The neverending window frame project
I don't know if it's the fumes from the Bondo or what feels like endless futility, but I'm so burned out on this window frame project. It started with me picking at it one day... the paint looked a little flaky. Then I realized the wood itself was rotten. But, no problem... my neighbor assured me it was merely trim. Of course it wasn't.
As I chipped away, it became clear that the rotting board actually extended under the window and was in fact holding it in place. Oh GOODY! Let me just tell you how excited I was to find THAT out. And as I chipped I just had this nagging thought that maybe it was termite damage, not dry rot. I don't know how many times I put down my chisel and said "Matt, maybe we should call someone..." but I googled termites enough to realize that it wasn't in fact termites, and that it did look exactly like the images of dry rot, including the little fungal blooms. Of course it didn't help any that there were these little gray bugs running around, but those are actually springtails... which are attracted to moist environments. rot.
So I asked and asked, googled and googled, and eventually I decided to just go with what people were telling me. I chipped all the rotted wood away, applied dozens of coats of Minwax wood hardener, and then started with the Bondo.
Bondo is a 2 step epoxy putty... seems easy in theory, but it dries in about 3 and a half minutes so as soon as you get it mixed you better be ready to go. Did I mention this was my front window? And on the 3 sunny days we've had this spring, the kids from the street have all been playing outside making me crazy while I try to reconstruct bullnose trim with something of the consistency of cake frosting? Oh yeah. FUN. And then it's dry. Time to watch it till it gets to the point where you can sand. You only get about 2 minutes to sand before it's rock solid. After that sanding is NOT possible. It says that everywhere. I'd have to file it off.
I got the rotten board together enough to cover it with a nice fresh piece of trim, but I'm still working on the bullnose trim. And we still have to caulk the hell out of it. And paint it. And the thunderstorms come back on Tuesday.
In the end, it probably is easier than replacing the whole board. And it's way cheaper, I know, but jesus I'm sorry I took this on... sometimes being a homeowner (and the mechanical one at that) just bites. I should be out on my lounge chair right now with some lemonade.
As I chipped away, it became clear that the rotting board actually extended under the window and was in fact holding it in place. Oh GOODY! Let me just tell you how excited I was to find THAT out. And as I chipped I just had this nagging thought that maybe it was termite damage, not dry rot. I don't know how many times I put down my chisel and said "Matt, maybe we should call someone..." but I googled termites enough to realize that it wasn't in fact termites, and that it did look exactly like the images of dry rot, including the little fungal blooms. Of course it didn't help any that there were these little gray bugs running around, but those are actually springtails... which are attracted to moist environments. rot.
So I asked and asked, googled and googled, and eventually I decided to just go with what people were telling me. I chipped all the rotted wood away, applied dozens of coats of Minwax wood hardener, and then started with the Bondo.
Bondo is a 2 step epoxy putty... seems easy in theory, but it dries in about 3 and a half minutes so as soon as you get it mixed you better be ready to go. Did I mention this was my front window? And on the 3 sunny days we've had this spring, the kids from the street have all been playing outside making me crazy while I try to reconstruct bullnose trim with something of the consistency of cake frosting? Oh yeah. FUN. And then it's dry. Time to watch it till it gets to the point where you can sand. You only get about 2 minutes to sand before it's rock solid. After that sanding is NOT possible. It says that everywhere. I'd have to file it off.
I got the rotten board together enough to cover it with a nice fresh piece of trim, but I'm still working on the bullnose trim. And we still have to caulk the hell out of it. And paint it. And the thunderstorms come back on Tuesday.
In the end, it probably is easier than replacing the whole board. And it's way cheaper, I know, but jesus I'm sorry I took this on... sometimes being a homeowner (and the mechanical one at that) just bites. I should be out on my lounge chair right now with some lemonade.