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We, and everyone else in my close, have stopped catering for trick-or-treaters. We all used to do it enthusiastically, and word got around such that people were driving in from all over town - we could look out of the window and see literally a hundred people at a time milling around in our 4-house shared driveway. Was just too much, we all packed it in.

Crispy78 wrote:
We, and everyone else in my close, have stopped catering for trick-or-treaters. We all used to do it enthusiastically, and word got around such that people were driving in from all over town - we could look out of the window and see literally a hundred people at a time milling around in our 4-house shared driveway. Was just too much, we all packed it in.

My last neighborhood was like that. Current one is similar, but not as bad. Nice little cozy suburb. And to be fair, we were part of the problem. We’d have all the cousins, friends and family who lived on more rural/bad spots to trick or treat over, fill them full of soup and chili, and let them loose on the neighborhood.

These days I keep the lights off and lock the door…

Crispy78 wrote:
We, and everyone else in my close, have stopped catering for trick-or-treaters. We all used to do it enthusiastically, and word got around such that people were driving in from all over town - we could look out of the window and see literally a hundred people at a time milling around in our 4-house shared driveway. Was just too much, we all packed it in.

We get a few kids who are driven in for the rich pickings, but the overwhelming majority is local. The neighborhood was built in the early 1970s and when we first moved in, a lot of the original owners were still here, meaning very few children. In the years since, almost all the houses have been sold to young families who either have kids, or are having more (we are a short walk to a big park and elementary school).

The big question is the weather. A few years ago, it was balmy, and also the Pandemic was over and so it was pretty much a neighborhood block party - people sitting out in the driveway with candy, folding chairs, grilling, knocking back some beers. But we can also have freezing rain and driving snow, which convince the kiddies to cut things short.

My youngest has taken to sitting on the porch in the "Scream" villain outfit. She sits there motionless, with a bowl of candy in her lap and a sign propped up on her that says "Take just one!"

Violators get grabbed, and their terrified screams are music to my ears.

That’s my decorations out. Got a big old Snek, and some lights.

Pretty sure it needs more dressing, but will have a think.

My neighbor's yard looks like he's been ready for Halloween for a while now... either that or he's planning on filming a Vietnam War picture on his property.

I never get any where I live, but then again I live in the middle of nowhere.

 Easy E wrote:
I never get any where I live, but then again I live in the middle of nowhere.

Wanna trade? I wish I lived in the middle of nowhere.

On second thought... maybe not. I probably won't be able to sleep without the soothing tones of the police helicopter hovering over my neighborhood.

It's really depends. My two closets neighbors polish their yards like they fights for some prise. And two other around have messy yards and houses. village are very yang, our neighborhood are only 3 year old. My own yard is something in-between those categories. Left half is nice and pretty, with grass, trees and greenhouse and the right one like it's under orbital bombardment right now
But yeah, when people live in their own houses it is different to how people behaved in rented flats/house

Downstairs is now pretty much to my liking. Got a dividing curtain installed, so I can close off the kitchen when it’s cosy time. Will keep it open during the daylight hours.

Also got two new cabinets for my Star Wars collection (big enough for my honking great ships to sit atop), and still got the two book cases.

Really need to impress upon the friend wanting a chunky piece of furniture to come collect it, as I need the space to complete Stuff Tetris. That will then let me sort out upstairs, and get a clear idea of what is going where in the craft room, and what sort of shelving/furniture that’s going to involve.

Next thing? I need the sort of advice I’d normally ask my Dad about. So Dakka? You’re my Dad for this question.

Gonna do my first redecoration job, ever. Specifically, I want to repaint the bedroom from an admittedly quite nice neutral grey to something a good bit more me.

I’ve Googled the technique. Cover up any furniture in the room, then prep the walls with a light sanding to create a key.

Where I’m looking for advice is whether a power sander is necessary. OK it would arguably speed things up, but it’s a specific purchase/hire job.

Any thoughts? If you would consider it a near essential, can you recommend a specific model? Power tools are a bit of a mystery to me, as I don’t really know where the line between cheap and solid value lies.

Honestly you could probably just get some plaster to patch any holes; use some sandpaper to rough up and smooth out any blemishes and then put a coat of primer and two coats of paint on.

You probably don't need to go all the way to a power-sander unless you want to take the previous layer of pain off first. Since its a neutral grey you can likely get away just going over it; esp if you use a white primer first to help key things on.



Also I'd recommend moving all the furniture into the middle then covering and if its a small room just do one side then the other instead of all at once so the items can just move one side to the other.

Make sure you've some masking tape to help you on the edges; get a half decent brush and away you go. .

Don’t get a power sander as you’ll likely knacker your plaster layer under the paint. Another recommendation is to get sugar soap solution and slather it into the existing paint layer. They usually degreases enough to Enable a good bond to a new paint layer without sanding, especially if you are hitting it with a new layer of primer as well. Sanding should only be sexed for smoothing any gap filler that’s been used, or to take down any existing lumps and bumps.

I’ve got a paint thrower device, which you just plug into the electric, and the paint pot. So that ought to be a time saver, especially for the primer.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I’ve got a paint thrower device, which you just plug into the electric, and the paint pot. So that ought to be a time saver, especially for the primer.

I've never used a sprayer, just rollers with brushes for detail work.

