Wrapping Up the Summer Projects

I want to say thank you for all of the kind feedback on last week’s posts about the bumpy path that led us to Blake Hill House. All of those memories, good and bad, feel like they happened in a blink. My oldest, who was shown in the Lake Powell photo, is starting college at the end of the month. I am so excited for him. Our family life will be changing once again.

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Believe it or not, now that August has started, it is time for us to finish up all of our outdoor projects for the season. Anything that is not already planned or in progress has been put aside for next year. It is still plenty warm outside, but soon, the days will get shorter and cooler, and there may not be enough dry hours during the daytime to complete extensive outdoor projects at our slow DIY pace.

Andy and I have hired painters for the exterior of BHH. That work will be done by the end of the summer or fall. I have not written a complete roof post yet because there have been some hiccups. The good news is that we have a new roof. The unfinished business is that the project led to some crown molding and fascia damage. We are having that repaired and painted by professionals. That means I am in the hand-wringing stage of choosing paint colors for the exterior of BHH. I did not expect to be making this decision for another couple of years. I really wish that I had a gift for this sort of thing. I plan on consulting someone experienced with color before we finalize our paint choice.

Last summer, I did a huge front step restoration and rehab project. I was so proud of that job, and I expected that I would not have to do anything to those stairs for several years. However, our merciless winter did not care about my expectations.

The wood was gouged repeatedly by our snow shovels, and the ice melt products removed the semi-gloss sheen.

Fortunately, the stairs did not require another complete overhaul. Last week, I gave them a good scrub. After they were dry, I was able wipe them with a tack cloth and apply another layer of Behr Weatherproofing Wood Stain and Sealer.

One season is all we got out of this product. I am not sure if the product failed due to extreme conditions or if it is a poor formula. I am generally very happy with Behr paints and stains. I have about 1/2 gallon left, and I will use it until it is gone since I am pleased with the color. Then, I may explore other products in hopes of increased durability. I opted not to touch up the stair risers because I will definitely change their color after we have the exterior painting done.

Although I checked the forecast prior to beginning the work (Sunny weather all day!), these clouds rolled in while I was staining the treads.

The instructions suggest allowing the stain to dry for 48 hours before it gets wet. Clearly, this product was not formulated for regions with unpredictable weather. It began to rain about two hours after I finished. Andy and I quickly covered the area with plastic and hoped for the best.

Good news: The steps look brand new, and they are ready for another winter battle.

Here is a sneak peak of our current work in progress:

The monster-sized door is getting a makeover. I have big plans for this huge door. This will likely take the rest of August. If so, it will be our last exterior project for the season.