The winner is . . .
SFDC!
Please e-mail me ASAP at dcrowhouse@gmail.com to get your tickets!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Maryland Home and Garden Show - GIVEAWAY
How to enter:
Leave a comment (make sure you put in your e-mail so I can let you know you won!) by Thursday, October 6th, 2011 at Midnight. I'll annouce the winner on Friday. Good luck!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Meanwhile . . . we added another project
In the midst of working away, in the hot, sun on the deck - another project fell out our feet. Beneath our feet would actually be more accurate. In our rowhouse we have two units, the one we live in (which is the top two floors), and the english basement unit. The term "english basement" is used to describe a unit that is only partially below ground, our basement apartment has full size windows, but the bottom of the window is the ground. We were finally getting to the basement renovation we had been thinking about for years!
Our tenant (who had lived there two years before we moved in) was moving out - and the place was in dire need of a make-over. We just had no idea how much. In fact, we had only been into the apartment a few times in the entire time we owned the property. Our tenant was the best you could ever hope for and we never had to fix a thing. The only time we had been in the basement apartment was to turn off the main water main when we renovated the kitchen, and maybe for one or two other small things we needed.
Graciously, our tenant allowed us to tour the apartment a few weeks before he moved out so we could plan for what we would do - we only had 4-5 weeks to do everything we needed to before the next tenant moved in. During the walk through we thought it looks pretty good, but when all the furniture and wall hangings were removed, it told a different story. Here's a picture of the kitchen (I had pulled out the stove right before I took the picture).
We had never noticed the kitchen floor had two separate tile sections. Though we planned on ripping it out - it was more a must now and less of a wish list item. The walls were all stained and dirty around where the picture had been hung and above the electric heat registers. Even a mixture of bleach and soap didn't work to wash it off. So, paint would also be necessary now. We would be using everyday of that 4-5 week period for sure now! But, there was something new and exciting about working on a space where we didn't live. It was going to be a new way of renovating.
This post was supported by: RONA
Our tenant (who had lived there two years before we moved in) was moving out - and the place was in dire need of a make-over. We just had no idea how much. In fact, we had only been into the apartment a few times in the entire time we owned the property. Our tenant was the best you could ever hope for and we never had to fix a thing. The only time we had been in the basement apartment was to turn off the main water main when we renovated the kitchen, and maybe for one or two other small things we needed.
Graciously, our tenant allowed us to tour the apartment a few weeks before he moved out so we could plan for what we would do - we only had 4-5 weeks to do everything we needed to before the next tenant moved in. During the walk through we thought it looks pretty good, but when all the furniture and wall hangings were removed, it told a different story. Here's a picture of the kitchen (I had pulled out the stove right before I took the picture).
We had never noticed the kitchen floor had two separate tile sections. Though we planned on ripping it out - it was more a must now and less of a wish list item. The walls were all stained and dirty around where the picture had been hung and above the electric heat registers. Even a mixture of bleach and soap didn't work to wash it off. So, paint would also be necessary now. We would be using everyday of that 4-5 week period for sure now! But, there was something new and exciting about working on a space where we didn't live. It was going to be a new way of renovating.
This post was supported by: RONA
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Back to the Deck
So, where was I? Oh, yeah, injuring myself as usual.
So, after the railing came down, we tried our hand at ripping up the deck boards with a crowbar. It did not work. At all.
It did not work. At all. My cheap little circular saw was not cutting through the boards. So, off to Frager's Rental to get a better one.
Ah, much better. Though, I wouldn't say this worked like a charm. Oh, and you can also potentially sever your limbs with it. You can to GENTLY lower the saw into the wood before you start cutting - if you move a hair too fast, that saw will bounce back at you . . . and your feet.
Also, I was dumb and made too many cuts at once. Basically, we just wanted to get that scary part done ASAP, but it leaves the deck really unstable to walk on after. So, don't do what I did. Just make two at a time so you can rip up the boards as need be.
At the end of Day 1, this is how far we got. Did I mention it was also about 110 degrees that day? Yeah, I would recommend to renovated decks in the spring or fall. The work is really labor intensive and having the sun on you doesn't make it any easier.
We slept like rocks that night though. . .
So, after the railing came down, we tried our hand at ripping up the deck boards with a crowbar. It did not work. At all.
So, it was time to take out the circular saw to cut through the boards - making them smaller pieces to pull up.
It did not work. At all. My cheap little circular saw was not cutting through the boards. So, off to Frager's Rental to get a better one.
Ah, much better. Though, I wouldn't say this worked like a charm. Oh, and you can also potentially sever your limbs with it. You can to GENTLY lower the saw into the wood before you start cutting - if you move a hair too fast, that saw will bounce back at you . . . and your feet.
Also, I was dumb and made too many cuts at once. Basically, we just wanted to get that scary part done ASAP, but it leaves the deck really unstable to walk on after. So, don't do what I did. Just make two at a time so you can rip up the boards as need be.
At the end of Day 1, this is how far we got. Did I mention it was also about 110 degrees that day? Yeah, I would recommend to renovated decks in the spring or fall. The work is really labor intensive and having the sun on you doesn't make it any easier.
We slept like rocks that night though. . .
Friday, September 16, 2011
Alive and Kicking
Sorry. Life got the better of me and I have been neglecting the blog. But, don't worry there is much, MUCH, to share!
I'll be back next week to start posting the new projects!
I'll be back next week to start posting the new projects!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Whoops
So, the deck is done. I'll update you later on that. But first, let's talk about what happens when you drop a 4"x4" post on your foot.
After ignoring it for weeks (and not being able to fit it in a shoe), I finally went to the doc who informed me I had a "deep bone bruise" after checking to make sure it wasn't broken. Now, I'm stuck with this tape wrap for the next five days and a month of anti-inflammatory meds.
Maybe I should just re-name the blog to DC Rowhouse Injuries. Sheesh.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Deck: Part Three
While Dan left to drop off the rental truck, I stayed at the house and began the destruction. First, I cleared the deck and moved the grill into the kitchen.
But the next day showed a different story . . .
I should have known . . . 15 minutes into this project and I'd already damaged myself.
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