See if you can do as much in one go, as those things can clog up worse than the cheapest airbrush

Got some big, plain walls. Probably won’t use it on the window side though! Far too easy to bugger that right up.

Also looking at cast iron Victorian style radiators. If you’re gonna Goth? Goth big!

Ive never sanded walls in any room painting project I’ve been involved in. Just slap up new paint. Sometimes with a primer, other times just a couple coats.

YMMV

 Flinty wrote:
Don’t get a power sander as you’ll likely knacker your plaster layer under the paint. Another recommendation is to get sugar soap solution and slather it into the existing paint layer. They usually degreases enough to Enable a good bond to a new paint layer without sanding, especially if you are hitting it with a new layer of primer as well. Sanding should only be sexed for smoothing any gap filler that’s been used, or to take down any existing lumps and bumps.

This is how I’ve done mine. Also, it’s not the big expanses that takes the time, it’s masking and blocking around all of the switches, sockets, skirting boards, etc.

Skirting board and Dado should be too bad to mask off. They’re both quite chunky, being Victorian/Edwardian.

I may yet get a decorator in and simply remove my own cackhandedness from the equation. I think one of my neighbours is a professional decorator, and there seems no better way to get on your local community’s good side than giving them work. Spesh if it’s general handyman type, and they can install a new radiator at the same time.

Have ordered the paint. B&Q were doing a 3 for 2 deal, and I found the right shade. Seemed too serendipitous to pass up.

Did you check the coverage of your paint against the area of wall? Nothing worse than running out with just a little corner left to do. Also if you need to do multiple coats, it all adds up.

Based my purchase on how much it took my friend to do her front room (20 litres) which is twice the size of my bedroom. Bought 15l.

As I’m getting a pro in to actually do the deed, I’ll let them know how much I’ve ordered. If they say get more, I’ll get more. I’ve still saved £52 at this stage whichever way you butter it.

 Flinty wrote:
Don’t get a power sander as you’ll likely knacker your plaster layer under the paint. Another recommendation is to get sugar soap solution and slather it into the existing paint layer. They usually degreases enough to Enable a good bond to a new paint layer without sanding, especially if you are hitting it with a new layer of primer as well. Sanding should only be sexed for smoothing any gap filler that’s been used, or to take down any existing lumps and bumps.

Yeah was going to say this. Don't bother sanding unless you have some surface imperfections to address. Wash down with sugar soap and you're good to go.

I don't worry about masking light switches and power sockets. Just unscrew the face plates and move them out a bit, and go round and slightly under them with a brush.

If it's just a simple room painting it may be worth doing it yourself, just to get the experience. It's a pretty simple process and a good skill to pick up. I did my entire flat before moving house and even with the crappy walls it had, I only ever repaired and sanded the holes, not the whole wall. Then it's just getting used to using a roller and how much cutting in you need to do with a brush before that.

We had decorators come in to do our garage conversion and while they were thorough and fairly quick, I wouldn't say the quality of their work was massively above what I can manage. Obviously, YMMV, but unless you're painting staircases or the walls need a lot of work, I'm not sure how much value there is in getting decorators in. It's your time and money at the end of the day, though.

Once you have the decorating sorted, and you need to get stuff fixed to the walls, I can’t recommend these enough

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-hollow-wall-anchors-m4-x-38mm-100-pack/6932p

I never got on with crappy plastic rawlplug type things. You need a setting tool, but these things are rock solid for absolutely anything g you might want to hang.

Lovely brick walls here, so rawl plugs do me fine.

Today I did some shifting around in the hobby/crafting room. Still miles from functionality, but my Jabba’s Palace collection is now in a proper display cabinet. And all but one of my storage tubs is up in the loft.

Think I do want the loft to be floored out. Someone’s had what can only be termed “an attempt” at that before. But only really did the area by the tiny hatch. Also noticed some of the loft insulation is wonky.

An actual Loft Conversion is a job for retirement funds, so some years away. But to get proper planking and the insulation laid properly will let me maximise use of that space for now. Also needs some sort of light.

If you’re only going in the loft periodically, buy a little rechargeable LED work lamp (something like this https://www.wickes.co.uk/USB-Rechargeable-LED-Work-Light/p/240892). They give great illumination and you don’t have to faff with electrics.

Seems a sensible purchase. Currently been using my phone.

Will get my mate over, as whilst I trust the ladder whilst I’m stood on it? I don’t think it’s a good idea to get up in the loft fully without a spare pair of hands and indeed eyes for the descent.

There’s also Mystery Boxes up there from the previous owner, possibly owners. Will be having a look in those and all.

If you find Christopher Eccleston up there, just don’t tell anyone

With my luck, I’m more likely to find a driving instructor from Johnnesburg.

One thing you're going to end up having, is a list of good tradespeople to work with. We had a leak overnight (not that serious, thankfully) and already knowing a reliable, local plumber was a massive help in getting it fixed quickly. We've got a similar person for our gas. Our plumber actually helps by telling you how to fix small stuff yourself if you want, rather than trying to milk the customer for every last penny. Put these people on your Christmas card list!

Unfortunately, the standard of tradespeople has declined a lot, IME. When I lived in my first flat I had a list of people who were great, but all but one has retired. One plumber we got out took one look at our problem, shrugged his shoulders and went "dunno", before leaving and charging us for a half-hour callout. That was before we found the one we use now.