Hi,
Thank you alp for your kind comments. The darker colour is Benjamin Moore Taos Taupe 2111-40 and the lighter colour is Benjamin Moore Baja Dunes 997. The paint is Aura Exterior Satin. Around £75 per US gallon but smaller sizes are available.
https://www.benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk/about-us/shaw-paints/
I used both brush and roller for application the roller really speeding up the job. I bought a Wooster Pelican which proved to be brilliant allowing me to use both the roller and brush; the Pelican has a magnet embedded in it and holds the brush ferrule whilst the roller is being used; the roller clips over the rim of the Pelican whilst the brush is being used; the Pelican has a disposable liner so this can be discarded but I'm a tight Yorkshireman and washed the liner out at the end of each session; I actually bought a dozen liners but only ever used the original liner throughout the entire bungalow exterior makeover.
http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/n/NOVWP/
I removed all the gutters and pipe work etc allowing the gutters to be painted in comfort and this cleared the fascia boards painting both using the roller. If you or any other member is interested I don't mind adding a dedicated thread covering the exterior makeover because it's an interesting story; I learned so much being a member of a DIY forum where I was kindly given top class advice from professional decorators. Bron and I are fed up of visiting addresses which are top secret not having house numbers displayed; it's amazing how many houses don't show a street number; our SatNav takes us directly to the address but we can't understand the secrecy; this is why we have big numbers displaying our bungalow and these are easily seen from the street in fact because the numbers to the front are illuminated we think the local police helicopter uses our numbers for night navigation.
The window and doors etc are the original softwood installed in 1964 but I've looked after them and they remain in as new condition; Bron and I dislike UPVC we don't fancy living in a LEGO home. Wooden windows/doors take more maintenance but we prefer them. I don't know about mushrooms alp but I do know about rhubarb and given our dire climate where we suffer so much rain and it's generally a black hole I'm surprised I'm not 20' tall? Me overwork alp; course I will.
Thanks Logan; I can understand the benefits of modern UPVC windows but our home is a true bungalow so windows are accessible; I extended the front decking over the garage doors making the front bedroom window accessible; the garage is beneath the bungalow. Depths nor heights have never bothered me Logan; I'm now a 70 year old kid and I still think nothing of climbing big trees with bow saw over my shoulder to "top" them; I was working down a deep coal mine at the age of 15 so I'm comfortable wherever I am but lots of people are scared of confined spaces and with a real fear of height; I take it for granted that I can do as I wish; I was taught safety at a very high level whilst working in the pit and 55 years on I still follow safe working procedures; I think the best advice I was given was that if it feels unsafe then it is unsafe so don't do it. Encourage your hubby to do more carpentry Logan; Bron encourages me and always has done; Bron has never once complained when I've been on a big project because she knows we both benefit once its completed; I never start a job and leave it unfinished and I only do one project at a time; I'm a guy so can't multi-task but I can sure do a single task. The gals are now taking over DIY projects because so many guys these days just want to sit in front of a TV watching wall to wall sport; I can't stand sport and I couldn't be paid to watch a guy kick a ball around; I'm much too busy and there is so much in the world to explore that interests me. Bron enjoys her crafting hobbies and we fully support each other in our endeavours. Leaving school I was bottom of the school in woodwork but now I love all aspects of woodworking.
This is very kind of you marlingardener. I'm no one special at all in fact I can be thick at times but I was taught so much during my mechanical engineering apprenticeship days and this training has defined my life over the last half century in so many ways; I was taught to use both my head and my hands; having one such good skill then can be built upon; anyone can learn but only if they wish to do so; I treat even the most basic tasks as projects; when I sweep up I don't regard it as a chore; it makes my working environment better and by nature I'm very tidy with everything in its place not "a place for everything and everything all over the place". It's funny that over the years I've been accused of getting husbands into trouble as they and their wives visit us seeing what Bron and I do around home; the number of times such couples have left us then gone mad giving their own home a makeover. I love wood/metalwork and now I've branched (sorry) out into our gardens at last now the work is completed to the bungalow.
Thanks also for asking marlingardener; the silver gate is just to neatly finish off the area beneath the decking; this metal gate allows access to the entire under deck area where I store lots of building materials; the bungalow frontage is 40' wide and I also have access to under floor storage from within the garage. The gate looks silver but only because it's in rare sunshine; its actually colour coded to the bungalow; something so simple but it makes a big difference; the gate is from a metal stillage which was being scrapped at work so cost me nothing. The tea cup is seldom left out; its the most important bit of kit I have and is in constant use; my idea of heaven is to be working in the garage with the doors fully open on a balmy summers day with Bron kindly coming down with a brew and a biscuit for me; Bron and I lead very basic and simple lives but we are happy.
I am fully aware this forum is focussed on all things gardening but over the years I've gathered many skills and would be happy to share my stories because we all live in a home and as such the home needs constantly looking after; during our long dreary months I spend more time on the computer sharing stories and information; I'm not smart nor a know it all I'm just obsessed in what I do. I hope I'm not boring anyone.
Back to the plot; I looked out at 6 o'clock this morning to see Gale was still with us bending the trees but her brother Blackie my personal black cloud wasn't present; as I looked out at 8 o'clock Blackie joined Gale as seen in the picture and once again Blackie was going to ensure I didn't wilt through lack of water?
Kind regards, Colin.
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