Wesley Zimmerman - Lay it Straight

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Wesley Zimmerman - Lay it Straight

Peaslee Cottage Window Apron

When I prepared the third floor windows of my house for storm windows, all of the window sills, and jambs had to be restored beforehand, so that the storm windows could be properly set and sealed. The old apron was just a 2 x 4 nailed to keep the rotted sub sill from falling out. I repaired it (see other post) so that I could fabricate a new decorative apron that more closely matched others in the neighborhood, and from other period homes.
This is the before, taken just after I purchased my house in late 2008. The window apron is flat. It was actually a 2 x 4 that was nailed in place to keep the rotted sub sill from falling out. I discovered that only after it was removed.
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron
This is a photo of Maplewood Cottage, another home in the neighborhood that still sports the original decorative apron. This was my first source of inspiration. This home sold just a year after mine, although some of the details share more with the Queen Anne's of the 1880s. With more Aesthetic...
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron
This is an apron on an 1888-1891 house in the next block, far less colonial Influence here.
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron
An image I found of a distinctly Colonial Revival Flavored window apron.
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron
You can see the designs on the sheet of paper, and then the half template I made. I traced, flipped, and then traced again.
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron
Cut out on a band saw from a 1 x 8 in clear pine. Primed with Zinnser Shellac based primer. The best for penetrating and sealing anything you don't want to reach the surface.
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron
I just oil primed the apron. Use Penetrol when you use Oil Paint. It makes the paint smoother, and helps it dry faster. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron
After 3 coats of the final color. This is a nice, California Paints Latex mixed with Floetrol, the water based cousin to Penetrol. I prefer oil, but for large scale housepainting, it's almost impossible to find anymore without paying a couple hundred dollars a gallon for the good stuff.
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron
Finished Product. It's like it's always been there, This is just before the storm windows went on.
Peaslee Cottage Window Apron