product line. And again we're very pleased with the results.  Mega kudos go out to Ben and Bob Chesko at RCI Renovation and Repair Services, LLC in nearby Wellsboro, PA for the hard work, diligent effort, and timely completion.

I searched long and hard, reading review after review after review, talking with local painters and others looking for recommendations on stains and went with a product I had never heard (nor was it mentioned by any with whom I spoke). And I am exceptionally pleased with the product.  I anticipated needing about 7-8 gallons, bought 10 gallons and just ordered 5 more anticipating total usage of 12 gallons (but planning to use the rest on another project).  I can't say enough good about the spreadability, coverage, or clean up of this oil based stain.  We went with a Dark Walnut which isn't quite as dark as some of the samples shown (which is right in line with the many comments on this color, so we were not surprised).

I started by staining the battens, cross members, and hard to reach places, like corners, with a 3" brush. The end result was a lot of funny comments like "I love the striped look" or "hey we live in a fudge striped cookie house." (My family has a wonderful sense of humor.) I'll let the reader decide how accurate that description was...

And then the fun.  I've never used a roller for the application of stain before so I thought I'd give it a try.  Again in the spirit of "simple and affordable" I had a bunch of "contractor grade" 9" roller covers on the paint shelf.  I cut them down and using my 4" roller frame set to work rolling out that stain.   And here's where the stain really shined.  It coated evenly, was absorbed well, and gave a wonderful uniform appearance.

I still have the back side to finish staining and then some window caulking to do.  We'll likely power wash and paint the foundation and chimney a light gray later this summer, and then look at applying some
faux stonework next year to finish off the look. I'll be building some window boxes and mounting them and trying to finish up some landscaping yet this summer, so it'll be a busy one.

But when I look back at what we bought I feel a certain level of accomplishment, thanks be to God!
 

 

 

 

100 Year Old Floorboards...

 So, with the work done on the construction phase of the siding and windows project, our attention has turned to staining and caulking.  After quite a bit of deliberation we've decided on Ready Seal Stain and Sealer. It comes with high marks and  some good recommendations.  These are the samples they provide. We'll use the Dark Walnut (which isn't "dark" at all, more of a medium, almost Pecan color).

And while we await delivery of the stain I was informed that there are still quite a few interior projects that, in one resident's opinion, are "unfinished" like a door frame and doors for the front hall closet...

So, by the grace of God we happened to have two doors which were
initially intended to be put together for a bi-fold door.  These doors were constructed of 100 year old center cut tongue and groove pine flooring.  Once I built the doors it became obvious that they would be too heavy to use as a bi-fold and I stacked them away.  We brought them up from NC and they've been sitting on my "scrap shelves" in the shop for a year and a half.  

My lovely wife suggested they might work and they were a perfect fit.

The real story in my mind, however was what happened while working on them. They needed a bit of trimming, some finish sanding and of course some hinges.  So I set to work and methodically set the hinges, sanded the surface and otherwise prepped them for hanging.  But as I was mortising the hinges with the multi-tool the smell that arose was something out of heaven.  These 100+year old center cut pine flooring planks, in response to the heat of the multi-tool, brought forth sap, boiling sap!  The smell was, well unparalleled.  Perhaps for some that sounds a bit twisted, but anyone who has worked with type of flooring understands.  That rich pine smell...

This is almost hardwood hardness pine. Old growth, likely yellow pine. As I sit here tonight jotting these silly notes, I can still smell that smell...The doors are hung, although there are still some adjustments and trim work to do, but that will have to wait for the next order of wood which includes some 1x10's to finish the windows (with the insulation and all the building up we'll have 9" wide window sills!) In the meantime I'll be on the ladder staining...

The Work Continues...

What started as a lonely, seldom used hunting cabin is beginning to blossom.  After almost 20 months of love and labor, the investment is beginning to pay off.  We both well remember driving up to the "Snake Pit Rod and Gun Club" and thinking, hmmm... We had our hearts set on  something complete, something we would could move into and relax with...

The "Snake Pit" was something that would need A LOT of work.  Architecturally, it wasn't much to look at, a cement block house with a strange porch, no real driveway, a spring fed well, no central heating system, no phone service, and it came fully furnished - a house full of 2x6 bunks, crock pots, gun racks, and some sketchy lazy boy furniture, the kind, well that belonged in a "hunting camp."

But once we sat on the porch and looked out we knew we'd buy it.

 

As the contractors, RCI Renovation and Repair Services, LLC, finish up their work on the windows and siding, we're starting to feel like we've turned a corner.  The next step will be staining, foundation cleaning and treatment, and then landscaping, but we really feel like it's starting to come together and that's a good feeling.

We purposefully chose a board and batten style to lift up the Appalachian style mountain theme since we are in the northwestern most section of the Appalachian Mountains. We'll post more pics when we've moved a bit more forward, but we wanted to give thanks and bear witness to God's goodness that has brought us this far.  It's a piece of work (God's workmanship)!  Thank you, Lord.

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