Blog entries for brunocarlson

Refinishing wood floors yourself is not intimidating

brunocarlson — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:28:11 GMT

Hardwood floors are a slippery slope when it comes to re-finishing. The professionals I had come in to evaluate my floor said that it was not something I could do myself or with the help of friends. Well mister professional, I have news for you, it can be.

My second story was completely carpeted when I bought the house, and not professionally carpeted. Corners were curled up and it allowed me to see the flooring below which told me that this can be a wonderful floor. Three estimates by three separate professionals were given. It ranged from simple sanding and staining to extensive repairs and multi step processes. I then references a few websites and found that I could do the entire process for 1/10th the price.

Instead of going step by step I will give you a rundown of the tools and tips to use them. This should give anyone with doubts about doing their own floors the confidence needed to get the job done at a fraction of the cost while still looking like you hired a professional.

Drum Sander: This may look like what was used to spawn the Terminator series or the big brother to the vacuum in “Mr. Mom,” but it is fairly easy to use. I recommend renting one from somewhere like Home Depot. It costs about $60 to rent for the day and they give you the lowdown on how to operate it. You will need to buy your own sandpaper so get a rough estimate of how big your area is and they can give you a good idea of how much. I recommend buying extra, if you don’t use it, return it. This machine is heavy and a bit larger than a standard household vacuum so if you have a standard car, find a friend with a truck or SUV. It will take a little to get used to once you fire it up and it will pull away when it is running so hold tight. Never leave it sit in one spot while sanding and move it with the grain. I recommend using a 60 grit paper for the first round then a 100-120 grit for the second run to smooth everything out. Take your time with this process so that you avoid having strange marks, low spots, or gouges.

Disc/Corner Sander: This is a large, commercial grade orbital sander that gets the spots the drum sander doesn’t get; corners, along the walls, or hard to reach areas. I first want to recommend that you make sure the switch is off before plugging both sanders in. They are powerful tools and can put a serious dent in your wall or, in my case, the corner sander takes a flight path off the stairs. (Side note: It was funny after the shock wore off) Since it takes some effort to keep it on the track you want, stand over it and bend over to keep your body weight on it. As with the drum sander, don’t leave it sanding one area to long, otherwise you risk having a low spot or a 6 inch circle ground into the wood.

Both sanders are recommended for natural wood floors and not laminate wood. This part of the job may require two people, simply because each one can use each tool and cut down time and costs.

Stripper Gel: No, this has nothing to do with a professional dancer, but this will take care of any issues with stain or the clear coat that covers the stain. If you run into flooring with a wax clear coat, which some older homes have, apply gel stripper to the area. Spread it on with a roller or brush, leave sit for an hour and use a plastic scraper to remove what comes up. I used rubber gloves, surgical mask, and eyewear. The fumes can sting the throat or eyes. If you get some on your skin, do not panic, get the area under COLD water for a while. If you use hot water it will make the sting/burn more intense. Except for the skin being red for a while there shouldn’t be any long term damage. Wipe the floor with soap and water, not saturating the wood, and allow to dry before going over it with the sander.

Stain/Clear Coat: This is where personal taste comes in. There are variations in color, eco-friendly, oil/water based, and how to apply them. Check with the store you intend to buy it from for directions on how to apply it. I used Minwax Golden Oak color which was oil based, and finished with three coats of a water based polyurethane. I used lamb wool to apply all coats.

Now you should have a floor that everyone will envy. This project took me 4 days to complete, but everything depends on the size of the floor, and the type of stains and clear coats you use. The total price was under $300 dollars, saving money by buying the stain and clear coats in 5 gallon pails. Compared to the quotes I got from professionals, this entire project was a steal.

Good Luck!

Tips on building a backyard gate

brunocarlson — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:12:01 GMT

One of the high points of my home is that I have one of the few backyards (as small as it may be) that have a 6 foot fence. Having such a high fence does not subject me to the neighbor’s headlights in their alley driveway. The only problem with this fence is that the previous owners put a horrible gate in. It was obvious that they had the fencing contracted out but the gate would never close in the cold, never open when it was warm, and looked like my first bird house in Cub Scouts. I needed a gate that would not swing open with a light wind and keep my dog in my yard. In my research I figured on three things: It cannot be time consuming, it would need to match my current fence and it has to be secure in any weather.

What I found was the “Adjust-A-Gate” that allowed me to have a secure fence at a fraction of the cost. It is a metal frame that can fit the size of my opening and allowed me to put on any fencing I wanted. As son as I purchased the frame I unpacked it and covered it in two coats of Rustoleum’s Clear Coat. 24 hours later it had dried and I was ready to go. The directions are pretty easy and straight forward so I won’t go into great detail about the assembly.

