Tah. Dah.

So yesterday I dragged the woodstove and the big chair out to the porch, then hooked up the trailer and brought the cutting table, saw, and pieces of floor to the Lair.


Got the generator out of mothballs – started right up and ran like a champ all day today, because I love that Honda.


This morning I hit it early. I had the used underlayment, which had already been sort of collapsed under a lot of traffic, and also a new roll of roofing felt that BB brought me. Spent most of a week debating over which to use, and this morning I split the difference and used them both. Seems to have been the right choice.

I had to work under the kitchen counter’s kick panel, which meant that kind of had to be my zero line.


And that was good, because then I could work backward to fill in the part of the floor normally covered by the desk and the big chair. It allowed me to practice on the part nobody’s ever going to see, and then I could do the main part of the floor the right way.


And several hours later…


Not bad. Not real bad.

One thing that became very obvious early on was that this stuff is fragile. It’s gonna get all scratched up very quickly, which I don’t really mind but also don’t really want to encourage. So I dragged out a spare rug I’ve had in storage for years.


And I’m still working on a plan to get the woodstove back inside without gouging the hell out of my new floor. But I’ll work it out.

I should be straightening the place up but my back is singing to me for the first time this year. I got the tools and unused materials put away, and now I’m going to crash.

About Joel

You shouldn't ask these questions of a paranoid recluse, you know.
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18 Responses to Tah. Dah.

  1. Claire says:

    Looks fantastic, Joel! And you got it done so quickly. Kudos.

    I hope the floor makes you (and your fake leg) happier than the old tile one did.

  2. F-ing beautiful!

    Next thing you know you will have a couple of Cocker Spaniels, a wife and a brood of kids.

    Nah, just kidding. You only need one Cocker Spaniel.

  3. coloradohermit says:

    What a day! It looks beautiful.

  4. Ben says:

    Damn that looks good!

  5. Georgia says:

    Nice, very nice.

  6. Michael says:

    All in a day’s work, impressive. Looks great, Joel.

  7. beaner49 says:

    So Joel,
    Among your other talents do you wash windows ?

  8. Terrapod says:

    Yup, your next dog is going to have some traction issues turning corners at speed once off the rug. Looks very nice in that photo, congratulations, the place looks like a real cabin retreat now. Next phase is the barn/workshop….

  9. Joel says:

    Among your other talents do you wash windows ?

    Not often enough to make a lot of difference, tbh…

  10. doubletrouble says:

    Got any more old/surplus rug around? If you can get a piece at least as long/wide as the wood stove feet, lay it upside down & put the feet on the back. Should slide nice & easy on that shiny new floor! Bonus if you have a piece longer than necessary; it much easier to drag than push that setup.
    Pics looks like an L.L. Bean catalog photo- nice job!

  11. Wayne Dygert says:

    Well done

  12. Mike says:

    Well, colour me impressed. Very nice Joel, very nice.

    If you are serious about wanting the floor to last, do what Doubletrouble wrote and drag the woodstove on a hunk of carpet. Or, if you can borrow one, use a two-wheeled dolly and a tarp to protect the floor. Also, when you clean the floor, a great product to keep it looking good and the place smelling nice is Murphy’s Oil.

    Once again, well done.

  13. Spud says:

    Looks good young man !
    I hear ya on the aching back.
    Two weeks now on the walk in shower , the Mrs requested…

  14. John in Philly says:

    That looks very nice.

    I wonder if a steampunk Roomba is in your future.

  15. Looks really good. Keep it up and you’ll be the most comfortable desert hermit in forever.

  16. P says:

    came out great!!!

To the stake with the heretic!