davidd's A DOLL A DAY 2024

[Alliecat]

Haha! Not at those prices!!!
Is that grout or a caulking substitute? DAP is kind of its own thing, isn't it.
I have found the stuff in a tube unbelieeeeeevably tedious. But I didn't want the horribly toxic real grout. Then I thought about sealing it and have just read about how toxic THAT is too, like one drop will burn through your arm and ex!plode your eyeballs and melt your lungs, so maybe I won't seal it.

Great posing as always in today's pic.

[davidd]

Is that grout or a caulking substitute?  DAP is kind of its own thing, isn't it.
I have found the stuff in a tube unbelieeeeeevably tedious.  But I didn't want the horribly toxic real grout.  

The DAP is more like a caulk. And yes, the squeeze tubes are mind-numbingly tedious and ex-pensive if you need to do a lot.

I think all industrial and repair products are toxic. Open a window, turn on a fan, and go for it. Or let your house fall apart. Which it's going to do anyway. It's a no-win situation.

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26 October - A Doll A Day 2024:

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Stairing in to Space

Deciding to enclose the sides of the deck steps added more time to the process.

"Will it keep the snakes out?"

"Probably not, but it'll keep 'em in so they can't get'cha by surprise."

[Alliecat]

That’s… a lot of extra work. Snakes aren’t really the reason… are they? These look like nice neat boxes anyway.

There isn’t a window in the bathroom. Something else I don’t like about the house. Who builds a bathroom in the middle of the house?? There is supposedly nontoxic sealer, for something like $60 a litre. I inquired from the manufacturer and they said they don’t recommend sealing this stuff. So maybe I won’t worry about it. I still hope to be far away by the time it starts falling out if it ever does.

[davidd]

Snakes aren’t really the reason… are they?

  Ermmm... unfortunately, yes, snakes are the reason. I've never seen snakes under this particular set of steps, but I've encountered them coiled up under the open-sided steps to the storage shed and under the steps to one of the other yurts. The steps to the other yurt had open fronts as well as open sides, which I enclosed after the snake incident.

In addition to enclosing the sides, I filled each box partway with gravel to discourage burrowing creatures from creating openings. It probably won't work.

I wish the screws weren't as visible as they are. This is definitely not "finish carpentry," it is rough but functional carpentry. Maybe the screws won't show as much once the wood is stained.  

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27 October - A Doll A Day 2024:

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No lollygagging, just lagging

Janie and Triv secure stair railing posts using large lag screws.

One of the posts has a damaged edge, but that area won't show, or at least not much, and it's otherwise a very nice strong plank, so they used it.

[Alliecat]

Oooh, wow. I don't know who would be more startled, the person or the snake, encountering each other on the steps.
I guess they could indeed get into any little crevice. Maybe there's something strong-smelling like cayenne or cinnamon that you could also sprinkle under there to deter them?