Week Off From Work Turns into Work

I have had a week off from my day job, so I decided to tackle a project that has been waiting for over 2 years, installing the interior trim for the windows that I had replaced in the summer of 2014. This is an intimidating project for me because

• I've never trimmed windows before
• The windows were installed when there was no sheet rock installed - important because
• the old sheet rock was 1/4" thick and the sheet rock I had installed was 1/2" thick.
• and of course the new windows were trued up with the outside trim (they had no choice), so that means all window casings are below the sheet rock
• I'm not good at visualizing, so figuring out what I needed to make the trim look presentable was daunting
• Three windows are not like the other windows; two bay windows and the garden window in the bathroom
• Another two windows are side-by-side, but each with their own casings.
• Of the 4 windows of roughly the same size and shape, only two are along the same side of the house, so those were the only two that were nominally unsquare the same way.

But with a week off, I figured the only way to get the trim done, was to just freaking start. So I did. And I could bore everyone, including me, by detailing all the steps I took, but let's just suffice to say that since last Saturday, I have spent an entire day shopping, most of a day shopping, and another 2.5 hours shopping (today) - just for parts to put the trim together. If you understand that the closest places to get the stuff I needed was in Concord, 40-45 minutes away, it makes more sense. Plus, one of those "shopping" days I had a dentist appointment (replaced a filling that had cracked) that took a couple of hours and I moved the ton of pellets out of the shed and into the basement. Oh, and then there was the snow storm that kept me hopping with snow blowing and shoveling (the reason I moved the pellets - while I still had easy access to the shed).

These are the first 3 windows I got done; the living room bay window, the small window to the side of the pellet stove in the living room, and the bay window in the bedroom. Why yes, I do have fancy "shades" in the living room (hopefully soon to be rectified).

 

These four windows I completed today; the small bedroom window, the craft room side window (it and the small bedroom window were the two I was able to do at the same time since they are on the same wall of the house so were similarly off), the craft room backside window, and the bathroom garden window.

I also worked my night job, stained wood (necessitating waiting for dry time), and caulked around all the windows (pre-trim) (had to wait at least 8 hours for that to dry). I was not able to use all the trim that I had taken off, sanded down, stained and polyurethaned last year, but I was able to use some of it.

Those are my excuses for not having the side-by-side windows in the office trimmed. Nor have I caulked the trim work that I have completed so far. And, there is at least one window (that I recall anyway) that still needs 2 minor finish pieces placed along the insides. Those are minor issues that aren't readily evident and I can do at anytime I get the ambition.

I am happy with the progress I have made and the windows look so much better than they did just a week ago.

Comments

[Ruth]

Looks good!

I've got several weeks coming up where I can expect to be scheduled to work a minimum of hours, and so I have a large for me project planned......we'll see how it goes.....

[Cop Car]

Isn't it wonderful how much better your rooms look with the window trim installed? Gorgeous! (But...really?...moving the pellets? this soon following your concussion? Too bad your mom's not there to make sure you take care of her baby daughter - lol!!)

[bogie]

Ruth - good luck with your project!

CC - I have strained my brain way more than I should have working on the window stuff. The pellet moving was easy since I used the Explorer to move two loads of 1/2 ton each. Loading was easy since I could back right next to the door. Unloading, well, I had to walk the length of the the basement from the garage entrance, but nothing major.