Patch & Plaster: DIY Plaster-Skim coating

Yesterday was an awesomely successful day as far as bano progress.   Steve was a total rock star and I wasn't so horrible myself considering that I had the two little chit'rens to care for all day.  Laurel and Ben cooperated by taking a decent nap so I got some stuff done and ready for Steve to take off running as soon as he got home almost 3 hours early from work.

Before we started, I did a bit of reading about plastering on the interwebs and found the Bob Vila videos to be most helpful.

A few helpful sites with info on plaster repair & skim coating:

• Bob Vila video 
• this video is nice as far as the steps needed in doing plaster

• Bob Vila video
• this video details how to apply the plaster (thickness, going back over, etc.)

• Fine Homebuilding
• Do-It-Yourself-Help.com

Here are the steps we took to get the job done:

1. First, be sure to cover everything up-plastering makes quite the mess-picture plaster chunks flying everywhere.
I then found a chunk of tile board in the basement to "prime" and later patch (which Steve did first thing when he got home) in the barren areas of wall.  I used this as opposed to blueboard (a product like drywall that is made specifically to take plaster) because I wanted depth to match exactly and everything else up was tile board.  If you use blueboard in the first place, then you can skip this step.  I then put a coat of plaster weld on everything to get it ready for plaster to adhere to it.  I would recommend a disposable foam roller or brush so that you can just toss it when you are done but I used a brush (which actually cleaned up pretty easily) to apply because it was all I has on hand.  We purchased all the plaster materials from Knez in SE Portland 2 years ago (yes, this project has been delayed that long!)-I remember that it was one of the first outings we took Ben on.  He must have been a week old-how time flies, he will be two in April!
And then you can plaster over the product from the point that it is tacky until 2 weeks later.

2. Apply mesh tape to seams.  Generally you would put wire bead on the outer corner edges but the other corner in our bathroom (seen just above) is quite round so we wanted to match the softness of that corner and metal bead makes corners very sharp.  Metal bead also reinforces the corner edges-something we don't have to worry about being that this edge starts 6' up. 
 
3. The scary part-mixing plaster.  Only make enough that you can use in about 30 minutes or so.  We used Imperial Plaster Veneer to skim coat.  We mixed in water until it was thick enough that it would basically retain its shape when you turned the trowel.  Think about not wanting the plaster to just fall off the wall when you apply it.

4. Plaster away!  This is harder than it looks and it helps to be an anal person (but not too anal cuz a DIY'er with no plastering experience can get it truly smooth.  lucky for us, our bano walls have lots of texture so this wasn't a problem.  Apply your first coat about 1/8" thick and be prepared to go over it many times, switching the direction of the trowel each time.  The videos also suggested getting the plaster on and then moving on and letting the plaster "set" for a few minutes before coming back and smoothing it more.

I promise, it looks much better in person

5. Our plaster was ready for a second coat (hard) after an hour or so (that's why you only want to mix small amounts at a time) so Steve applied again, this time he made his plaster a bit thinner and spread it on pretty darn thin.  Just enough to cover all the imperfections.  After getting it pretty much the way he wanted, I got to be the teacher and point out all his mistakes.  He then went back over the plaster for quite some time, dipping the trowel in water in between passes so make the plaster a bit more pliable and easier to work with. 

ceiling patch-visible lath will be covered by cabinet

6. Wait 10-14 days (if you just skim coated) for everything to cure (supposedly the plaster will turn pinkish) before you prime and paint!

Up tonight? Grind tile and complete new hall outlet.  Too bad I will be at a work function and can't participate-hehe.

Oh yea, don't the professional plasterers in the video make it look wicked easy and then you look like a dork with two left hands? 

A little glimmer glamour for the chute

After we booked out our craftsman for the big bano built-in, Steve mentioned (which I had also been thinking) that maybe he could also build us a door and trim out the laundry chute opening in our hallway while he was here if we offered him a little something extra.
You see, our poor chute has been naked for a year now and a door and some trim would be pretty nice.  And the plaster has also been taking a bit of a beating (the blue tape was our band aid attempt for the plaster)Not that it is a hard project but we have never been quite sure how to cover the lath and plaster and exposed melamine compressed cardboard from the chute with stained trim.  We had all the wood as well as salvage hardware.  He said that it would be easy for him so we handed it off.  He, once again, will get it all ready for install but keep it out so that I can stain it first.  Then he said it should just take a few finish nails to install.  I feel like a bit of a fake (as far as saying we are doing the restoration ourselves) by handing off projects but we are in over our heads (aren't all old house restorers?) and time seems to shrink by the day with us both working and a busy toddler on our hands.  Oh yea, we also try to have some fun once in awhile.  So once again, can't wait to share more pix come Thursday when he delivers it all!

