Widows & Widowers Support Group

This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.

3,758 Members
19,465 Posts
0 Online
Death & Dying
/ Widows & Widowers Support Group

OT: Taking Advantage

Truhal
Truhal
It seems there's always someone wanting to take advantage of a widow. So today I had my plantation shutters installed. They are beautiful except for the six very visible holes left from the draperie removal. Sadly, I had those holes put in to hang them only to discover that it made the room so dark that I continued to sleep until noon. So, I ordered plantation shutters. It will be nice and bright now. At any rate, I asked the installer to fill up the holes. I figured he'll fill them up with whatever they fill unwanted holes up with. And then he'll paint it with that nice paint I have in the basement.

No go. He said it will take half a day to do the job. When I asked if he could do it, he said no, but he had a friend who'll do it and that he couldn't do it because the place he works for won't allow it.

Half a day? Sounds to me like he's looking for a sucker for his friend to make money off of. So, I'm stuck with the holes. I'm considering wall art, the kind you stick on the walls, but does anyone else have ideas until I can figure out how to do it myself?
Oluwa
Oluwa
Hi....

I am handy but not manly....

Needed...Putty knife, a small jar of Spackle from local hardware, and sandpaper...

Sand the holes or just use the edge of a putty knife to remove the uneven edges from the holes...so it is flush with the wall.

Then use your putty knife, small amount to fill the hole with excess...Keep putty knife at about at 35 degree and scrape. Let dry..I am sure it will sink a bit....and repeat. When dry sand and paint...

They do have quick dry Spackle..it is about the size of a small sour cream container. Some starts pink and when dries turns white...

Hope this helps...

Hugs.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Go to Lowe's or some other home improvement store and ask them what to use--Spackle maybe?---you should be able to fill the holes yourself without much trouble. The painting is another story--I'm a lousy painter but I've done it---might be a good weekend project? You are right, there is always someone who thinks we are easy marks. Sad but true.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Dear One, i encourage you to fill those holes yourself.... Oluwa gave you a great "how-to". I've determined to be proactive and independent with things that need doing... and i've already had to do a few things that Alan normally took care of ~i felt empowered after doing each task. One success leads to another then another. We can do this!!! We can! ~~S
Lininsocal
Lininsocal
Filling the holes is easy. Get the spackle that starts pink and turns white when dry. Use some sand paper to clean up any lose plaster. If the holes are large you may want to put in a primary fill and allow to dry and then top fill. Using a spackle knife you should get almost a smmoth top cover, after it drys sand it smooth and paint it.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Darn widows have all the fun. No one ever wants to take advantage of me : (

Half a day huh? You make those holes with your car maybe?

BTW, you can sleep till noon and you don't want too?

WAIT A MINUTE, YOU CAN SLEEP?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, I agree to do it yourself and any hardware store will let you know what filler to use depending on the size of hole.
Good luck..........
Truhal
Truhal
Thanks, everyone for giving me the courage to do this myself. I'm still thinking about the guy telling me it would take a half a day to do. Imagine him getting paid by the hole. He'll fill a hole, sit back and have a beer, watch a little tv, then fill another hole and hour later(lol).
deleted_user
deleted_user
Don't know how big the holes are, but if no bigger than a screw or a nail, you can get nail filler that comes in small tubes. Even has an applicator on the end that smoothes it out as you squeeze it in. Easy, peazy.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Wait.....if the holes are in wood, use wood putty, not spackle!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Oluwa - you rock!
Truhal - put your "GIRL POWER" cape on and follow Oluwa's guide to hole patching.
Then your the installer to stuff it.
Hugs, Cathy
deleted_user
deleted_user
Truhal, You Got it! that's exactly what will happen! I hired a gardener to do a little clean up after my husband passed and he took his time, picked some fruit from my trees, sat on my lounger while eating the pears he picked from my trees and 2 hours later he charged me $150.00 for a job I could have done myself in probably 20 minutes but I was too distraught to think I could do it. I no longer think of calling anyone for little jobs. I search the internet or go to Home Depot for DIY info -- they are very helpful.

Oluwa, thank you for DIY guide to hole patching -- I'm refreshing my bathroom and these tips will come in handy -- You Rock Girl!!
michaelbmanning
michaelbmanning
Everyone here has it covered. This is an easy project that will take a few minutes of your time and not half a day or longer. Installers are out to rip people off, widowed or not.

Maggie
deleted_user
deleted_user
You can do it! lol i think of a tape I used to use when I was trying to lose weight years ago. Tony Little would yell that and I really was motivated.
I needed to tile a room before I put the house on the market, Carmelo was ill at home and there was not enough money in our savings to hire someone.
So I took a class at our Do it yourself HomeDepot and with the help with a neighbor we were able to tile the room.
So, if you run into a problem of trying to do it yourself, check out the Home Hardware stores in your area they give out free classes so you can buy their products.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree with everyone that he seems to be taking advantage of you so if you can follow Oluwa's steps, that is what I would do. I've noticed that people deal with me totally differently now that my husband is gone. It is like I now have a sign that states "Please take advantage of me!" I've had to get rather unpleasant with a few people lately because they thought I was not paying attention to business dealings with them and they tried to take advantage. I've gotten tired of their attitudes and treatment so I let them know in no uncertain terms that I will not be tolerating that treatment in the future. Enough is enough! Sorry I just vented! Good luck with the job at hand!