When we bought Storybook Cottage we knew that both of the back doors would need to be replaced as the wood had rotted in several areas. Like so many places in the country it has been a pretty cold winter in Texas. But that didn’t stop us from removing the doors one at a time.
The first door, which leads from the detached garage to the family room, was done first. It was a comical adventure of errors which included things like me innocently saying “Oh… we have to turn the door around, the swing is wrong.” to which the Mr. responded “You can’t TURN a door around…the exterior threshold is attached.” This statement was followed up with huffing and puffing, removing the newly installed door, driving all the way back to the hardware store and exchanging it for one with the right swing. Yep, good times.
The second door was not any more fun. Upon removing the door it was discovered that there was not just wood rot around the doorjamb….
Mr. Décor braved 30 degree weather while installing the door and then we were hit with 20 degree weather after he also discovered that the wood siding was rotted around each of the windows on either side of the door.
Several of the two by fours were also rotted away and as luck would have it, a major thunderstorm was predicted. To make matters worse, since the house is over 30 years old, Home Depot and Lowes no longer carried the type of wood siding we needed to replace. Mr. Décor searched for hours and had to drive quite a ways to a specialty hardware store.
(You can see just how rotted the wood was as it was literally splintering into small pieces upon removal.)
In the end the last piece was barely in place before the skies opened up in a torrential downpour. But the replaced door and wall held up beautifully. We no longer had horrible drafts. Everything will need to be painted, but that is a job that will wait until spring.
This is the not so fun side to home ownership. We all love the pretty, but often ugly has to happen first.
Have you had any not so good home surprises lately?
Laura
The Texas weather is a potpourri isn't it? Hot one day, bitter cold the next. I'd say the Mr. gets big kuddo's for getting the job done! The new door looks terrific. No big surprises for us as of late (fingers crossed). I'd say the only one is the neighbor with whom we share our back garden. She stared off being lovely and has now turned into Atilla the Hun. Have a great week Laura!
Just another day at the rodeo here at the Fairfield House. As I tap out this comment Thomas is tending to our sump pumps in the flooded cellar {again}. Old home ownership is certainly not for the meek of heart. Your door looks great. Your Friend, Deborah
I am thrilled he is so handy, otherwise this could be a real nightmare. Hopefully you get all the repairs done soon so you can just enjoy.
The door looks great and we can't imagine doing any of that work ourselves; we're just not that handy.
Thankfully, no home surprises lately. Our house is 15 years old this year, and there are tons of shabby things that need to be replaced, but somehow none of those things are that important to us. We don't live in an area where houses sell easily and so really any work we do to our home (like when we put the wood floors in last year around this time), is just for our own satisfaction because we're never going to get any of that money back; it's just the way it is in our town. So, therefore, we tend to not do too many households project, we paint once in a while, fix things when they're broken/maintain, and that's about it. Cars though… that's a whole different story as we just added yet another new old car in our driveway… it was a deal on a Volvo too good to pass up, but yet of course there is some work to be done on it (not a surprise considering how little we paid).
Been there, done that. Replaced a 12 foot patio door this summer only to find rotten wood below it too which had to be replaced. When we replaced the rotten wood below, it was slightly higher than the previous wood base which my our opening slightly too small! We were finally able to squeeze in the door. It was quite the DIY project! You never know what you are going to find when doing a repair job! Now I have started another monster project replacing wallpaper in our foyer with an open stairwell! I love a challenge as you do! I hope that you are enjoying your new home as it comes together one project at the time!
Sorry about the head aches, but the door looks great and I know you guys will feel better having all that wood rot removed!
Well, it is sort of comical after the fact about the swing of the door. It looks good. The people at Home Depot know us. xoox
Oh, renovation isn't always easy. But you'll be glad you changed the doors!
those are the worst kind of surprises. we bough a 30 year old house last year and it is surprising us constantly 🙁
Yes, fortunate your husband is so handy and understands what is needed and how to do it.
We have had quite a few similar things lately. Several more to go.
Hats off to your hand Hubby! I know what a blessing that is.
those are big jobs! when we had the french doors installed at our previous house it took forever to explain/get everyone on the same page as to how the doors needed to open. common sense please… yikes. it seems like a simple thing to us girls, huh?
ahh the joys of home ownership. We had lots of surprises in our old house ( built in 1942). So awesome to have a handy hubby.Hugs
Well, since our house was built in 1950, we have not so good surprises every time we repair something…..yikes!!
The last one was when we decided that we needed to get a different filter set up for our HVAC…..oops, not happening….so hubby still has to drag out the ladder, then lean precariously over and stuff a new one in….
Your door looks great! I'm sorry it was such a pain in the gizzard, but that's the way it goes sometimes!
Blessings to you,
J
We are not as handy here at Boston Manor, so I admire Mr. Decor's talents and tenacity. And of course, yours too. Hope you had a fun get away! Ann
I don't mind doing the actual jobs in this old house. It's the 10 unexpected ones I have to do first that kill me!
Your new door looks lovely and the replaced siding will blend right in with a lick of paint. We replaced a couple doors this spring, and while they still aren't painted, they are holding out the snow and rain.
I noticed a few things while looking at your photos though. Here in NB we have to have the walls and siding start way above grade level, this keeps the standing water from rain and melting snow from rotting out the plates and bottom of the studs. I am thinking basements aren't a necessity in your area. The house is probably built on a slab. I also noticed there appears to be no insulation in the wall where the siding was removed. Is this the way all houses are constructed? I find it so fascinating to see the difference is construction standards and requirements in different areas. We need the insulation to keep out the cold as well as the summer heat and I would have thought that it would have been required even in warmer areas to keep out the extreme heat.
Thanks for sharing your reno project for this week. Never a dull moment when you own a home! 🙂