You Will Think I Am Pulling Your Leg

It is true, the best job maybe the one you do not get. I spent a better part of last week doing samples for a job that was going to be hard. The GC just was bent on doing things so off that I can only say they were WRONG.

It was a gray look with some white in the grain, I called and got the correct stuff, and nailed the look, but the GC just knew that deck stain is better. So to make a long tale short, it is better to walk away. Now the hard part is to make up the lost time and funds. So I started a nasty resand today-36, 50 and 80, hand-rub and soft-plate the fire out of it. Here's a "before":

I am going to stain this with a medium brown when it is all done.

The big machine went well, but the edger was somewhat of a task. I needed to cut it twice, and knowing that the floor is going to have stain, I took it to 80 grit but with the flex pad on the edger. Take a look at the wall lines:

In the morning the hand-rubbing and the hand-work starts, so it should be a good day and, if all goes well, stain and the first coat by 5.

I also picked up a remodel job just under 600, so while I wait for this job to dry between coats I will run over and start this job to get both done this week; I'll have to push hard to get both done this week. The only hang-up is the homeowner has some type of lung trouble and asked if we can find a finish that would not smell up the house. Well that is easy: water-base. During the NWFA open house Janet Sullivan let me have the water-base finish Lenmar offers. I am going to give it a run and see how it works. I have used Dura Seal water many times and some Basic, but this should be fun. The more I learn about finish, the better we can fit all the needs of each job. I do also have a factory-finish job that I want the use the Nano finish on again. It worked so great last time that I have just got to use it again. Nathan Shaw came down to help me with that one and dog, it was just nice.

I got a call for a set of stairs and I was thinking no big deal, right? It's 22 steps 8 foot long and just the nicest set of stairs to look at. The dogs killed the finish with deep cuts and the finish is coming off in areas. I will take a photo for you next week so you can see what I mean. I also have a bedroom to re-sand at the same house. Now, you will think I am pulling your leg, but the horse walked all over it, not the dogs. They loved the horse so much that the stall is just off the bedroom and they let him in the house a few times. This is the largest house in the area, 15,000 under one roof. It took $3 million and about three years to build it. It's sitting on a hill just as sweet as any home could be for the size and look it has to show off. The house is huge, with great wood work all around the home.

The sad part is that the folks that had it built made some dumb money moves and had to give it back to the bank. The bank sold it to cover the loss; the price was under $1 million to the new owners. Great deal, right? I should have got it for that price, LOL, a 3 million dollar home-the heat bill would kill me. They plan to flip it, yeah, flip it like a row house in the city. And you know what, they have folks from New York already asking about it. The idea is to have a home away from home for the winter time in New York. It is sad folks have to live like that and become snow birds from the nasty winters in upstate New York.

My video blog is up and running so not only do you have to read what I say, but you've got to hear me talk like a redneck ... Hope it is fun for all y'all because it was fun to make. We hope to do more as time goes on and if you have anything you would like to see, just let the folks at Hardwood Floors know so we can get it in the works. I am being honest when I say thank you all for reading the blog and putting up with me, I do enjoy the work and cannot think of a better way to help others.  Well it is way past my bedtime, so good night and be safe.