We’re about a week and half away from completing the One Room Challenge and we’re making phenomenal progress! We can’t wait to see the final vision come to life and share high resolution details. You may find a recap of week 6 here.
The ORC community has been so supportive. With the extra push, we’ve been able to power through some gritty aspects of DIY. Thank you SO MUCH! And if we’ve been slacking staying connected, fear not, we will be reaching out soon enough. Our kiddo has been battling persistent ear infections and finally getting him relief with tubes. Mixed with emotion (our first surgery), we hear this will be a huge game changer.
If you came here from the ORC site, hello! I’m Sanju Patel. By day, I work behind a desk, typically crunching numbers. By night, you can find me in a garage. My wife and I purchased a home in Texas 2 years ago – a quick close without costly bells and whistles. As lifelong fans of DIY, we’ve decided to invest into our home as our family grows with an open invitation to see our process from start to finish.
All Tiled Out
HIGH FIVE! Our tile work is 95% complete. Honestly guys, tiling is not very fun except for maybe the pattern work (we’re big fans of puzzles). It’s super time consuming and extremely messy. We love Groot, but not grouting.
Here’s a hit list of tips:
- If you’re a beginner, spend a little extra and purchase pre-mixed grout. The powdered version affords versatility, but can set you back if mixed improperly. Measuring and setting up takes up the most time.
- The grout should be creamy like peanut butter and slightly runny – this will help spread into the spacing between tiles. We made the mistake of using thick grout in our first batch. As a result, the grout failed to spread properly, requiring us to use our hands. We later realized that more water was required.
- Grout needs to be worked quickly and cautiously. Your grout float should be flat, parallel to the surface, and run diagonally. Read packaging directions on timing.
- It will be messy. Don’t worry, when you’re ready to wipe off grout, work it gently yet firmly. It will require a few passes. Have extra rags on hand. Once the grout fully cures, it will be difficult to remove.
- Carve out time for prep. We learned the hard way to lay down plastic sheeting on the floor and cover any furniture where grout might accidentally spill on to.
Trim, Cut, and Prime
After wrapping tiling, we transitioned to trim-work and priming. Original baseboards will be used combined with new trim. Below the Pax unit, a 5″ spacer was cut to size and added with our Ryobi brad-nailer so that trim on sides (poplar) of the Pax can be flush. This was sanded at 120 grit and primed with BIN Shellac twice.
Raise your hand if you struggle to find time for these little tasks? Most days, we’re afforded 1, maybe 2 after-hours to work on DIY projects. We’re lucky to get 3 hours on a Saturday or Sunday when our kiddo asleep. As most DIYers will tell you, half the battle is prep time. Though it’s hard to see the results right away, the final result is always worth it :). Would love to hear your time-saving tips!
The doors were also sanded and primed twice. Though BIN Shellac can be recoated within 30 minutes, we gave ourselves ample time between coats. The final coats will be a cabinet enamel and we’ll get a chance to use our Graco X5 sprayer this weekend.
Cabinet Box Prep
During a coffee break we mapped out how to efficiently cut our plywood sheets (the trick – minimize scraps). Later that night, we hit our version of a sawmill using a combination of a circular saw, table saw, and a makeshift out-feeder made from cut pallets. Tomorrow, the cabinet boxes will be glued and joined with Kregs. We’re thinking of dado’s as well – game time decision. Have you ever used dado’s and kreg screws together? Thoughts?
As always, send us any questions and don’t forget to follow our Instagram stories. By the way, there are 20 SUPERB featured designers participating in the One Room Challenge with Better Homes and Gardens as a media partner. These guys and gals totally rock and will not disappoint. Check it out!
We’re in the home stretch, Sanjay! It’s going to be SO worth it, and we’re looking forward to seeing your finished laundry room. It’s been fun for us to get to know your family over the past seven weeks as we both work on our laundry rooms at the same time! Finish strong, friends–you’re doing amazing!! High fives and hugs, Kristi