06/07/2002

Do-It-Yourselfers

The story about my husband's fall into the bushes off a ladder from three stories triggered a few memories, didn't it? Oh yes, there are potential perils and pitfalls from taking on those remodeling projects yourselves... but the learning and pleasure from completing that personalized masterpiece are worth it!

Dear Beth:

I'm an avid do-it-yourselfer. I cannot argue too strongly for safety in home improvement. I've tackled everything, from re-building the foundations of my home (fieldstone foundations) to roof work. We own a 104-year-old three-story Colonial. We totally gutted the first floor and completely remodeled it from laying hardwood floors, sheet-rocking, ceilings, molding, baseboards, painting, stenciling, to electrical and plumbing work. We then completely installed a new kitchen and full bathroom on our own. You name it we've done it... but common sense can go out the window when you least expect it.

I wish I had a dollar for every bruise I gave myself from dropping rocks on my foot to falling off ladders and the edge of the porch. My worst one was when I enclosed the second floor doorway off my daughter's bedroom. Not particularly worried that the outside stairs leading to this doorway were pretty rotted out, I went on my merry way taking out the door and sheathing it over. I was even successful with re-siding the area. "This is easy," I thought, as I went up and down that stairway all day to finish this project. The final item of the day was to caulk, and I couldn't reach the very top of the area, so, in my infinite wisdom, I retrieved a 5-foot pull-out ladder to reach the very top of the newly sided area.

As I was walking up the stairs for one last time (I was to take the stairs down right after this minor finishing touch), an entire portion of the stair structure collapsed when I was about 10 feet off the ground, carrying the wooden 5-foot ladder. My two kids saw it happen. All I remember is a lot of crying when I opened my eyes and saw both of them leaning over me and yelling, "Daddy, are you all right? Can you get up?"

I fell onto my side on the ground, and part of the stairwell fell on top of me. I was very lucky that I walked away with only a couple of bruises and some stiff muscles the next day. What was ironic is that I had cleared away several boards that had nails sticking up in them prior to beginning the project, and these boards were previously lying in the same spot where I fell!

To all of the other do-it-yourselfers out there... be very careful and be very mindful of your surroundings!

***

You are just too funny. We are building an addition. My husband calls it a sunroom, but due to all the woods around us, I call it the window room. Since he was an engineer and built this house, he really does know what he is doing, but sometimes I worry with him and our twin 16-year-olds—all out there with their heads together.

My grandfather was a carpenter and all the kids helped out. I remember my dad coming in one weekend all bent over. He was teaching full time, and on weekends he helped Grampa. They had been re-roofing a three-story house. Dad slipped on the tarpaper and fell three stories to land on a pile of boards. No breaks, but boy was he sore and bruised and very, very lucky. If he had fallen three feet either way, he would have landed on rocks or the metal and brick hatchway to the basement. A little further was the driveway. Your story made me remember, give thanks for small favors and God’s watchfulness, and laugh!

***

As I was reading your article about your husband, I laughed out loud. Sounds like something I would do. Right now I am in the process of converting the computer/craft/crap room into a work of art! I say this with tongue in cheek, of course.

First off, I went to Lowe's and got some Laura Ashley paint; one was a gallon of light sage, the other a quart of dark sage for the woodwork. Imagine my surprise when it was mixed up and I have a gallon of dark sage. We have a very reputable hardware shop in town, so off I went to purchase some paint to compliment the dark sage. I ended up with a buttery cream color that I love. I am not one to move furniture out of the way, especially my computer. I covered it while I painted the ceiling and only spattered a small amount of paint on the floor and walls. (I am replacing the carpeting in this room.)

My husband came home during his lunch hour to find me painting with a pair of RED underwear on my head. I didn't want to wreck a good baseball hat! The project took a turn for the worse this morning, when I awoke to find every joint and muscle in my body aching. So much for painting today. Also, I don't believe in ladders when an unsteady chair is available. Why do things the safe way? Someday soon, I hope, the room will be completed and furnished in 'shabby chic' fashion (a great catch-all for something that comes out looking haphazard)!

I do have a funny story that happened years ago. For some odd reason I put bacon on the stove to cook and proceeded to take a shower. Not too much later, I heard the smoke detector go off. I hadn't bothered taking a towel into the bathroom. So here I am stark naked on top of my kitchen table attempting to turn off the smoke detector. Lo and behold, as I am flush against the wall, there's a knock at the door, which is located about 8 inches from me. It was the UI guy to read the meter. To this day, I often wonder if he realized where that hand came from, in midair, to stop the smoke detector! Needless to say, he didn't bother knocking twice. Every time I tell that story it still makes me laugh! At least your husband was fully clothed when he took his tumble!

Those of us who manage to tackle and succeed at a project are all too willing to start in on something that we are not quite capable of doing. My motto after this room is done is to hire somebody who can knock out a room in a day. I will not miss the mess, the paint-splattered hair and the underwear on my head!

Thanks for making me chuckle. It's good to know that there are other people out there who will keep Bob Villa in business.

***

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.