Ah, late monsoon weather. I’d have sworn it was going to rain and drip all afternoon. But the rain stopped and by 2 the sky was clearing. By 3 there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Which is good, because I spent a lot more time with the tile saw than expected trying to get things right rather than “good enough,” which a few years later when you’re better and pickier is just embarrassing.
It took the better part of three hours to do a couple of dozen square feet, and unfortunately finishing so late in the afternoon meant I ended up leaving the door off the Lair overnight which I am not happy about, but the floor is completely tiled. Think I’ll make a late morning of it so as not to push that “don’t walk on it for 24 hours” myth too seriously, but that’s okay: If I can get into town in the late morning I can (shudder) buy a mop. Which I now badly need.
And then I can start on the part of tiling I dislike even more than sticking tiles down: Grouting.
But for tonight Uncle Joel is pleased with himself. Also tired and sore in the back and for some reason the stump. Joel’s going to wash, change clothes and go collapse now.
This is great news! I predict that the Lair will be noticeably more cozy this winter.
Congrats you old crusty b@#$%&d. I wish I had it as easy as you. I’m just finishing up painting my 2700 sq ft castle of doom. 11 gallons of paint so far and I need to go get 2 more. after this I’m off to do the inside paint and 4 rooms of carpet.(Another 10-15 gallons of paint)
Hopefully the inspector doesn’t see the broken tiles in the kitchen or the cracked toilet tank. If all goes well I will have my refinance in the bag and my payments down to a manageable level.
If not the wife and I have decided to sell and move to the boondocks. Which I would love to do, her not so much.
Regardless we plan on buying a 30 or so foot travel trailer and moving into that in the next year or so. Unlike most people I am very handy with both carpentry and automotive work, so I think I can make the switch pretty much seamlessly(plus lots of other skills like gunsmithing and reloading). And no writing is not one of my skills neither is punctuation.
Been there. You may be short a foot, but you still have the knees, hips, back and all the other things that flooring beats the hell out of. Enjoy the little little piece of order that you have dragged into the hermiverse. Even if nobody besides you ever sees it, that piece of order is your creation. Things like that keep you sane. Or close enough.
Hey, grouting is the easy part! You just smear it around with your rubber scraper, let it dry a little, then wipe it off with your stiff sponge (the one with the round edges, made for this). It’s quick, simple, and you don’t the damn time constraints of quickly-hardening thinset.
Congratulations on your progress! Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is a good feeling.
Malatrope: Yeah, it’s also the boring part. Laying the tiles is at least scary and calls for a little thought. Also you do it entirely on your knees. Before I start I want to see of the local little Ace sells kneepads, because the elastic on mine wore out years ago and I thoughtlessly pitched them without arranging a replacement.
Flatbilly: Hermiverse! I like it! ‘Dragging a little order into the hermiverse.’ I should make that into a sampler and put it on the wall.
Congratulations Joel!! You’ve changed another ToDo to a ToDone. A mop is useful, but for long term please consider investing in a small or large Swiffer and both wet and dry pads. The dry pads will pick up dog hair like nothing you’ve ever used from most surfaces. Flatbilly, Hermiverse is a total hoot. Joel could make a sign and nail it over his front door.
Nicely done. I’m sure the end result will be something you will enjoy for years to come. BTW, as I learned first hand years ago a mop is a lot better than just a rag.
Hermits herm. It can’t be taught, due to the reclusive nature of the only qualified teachers. Learned that here, and it sent me to Terry Pratchett. There must be a Hermiverse, and it remains unexplored for obvious reasons. http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Hermit