Exciting Siding, or Bored Boards?
...
We've been chipping away at our pile of salvaged siding, preparing it for installation. I have been using the heat-stripper and digging the paint and caulk out of the part of the boards that will overlap, and Robb has been cleaning the dirt off, so that we will have a good surface for painting.
We bought something like three times more than we needed, if you were to merely count the board-feet. But of course, much of this lumber isn't in particularly good shape, so we're working on the best boards first.
It's really quite incredible to think that this wood is almost one hundred years old. At the time it was harvested, it would have come from virgin redwood forests, which means that these very boards probably came from trees that were hundreds of years old. Trees that were as big around as my car.
As a life-long tree hugger, this almost freaks me out. There will never be a forest like the one that these boards were ripped out of. But, on the other hand, no new trees were cut down for this project. It's good to be re-using this lumber.
The cats have been offering their supervision, which is always very helpful.
Smog looks fantastic, doesn't he? It makes me so happy to think that I plucked him from the brink of death, and now he's so healthy and happy and fluffy and gigantic.
"Phooey" says Linguine, "Smog is a dirty little urchin. Now get back to work."
We've been chipping away at our pile of salvaged siding, preparing it for installation. I have been using the heat-stripper and digging the paint and caulk out of the part of the boards that will overlap, and Robb has been cleaning the dirt off, so that we will have a good surface for painting.
We bought something like three times more than we needed, if you were to merely count the board-feet. But of course, much of this lumber isn't in particularly good shape, so we're working on the best boards first.
It's really quite incredible to think that this wood is almost one hundred years old. At the time it was harvested, it would have come from virgin redwood forests, which means that these very boards probably came from trees that were hundreds of years old. Trees that were as big around as my car.
As a life-long tree hugger, this almost freaks me out. There will never be a forest like the one that these boards were ripped out of. But, on the other hand, no new trees were cut down for this project. It's good to be re-using this lumber.
The cats have been offering their supervision, which is always very helpful.
Smog looks fantastic, doesn't he? It makes me so happy to think that I plucked him from the brink of death, and now he's so healthy and happy and fluffy and gigantic.
"Phooey" says Linguine, "Smog is a dirty little urchin. Now get back to work."
Comments
On another note just the thought that that wood is sooooo old is absolutely amazing. Worth every penny, and every aching muscle etc etc....
I am totally impressed by the care you two are taking with your siding replacement, with your house renovation totally. It truly is becoming your home and a place of satisfaction for you. Well done.
Grinch
Great work!!!
Hugs to you all and your happy home!
now, how lucky you are to be supervised by cats. I'm sure it will be extra well done because of that:D
Now, how lucky you are to be supervised by cats. Then it will be done with outmost care:D
I have some old chestnut boards that we COULD cut down for the barn but I'm trying to save them for a big long table. It is heavily weathered, 20 feet long and 3 feet wide and I LOVE IT. No WAY I'm cutting up that sucker!
Using old wood is better- mostly if bugs would have eaten it they would have done so already. (I learned this from the old guy they brought out of retirement to inspect our barn.) The older the wood, the better and harder it is. Always pre-drill those suckers or they will split when you nail into them and then you will be sad..
I have a LOT of scrap wood that will be turned into birdhouses.. we also used a bunch for making coat racks, railings, etc...
Annalisa
Yay for reuse!