A few things to keep in mind is that the gate is heavy. If you are placing the hinges on a post that is not anchored into the ground with cement or secured properly to a hard surface, you may want to do so before attaching the gate. I used two carriage bolts with washers to secure the gate post to the fence post. I also pre-drilled the holes for the hinges. Since I did not want the post to crack and I read in the instructions that I had to use a wrench to screw the hinges into place I wanted to make securing the hinges easy. I used a 5/8 inch spade drill bit to do the drilling, but make sure you are completely level horizontally. Also, depending on the size of the gate kit you purchase, the hinges may be smaller or bigger, so plan accordingly. From this point forward keep the frame on the hinges. I made that mistake and had to take it all apart to start over.

The kit requires that you use 2”x4” wood for the top and bottom of the frame. This is so that you can attach the front of the gate to the frame without compromising the metal frame. I opted for pressure treated wood so that it would warp less and last longer in the harsh Wisconsin weather. When cutting, remember that the chemicals used for this green tinted wood can be dangerous. I recommend gloves, dust mask, and eye protection. Experts state that these chemicals used could cause cancer or be generally bad for your health until it has been exposed to the weather for a few months or polyurethaned. I chose the later.

Once the 2x4’s are secured using the screws that come with the kit, you can now put on the front. I chose 3”x7/8” cedar. Cedar can withstand the elements and matched my fence. I know that in a few years that the new cedar will match my graying fence. I used nails that were specifically designed for exterior applications. When I went looking for the nails I made sure that they were 1/2” shorter than the 2x4 and the cedar as well as a small head. By using this type I could counter sink the nail and not go through the other side, subjecting anyone to a possible tetanus shot. If you put the nails in at an angle you should not need to worry about any of the boards falling off. These outdoor nails will last longer than a basic nail and will not rust, ruining the wood face. Another tip, I used a nail to space the cedar boards to allow for swelling in the summer or during humid/rainy days. If you have access to a compressor and finishing nail gun, I recommend using that to cut down your time, just remember to shoot them in on an angle. Remember to take your time on this project, nothing is worse that a rushed job because it will show.

The added bonus of this gate is that a small tension cable comes with the kit that prevents sagging. Everything needed to place the thin cable and tighten it are in the kit. All you need to do is loop it through the hooks and tighten the clamp to the end and you are finished. Then use a level to make sure your gate is flush, and if not, twist the adjuster attached to the cable accordingly. Lastly, affix the latch and latch post once everything is level and your gate is ready to go. And if you are asking, “How strong is it?” It is strong enough to hold an eight-year-old hanging on it, despite my repeated attempts to let his father reprimand him.

Now, to finish it off, all you need to do is paint or stain if needed and enjoy your new “gated community.” You can also leave it untreated as you see above. Currently, Home Depot is the local place to buy the “Adjust-A-Gate” but you can find various sized online, including Target; just not in stores.

Total time on project: 4 1/2 hours (without Pneumatic Nailer)

Here's a great DIY tool

brunocarlson — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:29:32 GMT

I am in no way a professional in the area of home repairs. I have been learning by doing for over ten years, mainly with friends or a professional (self-proclaimed or actual) and have walked away with lots of information. Now that I bought my own home I can put this information to the test. I am a DIY-er so that I can save money and enjoy a sense of pride that comes with doing something yourself.

I am going to talk about one specialty tool that I came across called the Squeeeak-No-More. I am not sure of the count on e’s since everywhere I look it is different. I own an 80+ year home with a lot of squeaking floorboards, stairs, etc. My house has original hardwood floors with some rooms carpeted and several layers of linoleum in the kitchen.

I knew what needed to be done about the squeaking but was not sure how to approach it. I knew nailing would be easy if I could find the floor joists (the wood that supports the floor) but on the second floor that would be difficult since the joists are not exposed like the first floor’s joists in the basement. I could use screws but I do not want the screw head showing or try to use something to cut the top off and leave jagged metal in the floor or saw marks on the floor.

This tool is quite simple despite the name. It comes with what you see above and uses screws that are specially scored to snap just below the top of the floor. The kit comes with 50-100 screws and more can be purchased in 50-100 count packages. First you must find out if your floor has sub-flooring or find the joist. Look in the basement rafters and measure from the wall. Then you set up your “Squeak No More” tripod on the floor over the joist (or anywhere if you have a sub-floor) then, using the specially designed drill bit, drill the special screw into the floor. The drill bit has a stopper on it to stop the screw from going down to far. Be careful, the tripod is made of a resin that may snap if you drive in to far. Use a 12-18V cordless drill to prevent that. Once the screw is stopped, the tripod has a special slot to put onto the screw head to snap it off. You may need to repeat on the same area if the flooring is slightly warped, causing the other side to come up, but then this should stop it.

This tool works on carpeting, hardwood, and linoleum. Just remember not to snag the carpet pile and to fill the small hole with a similar color wood putty or caulk with the hardwood or linoleum if you prefer. The carpet applications should be fine on its own.

