|
|
« there used to be a trolley here |
Main
| 1097 N 23rd Street »
July 20, 2004
another day pulling shingles
I'm spending today pulling the asphalt shingles that cover the original wooden siding.
There is nothing special about this -- we've been doing this on and off since we moved in, we'll be doing it for a while yet. Today, though, for some reason there is a web cam. Refresh your page for the most recent image.
(ok, this little experiment is over, I have to get ready for work.)
Posted by john m at July 20, 2004 12:54 PM
Comments
From my own experience pulling shingles can be the most rewarding work-- each removed shingle reveals more of the original house and the change is very evident. Your siding looks like it is in pretty good shape. I always struggled with what to do with the nails that remain after the siding is removed-- should I take the nail out and leave a hole or should I hammer it in and leave the bump of the nail in the siding? Should I go around and fill all the holes I created or just leave the nail in the hole? I usually opt for a combination of the two, being careful not to cause too much damage to the clapboard as I go along.
And then I struggle with the process to clean up and re-paint the old clapboard? I have tried a few methods but have found that the following works pretty good-1st scrape off all the loose paint- sanding where necessary to do the best job- then I scrub the clapboard with a heavy duty cleaner and a scrub brush- be sure to rinse thoroughly- then I use an oil base primer to seal the wood- then come back with an oil based paint. I just havent had any luck with latex paint on this old clapboard-- although some people recommend it...
Posted by: bc at July 20, 2004 4:13 AM
It has been nice! It is definitely an immediate gratification thing... Another positive aspect is that the siding is really in much better shape than I was expecting. Most of what we're having to repair/replace is along edges of windows or walls.
I've been avidly pulling and caulking nail holes. Metal being the conductor that it is, leaving the hundreds of nails seems like it would create inefficiency in heating and cooling (and gawd knows we have enough issues with the heating).
We've been spot priming with an oil-based primer, and the dry old wood soaks it up! I can't wait to get to really paint these walls. The old paint chips/scrapes/sands off almost too easily. I keep thinking about how it must be lead-based paint.
and: what are some of the houses around here that you've worked on?
Posted by: john at July 20, 2004 11:36 AM
2108, 2110, 2208 E Leigh, 523,605,607 N 22nd, 2014 Princess Anne. They are all seven in the same little neighborhood- just a short walk apart from eachother. Each one was a learning experience and presented its own challenges. Each one is currently rented and providing some income to supplement my regular job. Peace. Have you checked out the new coffee shop on the corner of Leigh and 23rd???? Nice iron work on the front and good coffee isnt too far behind.
Posted by: bc at July 21, 2004 8:41 AM
i just read my comments and i could hardly believe i said coffee shop- you know your neighborhood is getting there when you can say coffee shop without laughing out loud.
crack house kinda flows off the lips with ease. but coffee shop takes some practice.
Posted by: bc at July 21, 2004 9:29 AM
i think the coffee shop is going to open real soon. I heard she got approval from the City on some of her work. I cant wait. Today I sneaked over an mowed her grass while she was away. I know she must be wondering who did it. I cant imagine having a coffee shop so close. check it out!
Posted by: bc at July 29, 2004 7:26 AM
A coffee shop means so much to a neighborhood- a place to get caffeine or a quick bite, but also a place to sit and read the paper, a place to meet a friend or neighbor and a place to be a regular...I hope it makes a go of it. This neighborhood can be pretty deserted in the daytime...
Thanks for your comment about my houses...I also like the little yellow cottage...it was built in 1859, when bought it, its previous use was as a nip joint--there was a huge bar in the living room and a craps table upstairs...I had to rip off the bathroom because people had urinated out the upstairs back window onto the metal roof for years- the whole place smelled like a subway. peace.
Posted by: bc at July 30, 2004 11:17 AM
I'm looking forward to it being there myself, we don't really have anything else close by. I heard 2 weeks from one of the baristas. I walked around and looked at some of the houses that you've done, and they're really nice. I've always liked that little yellow one (2110?).
Posted by: john at July 30, 2004 12:49 PM
Post a comment
|
|
