DIY disaster: our mudroom meltdown

We removed wall moulding from several rooms in our house without issue. However, when we attempted to take down the batten board in our mudroom, who knew resurfacing it would turn into a bubbling, month-long saga? Yep, you read that right: bubbles – paint bubbles. Never heard of them? Neither had we until they exploded onto our freshly painted wall.

This project served up some brutal lessons:

1. Ensure that resurfacing putty is completely dry before priming.
2. Primer and putty are BFFs. Always apply primer after putty.
3. Don't be a paint-whipping ninja; it can introduce air bubbles that get trapped in the paint and surface as the paint dries. Stir gently.
4. "Let the bubbles dry, and they'll disappear." is a myth.

After four attempts, a month of effort, and one near-meltdown later, we conquered the paint bubbles. At one point, the mere sight of the wall caused me too much stress, leaving me to avoid the mudroom altogether, using an alternative entry in and out of the house. Ripping out the drywall and starting fresh crossed our minds – which would probably have been faster than the resurfacing loop of doom.

But Christian stuck with it. And now, the wall? Flawless. There is no hint of its bubblish past. So, there you have it. It might have been hellish, but now, it's just a story we tell with a chuckle and a reminder that DIY projects can have their dramatic moments. Still, we emerged (slightly traumatized but victorious) on the other side.