Being tall does have its disadvantages and working under the boxes in one of those. Just six inches shorter than the Planner still makes me above average on the female height spectrum. Six inches shorter when stooped under the boxes makes a huge difference.

Way back at the end of June when the Planner was working on the last of the columns, I started on Work Box repairs. Simple things I could do without the Planner assistance such as rust removal and red primer painting. These frames were sandblasted, primed, and painted back in April 2018. And less than four years later, they are in need of major repairs as the paint did not hold up.

Almost a month to date, another section was started. But first the stairs had to be removed. Upon their removal I tripped over the stepping stone causing me to drop my end of the stairs whereupon they shattered. Good grief the rot under the steps. These were a death trap with every step taken. Hundreds of steps a day up and down all day, every day.

Grind, grind, grind all day long. Cup grinders are dangerous. Cup grinders held above your head while laying down on a cardboard mat is the most dangerous. My height/arm ratio makes me the perfect person to cup grind the undersides. Sitting on a milk crate the Planner did the hard part, grinding in and around the PVC lines. Having already done the other half of the of the PVC line, I was grateful for the break. Upside down might be difficult, around PVC was tedious. Difficult is better than tedious.

In one day, the Planner and I completed half of the framework less than quarter already done. It is times like this where two get more than twice done.

The second half of the box suffered even worse rusty conditions. Unlike the front, the back half had layers of metal flaking off. Worse was the locations were difficult to get with the cup grinder.

Bright green paint against a dark red primer is a stark contras, don’t you agree? Sadly, there was no lumber at the local hardware store for a new stairs. Originally, the first set of stairs were built for temporary use. Just a few months or so. Knowing the second set of stairs are as permanent as permanent can be with lumber in wet conditions. Even pressure treated lumber only lasts so long. Until the lumber becomes available, the stupid step ladder will be used.

Two weeks! Two weeks up and down the ladder a thousand times a day. A thousand times up and down in the wind and rain. While we waited the frames were painted in exterior paint designed specifically for metal in salty conditions. Expensive and difficult to lay down, requiring two coats and with long cure times in our wet environment, the final result sure was pretty. Finally with lumber in hand and frame fully dry, a ditch was dug for coax cable (more about that later) and new longer lasting stairs was installed.

Four and half years from start to finish, the Work Box is completely finished inside and out.