Out With the Old!!

I didn't Post this!!  Why not???    Who knows??  I think I'm still suffering from my ADD......  And since we haven't had much of winter weather ...... YET..... I'm pretty sure I've got Spring Fever, too!!!

Anywho.....  We changed out our front door a couple of weeks ago and I love it!!

The original door was a steel door that I did a faux wood grain on 6 years ago or so....  I did a great job, but unfortunately, when we installed the door, we only installed the door and used the old casing and hinges and stuff..... and over the years, the screws stripped out, the door caught on kinds of stuff, you had to lift the door up to close it right..  it was a mess.......

Oh, yeah - - did I mention that because I didn't SEAL it, it faded???  I promise, when I first did it, it looked great. 

So Mr. Inspiring and I purchased a new door to install, and this one INCLUDED the casing.  And I volunteered to do the faux wood grain again...  AND I sealed it!

He just had to learn how to install it.  And discovered that YouTube is a wonderful avenue to learn by, not to just watch stupid videos!!

And now that I've gotten this far in this post, I realize that I don't have a picture of the door actually INSTALLED....    See what I mean??  ADD/Spring Fever - - I'm so sure of it!!! 

Anyway - - the door went in very well.  I used my cricut and cut out house numbers out of vinyl.  My neighbor across the street sent me a text message the next day  "Suz - - I LOVE your new door!!"  I said, "THANK YOU!!  I do, too!!"

Faux wood graining is very easy!!  My biggest tip on it tho:  Make sure you are using the correct stain for your application.  I accidentally got gel stain instead of regular stain, and it worked, but it took FOREVER to set/dry......  Regular stain works much better.    The faux wood tool is really cool!  Your local hardware store/paint store should carry the tool.    You paint the stain on the door, and then run the tool through it, rocking it as you go.  Play with it!  You can achieve very realistic effects! 

Thanks for stopping by!  And I promise I'll try to post more often this month!! 

Oh yeah - - Mr. Inspiring took the old door to the curb for the trash to pick up.  Later that day, when I went to stand out in the yard and admire the new door, I saw the old door laying by the curb, all by itself, looking so lonely............  and I walked out to it, staring at the oval window...... with the pretty leaded glass that catches the light and sparkles like crazy....  and Mr. Inspiring saw me looking at it..... and I guess I must get kind of a glazed over look on my face when my mind starts creating things...............  because he came out with a screwdriver, and without a word............ removed the glass from the door and put it in the garage.....   He's learning!!!!   And I just love him so much!!   I am one lucky girl!!!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I've Been Hiding.......

I've been hiding out in the garage!!  And - Man O Man - it sure is hot out there!!!

I've been working on finishing doors...............  A few years ago I did a faux wood grain on our steel front door.  It turned out great and I love it!!  But there are a couple of things wrong with the door....
     First - when we bought it, it was just the door, no casing.  (But we got it for a GREAT price!!) So we used the casing from the existing door.  And it was ok for a few years...  but not now.  The screws that hold the door into the casing and the holes themselves are all stripped and worn out....  You have to LIFT the handle to get the door to close correctly....  What a pain!!
     Second - when I did the faux wood grain and then stained it, I didn't seal it......... and the sun has taken it's toll on the finish.  It's all faded out....  and yucky...


So, Mr. Inspiring and I went to Menards (isn't that the coolest store???) and bought a new front door.  And I told him that I would do the faux finish again, if he wanted me to.....  And since it was like almost $250 cheaper, he said OK!!

Here are the pictures at the beginning of the project.

At first, I couldn't get the glass and the trim off the door on both sides, so I covered the glass with old Christmas wrap that I don't like.  After I took this picture, I pushed a couple of chairs up to the door.  Good thing I did because the next day, the glass had dropped out and was on the chairs.......

Anyway, here are the pictures after I put the wood grain coat on the back of the door.

I'll take more pictures tonight of all the equipment I'm using.  If you've never tried this, it is really easy.  It just takes practice and patience.

I just want to say that I used the Minwax Gel Stain........  I LOVE that stuff.  It is perfect for this type of application.  My only issue - it isn't with the stain, it's with the weather.  Because it's SO hot, it isn't taking long for the gel to set.  I have finished the back of the door, and it's darker than I anticipated.  The stain itself is darker than what I used on the original door, and I did that on purpose (don't want any orange-y, golden stain).  But with it being so hot and drying so quickly, I believe I ended up with more coats on different parts of the door.  At first I didn't really like the darkness........... I thought I really messed up!!  But - - It's kind of growing on me and I'm ok with it!!  After I got the finish the way I wanted, I sealed it with clear polyurethane.  I gave it a few days to dry.  Last night, we flipped the door over and I started all over on that side, which is the front.  Like I said, I'll take more pictures tonight and post them.  Maybe I'll even attempt a tutorial!!

I also spray painted the new back door.  After these 2 doors are done?  Nope, I won't be finished with doors.  I'll be starting on staining and finishing 4  6-panel interior doors and 3 sets of 6-panel closet doors.  I'm ready for this reno to be done!!!   And I can't wait to start on the floors!!  I'm doing the paperbag flooring treatment!!  I'll take tons of pictures of that while it's in the works!!!

Have a great Tuesday!!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm linking up with these Fab Parties!!