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Deuce Cities Henhouse

Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC
Guys! I’m here to kick off week 2 of the ORC! First, would you like to know what I’ve been up to this week! A whole lot of restoration, bay-beeees! That’s right. This room is basically falling apart, well, not really falling apart. It needs a lot of work. The guest room is located in the middle of our second floor, and because we have a 108 year old home, that means theres been some settling over the years. The plaster walls have quite a few cracks and old patch jobs that need cleaning up.

The windows are the most neglected out of any in the house. They have lots of chipped and peeling pant, and this week I started sanding the paint, removing the sashes so that they can be painted and smothered in TLC (and black paint), and replacing sash cords.

Since I wasn’t able to replace sash cords before this post had to go live, I will for sure be sharing the nitty gritty details next week. It’s fun, I swear.

And lastly, I started stripping my first door ever! Door stripping is a project that has been on my to-do list forever. I would really, really like to strip all 4 hallways doors, as well as the 5 closet doors on the 2nd floor. That’s nine doors in total. Crazy maybe, but if all goes well with this first attempt at paint stripping it might be worth it. I am using a stripper called Peel Away. I’ve seen folks use it in their instagram stories in the past, and I want in on the action. It looks so miraculous, that if it works, I don’t even know what.

I basically hate all strippers and swore I would never try to do it again, but here I am.

Change my mind Peel Away!

Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC Stripping Paint on Old Doors and Repairing Antique Windows | Week 2 ORC

Dem the updates for this week. Check back next week for that sash cord tutorial and maybe to see whether or not I am still stripping doors.

If you happen to be visiting this site because you are coming from the ORC, whazzzup? My name is Alison, and this blog is where I’ve been hanging out for the last 9 (!) years. Here is where I share my design inspiration, DIY adventures, and tips I learn from my feet-first approach to home improvement. As a bonus I’ve been able to meet a lot of cool people along the way. My fam and I live in a 108-year-old Minneapolis four-square craftsman home. You can check out a quick house-tour right here. Last summer, my husband I purchased an A-frame style cabin in need of a little TLC in the heart of Western Wisconsin (aka West Wisco). After six months of elbow grease, our cabin is on the verge of relative stardom – it recently hosted a photoshoot with Better Homes & Gardens, oh and the fam and I got to be in it too ;) You can check the feature in the upcoming December 2018 issue!

I’m super stoked to get started and can’t wait to share more. Make sure to check in on the other guest participants, and especially all of the super talented featured designers.
27 comments
in Around the House, DIY
27 comments… add one
  • Ashley – The Gold Hive April 11, 2018

    I love seeing the stripper working its magic under the plastic. It’s like a creepy horror movie. It also reminds me of this music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g77t_CnYM8

    • Scoops April 13, 2018

      Yes, it is super creepy, I think so too! It definetley looks like some weird dexter-like scene in ma laundry room.

  • I am SO excited for this project! All the old house goodness going on in here! And I love that you’re restoring the window…so beautiful. It was really fun to get a peek into your space with a video – can’t wait to see next week!

    • Scoops April 13, 2018

      Thanks, Cathy! Yay! I’m glad I have an old house lovers blessing, I hope I can do those windows proud :)

  • Alison April 12, 2018

    THANK YOU for posting all of this door stripping goodness. I have a ton of doors in my 101 year old house that need this TLC desperately. I’m hoping you have some tips and tricks that I can apply here!

    • Scoops April 13, 2018

      I hope, hope, hope I have good luck with this stripper. After day one, I realized that didn’t apply enough of it – however it worked pretty damn good for not having the right amount. I really want to be able to share good updates next week.

  • Cat April 12, 2018

    Love all the updates, I get so much inspo from your posts. Please tell us you are being extra careful with cleaning up dust from your sanding/scraping. I’m in a 100 year old house too, & lead paint is no joke when you have kiddos around. <3

    • Scoops April 13, 2018

      Thanks for watching out for me. Yes, yes of course I’m taking extra care:)

  • jana April 12, 2018

    this is the most exciting ORC post i’ve seen from anyone yet. i JUST got a book about restoring wood windows & am soo anxious to get started. you can never have too many references for wood window restoration so i’m excited for next week! i’m also excited to see if that stripper works because i. hate. stripping. paint. i’ve yet to find anything that actually works well.

