Inching Along. Ta-Da!
THE TOP OF THE TOWER IS DONE!
Like everything with the south facade, the top of the tower looked fine from ground level. I thought: A light sanding, primer, and paint! Easy-peasy!
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Even the two arched window sashes, which were restored a few years ago, needed attention. I partially reglazed one, and repainted all four sashes in gloss oil-base black (they had been done in semi-gloss latex black, which has not held up well).
The area in red is next! It is not much! It does not need any repair work! (It looks like the area just above the red rectangle is not painted. It is; that is just how the sun hits the angled shingles.)
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Getting there, Ross! Hurrah!
I love that stained glass window.
Where do you purchase oil based paint? It’s illegal in my state.
It’s only available in quarts here in Kansas, Ruth.
Ross, I’m not sure what supply stores are around Emporia, but I am able to purchase oil base in gallons. Russell has an oilfield supply store, Buckeye Supply. I’m not sure what colors are available, but I assume they have black. I always purchase white. Do you have any stores such as this?
I was also going to mention that maybe planting trees on the side of the house that is getting beat up so badly from the sun. My sister and I stopped by a few years ago, but I don’t remember what the yard layout is. I know poplar trees grow quickly and straight up without being wide. They is also a type of evergreen that has a similar shape. Poplars are planted with slower growing trees to give protection until the long lasting ones have a chance to mature. Just a thought to help protect the siding.
Have a wonderful weekend.
We can’t even get in quarts here . My dad told me that wood should be painted with oil base paint. It’s good that you can get it, even though it is smaller amounts. Smaller is better than none !
So close…how many baby steps you have taken to get to this point. Well done!!
It looks great and I’m so glad you have a bit of reprieve from repair ahead of you!
I hope that other unpainted area is all it needs. That would be so nice to just go and paint and know it’s all ok.
Beautiful window!
Love the paint!
Admire the progress!
Are you talking glossy oil enamel exterior paint? I really did not know it was illegal in some states. I just hand painted with a tiny brush my two hand bend iron hand rails and two curved hand bend wrought iron front doors ( all circa 1955) with dark green almost black glossy oil paint. Also, same color oil paint on my concrete front porch. Oil paint is purchased by the gallon in my state. Was raised that oil enamel is the best paint. Paint still smells strong when dry and cured. What is bad about oil paint?
Oil paint requires turpentine and/or mineral spirits to clean up…and that’s a petroleum product! It seems that some states are trying to eliminate the product all together, which is sad. Also, it contains lead. White, even the base colors, contain lead to give it a “true” color. We all know that lead is extremely bad for children, given the evidence of the 1960s. HOWEVER, I grew up in a lead painted home and it turns out that you’re not supposed to EAT paint chips. A little common sense in this nanny state would be a refreshing change.
Amen, Dodi!
All lead was removed from oil base paints in 1978. The reason states have banned oil base paints; people don’t know how to properly dispose of unused paint. It was ending up in land fills. Thus contaminating ground water, and causing underground fires in the fills. I know of a land fill that has been closed for almost twenty years because of the underground fires from oil base paint. It’s still burning as I write this. It’s a shame that people can be so stupid to not know how, or what to do with the paint they don’t use. I used to collect unused portions and mix exotic colors for many purposes. Oil paint is fabulous for so many applications.
I’m thrilled that Ross has been able to buy oil paint for the Cross house. There is no substitution for the durability of oil paint on a house exterior.
Ross my darling, have you investigated if the paint companies will ship gallons to you? I know that PPG can’t sell in California, but can in all other states. Behr, Sherwin Williams, Dutch Boy, and others might have a shipping arrangement if it is not a popular item in Kansas. After all, you ship what sells. It might be worth an internet search.
The Cross House is soooo lucky to have found you!!!
Hey worker man, when you round that little jaunt to the windowless area of the tower and beyond- toward the sewing room wall….is it just able to be painted? Or do you foresee the shingles needing to be replaced in spots? The typhoons are returning this week ( at least in Illinois!)
I agree with Penny about the trees. A few conical evergreens would not encroach on the house and would give the sun something to do besides beat the crap out of your siding. Oaks are slow growing but log lived. You just have to make sure you plant them far enough away that mature growth doesn’t hit the house. When planting stick trees it’s easy to misjudged their impact when mature.
Your house is so beautiful and I admire your perseverance. Have you seen The Chateau Diaries on YouTube? A woman is restoring a chateau in the French countryside. It might give you a kindred spirit to relate to!
I live on 20 wooded acres. I am a tree-hugger. But trees near houses, particularly wooden ones, foundation bush plantings, English ivy, Virginia creeper–like Gollum I hates it, hates it to death I does. Let us not speak of windfalls, flying branches and other major perils. I will go to my grave having several times yearly grubbed out leaves, pine needles and sticks from four floors’ worth of valleys and gutters, scrubbing sap, honeydew, etc off windows, paying big bucks to tree trimmers. I do not speak of roots in drainage or foundations. Sure, sun is bad for paint and woodwork, but one must prioritize peril avoidance where possible and keeping the jungle away is not only possible, but proper and virtuous.
I could not agree more, John! When we bought our 1886 Queen Anne 20 years ago, you could barely see the second floor or roof in the summer time. We are on an average sized city lot, and with so much house, the yard is basically a 20′ wide strip across the front and down the north side. in 2001, there were 2 large maples, a tall crooked sycamore, and 9 huge sweet-gums! An F-0 tornado took out the maples in ’09, and I had all of the others taken out in 2016. We are nearly done with our addition and exterior restoration, and hope to start landscaping this fall; I intend to plant a couple of smaller trees, but mostly flowering shrubs and bushes. If we were on an acre or more, I would love a couple of large trees placed a safe distance from the house, but there just isn’t enough room here…unless we get rid of the house, LOL
John and Mike…I also love trees. Would love to have some on my 1/4 acre property, but don’t want the hassle that comes with trees. Our sewer line runs plum down the middle of the back yard. Since the house takes up most of the 1/4 acre, there is no way I’d plant a tree in the yard. Last year, the young girl across the street brought me a sycamore sapling. She knows how much I love trees. I explained to her why I couldn’t plant the tree here. I gave the tree to my daughter who has plenty of land. She planted the tree.
Hello Ross,
I have just discovered your blog and have been reading all your Cross House Restauration posts. I adore what you’re doing. I had the great advantage of being able to see a lot of progress in just a few days (it took me 3 days), kind of like a fast forward button because I’m late to the party. Sometimes it was a bit like watching reality tv (but you know, intellectual :p) “no those colours don’t work” (they do), “that’ll look garish” (it does, and I surprides myself by loving it) “Why isn’t he renting out or moving into the carriage house to make/save money” (isn’t it delightful how all-knowing one can be when sitting in front of a computer screen and isn’t emotionally involved?). I wish could do something similar where I live but I’m in a major city and the run down remnants of a broom closet sell for more than I make in a decade, nevermind complete houses with walls and a roof. Maybe in twenty or so years, when I’m in my fifties. Seems like a good age to start 😉
I’m looking forward to reading many more adventures in the restauration of Cross House.
Greetings from Germany and stay healthy and safe in these weird times
P.S. have you discovered Farmhouse Vernacular yet? Paige has written and talked a lot about what historic kitchens were like. No inbuilt cabinets, although her house is a few years younger. And I suppose you might clash on white trims 😀
It’s so pretty!!!