Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Can someone give me a back rub?

My arms are sooooooo tired.
Today I began a home project that I have been needing to do since we moved in to this house 2 years ago and I have had the supplies for since last MAY. Yes, 10 months ago I purchased paint at Home Depot with the intention of finally painting the hideous paneling in my living room. I brought the paint and tinted Behr primer home with perfectly good intentions. I sat the 2 gallons in from of my desk on the floor and they have been there, right where I left them, for 10 months. So sad. Since my former employer decided to grant me the gift of time for 2 weeks, I decided it was indeed time to pick that paint up and take it back to Home Depot so they could shake it up for me and I could get to work.

I bought a cool little tool at the suggestion of the little Home Depot paint department guy for doing the edges of the walls. We have moulding up and I really didn't want to take it down to paint, but I also didn't want to tape off everything...that would have taken at least an hour, after all. He told me to get this paint pad thingy and I could avoid taping the moulding. Wrong. This little thing soaks up the not only on the bottom but also on the sides.......so that meant that I was still getting paint on the parts I didn't want to. Who designed this thing? I had no choice. I had to use some blue painter's tape. I was annoyed but I figured I might as well. I still used the little pad against the tape, but since tape was the one thing I was hoping to avoid it didn't help all that much.

Today I focused on the primer. I have never painted paneling before. I knew the ridges were going to be annoying, but I figured as long as I kept the roller wet with paint it would work okay. Turns out it was a lot more work than I expected. (Seems to be the theme here, yes?) So...I ended up taking a small brush and painting every single little ridge with that first. Ugh. Then I was able to roll the rest of the walls. After we watched American Idol tonight and I watched the new episode of Millionaire Matchmaker on Bravo I decided to start painting the little ridges with the actual paint color, which is slightly darker than the primer.

My arms and shoulders are really tired. I feel like I've been sitting at one of the bicep/tricep machines at Curves all day. Painting is hard work! I get to finish it tomorrow. Secretly I'm hoping that the paint color only requires one coat since I used a tinted primer. I really don't want to have to roll the walls twice.

My cat is on edge though...she keeps creeping into the living room and stepping ever-so-lightly on the big sheets of plastic. She's not quite sure what's going on, but earlier it was funny watching her sniff the walls. Maybe when I get everything put back she'll be okay. I just hope she likes the color.

2 comments:

{S} said...

Painting is a job alright, but painting paneling!? ugh! Just keep your eye on the prize! It will be so rewarding to accomplish that and you will be so proud of the fresh look in your living room. That's the thing I like best about my house, all the painting and projects we did to make it ours. I *heart* my house! :~)
I can't wait to see the "after" pics!
P.s. you might have 2 comments from me... my computer shut down for and update just as I hit publish earlier. Grr...

Jen Hoover said...

We just painted our basement -paneling- yes it's a LOT of work!

going to read and see the next post ;)