If you've watched TV or read any gardening or home improvement magazines (and even some websites) this Spring, you've probably been assaulted with the clarion call to get out there and 'Do This!'. Sure, it's great to get excited about doing not only some Spring cleaning around the place, but to actually enhance things: planting new shrubs, trees, flowers etc; updating the look of the hardscape (the non-plant stuff) with 'living walls', pallet planters, 'updating' the look of everything with different stains and finishes and all the neat stuff people are posting about on social media these days. You might even be tempted to 'update' the look of your indoors too and try this new 'minimalist' look that's all the rage (Where will you put all your nick-nacks, posters, memorabilia etc? You got me, maybe these minimalists sell it all.)
Before you roll up your sleeves and dive in, stop to consider yourself. What sort of shape are you in? No, really? Ego aside, are you really going to be able to do all this stuff yourself without hurting yourself? I don't know about you, but we tend to do a lot less work outdoors, and even indoors, during the Winter months. All that snuggling up by a fire with a cup of cocoa after eating a big meal with family and friends over the Winter holidays and events (from Halloween in October till all the big sports events are pretty much over in March, it's one excuse after another to pig out and sit around isn't it?) tends to take its toll.
But don't beat yourself up about it and certainly don't punish yourself by trying to do a big project all in one day this Spring. Try to break the project up into stages and plan them ahead of time so that you aren't worn out, or worse yet, end up having to go to the emergency room.
For example, if you are going to refinish a piece of indoor or outdoor furniture (which is an excellent idea as it saves you money and is more 'environmentally friendly' since you aren't throwing stuff out to make room for new stuff), spend the first day off (don't try to cram these projects into an otherwise already hectic day or it won't be any fun) taking the furniture down from whatever it's mounted to (if it is). Be sure to get help for this as stuff tends to be heavier than it looks. Take your time too so that you don't end up damaging the furniture or the walls, floor etc. and wind up creating another job for yourself.
The next day off you have, (yes, stop between each of these steps and take a break! It's not worth pulling a muscle over) get some sand paper (a coarse grit to get the worst of the old finish off and a fine grit to make a nice smooth finish) and sand the old finish off. We prefer to just use elbow grease and a sanding block. You can use a power sander if you into power tools, but please follow all of the safety precautions with them! Take your time and do a quality job. We always say, if you are going to do it yourself, might as well do a better job than what they do in the mass-producing factories. The next day off, if you finished sanding (if you didn't finish before you got tuckered out, no sweat, just keep sanding as long as it takes to get the surface you really want. It's cheaper to make a surface smooth by sanding than it is by applying extra coats of paint), then apply the bottom coat. If you are painting something an opaque (can't see through it) color rather than staining, you can save money by using a less popular color like light gray, light tan etc. Sometimes, you can even get the paint store to give you a big discount on paint that has been made from stirring left over paints together. Doesn't matter if it's pretty since you are going to be painting over it. Let that coat dry at least overnight, then apply the finishing coat the next day.
And so on... The point is that it's better to spread the steps of a project out over several days with breaks in between. That way, it's more like recreation and less like work. Also, try your best to finish one project before you start another one! It can get discouraging to have several unfinished projects around and some family members may get irritated with it too. :)
Even we at Enfield Enhanced Environs follow this advice whether we are working on our own stuff or for customers. That's why we will charge by the job and not by the hour. Quality takes time and it's #1 enemy is rushing yourself. And besides, we want to enjoy enhancing environs as much as people will enjoy experiencing the results.
Before you roll up your sleeves and dive in, stop to consider yourself. What sort of shape are you in? No, really? Ego aside, are you really going to be able to do all this stuff yourself without hurting yourself? I don't know about you, but we tend to do a lot less work outdoors, and even indoors, during the Winter months. All that snuggling up by a fire with a cup of cocoa after eating a big meal with family and friends over the Winter holidays and events (from Halloween in October till all the big sports events are pretty much over in March, it's one excuse after another to pig out and sit around isn't it?) tends to take its toll.
But don't beat yourself up about it and certainly don't punish yourself by trying to do a big project all in one day this Spring. Try to break the project up into stages and plan them ahead of time so that you aren't worn out, or worse yet, end up having to go to the emergency room.
For example, if you are going to refinish a piece of indoor or outdoor furniture (which is an excellent idea as it saves you money and is more 'environmentally friendly' since you aren't throwing stuff out to make room for new stuff), spend the first day off (don't try to cram these projects into an otherwise already hectic day or it won't be any fun) taking the furniture down from whatever it's mounted to (if it is). Be sure to get help for this as stuff tends to be heavier than it looks. Take your time too so that you don't end up damaging the furniture or the walls, floor etc. and wind up creating another job for yourself.
The next day off you have, (yes, stop between each of these steps and take a break! It's not worth pulling a muscle over) get some sand paper (a coarse grit to get the worst of the old finish off and a fine grit to make a nice smooth finish) and sand the old finish off. We prefer to just use elbow grease and a sanding block. You can use a power sander if you into power tools, but please follow all of the safety precautions with them! Take your time and do a quality job. We always say, if you are going to do it yourself, might as well do a better job than what they do in the mass-producing factories. The next day off, if you finished sanding (if you didn't finish before you got tuckered out, no sweat, just keep sanding as long as it takes to get the surface you really want. It's cheaper to make a surface smooth by sanding than it is by applying extra coats of paint), then apply the bottom coat. If you are painting something an opaque (can't see through it) color rather than staining, you can save money by using a less popular color like light gray, light tan etc. Sometimes, you can even get the paint store to give you a big discount on paint that has been made from stirring left over paints together. Doesn't matter if it's pretty since you are going to be painting over it. Let that coat dry at least overnight, then apply the finishing coat the next day.
And so on... The point is that it's better to spread the steps of a project out over several days with breaks in between. That way, it's more like recreation and less like work. Also, try your best to finish one project before you start another one! It can get discouraging to have several unfinished projects around and some family members may get irritated with it too. :)
Even we at Enfield Enhanced Environs follow this advice whether we are working on our own stuff or for customers. That's why we will charge by the job and not by the hour. Quality takes time and it's #1 enemy is rushing yourself. And besides, we want to enjoy enhancing environs as much as people will enjoy experiencing the results.