Home Improvement Thread
-
- Posts: 60742
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:00 pm
- Location: FUCΚ! Even in the future nothing works.
Home Improvement Thread
A paint store should never run out of paint.
-
- Posts: 11556
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 3:27 pm
Home Improvement Thread
Can you make it a free standing wood stove instead of a fireplace? That may skew the insurance/ordinances in your favor.Anyone know if there is any kind of restriction on adding a wood burning fireplace to an existing home in Westmoreland County? I know some jurisdictions like Wisconsin have effectively made them prohibitive through a combination of legislation and exorbitant insurance rates.
Home Improvement Thread
We originally planned a pellet stove but we really liked having a wood fireplace. Good suggestion though. Our insurance lady is shady af and can probably work something out for us.
Home Improvement Thread
I'd venture a guess you'll be fine. I went through the process in Fayette County thoughWe're hiring an architect and it will end up being on the plans that get submitted for permit.
The only place I've ever had a functional log burning fireplace was at the beach in NC, go figure.
-
- Posts: 11556
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 3:27 pm
Home Improvement Thread
My mom has one in her basement. We used to get it cranking up to 1500 F and with the fan it was a sauna. Only bad part was going back upstairs where it was a cool 67.We originally planned a pellet stove but we really liked having a wood fireplace. Good suggestion though. Our insurance lady is shady af and can probably work something out for us.
-
- Posts: 11556
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 3:27 pm
Home Improvement Thread
Anybody ever operate an excavator? I want to do a few things in my back yard, but not sure if it's worth trying to do myself or hire a contractor.
Plans: Demo old shed. Level area of shed and area next to shed for new shed and patio. Run a trench from house to shed area (150 feet more or less) for water and electricity. On side of house, create a swale to help mitigate a standing water issue.
Plans: Demo old shed. Level area of shed and area next to shed for new shed and patio. Run a trench from house to shed area (150 feet more or less) for water and electricity. On side of house, create a swale to help mitigate a standing water issue.
-
- Posts: 28101
- Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 12:12 pm
- Location: Methuselah Honeysuckle
Home Improvement Thread
- Anyone ever built an elevated deck before? I've assisted in building a ground level deck and it didn't seem that difficult, but building one 10ish feet off the ground and spending the next however many years of my life hoping that I didn't **** something up gives me some concerns.
- Anyone ever add sidelights to a front door that doesn't already have them? I'd rather not **** around with the framing of the house we just built, but my wife is convinced that she needs sidelights to have the house look exactly like she wants it to.
- Anyone ever add sidelights to a front door that doesn't already have them? I'd rather not **** around with the framing of the house we just built, but my wife is convinced that she needs sidelights to have the house look exactly like she wants it to.
Home Improvement Thread
I don't think I would try to do a deck myself. I still remember the legendary Reddit threat where a guy proudly posted pictures of the new home-built deck he had put up over the weekend and a contractor followed up and listed something like a dozen serious structural/construction flaws that were apparent from the photos. They need to be done right or they can be really dangerous. One of the episodes of Holmes on Homes was Holmes replacing a second-story deck that had collapsed and seriously injured the homeowner and one of her friends.
Edit: found that Reddit thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1 ... d/c9of7l0/
Edit: found that Reddit thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1 ... d/c9of7l0/
Home Improvement Thread
I rented a house in NC that had a really shitty deck. Some of the planks terminated in the middle of the deck surface, was just weird.
Home Improvement Thread
I don't think I would try to do a deck myself. I still remember the legendary Reddit threat where a guy proudly posted pictures of the new home-built deck he had put up over the weekend and a contractor followed up and listed something like a dozen serious structural/construction flaws that were apparent from the photos. They need to be done right or they can be really dangerous. One of the episodes of Holmes on Homes was Holmes replacing a second-story deck that had collapsed and seriously injured the homeowner and one of her friends.
Edit: found that Reddit thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1 ... d/c9of7l0/
This reddit thread was great. Thanks for the memories.
-
- Posts: 28101
- Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 12:12 pm
- Location: Methuselah Honeysuckle
Home Improvement Thread
lol. This thread is one of the main sources of my concern.I don't think I would try to do a deck myself. I still remember the legendary Reddit threat where a guy proudly posted pictures of the new home-built deck he had put up over the weekend and a contractor followed up and listed something like a dozen serious structural/construction flaws that were apparent from the photos. They need to be done right or they can be really dangerous. One of the episodes of Holmes on Homes was Holmes replacing a second-story deck that had collapsed and seriously injured the homeowner and one of her friends.
Edit: found that Reddit thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1 ... d/c9of7l0/
Home Improvement Thread
I've done excavations yeah. Depending on how level you're trying to get it, you may need a mini ex and a skid steer.Anybody ever operate an excavator? I want to do a few things in my back yard, but not sure if it's worth trying to do myself or hire a contractor.
Plans: Demo old shed. Level area of shed and area next to shed for new shed and patio. Run a trench from house to shed area (150 feet more or less) for water and electricity. On side of house, create a swale to help mitigate a standing water issue.
Where are you located? If you're close to me I can help. Or, I can recommend someone to give you a quote. And you can go from there.
-
- Posts: 50381
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:27 pm
- Location: A moron or a fascist...but not both.
Home Improvement Thread
Yeah man... Just find a well reviewed expert and pay them. Not worth the risk imolol. This thread is one of the main sources of my concern.I don't think I would try to do a deck myself. I still remember the legendary Reddit threat where a guy proudly posted pictures of the new home-built deck he had put up over the weekend and a contractor followed up and listed something like a dozen serious structural/construction flaws that were apparent from the photos. They need to be done right or they can be really dangerous. One of the episodes of Holmes on Homes was Holmes replacing a second-story deck that had collapsed and seriously injured the homeowner and one of her friends.
