This fall I’m tackling a lengthy project of replacing seven double-hung windows on our house. Doesn’t sound too bad until you actually look at what’s involved: Cleaning and sanding new restoration sashes, conditioning the interior wood, staining the interior wood, applying four coats of Fuhr 260 finish, prepping and painting the exterior of the sashes, stripping existing window trim (interior and exterior), staining, finishing, prepping and painting the exterior and interior trim, replacing vintage sash springs with new restoration copies, and installing the sashes. Oh my god! I just realized how epic this project is going to be. Sometimes as homeowners, we face projects that involve a level of tedium that can actually suck the soul right out of your body. I had an epiphany when planning this project and thought I’d pass along a more philosophical DIY tip, “targeted inefficiency.” Read More