Home Improvement Thread

Postby **NTP66** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 10:54 am

Man, that sucks. I think most appraisers are simply lazy and enjoy easy pay days. They look at what your house sold for a few years ago and just add or subtract a negligent amount. Our last appraisal came in considerably lower than what we thought it should, especially given the recent development in the area.

Postby **shmenguin** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 12:28 pm

when i bought my house, the appraisal was basically - similar house down the street sold for $X, your house is worth $X. The good thing was I offered $X+6k, so I got the price lowered by $6K. I am worried however when I sell it won't matter one bit any improvements I made. Which is kinda lame

Appraisals are different when it's a traditional transaction. The banks will still let things slide to close a deal. But for refi's, renovation loans, new construction...they play it by the book moreso.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:37 pm

When we bought our house, the previous owners tried to list out every improvement they made since they had the house and list the value of each improvement. While it makes sense this is how a house should sell, stupid banks set the deck to maximize profits.

Postby **shmenguin** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:50 pm

When we bought our house, the previous owners tried to list out every improvement they made since they had the house and list the value of each improvement. While it makes sense this is how a house should sell, stupid banks set the deck to maximize profits.

Spent about 15% of my home's worth on renovations this year. New floors. New countertops + layout in the kitchen. New appliances, installed a bathroom fan, built a storage closet in the basement where an old gutted bathroom was, new fireplace, installed Ethernet throughout the house. None of this would move the needle on some appraisals. Which is funny since I would have easily paid 75K more for my house if it was finished like it is now.

Postby **NTP66** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:00 pm

Every appraiser is different, some considerably lazier than others (like the ones who don’t even bother going inside). I’ve had three appraisals done in my house at various stages of home improvement, and the most recent one omitted work done by mislabeling it on the actual report. Like saying I have carpet throughout when that’s far from the case. I’m hoping that I don’t have to do another appraisal this summer when I attempt to drop escrow if only to avoid another half-assed schmuck undervaluing my house.

Postby **mac5155** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:50 pm

Hung some hardie backer on my fireplace wall in preparation for the dry stack stone I'm planning to put once plaster and paint is done. It should be a really nice focal point of the house. Pretty pumped about it

Postby **count2infinity** » Sat Feb 10, 2018 2:19 pm

It ain't perfect... but it'll do. All I have left is sanding and painting. Going to do everything except the drawer faces in white and the faces are going to be a lilac purple.

Painting complete:

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Sat Feb 10, 2018 2:25 pm

Nice!

Postby **Viva la Ben** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 11:08 am

After the recent snowfall I had a sagging gutter issue. My gutters were hung with hammer in nails, and sometime between the installation and purchasing the house 15 years ago, the previous homeowner replaced some of the nails with screw in brackets. The problem was they screwed the brackets into the fascia, and not the joists.
At least it was an easy fix.

Postby **mac5155** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 12:20 pm

Painting casa de Mac commences Thursday. Ordered the best paint brushes and rollers Amazon had. I hope this goes smoothly and can be accomplished in 3.5 days with about 5 people.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 2:52 pm

Installing a new ceiling alone sucks.

Postby **Silentom** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 3:12 pm

I buy my paint rollers at the dollar store, lol.

Postby **mac5155** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:26 pm

I bought wooster Doo-z. They got amazing reviews. And were only about 4 bucks each. I'm spending close to a grand on paint. 100 on brushes and rollers is nothing compared.

Postby **NTP66** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:34 pm

Wooster Pro/Doo-Z’s are fantastic. That’s all I will use now.

Postby **mac5155** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 6:13 pm

That's what I got. Half dozen of them in half inch nap for the skip trowel and 3 in 3/8'' nap for the smooth walls.

Sherwin williams Loxon Masonry primer and SW cashmere or super paint... Haven't made up my mind on the top coat yet...

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:38 pm

Threw this in the wrong thread. Let's try again

I need help finding a security flood light which mounts to a ceiling. Almost every one I see is wall mount. White color. So far I've only found a few at home depot for nearly a hundred bucks each

Postby **Shyster** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:49 pm

Do you mean a motion-detecting light? Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/All-Pro-MS185RW- ... B0002YPK9A

It looks like the lights and sensor can be angled for either wall or ceiling mounting.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:54 pm

Do you mean a motion-detecting light? Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/All-Pro-MS185RW- ... B0002YPK9A

It looks like the lights and sensor can be angled for either wall or ceiling mounting.

Yes. Make this the second one I've seen... I was hoping for something slightly more modern looking, preferably LED. I may just have to suck it up and buy the $130 one at home depot.

Postby **shafnutz05** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:02 pm

Does anyone have any recommendations on effectively tightening my kitchen sink faucet? It is really difficult because of the water lines coming in, the garbage disposal down there, etc. I try and hand tighten it as much as I can, but within a couple days, when you go to move the single lever to the left to turn it to hot in begins to turn.

I've also noticed that there are times when it's like the lines are reversed, where I turn it to the hot side and cold water comes out and vice versa. I have to basically shake the thing to get it back in order. My father-in-law got me one of those sink tightening kits but it's impossible to get it up in there with all the different lines/hose.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:11 pm

Purchase a basin wrench.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:12 pm

(assuming there isn't one in your "sink tightening kit")

Postby **shafnutz05** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:13 pm

Purchase a basin wrench.

This is perfect--thank you!

Postby **Shyster** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:14 pm

According to the Q&A for the All-Pro model on Home Depot's website, it's compatible with LED flood bulbs.

I've been burned in the past buying light fixtures that use non-replaceable or non-standard bulbs. The thing breaks and you can't find a replacement anywhere. I'd personally go with a fixture where I can go to any store and get more LED flood bulbs.

Postby **Shyster** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:22 pm

I have one of these multi-tool doodads, which includes the ability to tighten basin nuts:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Mode ... /100595073

It's worked well every time I've used it, although from the reviews it does look like it may not fit all sinks/faucets. IMO it paid for itself by having an adaptor designed to turn those stupid oval handles on the water valves.

Postby **shafnutz05** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:24 pm

I have one of these multi-tool doodads, which includes the ability to tighten basin nuts:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Mode ... /100595073

It's worked well every time I've used it, although from the reviews it does look like it may not fit all sinks/faucets. IMO it paid for itself by having an adaptor designed to turn those stupid oval handles on the water valves.

Yup, that's what he bought me, but I just can't get the damn thing up there.