Renovation Begins

Having moved into the ugliest Mobile Home in the Guilford Lake Estates Park this past Nov '23, I had yet to lift a finger towards badly needed renovations.... until now. The rickety front porch has become my immediate interest not just because it looks like crap, but also because the railings are simply not up to code. (too low). So the work begins...

I had previously rebuilt the porch on my former home in Monaca, PA and I used a design for the railings I absolutely loved...

So I have now begun the work on this broke down ole place with the replacement of the first section of railings. Thirty Six cuts of which twenty-eight are miters of various angles. Many thanks to neighbor Jack for the loan of a miter saw... until my recently purchased Ryobi arrived.

Day Two

Day Four

While using the borrowed miter saw for the first two sections, there were some very low angle cuts needed which the blade would not completely finish. I had to remove the 2x4 from the saw and finish the angled cut with a hand saw. Imagine the joy of this new Ryobi slider which simply slides out to finish those cuts.

Day Six

Day 18

First Section Of New Skirting. Too Much?

When DIY Goes Wrong: A Tale of Two Paint Cans

I’m getting too old. Too old to work, too. Sometimes I feel too stupid to work.

A couple of days ago, I came home from Home Depot with a quart of white paint. I opened it up, and it looked white, so I stirred it. But when I went to apply it, the paint went on clear! Apparently, it was just a base and needed to be tinted. I went ahead and used it anyway as a primer.

And wouldn’t you know it—I dropped the whole damn thing on the concrete sidewalk. Fortunately, since it was only base coat, it washed off pretty easily. Crisis averted... or so I thought.

Today, I came home with a real quart of white gloss paint—exactly what I wanted. I used it, and wouldn't you know it—I dropped that damn thing too. This time, it made a mess everywhere, and gloss paint does not clean up easily.

I should just quit trying! (Smile) I’m glad somebody out there can.

There are two more skirtings needed, one each on both sides of the steps. When I bought the place last November there was at least a foot high of leaves under the porch. The skirtings are backed with black screen, the goal being to block leaves from getting under the porch...  a few of which are already falling. 

Need to get this skirting completed by finishing the small sections on each side of the stairs. The leaves are falling!

Phase THREE. Porch floor and stairs resurfacing TREK?