Cleaning wood siding

spinnerholic · 07-18-2009, 09:06 PM

We have sided our home with plywood, end goal is to put up strips between the plywood sheets, for a board and batten look, and stain it. All along DH said he was going to get the wood stained before winter. Well, things have a way of getting all screwed up, with no help from us. The stain did not get put on and I was in a snit all winter as I watched mildew take over and spread, lightly, but it was there and spreading out by the week, on all 4 sides of the house.

Like a good wife, I didn't say a word because that man has worked his fanny right into the ground. No one can get everything done, try as they may.

This week, DH told me he was going to spray the plywood with Clorox, mixed with water, 2 water to 1 Clorox. He said it would kill off the mildew. Having fought mildew in humid places all my life, I had my doubts. But again, I said nothing.

Well, he sprayed the whole house today and guess what? Most of the mildew went! Couple of places will need to be hit again, but now it looks like new plywood again!! I'm stunned.

And to think, I spent all that time and energy in a winter long snit - for nothing. Really hate that.

Twoolf · 07-18-2009, 09:58 PM

A suggestion if I might: When you install the "batten's", put them every 12". It will make for a much better look

Sarrah · 07-19-2009, 07:41 PM

I know the feeling spinnerholic. I get myself in a snit. Then when I think of it I check my meds. I find that antihistamine does that to me. As well as some of the pain meds.
Of course we all know of the athletes having steroid rage but I think the medical folks insist that can't happen with meds. But it also seems to me some of the folks who take it say it does.
So when I find the opinions between the medical folks and the folks taking the meds differ. I usually go with the opinion of the folks taking the meds if they all say the same thing.

Anyway, say you are sorry. Make him a nice dinner and tell him you love him and don't beat yourself up too much. I tell you it is probably the meds. Because you are a kind and loving person.

I'm really happy for you about the house being a go.

spinnerholic · 07-19-2009, 07:46 PM

Ah, Sarrah, I have gray in my hair - lots of it. Meaning I've learned a few lessons in life. I had sense enough to keep my snit all to myself - he never knew about it. The wisdom to keep ones mouth shut is hard won, but it does tend to keep the nasty taste of shoe leather out of my mouth. ROFLOL!

Bri2301 · 07-19-2009, 10:02 PM

You did great, keeping you cool, expecially when he's doing all he can! Sounds like a half a dozen projects around my house, which my wife has been pretty good about. I've been in "catch up" mode around here, especially since we lost the big oak. Lately, aspirin and aleve have been my friends at the end of the weekend day.

Jeff B.

spinnerholic · 07-19-2009, 10:13 PM

Twoolf, spacing the battens as you suggested is the plan. Will look ever so much nicer than put only where the plywood sheets meet.

Bri2301, take it easy now and then. One thing for sure, there is ~never~ an end to jobs waiting to be done around a homeplace.

As for keeping my snit to myself, well, neither of us can jump buildings in a single bound any longer and what gets done, gets done. The rest waits it's turn. Whenever that might be.

Sarrah · 07-20-2009, 02:47 AM

I must of misread you spinner. Glad all is good there.

I think it if pretty good the bleach spray worked so well. Staining the whole house is a really big job. Can he spray it on?

spinnerholic · 07-20-2009, 12:50 PM

Sarrah, the house is very small - one bedroom, living room, kitchen, hall and bath. The only storage in the entire house was built under the stairs leading to the attic. So, yes, he probably could spray or even paint it by himself, but these are the times I save up my brownie points for. I was able to sweetly talk him into hiring a young man to help with all the finish work and painting/staining. We are both the last of our families and all each other has. So when he gets hardheaded about doing it all himself, I just ask how he'd feel if I took on a monster project like that all by myself. He may grumble and grump a few days, but in the end, he will hire help he needs and not kill himself doing it all by himself. He blows a fuse if he catches me picking up a sack full of groceries, so it all seems to balance out quite well for us. He's 73 and thinks he's going on 34! The work he does keeps him in excellent physical condition, but too much of anything is too much. I'm just so proud that he wants to do all these things and do them well so they look professionally done.

They got rained out for today, so tomorrow will be another day. Meanwhile, he will find something inside the house that needs doing, so he can stay busy. I couldn't be more delighted that he wants to do things around here, have a nice tho small home, with solar well and energy conservation is as many ways he can come up with.

Twoolf · 07-20-2009, 01:41 PM

A technique I've used with stain before is to use a pump up sprayer to appy it, and a sponge mop to even it out. You can cover a lot of territory very quickly, and get a good result.

Mama Alanna · 07-21-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinnerholic

So when he gets hardheaded about doing it all himself, I just ask how he'd feel if I took on a monster project like that all by myself. He may grumble and grump a few days, but in the end, he will hire help he needs and not kill himself doing it all by himself. He blows a fuse if he catches me picking up a sack full of groceries, so it all seems to balance out quite well for us. He's 73 and thinks he's going on 34!

He won't ever quit, spinner, not until he lies down for the last time. My father, at 89, is just exactly like that. As long as he has a project that he's working on, he's happy and vigorous. If he doesn't, he mopes around the house and starts feeling frail and old.

Mom DID manage to get him to get help when he put the roof on the family room extension, but that was all. Everything else he did himself.

rryan · 07-21-2009, 02:45 PM

HOLD ON...

If he used clorox to clean the siding make sure it was or gets thoroughly rinsed before staining or it's going to be be splotchy as hell.

Ought Six · 07-22-2009, 06:49 PM

It might be worth it to hit it again with Biz-Green.

spinnerholic · 07-22-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Mom DID manage to get him to get help when he put the roof on the family room extension, but that was all. Everything else he did himself.

And aren't you proud of him, MA? I sure am of DH! When so many far younger than he is are sitting around talking about how good life used to be, my guy is still making life good to be living! Keeps him young too - he looks like 53 instead of what he is.

He works on 2 or 3 projects at a time, weather being the deciding factor, and has another 6 projects lined up for when he has time for them.

He is a superb kitty daddy, too. There is nothing they need that he can't or won't do for them, including really nasty clean up jobs when needed.

And if I'm sleeping, he does what needs doing. No way he'll wake me for anything short of the house being on fire since I have a problem sleeping.

We share many interests, and there is much love and laughter under this roof!

spinnerholic · 07-22-2009, 09:59 PM

Guys, about getting a good stain on. I don't know how it will be done, but we have plenty of scraps to use for testing before starting on the house.

Under that siding is 2" blueboard insulation glued to chip board. The entire house is very well indeed insulated. We aren't about to blow all that work with a crappy staining job now.