Home Improvement Using Rocket Building Skills

Why include this on a Rocket Building Blog? The skills learned building rockets can teach patience, build confidence and hone skills needed for home improvement.

When I moved into my Townhouse 17 years ago there were very few upgrades. All the fixtures were construction grade, the cheapest available. The toilet paper holders and towel bars were white porcelain looking like something out of the 1950s!

Little by little I've been replacing them with modern chrome or brushed nickel faucets, handles and hardware.  

The old toilet paper holder and wallpaper. 

This old T.P. holder is inset in a square cut into the drywall. It had to be chipped out! 

The T.P. is a bit wet, I was just starting a damp test to soak and remove the old wallpaper.

Wallpaper was removed and the wall joints caulked.

Rocket skills: New caulking - finger smoothed fillets. 

The rough cut out hole was cleaned up for a better fit of the patch. This style of drywall cut is called a "California Patch." Score the back and crack leaving the paper overlap lip.

Rocket skills: Measuring, a few passes using a sharp knife and straight edge.

Apply drywall compound around the edges, flip over the patch and press into the hole. Burnish to smooth out the sides for a feathered in edge.

Rocket skills: Filling and sanding, repeat until smooth.

This wall texture product sprays like a bad can of Rusto 2X Gloss White paint. 

It purposely spatters and gives you a rough texture to match the existing pebbled finish. Using this texture paint is the fun part of drywall patching. A textured, flat finish surface covers imperfections. 

Rocket skills: Flat finish paint can cover rough areas. Gloss paint shows everything!

Old and new, side by side. Before screwing in the new T.P. holder the wall was primed and painted.

Rocket skills: Priming, masking and brush painting.

Much better!