I like to garden. I like to do home improvement. I like to do pretty much everything. What I don't like doing, is doing it alone. It took me years to figure it out. Sadly, alone is usually how things get done.
My nephew is 17 and was looking for summer odd jobs. Lawn mowing, dog walking, that type of thing. I told him I had a lovely project, the cellar door. I should have taken a "before" photo.
The other day his mom messaged me and asked if it was time. The heat wave had broken. Okay, for me the heat wave hadn't broken. It was still humid and in the high 80s, but the paint said 90, so we were good.
As with any project here, this one took multiple trips to the hardware store. Many people borrow tools and equipment and don't return them (Except his grandmother. She's great.). Or worse, return them broken. We had planned to work Thursday afternoon, so Wednesday I went downstairs to get everything and make a list of what I needed to buy. I plugged the sander in and it ran, but the gizmoo to put the paper in was jammed. Even the "helpful hardware guy" couldn't get it fixed. I had to buy a sander, and paper, and primer.
Thursday he spent almost three hours sanding. As he was sanding I realized I forgot the little sponge sander for the nooks and crannies. I'd also need more primer. And tact clothes. Back to the store.
About 3:15 the sky became black and we hustled to put everything away before the storm hit. The primer can said 15 minutes to a touch dry. Did we dare? We threw caution to the breeze and primed the outside. I was not re-sanding it after it got wet. It did not rain. The primer coat was attractive, but it got the job done.
Saturday after walking I stopped at home depot and got the paint and caulk. (As he was sanding the old caulk just vanished.) And a caulk gun because I was sure ours would be broken. Or missing.
Yesterday we finished both the inside and out. We worked for about 4 more hours. I even drug out the shop vac. Of course the old caulk gun did not work. Neither did the new one. We ended up going to the hardware store again. This time I got expensive caulk in a tube.
While the kid sanded and painted I got busy on the back door. The white paint on the glass was from two or three times ago. I need to get a razor to scratch it off. There was enough paint left to do the garage door. My sister says I need to put a red light out there because it looks like a whore-house. Mission accomplished.
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