Just because Desertgrandma asked ...

RickyMaveety · 07-17-2008, 12:41 PM

This is what I'm doing in my free time. You can kind of see in one photo how the floor is all dull on the left side, and then the right side is the portion that I've refinished.

Also attached are two photos of the small bookcases in the greatroom. The first one is with three years of cat damage ... it's been cleaned every few weeks, but the cat spray really damages the finish such that just cleaning isn't very effective after a while. The other photo is of the one I refinished.

I've got about 5,500 sq feet of stained and scored concrete to seal (it looks like stone tile, but it's just concrete), and a hell of a lot of furniture to make look good. So, if I turn up missing from time to time, please forgive me, I'm just knee deep in dried cat pee.

Oh, and in case anyone wonders, the plastic box mounted to the wall next to the damaged bookcase is an outlet protector that I created. All the ones that were commercially available were (1) expensive and (2) wouldn't work to keep the cats from spraying into the outlets. The problem was that the electrical wiring would become corroded (one R or two??) and then I'd have to replace the whole outlet. After a couple of electrical fires, I decided to remedy the problem myself. The box lid opens to allow access to the outlet, and then there is a cord pass through that I cut at the bottom so that I can leave things plugged in but still have protection for the outlet.

And, yes, for the men in the audience who are not into refinishing furniture .... I know the finished bookcase looks a little beat up ... but that's the look I'm going for. It's called "distressed."

desertgrandma · 07-17-2008, 12:56 PM

I never knew concrete floors could look so good. And you did this yourself? I love the color. Do you ever have any knee problems walking onthem all day? Of course, I supposed you wear good shoes. I'm barefoot most of the time. Who needs shoes in Arizona? Clever idea with the outlet......Necessity is indeed the mother of invention......

nekokami · 07-17-2008, 12:58 PM

You're a better woman than I. I love kitties dearly, but dealing with that much spraying would send me right out of what's left of my little mind.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-17-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

You're a better woman than I. I love kitties dearly, but dealing with that much spraying would send me right out of what's left of my little mind.

oh me too. i hated the litter box so much i trained mine to go in the (human) toilets. beurk. there are some things i'm not willing to deal with. life is too short.

daffy4u · 07-17-2008, 01:04 PM

Beautiful floors!

badgoodDeb · 07-17-2008, 01:10 PM

Yeah, really gorgeous floors!!! And I like the panda-izing of your armadillo avatar!

jerryleejr · 07-17-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

And, yes, for the men in the audience who are not into refinishing furniture .... I know the finished bookcase looks a little beat up ... but that's the look I'm going for. It's called "distressed."

If that is the look you want I have an attic full of it you can have compliments of the rug rats.

JJ

RickyMaveety · 07-17-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I never knew concrete floors could look so good. And you did this yourself? I love the color. Do you ever have any knee problems walking onthem all day? Of course, I supposed you wear good shoes. I'm barefoot most of the time. Who needs shoes in Arizona? Clever idea with the outlet......Necessity is indeed the mother of invention......

They were already stained when I bought the house, all I'm doing is sealing them (to put a shine on them). You can wax them, but most companies recommend that you wax once a year, which costs about $1000 to do.

The sealant will last longer, and I bought enough to treat the floors for several years for about $400.

I wear Crocs. Pretty much all the time. Going barefoot in this house can be dangerous. I've killed as many as four scorpions in the house in a single day. However, my Crocs are very comfy!!

I already have knee problems stemming from being shot in my left knee when I was about 10. Now it's one of those "weather forecasting" knees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

You're a better woman than I. I love kitties dearly, but dealing with that much spraying would send me right out of what's left of my little mind.

Out of my 20 cats, it's only about four (all males) who spray. Even cats neutered as kittens may choose to spray. I don't know why it is ... it just is.

I've got 12 "Clever Cat" litterboxes in various spots around the house. All the cats (except Morgan) use them. However, spraying is not peeing .... it's not even the same substance. It's VERY pungent and oily feeling, although it is just as corrosive as pee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

oh me too. i hated the litter box so much i trained mine to go in the (human) toilets. beurk. there are some things i'm not willing to deal with. life is too short.

As mentioned, even if I taught them all to use the toilet, the problem of spraying would still be there. A few of my cats might be amenable to training, but some (like Brian, who is severely brain damaged), would probably not be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Beautiful floors!

Thanks. The concrete floors were what sold me on the place. I love that it's almost impossible to damage them.

RickyMaveety · 07-17-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerryleejr

If that is the look you want I have an attic full of it you can have compliments of the rug rats.

JJ

Oh thanks .... I've got four house-fulls of it. Sigh.

slayda · 07-17-2008, 02:13 PM

Very nice floors, Ricky.

I know a cure for your cats' spraying, but neither you nor several others here would like it.

I like Crocs too but they are expensive. We have a chain of stores here called "Tractor Supply" that sell a knockoff called Rics - $14.99 a pair. Not quite as good as Crocs but less than half the price. Corcs (or Rics) or something like that would be almost mandatory with that floor. Be sure to check inside your crocs before putting your feet in if you have scorpions - not very nice critters. I'm more like desertgrandma though, I prefer to be barefoot as much as possible. Comes from growing up in rural Mississippi.

RickyMaveety · 07-17-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

Very nice floors, Ricky.

I know a cure for your cats' spraying, but neither you nor several others here would like it.

