mjeff87 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 My birthday was this week (yesterday), and I decided to take the week off for a staycation to get a bunch of crap done around the house. The big project was to finally paint our split staircase and upstairs hallway. June will officially be 10 years since we built/bought the house and we (mostly I, lol) have painted everything except these last two spots. The hallway isn't so hard other than the fact it has six doorways that have to be cut in but the stairwell is a giant PITA....it's a split staircase with 2 landings and 18 foot ceilings and walls (hence the reason it hasn't been painted yet). We got a quote from a pro painter of $1000 to paint it and the hall, but my cheap side wasn't gonna let that happen. I'm now 3 days and about 2 cases of beer into it, but only because I decided to paint all the trim work first before the walks and ceilings. I've got everything done but cutting in the tops of the walls to the ceiling which I'll do tomorrow along with finally hanging a new light to replace the POS builder grade fixture that came with the house. I bought it like 5 years ago and it's been sitting in the box in the garage ever since I came up with an ingenious, if not completely redneck way to reach the upper walls and ceiling. I built a platform out of an old pallet and some scrap lumber/OSB I had to level out the landings on the staircase so I could plant a ladder on them safely, plus grabbed a 2x10 and a couple 2x4's to make a janky scaffolding. Combined that with every ladder I own and am able to somewhat safely reach everything. I do have my cellphone on my hip in case it all goes to hell and I end up falling and breaking my neck So far, I'm into this project for $127, which includes paint and the lumber from Lowes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ftpiercecracker1 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 bro that ladder setup is sketchy as all get out. Glad you didnt get hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsuco Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Took one look at your ladder setup, and suddenly remembered why I have only lived in single story ranch style houses. Heights don't bother me. But feeling unsafe at ANY height is a big problem. I'm glad that it was you and not me up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Drywall finisher on one of my jobs did something similar. Cost him 3 broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a concussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyav8r Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 If I had been on that rig I would have been squinched so tight you couldn’t have driven a 10 penny nail up my anal orifice with a 20 lb. sledge hammer. I imagine the two cases of beer had a relaxing effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 were any of those things... secured together? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 I had to trim those skylights. This is actually greater than 3 stories high, 18' across. What you are doing there will get you hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 You know they make extended handles for paint rollers, yeah? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nashmanche Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Uhmmm... Happy Birthday?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whowey Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 OSHA? Never heard of her.... This looks like the set-up for a Farmers' Insurance commercial.. Janky ladderscaffold-asaurs?? We seen it... didn't cover it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 17 hours ago, ftpiercecracker1 said: bro that ladder setup is sketchy as all get out. Glad you didnt get hurt. Safety 3rd!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted March 29, 2019 Author Share Posted March 29, 2019 Well, despite everyone's warnings of doom, I got it all done. And didn't die, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 looks good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted March 29, 2019 Author Share Posted March 29, 2019 I also got the new pendulum light hung, what a colossal PITA that was. The builders just started jamming screws into the fixture cover plate everywhere until something grabbed. I took out 9 screws until it came loose. And of course the new light plate was half the size and didn't cover up the booger holes, so I had to fill them all in, sand and paint them. All on the top step of my rickety contraption. I also etched/frosted the top pane of the window (fixed, so I couldn't take it out and do it on the bench). The morning sun blows thru that pane right into our dining room while we're trying to eat breakfast. Problem finally solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted March 29, 2019 Author Share Posted March 29, 2019 There's a couple little "oopsies" I made, but no ones really going to see them, except for one. I'll fix it tomorrow. I figured out I could never be a pro painter, my OCD is just too much. I kept finding little flaws and fixing them to the point of craziness. I just had to finally stop and put the brushes down (except for that one thing I have to fix tomorrow ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 there's gotta be some sort of contraption that allows a cut corner but using a long pole instead of assembling the monkey bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted March 30, 2019 Author Share Posted March 30, 2019 I dunno, probably. I can cut in corners, walls, trim etc. pretty good but I have to be right about at eye level and perpendicular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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