Friday, March 4, 2011

Next Room Decided

I decided which room to tackle next on Monday when I successfully peeled off the first piece of grass cloth wall paper in what is considered the master bedroom. We actually sleep in a different room. (It's another story.)  It took a bit of scratching at the bottom edge, but I found once started the dry paper came off in floor to ceiling strips.  A fuzzy paper layer remained on the wall.

I knew that before I worked on the paper I wanted to clean the stone wall behind the little cone fireplace.  It was really ugly.  Over the years I have passed a webster over it a few times a year, but didn't do much else.  I started the cleaning process with a very thorough vacuuming with the soft brush attachment.










Next I washed the stones.  Starting at the bottom I used a spray bottle with 50% water and 50% vinegar to drench each stone.  By tucking Sham-wow cloths under each row, and towels on the floor,  I was able to catch the run off as I went.  I figure I used about two gallons of liquid.

It took two days to do, but it came out quite nice.  I will be cleaning and repainting the fireplace as well.  It's a rather retro feature, but can be quite pleasant.

Then I started ripping off wall paper.

 I  also  cleaned off the under layer of paper and glue with DIF, a scraper, and a three step wall washing process.

I've finished getting all the paper off and am about 1/3 of the way thru the removal of the under layer.

I'll probably be at it most of next week.

Tomorrow, Saturday, I going to preview a local monthly Flea Market.  It is said to be one of the better ones, with fewer really junky vendors.

You have to apply for a spot a month in advance.  I sent in the paper work for the first Saturday of April.  If I don't get a spot for then, I'll try again for May. But I want to take a look at what people are selling, their pricing, and their display methods.

It is supposed to be a quite nice day weather-wise.

Didn't walk today, but I'm really tired from scraping and washing.




8 comments:

  1. I'm tired just from reading all the work you did!! Hope you take the weekend off, relax and put your feet up for a few days!

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  2. I agree with Rick, I am just exhausted sitting here in my chair reading about it. It'll be fun seeing the results in this room, you did such a fantastic job in the last one.

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  3. That kind of cleaning is exhausting. I did that before leaving the house in KC. Two fireplaces with brick, and it took forever. I do not envy you, but I hope you are able to keep focused on the end goal, leaving that all behind for a life on roller skates! Woo hoo!

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  4. Heck with this here story, me and Nilda would like to here that "other story".

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  5. one small step for mankind... one giant leap for Merikay!

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  6. OMG, no wonder you didn't walk after doing all that work!

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  7. After following all teh work you are doing on your house, I have made a decision. When it comes time to sell my house, I'm going to give it to my kids and let them worry about it!! (just kidding) Take care and don't work too hard.

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  8. I sure hope that whoever gets your house appreciates all the hard work that you will have done for them and that it shows in the price of the house.

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