Good advice Lifey,
I tried the edit function and I went on and on but I copied it before I posted it so here is the 3rd attempt.
Patrick, I used gel stain for all the wood except the counter top where I used regular stain and polyethylene. After everything was said and done I ended up with 3 different colors of wood, from very light to dark, so the gel did the job but boy that was a b"tch to deal with, messy product for sure.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAE2KI/XMs7tYco7TY/s640/DSCN1194.JPG?gl=US
It's funny how it takes more time figuring out how to make something than actually do it.
I used screen from Lowe's, it is more rigid than the screen mesh from fabric stores and therefore easier to roll-up.
I cut the screen a few inches wider and longer than the door opening, that gave me playing room to install it. I placed the zipper on the screen a couple of inches smaller than the door opening, I kept the zipper (zipped up) in place with straight pins. I had to fight a bit to turn the corner and the result is not totally smooth but it works. It probably would have been easier if I didn't turn the corner as sharply as I did.
Do not cut the fabric under the zipper before you sew it together. It's not easy to align and sew a zipper on 2 separated pieces of fabric let alone mesh. I strongly recommend using the zipper foot on the sewing machine. I used a straight stich on the first pass, than I opened the zipper and cut the fabric. Lastly I used a zigzag stich and made more 3 passes.
The long zippers can be found at upholstery stores but they are very pricey...well to my wallet anyway. They are not exactly the right kind either, they only have a tab on one side of the zipper not like a tent's zipper. When we were jumping we stayed at Drop Zones that had Europeans staying for a few weeks at a time. A few of them would buy cheap tents and throw them in the garbage when they left. I hate waist so I would retrieve the tents and save the zippers. Long story to tell you that I now have a few and I have no use for them, so let me know if you'd like me to send you a couple to help with your project. You see if they stay here unused, it still a waist.
Do not hesitate to PM me if you need more details.
Good luck.
Lifey, are you in Florida? If you're not too far from here I might be able to give you a hand.
Cheers.
Nicole
Had a great deal of help earlier this year from members who 'fixed' up my electronics setup. Such a generous bunch.
