In my very first post, Why Redeeming Hampton, I expressed the desire to embrace the process of creating a home; not just look for the sprint. And this weekend was one of those times I needed to remind myself of this!
Every year, I like to take a few days off work before the summer is over to prepare for the fall, since it is our busiest (and my favorite) season. I took some time off last week for a “work-cation”, with the hopes to get myself and my house organized. One item on the to-do list was to paint the entry area of the garage and the hallway. Well, the one item ended up taking the majority of my time!
For a refresher, here’s the area we’re turning into an entryway. You can read more about the details here and check out my design inspiration for the project here.
First, I cleaned the cinderblock walls in the garage with a cleaner called TSP. It’s pretty potent, so it’s important to wear the right gear: super cute goggles and a face mask. Be warned, it gets pretty warm, so air flow is necessary.
Priming the Walls
Next, priming the walls. I usually start painting the edges from right to left since I’m left-handed. From the moment I started, I knew this was going to be much more difficult than I thought! You see, my cinderblock is from the 1950s, so it’s groovy and full of rocks. But it didn’t soak in like I hear about most cinderblock; it was more the opposite.
Then I used my paint roller to apply primer for the rest of the space. Well, wow! Look at that coverage. 🙂 Just the primer alone took me 8 hours. EIGHT. It was hard work, jamming the paint brush into the wall, going up and down on the ladder, and rolling the paint on for hours.
That evening, Mike and I went on a date: dinner and a movie. We saw the new Mission Impossible movie. Just like the rest of the series, at some point, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise’s character) was hanging off a cliff. Everyone in the theater was tense – will he make it? Well, that’s how I felt when I was up and down, up and down, up and down on the ladder. Maybe I should star in my own movie? 😉
Alabaster Walls
The next day, I finally picked my color: Sherwin Williams Alabaster. I was excited to get started, since the guy at the store recommended a fluffier roller to help get more coverage.
1 coat, 2 coats, almost 3 coats, specific areas that needed extra attention and 8 hours later…here’s the progress:
The end result is certainly better than it was before, which is what I’m after. But I’m bummed that the finished result still has a sponge-painted look. I tried everything to get into all the nooks and crannies and at the end of the day, I used the entire gallon of paint. I think if I painted more coats, we might’ve had more coverage, but right now we don’t have the resources – time or budget – so we’re thankful for “better!”
Hallway
On day 3, painting the hallway felt like the easiest project I’ve ever tackled. Painting the entire area took me 3 hours – simple compared to the garage! We painted the walls the same color as the garage for a more cohesive feel.
With the newly painted walls, our doors and trim are not looking so fresh, so that’s the next step in the process!
This is the reality of projects, friends. And it’s okay. I’ve learned so much and am super proud of the progress that’s been made! I can’t express how grateful I am that I had built-in time off to have the space to just go with the process rather than stress about it.
My arms and legs are tired; my walls are painted; I’m thankful! Have any of your projects taken longer than you expected? Or not turn out the way you hoped? Don’t be discouraged; you’re not alone!
Kristin…did you use just regular exterior paint on the blocks? If so, did they not recommend something else? We used a concrete sealer paint with the “spongiest” roller. The paint is a bit more pricey & is very think but covers very well with one coat (new concrete / blocks ) but I think it would work great on yours as well. I’m not sure if it comes in colors to choose from but once a coat of that is on, you could cover with the exterior paint. We were just happy with the white since it is in the basement/Mark’s home work space. Your project looks super! Live, learn, enjoy, appreciate & rest!! 🙂 Love you guys!!
I used bonding primer and then exterior paint, which is what was recommended to me. But, a concrete sealer sounds like it may have worked a little better! What I didn’t know then… 🙂 You’re the best – Thanks, Aunt Lynne!
Looking good! 100% of my projects take longer than expected, and usually MUCH longer which is why I still have so much to do on my house. I thought my mom’s penny floor that I did in her basement bathroom would take 1 day because it wasn’t that big of a space, but it took 5 days! If it’s a project that you want to be proud of though, it’s always worth taking the extra time.
Thanks, Jacqui! Always longer! I agree – great statement. It’s worth it, even if it’s just to teach us patience. 🙂