Apr 24, 2012

Construction Update

Remember my ceiling problem in my kitchen? I thought you might like a little update.

So my sweetie started digging into the disgusting mess that used to be boards beneath our shower. After he slowly and carefully chipped out a huge square, he repaired the liner pan with this special rubber stuff that looks like the thera-bands I got from my physical therapist last year only bigger. He had to carefully glue everything in place with this horrible stinky glue that sent us all to the great outdoors while we aired out the house.

Then after several more layers and some Gorilla glue and some wood, he sent the Drama Queen to Home Depot for the drywall. It was my assignment to clean up the area with the vacuum and remove the incredibly awesome letters Teach had installed as a gift for me. (I'm hoping she has a little more vinyl so we can replace them after everything is repainted.)


After I got down from the ladder and tossed the crumpled pile of vinyl into the wastebasket, I pulled out the shop vac and started vacuuming the floor. This project had created quite a mess! My sweetie had thought to cover the couch that was down a step in the family room, but since our hardwood floors are in need of refinishing next month, he didn't bother to use a drop-cloth.

I found several little splotches of glue on the floor right below where the light used to be. They were difficult to clean up, until I thought to rub a little Vaseline into them. The trouble is, I didn't quite get all of them, because the next time I crossed the room to turn off the shop vac, my feet tried to stick to the floor.

I took a paper towel and wiped off the sticky mess and assumed problem solved. Then I spread out the drop cloth and moved on to other things.My sweetie spent a couple more hours up on the ladder before he finally quit for the night. Since I had already put up my post, I followed him upstairs.

As I got ready for bed, I suddenly remembered those dirty sticky socks and I grabbed a clean pair. The first sock pulled off easily, but not the second one. It was stuck to my foot in three places!

My sweetie was watching Smokey and the Bandit that is until he heard my whines of frustration. He rolled over to my side of the bed. "What's wrong?" I carefully started picking at the first splotch of glue. "My socks are glued to my feet!" I was remembering that "I Love Lucy" episode where she accidentally glued a fake beard to her face. She had to have a special remover.

After examining my foot, my sweetie recommended acetone, then left me to my own devices.

It took me about 15 minutes to finally scrape off the sock and another 15 to calm down. Other than a small piece of skin, there was no permanent damage except to my psyche...maybe it's because I'm a bit claustrophobic, but I like to be able to take things off whenever I want to...without a chisel.

8 comments:

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

Ouch! I have to admit, I laughed over the fact that your sock was glued to your foot!

LeAnn said...

Oh my gosh; that looks like a lot of work to do. I am sorry about the sock and foot stuck on with clue. I can just picture this whole scene and I am smiling......
Sorry!

Anonymous said...

Whomever built your home should have been fined and or sued, in our state the people who are subcontracted can often be foreced to pay for the damages and the replacement, 18 years is not a longtime for the damages you are incurring...The business that actually sold you the home should be spanked for their shoddy services..it boils my blood to see decent hardworking families so inconvenienced and in my opinion taken advantage of..here is is vastly different we have been in our home 34 years soon, we had a VA loan, before we moved in and we watched our home being built and took photos and were in contact with the builder and the people who actually built the house, we were not allowed into our home when it was finished lots of electrical work was not up to code, they poured our concrete wrong, did a lot of stuff wrong, guess it helped I worked at the VA loan division for years and my former boss was a good friend, but we would never have closed or any money given to the builder at closing if the work was not done correctly and we got to live in a nice hotel, in the hottest summer in 1978 they ever recorded here, food, etc. everything provided by our builder, our home has been great, no problems and we have done lots of things to it to make it a cozy home..so it seems to me your builder was at fault..too bad they can't do the work your hubby and you are doing and compensate you for your troubles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chantelle said...

I wish I knew how to do all this DIY stuff... If anything like that ever happened in our home, we'd have to pay someone (probably a boat load of money!) to fix it. Sorry about the socks - I glued two of my fingers together once and thought I'd have to go to the ER to fix - thankfully after lots of different (and interesting!) home remedies they came unstuck - taking a layer of skin with them. Ouch. Glad you're OK!
Take care,
Chantelle

Arkansas Patti said...

Bad Patti, I laughed at the sock attached to your foot also. Sorry.
I am so impressed at how much your husband can do him self.Think of all the money you are saving.

Jaclyn M said...

I'm so sorry, but this did make me laugh.... I apologize for laughing at your pain. I'm glad to see progress being made though :)

Cindy said...

Ouch! So I'm thinking.... drop cloth next time??

Debby@Just Breathe said...

So glad your mess is almost over.
Ouch on the glue and sock!