Well, with my wife’s cancer health scare behind us, and my health being more reasonable these days, I am starting to work in things again.
I managed to drywall the hole in my bathroom wall from the HVAC install months and months ago. I was pretty intimidated by the idea of drywall work, but I watched a few YouTube videos, and got the strapping in and the drywall up.
It was actually easier than expected. What really helped is I own a multitool and was able to cut the old drywall back to where it made sense and could allow me to drill the new stuff into the studs. I made sure to use the natural clean edges of the drywall to where they hit the opening. I used 150 grit sandpaper between to just knock things flat. I am inexperienced so it was easier to build it up and then sand it down. The 150 grit made it quick work, and I was ready in minutes. Clean up was a bit messy, but fine.
I also used Fibafuze instead of paper tape. It’s a fiberglass tape. It was so easy to work with, but I recommend gloves because of the glass bits in the fiberglass. I used duct tape to get all the splinters out of my fingers after. I just stuck the tape to my skin where I felt it, and eventually it lifted them out. Despite that oversight, I would use fibafuze again. It make really easy smooth joints.
I used the same orange peel texture that is over every wall in the house, and it disguises my imperfections. It’s all done, and ready for paint.
I thought I had a bit of leftover paint from the previous owner, but it was a solid puck of acrylic when I opened it. Apparently 2.5 years have gone by since we bought the place, and time does that.
I probably won’t paint until we get the mirror area fixed above the sink. This place was built for a very short elderly lady, so the vanity mirror is very low. I am 5’6″ tall and I am at the very top of the mirror. My 6’2″ wife has to stoop to see herself.
What’s stopping me is the lighting is also right on top the vanity mirror. I need to get an electrician to move the light upwards towards the ceiling because I just don’t fuck with electrical. I have a quote for $454 to move it up where it should go by the ceiling. I’ll pay it just to not fuck with electrical.
Then I will have to rebuild the vanity, and I can install a sink cabinet that isn’t so low my wife has to bend over.
That’s a long way to say I’m not painting and finishing the wall right now.
All in all, though, I feel like I conquered drywall. Am I an expert? No. Can I do it well enough to be happy about it? Absolutely! Even better, I have enough leftovers I can patch anything that comes up now and not have to worry about it. Having the tools on hand really makes a difference.
Garden Rat 