THE STEPS

THE NEXT PROJECT ON THE MILE LONG “TO DO” LIST WAS THE STEPS.  THESE ARE THE STEPS ON THE PORCH THAT LEAD INTO THE TRAILER.

THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE LIST SINCE THE PORCH WAS COMPLETED.  THE MAIN REASON WE DIDN’T DEAL WITH THEM WAS THE EXTREME HEAT OF SUMMER.  OUR INTENTIONS WERE GOOD, WE EVEN BOUGHT A POWER SANDER AT THE TIME.

THE SECOND REASON THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ON THE BACK BURNER SO LONG WAS THAT MARY AND I COULDN’T AGREE.  MARY WANTED THE THE STEPS TO BE NATURAL WOOD WITH STAIN AND VARNISH, AND REX JUST WANTED TO PAINT THEM AND BE DONE WITH IT.

THE STEPS WERE CONSTRUCTED OUT OF SOME REGULAR 2 X 6’S.  THEY WERE RUFF IN SPOTS, AND LOT’S NAILS AND SCREW HEADS YOU JUST COULDN’T SAND OVER.  WITH THE HEAT AND DISAGREEMENT THEY JUST SAT AND WERE IN USE FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.

FINALLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE ARRIVED AT A COMPROMISE.  WE WILL PAINT EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE TREDS, WHICH WE WILL STAIN AND VARNISH.

BEFORE:

 

AND AFTER:

 

NOT BAD !!! IF THERE WERE A PAINTING THE STEPS MERIT BADGE, WE EARNED IT !!

OF COURSE I FORGOT TO GRAB THE CAMERA DURING THE BEST PART, WHICH WAS USING A POWER TOOL TO SAND THE STEPS OUTSIDE.  IT WAS ESPECIALLY FUN FOR MARY BEING A FIRST TIMER WITH A NEW POWER TOOL.

THE STEPS WERE HAULED BACK INTO THE PORCH AND THE PRIMER WENT ON.

 

FOLOWED BY THE BRIGHT RED PAINT.

 

WE USED A THREE STEP LADDER FOR THREE DAYS TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE TRAILER WHILE THE COATS OF PAINT AND VARNISH ALL DRIED, AND MANAGED TO KEEP THE CATS OUT OF PAINT.