Our First House!

[Texas_Ranger]

If there's one rule in renovation it's that there's no quick and easy way of stripping paint!

Having removable stuff dip-stripped might be an option but removing nailed-on trim can damage it pretty badly and lye usually isn't too kind on wood and glue so it'll require lots of extra work after stripping.

[JacquieJet]

Ober- cool picture! It's neat to see behind things that have been there for 100 years (or more!). I think you're right- I'll stick to the heat gun after all. I may wait on that though!
Congrats on being at the halfway point in your chemo- I hope the second half of your treatment goes swimmingly, and you are able to take it easy. You are in our thoughts!

[Ober51]

Finally felt like I could do a bit of work today after this last treatment. Spent the MDW laying low and feeling meh...although it didn't stop me from eating

I spent today tackling Japanese Knotweed, opened three windows that were caulked shut by PO, stripped some hardware, and continued to fill the dumpster with some odds and ends.

The rot on the bottom rail of two, maybe even three, of the windows is concerning. I almost feel like I shouldve left well enough alone, but I really wanted airflow as I shouldn't be breathing all that crap as the guys strip the wood. I really need to built a steam box so I can attack the sash.

Old house woes...

[Lily left the valley]

Glad to hear your were feeling up to some work.

I do not envy your time with the Knotweed. That stuff is insidious.

[Ober51]

Glad to hear your were feeling up to some work.

I do not envy your time with the Knotweed. That stuff is insidious.

At this point I'm just trying to stay on top of it. We let the plant get like a foot high, cut and bag it, and quickly spray round up on the cut portion. Apparently in a couple years we should beat this crap.

[Texas_Ranger]

A Swedish blogger has been fighting that blight for 6 years now, cutting any shoots as he spots them, double-tarping the entire area, chemicals, everything - and it's still alive!

The apartment building next door has some in the back yard too and I'm seriously worried it might spread into ours! The property management company doesn't seem to be the least bit concerned about it.

[Ober51]

I can live with fighting it, i just can't live with it coming through the patio about to be laid in the back portion where it is growing. I have heard if we dig down, then double tarp with a 60mil rhizome barrier, we should be ok. I may do that with the other area, but we will see.

[Ober51]

I took some time to strip a small section of the brick on the fireplace. I did this because on the way out of my house, the workers said it would likely be impossible to get the paint off. As you can see from my results, he was wrong. It looks like the brick is smooth and has a nice deep red coloring. Given my results, I will show them it is possible!

[awomanwithahammer]

Looks good! As with mine, the hardest part will be getting it off the mortar.

[Ober51]

Looks good! As with mine, the hardest part will be getting it off the mortar.

Yeah, it takes a little more effort but it is coming off. I'm excited to see it completely done.