Ace Hardware is currently the only local store to carry this product, in the screw section, but it is offered at several online stores.

Good luck!

So, I got a dog...

brunocarlson — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:40:03 GMT

I am not sure whether I would be a good parent or a bad parent. I have seen both and know what I should and shouldn't do from my own upbringing. So, I felt that at 31 years old, I should take the next step and get myself a dog. It's like parenting but less crying and more barking. I knew of a friend who was moving away and didn't want to give the family dog to the pound and possibly be put down or given to an uncaring family. I agreed full-heartedly because when I would see this dog, she was always excited to see me.

When I took the dog home this past friday after Thanksgiving, I realized how much time goes into parenting. This dog has a few issues, but all are tolerable. She is a mix of Rottweiler and various other genes. She is large and full of energy. My happy, semi-bachleor home was turned upside down this weekend. I now had to make sure that her needs were met before mine. Bathroom breaks before I went off to bed, or before a morning shower/cup of coffee. Feeding time, table begging, are all things I have to get used to. And putting up Chistmas lights in the back yard is now a treat since she loves to leave it a minefield of doodies.

I guess the most important thing was that I gained a "child" of sorts. She may have certain quirks, digging a hole, barking at the base of a large tree, or sitting on the feet of those who pet her, but she has taght me some great lessons in the last few days. Mostly that with a little effort on my part to make her happy she can make me happy.

Now why can't parents see this?

My first Playoff game... pt. 2 (Live)

brunocarlson — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:26:40 GMT

I now say live because somemone close to me said, "You were hatched well before the first one so technically this is your second go of the playoffs." True, Gavin, but this is my first LIVE viewing.

Okay, so, while I was distracted by the cute baby behind me I was also distracted by the mother of a two week old in front of me. Obviously, she loved baseball because not supporting the child's head she jumped up and down and spilled beer on this you one's noggin. To say the least, if it was a weekday, I would have called social services.

Also, the the young woman who felt that becoming a fan on Oct. 1st was better because you can now hold a sign that says in 2nd grade handwritting "It ain't over til Braun says so" (til Braun says was red to identify what station she wanted to be on) and cheer Come on, Pitcher until your boyfriend, your mother or creepy mom's boyfriend correct you and say his prper name or tell you that is the wrong team. P.S. to her mother; do not buy and underage girl beer, she will spill it and then pretend to be drunk to get out of being hauled off by Event Services for being obnoxious.

Overall, the air was filled with towel lint, cheers and jeers. I loved the fact that at any given moment I had 42,000+ friends. Wherever I went in the stadium, we gave each other high-fives, and screamed "Go Brewers!" It was a great time to be a fan. After all the ridicule from Cubs fans and from Packer fans, finally I can say, "Brewers went to the playoffs." They may say, "yeah but..." But nothing, PLAYOFFS.

As my ladyfriend and I walked closer to the stadium, a rush of emotion came over me. No I did not weep. My grandfather's birthday was October 1st, the same as the start of post season. He taught me everything Brewers. If he was still with us, he would be holding the extra ticket not her. Sorry, hon.

Going into the park was exciting, electric was in the air and there was a buzz never felt before since 1982. Truely something that could only be experienced there.

When I got the tickets up until the game on Sunday, I felt, win or lose, the Brewers went to the playoffs, I got to see them, and they won. After the game, I was a bit sad that I will not be seeing my ball team go to the playoffs further but I knew that in a few months they will be back at it.

To the Milwaukee Brewers, thank you for a wonderful season. Despite the highs and lows, I had a great time. I look forward to another rollercoaster ride to the playoffs.

My First Playoff game... pt. 1

brunocarlson — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:35:35 GMT

So, after buying tickets from Stub Hub and forking several hundred dollar over for some pretty sweet seats, I found myself in the thick of the largest sports related party in Wisconsin.

First, the parking situation brought me down. I was never notified or saw what the parking situation was about. We did not have parking passes so I figured that we can just pay when we rolled up. Not the fact. I bought my tickets soon after the Wildcard was clinched. My lady friend and I got seperated from our group while in line but we are vetrans of tailgating and new we would catch up soon. Well we were notified by parking attendants that we cannot park in the stadium. No problem, we will go to State Fair. Our friends had the same situation. But then a gaggle (or herd or whaterver) of Milwaukee's finest in blue decided to rub it in our faces that they will be close to their vehicles and not us by saying, "There is parking at State Fair, or shuttles from the bars, or at your house." Well, we decided to continue north where we found suitable parking at one the fine new (or relocated) companies in the Menomonee Valley. Free too.

So, what can I say about the game? Old men were hi-fiving drunk 21-year-olds, wives kissed husbands, kids jumped up and down, and in my case, was entertained by a three month old during pitcher change outs.