Edit: found that Reddit thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1 ... d/c9of7l0/
-
- Posts: 9328
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:28 pm
- Location: undisclosed
Home Improvement Thread
Moved
Most new quality construction will have veneer plaster. You're probably thinking of old lime plaster & lath - a completely different thing., I didn't think anyone did that anymore.Yes. It was standard with my builder. Hardcoat plaster over wallboard. Initially I wasnt thrilled about it but couldn't be happier now. It also made painting so much easierthe skip trowel finish in most areas (other than kitchen and bath) hides the fact that a bunch of booze and pizza filled guys painted it
Home Improvement Thread
Yes, 1960's homes and earlier plaster. I didn't think they still did that.Moved
Most new quality construction will have veneer plaster. You're probably thinking of old lime plaster & lath - a completely different thing., I didn't think anyone did that anymore.Yes. It was standard with my builder. Hardcoat plaster over wallboard. Initially I wasnt thrilled about it but couldn't be happier now. It also made painting so much easierthe skip trowel finish in most areas (other than kitchen and bath) hides the fact that a bunch of booze and pizza filled guys painted it
-
- Posts: 9328
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:28 pm
- Location: undisclosed
Home Improvement Thread
It's become a bit of a lost art, at least here in the US. There are still plasterers out there, but I think they mainly do repairs/restorations and stucco work. I doubt there are many new homes being built here with wood lath and lime plaster walls.Yes, 1960's homes and earlier plaster. I didn't think they still did that.
It's a shame because it's really a far superior material. Completely resistant to mold, extremely strong, durable and weather-resistant - basically a wall of limestone. It can last for millennia - ancient frescoes are lime plaster.
http://masterofplaster.com/why-create-with-lime/
Of course, nothing is built to last anymore...
Home Improvement Thread
My grandfather was a plasterer by trade. Walls in his house are still beautiful. He plastered three rivers stadium and the civic arena, so I'm told. Passed in 1992 thanks to prostate cancer and white lung.It's become a bit of a lost art, at least here in the US. There are still plasterers out there, but I think they mainly do repairs/restorations and stucco work. I doubt there are many new homes being built here with wood lath and lime plaster walls.Yes, 1960's homes and earlier plaster. I didn't think they still did that.
It's a shame because it's really a far superior material. Completely resistant to mold, extremely strong, durable and weather-resistant - basically a wall of limestone. It can last for millennia - ancient frescoes are lime plaster.
http://masterofplaster.com/why-create-with-lime/
Of course, nothing is built to last anymore...
Home Improvement Thread
Thank you NEC 2017.
In finishing my basement I discovered that the NEC 2017 code now mandates AFCI on all 15 and 20 amp branch circuits.
So for new work all your breakers have to be $50, and I need to install a subpanel for the 6 circuits needed in the basement (Family Room, Game Room, Fridge, Wet Bar, Bathroom, Bedroom). Hooray for $300 worth of breakers. 10x the cost of doing it the old fashion way.
In finishing my basement I discovered that the NEC 2017 code now mandates AFCI on all 15 and 20 amp branch circuits.
So for new work all your breakers have to be $50, and I need to install a subpanel for the 6 circuits needed in the basement (Family Room, Game Room, Fridge, Wet Bar, Bathroom, Bedroom). Hooray for $300 worth of breakers. 10x the cost of doing it the old fashion way.
-
- Posts: 9328
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:28 pm
- Location: undisclosed
Home Improvement Thread
I'm going to upgrade all my breakers to combo AFCI/GFCI...
Home Improvement Thread
Ok Rich Uncle Penny Bags
-
- Posts: 60742
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:00 pm
- Location: FUCΚ! Even in the future nothing works.
Home Improvement Thread
Aren't AFCI breakers now a code requirement for bedrooms? Our panel has them for all of our bedrooms and bathrooms.I'm going to upgrade all my breakers to combo AFCI/GFCI...
-
- Posts: 60742
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:00 pm
- Location: FUCΚ! Even in the future nothing works.
Home Improvement Thread
Old post, I know. The CSR I originally spoke with told me the same, but after calling today for something else, I was told that I can drop my escrow account even with PMI; they'll just keep enough to cover the rest of PMI and refund the rest. So I started the process, which consisted of me telling them to do it, and them telling me to sign the document that will be sent to me within two weeks and fax it back.Source of the post "It looks like we can release your escrow once we know if we can release your PMI because you have to escrow if your loan to value ratio is over 80%. There is a fee of .125% of the principal balance to drop your escrow. I attached a document you signed at closing that indicates that fee."
Would have done this months ago if the last person know WTF they were talking about.
-
- Posts: 50381
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:27 pm
- Location: A moron or a fascist...but not both.
Home Improvement Thread
As new homeowners, my wife and I learned the hard way a few years back that you don't plug standalone freezers into GFCI outlets
-
- Posts: 14859
- Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:09 pm
- Location: Across the River from Filthydelphia.
Home Improvement Thread
Ditto.As new homeowners, my wife and I learned the hard way a few years back that you don't plug standalone freezers into GFCI outlets
-
- Posts: 11556
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 3:27 pm
Home Improvement Thread
Yes, although I have no choice as that's the only outlet near my freezer in the garage. But I did learn one day that the circuit was daisy chained all throughout my basement, and couldn't figure out why my hot water heater wasn't producing any hot water.As new homeowners, my wife and I learned the hard way a few years back that you don't plug standalone freezers into GFCI outlets
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 131 guests