Blog de Puree

It’s been a crazy-busy weekend, starting on Friday. We spent approximately 15 hours working on our kitchen this weekend. Rather than spend the money to have the contractors deal with the finishing work on the wood columns and assorted trim pieces, we decided to take that on ourselves.

After cleaning the chimney on Thursday, Randye applied a thick coat of masonry sealer on the exposed brick on Friday. She then proceeded to fill the minute nail holes in the trim with the wood filler that she picked up on Thursday. By applying tiny globules into the holes, we could sand them down and the wood/glue compound will take on the stain color as if they were a regular part of the wood. She filled hundreds of holes, rather than leave little gaps throughout the wood.

On Saturday morning, we shot over to Amesbury Industrial Supply–and we can’t say enough great things about the folks over there. Helpful, courteous and knowledgeable. Not to mention they have what we’re usually looking for. Take that, Home Depot! After figuring out a stain mix that best matched our cabinet colors, we left with a big bag full of staining supplies.

Later, Randye finished filling holes and I started in with our trusty Black & Decker electric sander. It’s noisy as hell, but very effective and my wrists and forearms thanked me. We used 100-grit sandpaper to rub down the wood filler globs and remove excess filler from around the holes. The 100-grit paper was also effective in smoothing down the rougher cut areas in the columns. Once Randye finished filling the remaining holes, she moved into the back hall, near the bathroom, to start in with the 150-grit paper which is the first phase of sanding down the wood for a smooth, finished look.

I spent the rest of the afternoon, smoothing down the wood filler spots. When Randye was done in the back hall, she decorated the front of the house for Halloween. Trick-or-treaters beware of the cobwebs, rats, death shrouds and ghoulies.

Sunday was more sanding. We started in early, finishing the course 150-grit sanding by noon. After lunch, Randye went in with 220-grit paper. With this grit-level, we brought the white pine to a super smooth finish that will take wood conditioner evenly, when we apply it before the stain.

While she sanded the wood, I took a 220-grit sanding sponge and hit up the new plaster ceilings and wall portions in the back hall, kitchen and dining room. When getting plaster walls ready for painting, it’s important to sand them to even out rough spots and give a smooth area for the paint to be applied. I donned my goggles, plastic breather and ascended the ladder for action. Within minutes, I had gray hair and was covered in plaster dust.

We wrapped up the sanding and cleaning by 4 p.m., in time for a quick shower and a pleasant drive through the back roads of Amesbury and southern New Hampshire to do a bit of leaf-peeping while it was still fairly warm and light out.

And the wood trim in our kitchen is smoother than a baby’s ass!