Next on the home fix up list was a front door and sidelight panel that showed the effects of 20 years worth of Phoenix sun and heat. The wood was cracking and whatever finish had originally been put on the door had mostly vanished. It had to be replaced or fixed. Again, calls to various folks ended with a cost of almost $3,000 to replace the door and side panel, or $2,600 to refinish what was already there.
Guess who said, I can do that for less than $400, including new hardware? If you guessed wonder woman Betty, you are right. Four days of sanding, using wood putty, more sanding, painting, more painting, installing new hardware, and rehanging the door ended up costing just over $300. And the front door area is finished and looks better than whatever the professionals would have done.
Just so you don't think I'm a total loser, I did take the door off the hinges every day and help carry it to and from the backyard. I also did some of the sanding and managed to install the new hardware on the door, right-side up and lockable. But, my efforts were minimal compared to the human dynamo.
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| The finished job...Notice a house in Scottsdale that is not stucco and has a front porch..very rare! |
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Awesome story; nice work by both of you!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Love the results.
ReplyDeleteI think you two were made for each other. One who can do the work and the other who thoroughly appreciates it (ha).
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Bob, you're a lucky man!
ReplyDeleteTo the four above, an agreement with all your comments. The next major project? Probably refinishing the kitchen cabinets but not until fall.
ReplyDeleteIf there is painting to do I'm your gal. Anything beyond that - I guess I'll call Betty. Talented and beautiful, you are a lucky guy.
ReplyDeleteLucky guy...I tell myself that everyday. I don't paint well, either, but she does. If you are in Phoenix sometime, stop bye with a paint brush. There is bound to be at least one project underway.
DeleteYes you are!
DeletePMS
What a talented and brave woman! She inspires me to take a look at some of my 'gotta fix this someday' projects and see if I can do them myself.
ReplyDeleteThere are very few things she isn't convinced she can do, especially if she has never done it before. The challenge is the motivator, and she loves to save us major dollars.
DeleteWe need all new windows...but that is one project she has agreed someone else will do.
Note to Betty--When you are here this summer, I have a few things.... Just kidding! You rock. My favorite tool is the telephone. I admire your can do attitude. Can't wait to meet you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the feeling is mutual (she's baking right for for a church meeting at our home tonight). Betty did judo in high school and college. Maybe the two of you can practice martial arts stuff while I relax on the porch.
DeleteBetty here...I love to do projects big or small (especially the small ones!I get antsy) Regarding the martial arts... That was almost 40 years ago (Wow, just saying that makes me feel old!)I tried nunchucks a few times and sported the bruises,unfortunitly on me, to prove it! I'm looking foward to meeting you!
DeleteGo Betty! We have the opposite situation here. Dave has saved us a fortune over the years with his handy man abilities. There's not much he won't tackle and I am always grateful for that!
ReplyDeleteb
I have always wished I picked up a bit more of those skills. When we owned several rental homes I was pressed into handyman duty quite often, but just for the basic stuff. Anything more involved we had a fellow who handled all the properties. But, she did repaint and deep clean each house several times.
DeleteMy husband is amazing as well. I do the curtains (and changed poopy diapers), he fixes EVERYTHING!
DeleteI love my mom!! She really is amazing and can do anything!! Now if we could just get her to start painting canvases to sell.... Love you mom :) Dad, you are pretty awesome too :)
ReplyDeleteI'll let this stand on its own. Thank you my darling daughter!
DeleteI am giving that serious thought after all the nice things people are saying about my work. The one thing I taught my two daughters, and you are now teaching your children, is to creatively solve problems. I love you and keep up the good Mommy work!
DeleteBetty obviously rocks! Some of us are handy, and some of us (Ahem! That would be moi!) are not. I blame genetics! Fortunately, I adopted five girls whose genetics lean toward fixing things--something they never could have gotten from me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up my dad owned a hammer, a saw, and a screw driver. Hence my weak skills in the handyman area.
DeleteYou want to know what this post did? It inspired me to get off my computer and get crackin' on all the stuff I need to do today.
ReplyDeleteThank you Betty and Bob. You have just positively impacted my day! :-)
Knowing your energy level and dedication to the task at hand, I expect you will take care of business in short order!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tamara.
Betty RULES! What a woman. You better keep her, Bob, or your house might just fall down around you. :o)
ReplyDeleteWe are waiting for a movie to begin and I showed her your comment...she agrees, esp. with the RULES part.
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