Tom is Handy

Tom is Handy

Putting in blue tiles in the boys' bathroom:


	First, tom ripped out the old linoleum. It really didn't look bad, but he was rabid to get rid of it. He really wanted cobalt blue tiles.

	We put the easy pieces down, then set about cutting all the little slivers of tile to go along the crooked tub. Tom wanted white grout, but we got realistic about the showing of the dirt and got a color called "Sterling Silver". Yeah, it's pretty much your standard grey. Overall, it looks nice and Sherry didn't have to repaint the walls.

Putting in new doors on the glass room:


Peter made the old crappy storm door on the deck side of the glass room leak, so Tom put in new ones. Sherry got to paint the new siding.....woo hoo!

Tiling the Master Bath/Closet/Vanity Area:

Tom mentioned once that he wanted to put tile in the bathroom, so Sherry went out and got some tile!

First, Tom ripped out the nasty old carpet and vinyl. Then he put in Hardibacker board. There is cement dust everywhere from cutting the boards.
	Sherry laid out a proposed design and Peter and Graham tested it.

Next, Tom started Gluing. He made a mess! Sherry had to clean the mortar off the tops of the tiles with a scrubber sponge. Tom did the full tiles first, then went back and did the ones we had to cut. The toilet had to live in the shower for a bit...hopefully we will be able to get the cement out of the tub.



Next, Tom got out the grout and started smearing. This stage was also messy and Sherry had to get out the sponge again. (below)

The finished product! Looks like Tom should have worn some gloves -- he has scabs on his fingertips from the grouting process.

	Once Tom installed the quarter round molding, Sherry had to paint it. Peter helped mask off the tile and cabinets so the paint wouldn't get on them.


Tom couldn't put the old bi-fold door back on the closet, so Sherry bought some glass bead curtains for the doorway. Tom says it looks like an Adult Video store.

Painting the Living Room:

Well, this one was Sherry's doing, except that Tom helped move furniture and put screws in the wall. We finally painted the living room. It's hard to believe that it took until July 2004 to get it done! Now Sherry is trying to convince herself that it doesn't look weird to leave the top half brown.

Click on the thumbnail if you really want to see the large version:


(right) I got new curtains, too.		(above) The wall by the stairs.
		(left) I painted the bottom half of the wall. These photos show the contrast of the wall next to the fireplace before and after painting. The room is still just as messy, though.

The Deck:

Click on the thumbnail if you really want to see the large version:

Tom and his Dad decided that Thanksgiving weekend 2002 was a good time to build a deck. Good weather, minimal mosquitoes, lots of babysitters. They borrowed some tools from our neighbor Kenny and headed for Home Depot for supplies. Tom's Mom, Sherry and Peter offered moral support.

The next weekend, our neighbor Kenny came over and helped a bit. They finished the decking and stairs Saturday and Tom put the structural part of the railings up on Sunday.

Weekend 3 - the finishing touches. Tom adds the vertical spindles to the railing and (begrudgingly) the latticework to keep the dog out from underneath.

We finally painted the shed. (May 2002)

One Saturday in late April 2002, Tom opened up his bedroom window to find....a big hole. Sunday was spent fixing it.


Sherry absconded with the old window...See what she did with (half of) it.....


Tom ripped out the dining room carpet and put in Pergo. For more of Tom's Pergo installations, see Peter's room.




Tom has been busy putting in ceramic tile in the foyer, powder room, kitchen and laundry room (July 2001).

Glass |

Stepping Stones |

McKee Ct. |

Yard Cam |

New House |

Sherry

Tom |

Peter |

Rockets |

Maddie |

Sunshine Skyway |

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Last updated July 30, 2006