Oh yea, we showed him the picture of Bungalowcious' chute for inspiration (except we would like the hinges on the side and a knob with magnetic catch)

Big as a Whale's Tail

our backyard pussy will is starting to bloom and I couldn't help but play around with our new camera...also cut some for a vase

This post might be fast as I have been having some trouble logging onto blog in the last two days.  Well, earlier today I logged on, wrote a whole post, thought it was all saved and then went to publish and poof! it was gone.
Gist of the story is that we have a lot of work ahead of us before Thursday.  The craftsman who built our dining/living room built-ins e-mailed looking for some projects and we were able to agree on a great price provided that we supplied the furniture grade ply we have left from my dad building the basement cabinets earlier this month, I was home to help with install, we provided hardware (already purchased from Restoration hardware when they had a sale last month)
and we did the painting.  DONE!

the design I drew up and initially e-mailed to our craftsman

I would have loved to build it myself in woodworking class but there will just be no time with our plans for a kitchen remodel AND we would love to have my dad build it but he won't be up to Portland again until next year (more on that in a later post).
Anyways, after meeting up with Alan for about an hour yesterday morning after many e-mails back and forth, we had a great design all talked out and (of course) a list of projects we needed to get done (but weren't planning on doing for quite awhile) before he comes over Thursday afternoon for install.  Of course I am ecstatic at the thought of getting closer to having a finished bathroom and having a place INSIDE the bathroom (As opposed to an old ikea cabinet in our already narrow hallway) to hold our toiletries, some towels, t.p., etc.

Projects to get done:

1. finish outlet wiring for hallway outlet that will go in baseboard-Steve is accessing wires/drilling where the built-in will go.  We didn't install in the wall portion because reinforcing the plaster would have been quite the chore and we are short on time.

2. patch in wallboard where it is missing in the nook where the built-in will go
3. Plaster it-yikes!  we have never plastered a large area before-any tips?
4. patch small ceiling area where built-in will not be but butt up to
5. grind down tile that is uneven-built-in will butt up to this area.

Other happenings:

on the ferry to Bainbridge Island-we visited our friends the Burke's last weekend and decided to go out to the Island for the day-Ben loved the ride

 but loved his little friend Evan even more...they were cracking each other up all weekend

our friend Aaron turned 30 (it seems to be the year of the big 3-0s) last night

made gifts for our friend's baby that will come in June...she is doing the room a sort of nautical theme so I thought the whales would be cute

my first try at needle felting a couple weeks back-my sis-in-law Amber showed my how and I thought I would hate it but it is strangely satisfying to poke about 10 needles at a pile of felt for a few hours and have a whale come out of it.

there is no stitching or glue, simply piling the wool with a tool and forming the shape...also for our friend's soon to be born boy

House Crashing in Irvington

I was fortunate enough to be able to house crash (get a tour from my agent) a house that just went up for sale in Irvington. Han-Mei of Swanky-Chiang let me know it was for sale.  Even though I knew that we had no plans to sell our current house, I just had to see it.  Of course, I fell in love, to the point that my heart was rapidly beating and I put in a call to my mortgage lady to see if it was even a possibility.  I know, crazy, but man, love.  Not surprised to see that it is already sale pending.  Just really hope that it was entrusted to good hands that will care dearly for the house and restore it with love.  Here are a few pictures I snapped.  A 1909 gem of arts & crafts!

entry & stairs, gorgeous wood floors underneath

living room to left of entry with pocket doors into dining room

pocket doors & dining room

dining room-look at that plate rail-door to left goes to kitchen

little englenook of sorts in dining room

kitchen with doors to basement and front entry way-needs a complete remodel 60s or 70s style currently

original push-button light switches

one of the two upstairs sleeping porches

upstairs bath with original built-ins

one of the four upstairs bedrooms, they all just needed some fresh paint and refinished floors

upstairs landing

stairs with bench at landing

basement stairs

basement "bathroom"

luv the sign outside the basement bathroom

living room windows-gorgeous

columns going from front entry way to living room

one more dining room view with wood floors peaking through

If I had a million dollars....

I would buy you a light, a very very nice light...
Have you seen the new arts & crafts lights that Rejuvenation just released?

The Blackstone

The Broadleaf

the Wildwood

Here's a little peak.  I am in complete lust and would just love to see the Broadleaf hanging somewhere in my home.  Maybe a splurge when we eventually add a master bedroom. I could picture 2 Wildwood sconces and a Broadleaf ceiling fixture or two... I just really wish I had an extra few hundo/thousand (for all three) lying around...