Homebodies - Working with salvage and waxing creative

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Published on Saturday, September 17, 2016

By Rita Friesen

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It was important to me to have a garage. And then to be doubly blessed with not only an attached single car garage, but a double garage/workshop in the back yard! My family wondered at my need to keep, and relocate, the tools, the saws, the whole kit and caboodle from the shop, but I knew what I wanted and they quietly complied. Right down to letting me keep the chainsaw, but there is one ancient wooden ladder missing! 

The back door of the single car garage was less than beautiful, and beauty is not the only pre-requisite for a door, but it was also less than serviceable. The door knob had no catch mechanism, and so to keep the door closed there was a toggle at the bottom. So if the door was closed, you could only get out, not in. The wooden door had a series of flanges to act as draft stoppers. So I was gifted a fire door with a broken window. One of my goals has been to find the proper home for a window a grandson painted for me when he was but a lad. It’s coming together, right? Carefully removed the broken window, and proceeded to attempt to hang the door. The empty window opening made it lighter and easier to handle. Oh my, the door physically fit the opening, I measured twice! But the door jamb was twisted, seriously, and much shaping with saw and sander was required. Asking advice from my neighbour proved helpful. I had ascertained that the binding was occurring on the hinge side, and that my plan of attack was to shape the other side. Assured that I was on the right path, I toiled on. It fits snugly! 

Within the boxes of ‘stuff’ we moved over, there was a never-been -opened door knob kit. I installed that with minimal knuckle busting. On to the window. I carefully installed an acrylic window, caulked and framed, into one side and mounted the heritage piece on the other side, the inside. Then I carefully installed a sweep on the bottom. There are those of you who will recognize how rewarding it is to have the correct drill, bits and bores, the correct saw, (I used the mitre, the table and the jig!), the sander and the chisel. I even cased the opening. 

Now it took me the better part of two days to complete my project. But I worked with salvage, I waxed creative and I love the finished product. The door closes, with a bit of encouragement, but I believe that with the winter shift it will be perfect. I believe. Countless trips from project to shop, at least 20 steps for every trip, forth and back, forth and back, tools scattered at my feet, dogs watching. The garage is lighter, brighter, and every time I see the window I smile. It’s all good.