Foyer Update

Ugh.

I spent 4-5 long hours working on the front hall today. I took down the fixtures (2 lights and the smoke alarm) along with all the plates for the switches and outlets. Surprise! Look what I found when I took the intake vent off the wall:


Can you say Gross!?!
I immediately had to stop what I was doing to grab the vacuum. Oh and the camera. I didn't think anyone would believe it unless I took a picture to document it. Just think how healthy we would all be if the whole duct system looks like this! Hooray. Once I got the vent vacuumed out I could see just how huge the gaping holes were around the vent. If I tell you that I used a tube and a half of caulk on this one area, would you believe me? I think I am single-handedly keeping Dap in business right now.


The gap between the vent and the wallboard was at least as wide as my finger! Gee and we wonder where all our cool air goes in the summer time? Once I finished caulking the intake vent I still had the air vent area to do and all of the switches and outlets. Someone must have been drunk when they did the double outlet because the hole is wide enough for two to fit in there. Sheez. I didn't finish all of the caulking because in order to totally fill all the holes I would have to caulk the switches into place or take them out. I was not ready to do that yet, but I will replace them all towards the end of the project. My goal is to have every room done using as much caulk as I can! Just kidding...though I will seal as many of the holes in this house as I can if it is the last thing I do. Today's total: 2 1/2 tubes of caulk.

Once I finished caulking, I started cutting in on the ceiling. I went ahead and bought a primer/sealer to help ease the amount of paint I was going to have to use; good paint is expensive to say the least! Our ceiling has the funky designs in stucco(?), so I have to use a special roller with a big nap on it. It took me almost three hours to do the cutting in and the coat of primer on the ceiling. And it is not even that large of an area. The worst part of it is making sure you get the paint into all the little creases and crevices. Good grief! In the picture you can see the design in the ceiling and the actual color of the walls. It almost seems mustard-like in color compared to the white primer. Yuck! It's so dreary and dismal...I really like white because it is bright and fun. Anyway, hopefully the painting will go easier with the primer on and I get the ceiling done on Wednesday.



I only have two more weeks before I go back to school. I can't believe how fast the times flies, even if you're not having fun necessarily. I have to go to work tomorrow and try to get my office in some sort of order. My office-mate will be in so we can sort out space and set up. I hope I find all my stuff tomorrow. Last time I spent an hour scouring the building looking for my chair...never did find it. Fun, fun.