I'm having some trouble with the studio floor. I think I told you guys, but I've decided to do a decorative acid stain on the concrete. I spend almost all my free time working on the studio these days.
Wah. Whine. Woe is me.
We put down construction paper before the drywall texture went on, and it was secured with masking tape. Painter's tape wouldn't stick, and just laying the paper on the floor didn't work since there are multiple ladders, scaffolds, and tools being lugged across the space every day.
Unfortunately, the residue left by the tape is STICKY STICKY and will keep the acid stain/sealer from reacting properly.
Soooo.....I've spent the last week dealing with fixing that. Argh. Double argh. The little guns didn't work, so we got out the big guns.
Ah, chemicals.
I spent too much time breathing through this again. My backside hurts from sitting on a concrete slab and scooting from one foot of tape residue to the next.
The best thing we could find was to lay rags soaked in mineral spirits on the residue, let it sit about 10 minutes, then scrape at all of that with a putty knife. Then, I scrubbed it with a sudsy mixture of dish soap and water. Theeennnn, I mopped all of that with TSP.
In the meantime, everything is piled in mind-numbing heaps in Adam's shop.
Living like this is driving me slightly insane.
I realize this is not a horrible problem to have, but it's still making me a little batty. I feel like I've been living out of boxes for years now. It will be done soon. It WILL. And I'm very, very grateful to have a studio at all. I just want it to be done NOW.
But everything's all right. It's October. The temperature is dropping, I have two little girls to dress up for Halloween, and there's soup on the stove.
It's the best time of year, isn't it?
It's so close, so close, so close!!!!
Posted by: Vanessa {a Fanciful Twist} | October 14, 2013 at 03:20 PM
I know, Vanessa. I know.
I am trying to be patient.
Posted by: Laura | October 14, 2013 at 05:06 PM
Wow, I guess you probably wouldn't want to light a match in there right now!
That green container with the weird lettering looks like it came off of an alien spaceship or something!
I can't believe it's half way to Halloween! I'm enjoying my decorations that are all up now!
It's getting to be soup weather here now, highs in the 50's!
Good luck with your project!
Posted by: Laura Tieri | October 15, 2013 at 07:27 AM
Thanks, Laura! Yep...its crazy flammable stuff. The pale greenish-aqua container is an Israeli military gas can. I have NO idea why my husband has it. Maybe its from one of those kooky army navy surplus stores? Do you have photos of your Halloween stuff? I love seeing other peoples decorations. Bye!
Posted by: Laura Irrgang | October 15, 2013 at 07:37 AM
Laura, did you try acetone? (I probably spelled that wrong) I always thought that stuff would dissolve anything! But be careful, acetone makes lacquer thinner seem like water. Dangerous stuff!
Posted by: Grump | October 15, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Thanks, Grump/Lloyd-
I read that acetone in particular might affect the color of the slab. When you apply the acid stain, it reacts with the different minerals in the concrete mix. Some concrete people think the acetone makes a blotch that will take the acid differently, making it look weird.
Posted by: Laura | October 15, 2013 at 02:01 PM
Laura....you crack me up! Watched that youtube....
Be careful with all those flamables....I thought the floor looked great before!
Posted by: jill james | October 15, 2013 at 06:19 PM
or flammables....
Posted by: jill james | October 15, 2013 at 06:19 PM
OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!
OKAY so get this.
The first pic, I thought it was scoring in the conrete, I did not realize that THAT WAS THE TAPE MARKING FROM HELL!!
WHOLEY Moley, how awful!!
OH OH, awful nasty awful tape!
I feel for you worse now. I thought it was along the edges, not all through the room.
CACA!!!
ANd i never have said that ever, let alone typed it.
Is it fixed?
Looove, me
Posted by: Vanessa {a Fanciful Twist} | October 16, 2013 at 04:08 PM