Bill Lantry
Member
- Messages
- 2,663
- Location
- Inside the Beltway
Hey, folks,
I think I'm going nuts! First, I've got drywall problems in the kitchen. Big argument with Doorlink over "to tape or not to tape, that is the question." She says "always tape." I say "tape when the seams in new drywall are beveled." Last time we went around this bend, when I was doing #2 son's basement room, I gave in, and you can still see the taped seam if you look closely. But it's her kitchen, so I suppose I'll just do what she wants, even if it's a huge hassle and won't work anyway...
Then, I decided to put up crown (something I've never done before) in the bathroom as preparation and learning for the substantial crown job in the kitchen. Knowing we'd eventually need some crown, and knowing how bad I am at visualizing angles, we bought a "cut n crown" setup at the woodworking show a couple years ago. Well, you can imagine the end of that story. The DVD says "using this setup, you get a glueable mitre joint with the crown." Yeah, right! Glueable joint, my you-know-what! Only massive amounts of caulk kept that project from complete failure.
So anyway, I've got tons of projects. Meanwhile, yesterday evening, I decided it was about time to go up and turn off the attic fans. Should have done that weeks ago. So I climb up there, and I'm crawling around, and I notice the insulation is disturbed. Dang! At first, I thought it was mice. Then I start looking around, and the mess is substantial. I start thinking squirrels. We have lots of them around here, but how are they getting in? Then I notice, way down at the end by the chimney, the walls are messed up. Something has chewed and pushed through the walls. Worse, I find little pieces of asphalt shingle on top of the insulation. So I crawl out, and go outside. No evidence of disturbed siding. So I'm going to have to get up on the roof and inspect the area around the chimney... which means several trips on the roof if there's something I have to fix.
I'm not fond of the idea. It's a three story drop at the back of the house. Now, I used to be a backpacker, and spent some time mountain climbing. Yes, I did a 5.9 climb in Yosemite. Still, I don't like the idea of getting up on the roof. I knew a guy in Pa. who's in a wheelchair because he was cleaning his gutters. On his one story house!
I don't know why I take this stuff on. I can still hear my father saying, as I was complaining about something like this: "I have no sympathy! *You* decided to buy a house!" He's right, I must be crazy!
A belfry was a medieval siege tower. Later, they turned them into bell towers. Hence the bats! Squirrels, I guess, are the modern equivalent. Bats in the belfry, squirrels in the attic, crown in the kitchen... I must be nuts for taking all this on!
Thanks,
Bill
I think I'm going nuts! First, I've got drywall problems in the kitchen. Big argument with Doorlink over "to tape or not to tape, that is the question." She says "always tape." I say "tape when the seams in new drywall are beveled." Last time we went around this bend, when I was doing #2 son's basement room, I gave in, and you can still see the taped seam if you look closely. But it's her kitchen, so I suppose I'll just do what she wants, even if it's a huge hassle and won't work anyway...
Then, I decided to put up crown (something I've never done before) in the bathroom as preparation and learning for the substantial crown job in the kitchen. Knowing we'd eventually need some crown, and knowing how bad I am at visualizing angles, we bought a "cut n crown" setup at the woodworking show a couple years ago. Well, you can imagine the end of that story. The DVD says "using this setup, you get a glueable mitre joint with the crown." Yeah, right! Glueable joint, my you-know-what! Only massive amounts of caulk kept that project from complete failure.
So anyway, I've got tons of projects. Meanwhile, yesterday evening, I decided it was about time to go up and turn off the attic fans. Should have done that weeks ago. So I climb up there, and I'm crawling around, and I notice the insulation is disturbed. Dang! At first, I thought it was mice. Then I start looking around, and the mess is substantial. I start thinking squirrels. We have lots of them around here, but how are they getting in? Then I notice, way down at the end by the chimney, the walls are messed up. Something has chewed and pushed through the walls. Worse, I find little pieces of asphalt shingle on top of the insulation. So I crawl out, and go outside. No evidence of disturbed siding. So I'm going to have to get up on the roof and inspect the area around the chimney... which means several trips on the roof if there's something I have to fix.
I'm not fond of the idea. It's a three story drop at the back of the house. Now, I used to be a backpacker, and spent some time mountain climbing. Yes, I did a 5.9 climb in Yosemite. Still, I don't like the idea of getting up on the roof. I knew a guy in Pa. who's in a wheelchair because he was cleaning his gutters. On his one story house!
I don't know why I take this stuff on. I can still hear my father saying, as I was complaining about something like this: "I have no sympathy! *You* decided to buy a house!" He's right, I must be crazy!
A belfry was a medieval siege tower. Later, they turned them into bell towers. Hence the bats! Squirrels, I guess, are the modern equivalent. Bats in the belfry, squirrels in the attic, crown in the kitchen... I must be nuts for taking all this on!
Thanks,
Bill
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