    • Scoops April 13, 2018

      I hope I don’t disappoint. I’ll fer sure be able to share about changing out sash cords and taking apart double hung windows, but I won’t be completely restoring them. The glazing is still in decent shape, and since I’m on the second story, I’m not going to attempt to get the top sash loose from it’s paint grip. Besides that though, I hope that the windows are left better than when I found them. I’m curious, what’s the book?
      So far, I think this stripper has lots of potential. I’ll keep you posted.

      • jana April 13, 2018

        that’s fair! i don’t have to worry about a second story! all of mine were upgraded to chains but half are broken so i’m actually going to switch them back out for sash cord when i restore them. i’d say about 15/18 need new glazing too so i’m in for the long haul on the restoration front. & i acutally didn’t realize until last week when i got my book that our windows are double hung so getting them all functioning just seems even harder now. haha! i’m slightly terrified but mostly eager. i know it will make a huge difference aesthetically & efficiency wise. the book is “old windows made easy” by scott sidler aka the craftsman blog. i totally recommend following him on instagram too! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1505631424/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

        • Scoops April 13, 2018

          Awesome! I will follow him. I actually just found his blog when I was looking for tips on getting my old windows out of the aluminum weatherstrip tracking.

  • Elise Sarvas April 12, 2018

    This is all so amazing. I am so pumped about your sash cord tutorial!! My goal is to tackle ours on our 99-year old Saint Paul bungalow this Spring!

    • Scoops April 13, 2018

      Yeah! I replaced sash cords on our main floor windows a few years back, once I got the hang of it – it was pretty easy, and kind of fun.

  • Kari April 12, 2018

    Oh that’s so much work that will be SO worth it!

  • Gretchen April 13, 2018

    Very cool! I’m so glad to see you documenting your repairs. Not many folks seem to deal with plaster repair, so I can’t wait to see how you handle yours. Thanks!!

  • Piia April 14, 2018

    If you hate strippers try a heat gun. I found this the best way to remove paint from doors, furniture etc.

  • Maureen April 15, 2018

    Oh my, you have tackled a lot! I can’t even imagine attempted to change the sash cords on old windows! I really can’t wait to see how that paint stripper has worked. I have an old dresser in need of stripping!

  • Susanne April 15, 2018

    Wow! Repairing window stash, I am impressed! I would have no idea how to do that, so I am looking forward to your next post. And if that stripper works then I will be buying some!

  • Brittany Goldwyn April 16, 2018

    My dad salvages a lot of doors and windows from historic renovations he has done. He can’t bear to throw them away and just has them sitting around waiting for projects. Hard to take things like that out of homes, and he can’t stomach tossing or donating them. Also hope you’re digging out of the snow you guys just got!

  • Emy April 16, 2018

    Stripper is always both satisfying and frustrating. I’m hoping yours works well.

  • Lynnie April 17, 2018

    Mask with the sanding girlie! There may be asbestos. Plus the dust can make you sick. My girls & I sheet rocked & painted my living room & some stubborn people who shall remain nameless couldn’t wear a mask (too hot, I can’t breathe!) And took 3 days to recover. But I love what you’re doing!

    • Jane May 9, 2018

      And lead paint, even more likely!

  • Danielle April 17, 2018

    I cannot wait to hear what you think about this paint stripping is worth it. The amount of work that goes into that is insane…but totally worth it if you can actually get it out. I’ll be sure to check back next week!

    danielle
    clarkandaldine.com

  • Marci April 17, 2018

    So cool that your home is 108 years old! Can’t wait to see how this project turns out!

  • Jessica | Petal + Ply April 18, 2018

    So if I’m doing my math right your home was built in 1910. No way!! Ours was built around 1910 too! Old homes may be a lot of work to bring back to life but they definitely don’t make them like they used to!

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