25 Oct 2011
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| the pin holding a door to the wall |
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| repaired ceiling |
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| finishing up |
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| sanding dust |
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| blowing the dust off |
Not much happening at the Ruin right now. Jerry is repairing some cracks with plaster, sanding up a storm and worrying about when the contractor will show up. I have been painting with the sous couche and putting some white paint on the ceilings. Jerry and I thought we could cover up the ugly wooden ceilings in the large bathroom and the kitchen with white paint. We thought the boards would look like beadboard if we painted it white. Not happening!! Just looks like ugly board ceilings painted white. After some discussion about what to do ... can't hang drywall cause there is nothing to hang it too.... can't rip it off cause who knows what can of worms that will open up....what to do? After thinking on it a minute or so, Jerry said "we can put that fiberglass wallpaper over the ugly boards and paint the wallpaper." It is a brilliant idea because the wallpaper is lightweight, very durable and it comes in several different designs. One of the designs is a stucco like finish so when it is painted the walls looks like they are stucco. Can't wait to try out the idea.....it should work fine.
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| Plaster chips |
I have also discovered the best way to get old, loose paint off the ceilings is use the air compressor! I started blowing the dirt away from the plaster and ceiling in the “pink” chamber and low and behold paint started flying off the ceiling along with the dirt and cobwebs! You are probably thinking “OH NO! More Work!” It doesn’t exactly mean more work. Jerry has been sanding up a West Texas Sand Storm lately trying to get the loose paint off and edges smoothed down. It makes a terrible mess of very fine dust that is nearly impossible to get up. Blowing big chips off and then sanding the remaining edges seems to be a cleaner way to get the ceiling ready for paint. I told Jerry that little compressor is the “Best Blower this side of the N9”! The big chips are a heck of a lot easier to sweep up and there isn’t so much sanding that needs to be done! We shall see how that works on the ceiling in the “pink” chamber. The area for the closet has been painted and is ready for the walls to go up. The new bathroom is ready for the plumbing to be completed and the tile to be put up. The plumber is on holiday until the first week of November and I think he will be back to us before he starts his next job…..at least that is the prayer. We can’t tile until the shower floor is installed.
The Dept of Herault has finished their water main job on the street behind the Ruin. If all the neighbors are as glad to see that as I am we should have a block party. Those big machines have a constant loud, low hum that gives me a headache!
Jerry met with another contractor to get a devis on the back salon, and to see how much he would charge to frame out the closet and the wall to the new bath and when he can start. I think he is getting tired and is willing to pitch a little money at things he is not comfortable doing. Working in Stone is a lot different than working in wood and drywall. I am glad he is getting someone to come and do the work. I am ready for more and faster progress than we are making.
David, our contractor, stopped by today and picked up the key to the Ruin. Next Wednesday is the start day for the work on the ground level. Everyone cross your fingers and send up a little prayer. He also is getting a devis together for the soft spot in the bathroom floor. We have one devis already from someone else but I am not as confident in him as I am with David.
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| taking down old electrical wires |
Things are looking up. David starts next week and Jean Louis can start tomorrow on the salon! Maybe Jake and I can stay home a couple of days ;)
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| best little blower this side of the N9 |
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