I like Crocs too but they are expensive. We have a chain of stores here called "Tractor Supply" that sell a knockoff called Rics - $14.99 a pair. Not quite as good as Crocs but less than half the price. Corcs (or Rics) or something like that would be almost mandatory with that floor. Be sure to check inside your crocs before putting your feet in if you have scorpions - not very nice critters. I'm more like desertgrandma though, I prefer to be barefoot as much as possible. Comes from growing up in rural Mississippi.

We've got a Tractor Supply store just over in Marble Falls. I go there all the time. However, I really (really) love my Crocs. I find that even with really hard wear, a pair will last me a year.

It's not just the scorpions (and yes .... I do check inside of my shoes before putting them on), but also the mesquite thorns and other nasties that are out in the hills and woods around the house. Mesquite thorns grow to about 2 inches, are VERY hard and VERY sharp ... you do NOT want to step on one barefoot. Really ... you just don't.

Then, there are the fire ants. Another thing you really don't want to run across barefoot. They sting like crazy and if you are allergic you can pretty much just kiss the world goodbye once they start swarming you. Makes me shudder just to think of it.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-17-2008, 04:22 PM

scorpions.... mesquite thorns... fire ants.... my golly i'm glad i don't live in texas !! i don't know how y'all survive from day to day.

RickyMaveety · 07-17-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

scorpions.... mesquite thorns... fire ants.... my golly i'm glad i don't live in texas !! i don't know how y'all survive from day to day.

Those are nothing compared to the rattlesnakes, coral snakes, and mountain lions (yes, we actually have mountain lions out here).

And, the short answer is ... you just get used to it. The lions are more likely to attack in the winter (when the deer are not so plentiful), so you learn not to walk around outside after dark. The rattlesnakes are worse in the evening, the coral snakes are worse during the day ... but, again, you learn to keep your eyes where you are stepping, and not to just go traipsing out into the tall brush.

It's probably no worse for the dangerous wildlife than much of the rest of the world. We're out in the country ... and that's what you get in the country.

BUT ... on the bright side, the dangerous wildlife tend to thin out the noisy children. So, that's a plus ... right??

slayda · 07-17-2008, 04:32 PM

Probably not as dangerous as the streets of Paris during rush hour.

slayda · 07-17-2008, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

We've got a Tractor Supply store just over in Marble Falls. I go there all the time. However, I really (really) love my Crocs. I find that even with really hard wear, a pair will last me a year.

My first pair of Rics have lasted about two years so far. I wear them for all my yard work. No Mesquite thorns though.

You didn't mention coyotes. Is that because they are relative benign in comparison to all else?

07-17-2008, 12:41 PM	#1
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	Just because Desertgrandma asked ... This is what I'm doing in my free time. You can kind of see in one photo how the floor is all dull on the left side, and then the right side is the portion that I've refinished. Also attached are two photos of the small bookcases in the greatroom. The first one is with three years of cat damage ... it's been cleaned every few weeks, but the cat spray really damages the finish such that just cleaning isn't very effective after a while. The other photo is of the one I refinished. I've got about 5,500 sq feet of stained and scored concrete to seal (it looks like stone tile, but it's just concrete), and a hell of a lot of furniture to make look good. So, if I turn up missing from time to time, please forgive me, I'm just knee deep in dried cat pee. Oh, and in case anyone wonders, the plastic box mounted to the wall next to the damaged bookcase is an outlet protector that I created. All the ones that were commercially available were (1) expensive and (2) wouldn't work to keep the cats from spraying into the outlets. The problem was that the electrical wiring would become corroded (one R or two??) and then I'd have to replace the whole outlet. After a couple of electrical fires, I decided to remedy the problem myself. The box lid opens to allow access to the outlet, and then there is a cord pass through that I cut at the bottom so that I can leave things plugged in but still have protection for the outlet. And, yes, for the men in the audience who are not into refinishing furniture .... I know the finished bookcase looks a little beat up ... but that's the look I'm going for. It's called "distressed." Attached Thumbnails

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07-17-2008, 12:56 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	I never knew concrete floors could look so good. And you did this yourself? I love the color. Do you ever have any knee problems walking onthem all day? Of course, I supposed you wear good shoes. I'm barefoot most of the time. Who needs shoes in Arizona? Clever idea with the outlet......Necessity is indeed the mother of invention......

07-17-2008, 12:58 PM	#3
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	You're a better woman than I. I love kitties dearly, but dealing with that much spraying would send me right out of what's left of my little mind.

07-17-2008, 01:04 PM	#5
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Beautiful floors!

07-17-2008, 01:10 PM	#6
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Yeah, really gorgeous floors!!! And I like the panda-izing of your armadillo avatar!

07-17-2008, 02:13 PM	#10
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Very nice floors, Ricky. I know a cure for your cats' spraying, but neither you nor several others here would like it. I like Crocs too but they are expensive. We have a chain of stores here called "Tractor Supply" that sell a knockoff called Rics - $14.99 a pair. Not quite as good as Crocs but less than half the price. Corcs (or Rics) or something like that would be almost mandatory with that floor. Be sure to check inside your crocs before putting your feet in if you have scorpions - not very nice critters. I'm more like desertgrandma though, I prefer to be barefoot as much as possible. Comes from growing up in rural Mississippi.

07-17-2008, 04:22 PM	#12
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	scorpions.... mesquite thorns... fire ants.... my golly i'm glad i don't live in texas !! i don't know how y'all survive from day to day.

07-17-2008, 04:32 PM	#14
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Probably not as dangerous as the streets of Paris during rush hour.

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