Well, it’s time to add the new kick plates to the front doors.
It’s out of the package, and has been trimmed down to size.
Drilling the first screw hole.
Pluto is interested in helping.
Close-up of Pluto, who, I would point out, is named after a real planet!
First kick plate going on.
First kick plate done!
Pluto is exhausted from helping. Of course, so were the batteries for the drill, and I had to do some other stuff, so we hit projectus interruptus. More coming soon.
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Updated: OK, job is complete!
Making an adjustment on the first panel installed.
Job complete; worked so hard I ripped the knees right out of my jeans! 
The finished doors. The kick plates really are straight, even though they look wavy in the picture. One last project with the doors remains. You’ll note the ugly mail slot. The old mail slot needs repair, as one of the brass brackets on the back broke. In addition, the screws were put in poorly, and the wood around where the left screw goes is deteriorated. The kick plates came larger than needed, a standard 34 inches in length, and I only needed 25 inches for each door. My metal fabricator has the original mail slot, and the excess from the kick plates. He’s going to fabricate a new mail slot, a bit larger, and with four screw holes instead of two. When he’s done, the mail slot will match the rest of the door hardware, and I can reattach it.
He’s on vacation in Myrtle Beach this coming week, so I won’t see the new mail slot for a couple of weeks yet.
And your host.
Kitten helped, too!
One last picture, of the tailgate of my truck. Hope that you’ll appreciate the sign!
Looks great! I’m in charge of the painting assignments in my house, so I know how much work is involved. I can’t believe that there are those who actually like to paint. Amazing.
Oh, believe me: I hate painting!
Mrs Pico didn’t like the color of the wainscot in the kitchen when we bought the house. One day she called me at work, and told me that she had bought some paint samples for the kitchen. I didn’t think too much of it until I got home, and discovered that the paint “samples” were actually cans of paint, and she had painted a few different color patches on the wainscot, to see which one “we” liked best. Since she had already put paint on the walls, there was no getting around having to paint!
She’s very good at starting painting projects that she knows I’ll have to finish. Mrs Pico is 5 foot nothing tall, and she just can’t reach high enough to paint ceilings and the tops of walls. So, all she has to do is start a project, and she knows her 6′ 2″ tall husband (of 30 years, one month and two days) will have to step in and help.
By the way, in the last picture there’s a “Freedom” emblem on the tailgate. I bought my F-150 from Freedom Ford in Hampton, Virginia, and the dealership name worked out well in determining where I was going to put the display sign PFC Pico ordered for us.
Can I bring my wheel chair and try out the plates?
Depends; will I get sued for not having a handicapped-accessible home? There are three risers up to the front porch, and we live on all four floors of the house, meaning three internal staircases.
Dana Pico:
Depends; will I get sued for not having a handicapped-accessible home? There are three risers up to the front porch, and we live on all four floors of the house, meaning three internal staircases.
Probably 99% of homes in this country aren’t exactly handicap accesible, or even made to be that way. Also, you are not a public business and made to make your house accessible. So, as I do, I just look at the house and determine if I can make it inside. 99.9% chances I will find a way. Just have a WC on the first floor. A lotta steps ain’t my friend.
We’re cleaning out my parent’s house. Two floor and a basement. I usually head for the basement by scooting down the steps on my butt. Safe and effective. But, the two WC’s are up, or down, not 1st floor.
There is a toilet on the first floor — on the back porch!
OK, OK, tat takes some explanation. The old back porch was enclosed by the previous owner and made into a laundry room; she also added a basin and toilet to the room. But it’s kind of strange, having a bathroom with a door to the outside!
Dana Pico:
There is a toilet on the first floor — on the back porch!
OK, OK, tat takes some explanation. The old back porch was enclosed by the previous owner and made into a laundry room; she also added a basin and toilet to the room. But it’s kind of strange, having a bathroom with a door to the outside!
A WC is a WC, even if it’s out the back door!
Did you strip the door before you painted it?
No. It had a very thin but durable coat of yellow paint on it.
My guess is that the doors were originally just varnished, but eighty or ninety years of afternoon sunlight got to that finish.
Ah, I see. Nice portico, Pico.
On a personal note, I really don’t like walking into an older house that’s got plenty of character like yours and seeing that the owners have slathered white paint all over the original ornate features of the house. Granted, new trim is expensive but it is not nearly as expensive as the solid oak that one would be throwing out in favor of a laminate. I don’t how it is where you live but I’m sure it’s much the same situation. Most of the trim in old houses like mine came from local hardwood stock. Furthermore, it was milled at a local sawmill by local craftsman who imparted their own style onto the product. Sometimes by hand. To get that level of craftsmanship these days you’d have to pay somebody ten dollars a board foot for simple wall base.
Nice Ryobi, btw.
As you can see — sort of — in the second picture, the woodwork downstairs has not been painted. It has also been left unpainted in the hall upstairs, but was painted white in the upstairs bedrooms. This was a great sin.
As nearly as I can tell, the woodwork is fir.
As for the Ryobi, Mrs Pico always resorts to tools when stumped for a birthday/Christmas/whatever present for me. She got that drill and a flashlight set for Christmas of 2007. I hadn’t really planned on going with Ryobi tools in that line, but once she started it, I added to it, including an angle drill and a reciprocating saw.
in the second picture, the woodwork downstairs has not been painted.
Yeah, I noticed the wreath feature. Very nice. Things like that these days are priceless.
As for the Ryobi, Mrs Pico always resorts to tools when stumped for a birthday/Christmas/whatever present for me.
I hope you’re not complaining!
I hadn’t really planned on going with Ryobi tools in that line, but once she started it, I added to it, including an angle drill and a reciprocating saw.
Some Ryobi models are up there with the DeWalt brand. Both come short of the Hilti. Not that I have anything special, mind you. I have a couple cordless 18v Black and Decker drills but it’s not like I’m drilling holes into masonry or anything serious. A couple of years ago we had a theft and most of my tools were stolen so I’ve been building my collection back up slowly but surely. Whenever the situation arises where I need something there’s an Ace Hardware close by but holy smokes are they expensive for some things!