Fifth Avenue Forum

I'd like to tap into the collective wisdom of 5AF:

We will likely be moving to the No.1 school district area. Which means not that big of a selection of available houses, which means nothing will be exactly perfect. My issue: currently, our top choices in our price range have one feature that I hate - a grand staircase, leading to a "gallery" (balcony?) along the whole back side of the big living area. As War of Roses and Omen (part 2?) taught me, those things are not exactly safe - especially since we have 2 very agile, but very young girls. Ultimately, I see 3 solutions:
- put much taller iron rods+rails on the staircase and the balcony
- put some glass panels above the current rails
- replace the rails with a wall

Frankly, I don't like any of those. Have you ever seen any (better?) solution to the above "problem"? Thanks for any advice!

Go floor to ceiling with the rails and name your abode 'Stalag Tomas'.

Tried to replace a toilet today and the **** cast iron pipe was rotted under and now I need a plumber and have no toilet so I'm drinking Elijah Craig

That pretty much sums up being a home owner

Just stomp it down the shower drain.

Bedroom window to roof to gutter. Kids use the backyard.

Just stomp it down the shower drain.

Just stomp it down the shower drain.

If you drink enough Elijah Craig no need to stomp

Off today. Despite the 93 degree weather, I got a few things done. I started early, digging to extend the front hill flower bed about 30 sq ft. Got all the sod and extra soil up and hauled around back and a dozen big stones brought around for edging.

It got too hot, so I decided to sand, clean and repaint the gas meter:

Before:
After:

Are...are you allowed to do that?

“We can’t read your meter because of the shine coming from the paint.”

“We can’t read your meter because of the shine coming from the paint.”

It was still wet in the pic. It does have some shine to it though.

Are...are you allowed to do that?

I'm an outlaw...

I’ve got a bit of a predicament. I want to hang a flag from my from porch columns that are aluminum. No problem, right? So I drilled a small hole in a hidden spot...hollow inside. No 4x4. So now what? I’m think toggle bolts, but I don’t know if they can stand the weight of the pole. Any other ideas?

They make heavy duty toggle bolts, and those are still probably your best option. Just make sure the ones you buy support the weight of your flag/pole.

Edit: If you were so inclined, you could also use long lag bolts. Assuming you have a mount for the pole, you'd drill holes directly through the front and back of the pole, use a metal bracket on the back side where you'd secure it with nuts. Not the prettiest of options, though.

I’ve got a bit of a predicament. I want to hang a flag from my from porch columns that are aluminum. No problem, right? So I drilled a small hole in a hidden spot...hollow inside. No 4x4. So now what? I’m think toggle bolts, but I don’t know if they can stand the weight of the pole. Any other ideas?

what kind of flag, comrade

I’ve got a bit of a predicament. I want to hang a flag from my from porch columns that are aluminum. No problem, right? So I drilled a small hole in a hidden spot...hollow inside. No 4x4. So now what? I’m think toggle bolts, but I don’t know if they can stand the weight of the pole. Any other ideas?

what kind of flag, comrade

why an american flag, of course, tovarishch

I would love the rain if my garage roof and basement didn't leak.

I would love the rain if my garage roof and basement didn't leak.

I'm calling Keystone Basements this weekend. I've had dampness in one particular corner of my basement since buying the house. I don't really know much about water proofing so I'm sure they'll suggest a $4,000 sump pump.

I would love the rain if my garage roof and basement didn't leak.

I'm calling Keystone Basements this weekend. I've had dampness in one particular corner of my basement since buying the house. I don't really know much about water proofing so I'm sure they'll suggest a $4,000 sump pump.

I'm pretty sure that they are scam artists there.

We had an issue with moisture and a porch wall. The dude came in, basically said we needed to demo the porch and do french drains. We didn't know anything so got pretty freaked out, started calling lawyers because the prior owners did some coverup and didn't disclose things on the seller's disclosure. The Keystone Basement guy was also pushing us to use his structural engineer, we were looking at like $60K in repairs.

Fast forward, no need for french drains, we had to have some guys redo one downspout and lay a pipe. And we got a different structural engineer that told us that dude was full of **** on the porch. granted, there has been some movement on one side of our porch, but doesn't necessitate demoing the porch.

I would love the rain if my garage roof and basement didn't leak.

I'm calling Keystone Basements this weekend. I've had dampness in one particular corner of my basement since buying the house. I don't really know much about water proofing so I'm sure they'll suggest a $4,000 sump pump.

I'm pretty sure that they are scam artists there.

We had an issue with moisture and a porch wall. The dude came in, basically said we needed to demo the porch and do french drains. We didn't know anything so got pretty freaked out, started calling lawyers because the prior owners did some coverup and didn't disclose things on the seller's disclosure. The Keystone Basement guy was also pushing us to use his structural engineer, we were looking at like $60K in repairs.

Fast forward, no need for french drains, we had to have some guys redo one downspout and lay a pipe. And we got a different structural engineer that told us that dude was full of **** on the porch. granted, there has been some movement on one side of our porch, but doesn't necessitate demoing the porch.

Well ****. Can you recommend anyone?

I would go ahead and have them come over, I would just be skeptical if he starts pushing for any sort of major project.

Here's how ignorant I am:

I have dampness in one corner. Never really any standing water and definitely never see any water actually coming in. My guess is it's coming up from underneath. In my head, I'm preparing to spend 3k on it. Does that sound about right?

Baker's Waterproofing seems to be a decent operation. Not sure where you are, they are located along 70 near Eighty Four, but they seem to travel all over.

Here's how ignorant I am:

I have dampness in one corner. Never really any standing water and definitely never see any water actually coming in. My guess is it's coming up from underneath. In my head, I'm preparing to spend 3k on it. Does that sound about right?

Or the side. I think he's going to pus french drains on you, in which case you're probably looking at like 8-10K.

My advice. Ignore it and just run a dehumidifier.