Here are some quick photos of the projects I mentioned yesterday. I actually managed to finish the dog crate today, but the paint’s still drying/curing, so the dogs will have to wait to try it out. I used some wooden dog crates that I found on-line as examples, and then I drew a little plan for myself. It’s basically just four walls (two solid, since they’ll be against the walls of my bedroom) with frames built from 1x2s and panels of MDF. Top and bottom are hardboard (I had both that and the MDF leftover from other projects), with a little trim around the top. I added a latch after I took the photo, and the crate’s just the right size for a standard bed pillow to fit inside as a cushion. That was a happy accident — I just made it 24″ x 18″, figuring that was a good size for both little dogs.
Sheetrocking is an on-going project. I did half the ceiling today (no way to get it up in one piece, even though it’s just a closet) and then had to call it quits before I got the second half up, because I’d gone all weak from hunger, so I had dinner instead. I wish I could have finished more drywalling today, but there are only so many hours, and it’s tough work hauling that stuff around.
Like I said before, this is my first drywalling project, although I became a drywall assistant when I was about five years old. My parents finished off several rooms in two of the houses I grew up in, so it seems normal to tackle this sort of thing myself. I’m looking forward to being able to patch up all the cracks and gaps with tape and mud, but I’m also dreading it — so much sanding and dust!
just wanted to comment that it is entirely possible to smooth out drywall mud, once dried, with a very slightly damp sponge instead of sandpaper… much much less mess than drywall dust. You do need to make sure the sponge is not too wet, and you do need to wash and wring it out periodically in a bucket of water, but it does work, I’ve done it. And, of course, don’t put the bucket of water full of drywall leftovers down your sink, but ratherpour it outside somewhere, you don’t want that stuff in your pipes…
Oh, that’s interesting! The sanding works so quickly, though… For the first bit I’ve done, I’ve just closed myself in the closet (wearing a face mask), which keeps the dust contained until it’s settled. If I can’t take it anymore, however, I’ll definitely try your method!