Welcome to The Handywoman!

Howdy!

Welcome to The Handywoman!

One of my prefered ways of learning is doing. So, when:

-there's a funky smell from the sink
-there's funky stuff in the shower drain
-there's funky stuff on the wall
-there's a funky sound in the disposal
-the cat runs around possessed

...I like to fix it! Still working on the possessed cat.

Instead of calling someone to come into my house and charge me for their time and materials, I'd rather research a problem - SOMEONE on the internet has had the same issue before, surely! and if not, there's probably a book at the library - and head to Home Depot.

The big gulp - I might actually feel obligated to post photos. That means people might see my funky baseboard in the bathroom. Oh the horrors! It might mean they will think I'm grungy and will never want to eat a meal from my kitchen or sleep on our guest bed. But if it helps someone else clean their funky baseboard, then so be it.

This week's project is:

Recaulking the shower

Recaulking is the perfect task for me, a serial picker. Not of the nose, mind you. Just don't put me in a room with old wallpaper. Unless you want the wallpaper removed. I am queen of the peel-a-sticker-off-in-one-piece freaks. I did buy a little tool to help get started.

There's evidence of some sort of leak on an area of baseboard around our master shower. Ok, when I say evidence, it's a tiny bit of understatement. I actually have nightmares about the size of the spot on the baseboard (and ok, to be honest, the sheetrock. Seriously rethinking EVER posting photos.)

This spot has been driving me crazy for a while. I thought we had fixed the problem by recaulking the drain but that was way too easy. The next step is to reseal all joints (cultured marble stall shower). Then I'll have the joyous task of cutting a hole in the sheetrock to see if there is any more leak evidence. I'm guessing that will involve researching how to float sheetrock and retexture. Hey, I have a college degree - bring it on! I will also get to replace a few inches of baseboard and part of the door frame. Ok, am I the only one who thinks it might be just as much fun to gut the place and start over? I'll just ignore the fact we haven't even been here 5 years and it was brand new when we bought it. So THIS is the joy of home ownership!

Stay tuned...