Master Index of Archived Threads


Home repairs and upkeep

Ceetar Nov 14 2016 05:03 PM

Can't remember if we had one of these threads already, but I wanted to rant. Been various drips in the basement under the bathroom pretty much since I moved in, and I thought, at various times, to have fixed them via caulking. But no, it's 100% definitely the cold water pipe to the shower. which is behind the damn wall and definitely not at the showerhead or behind the faucets themselves. I don't see any way around calling a plumber now, though I can't afford one.

HahnSolo Nov 14 2016 05:23 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Ask around where you live for a plumber that they trust. Have him come take a look. He might offer payment plan or it might not be that big of a repair. If you let it go you might be looking at ceiling or wall repairs which will just bring your costs higher.

Ceetar Nov 14 2016 05:35 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

HahnSolo wrote: Ask around where you live for a plumber that they trust. Have him come take a look. He might offer payment plan or it might not be that big of a repair. If you let it go you might be looking at ceiling or wall repairs which will just bring your costs higher. I don't know anyone around here but got a guy some of the local facebook group mentioned in previous posts coming out for an estimate now. The subfloor is already fucked from, supposedly, damage 25 years ago but it's stable. But in an ideal situation I'd be replacing the whole shower/floor anyway, but yeah, it's gotten worse because it's eaten through/soaked some wood behind the scenes.

d'Kong76 Nov 14 2016 06:13 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Water issues suck big hairy moose genitals. The leak is probably not that big a deal (likely a joint that needs to be redone) and maybe you can fix the wall yourself with some youtube instruction? Hopefully there's no mold issues to add to your headaches. Our neighbor's (for only about a year) hot water heater decided to empty out on them over the weekend and they came home to a couple of inches of water in the basement. They had all kinds of unpacked boxes of stuff on the floor, it was a total disaster.

Ceetar Nov 14 2016 06:21 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

it's almost definitely the joint behind the wall but I'm going to widen the hole behind the showerhead to confirm it's not up there (Which I can fix myself) This is what the plumbing estimate guy said. He also said $150/hr but it's pretty quick. just have to rip out 9ish tiles. He was unclear if he'd put them back up, or if I have to, which I can probably do fine with youtube, yes. The wall it self is pretty open. A lot of the drywall behind the tiles is fucked/washed away and there is some wet wood but things are mostly secure and it doesn't look like there's mold. it opens right up into the basement. in general, homeownership just sucks if you've got no money to spare. :-D This is one of those time is money things. $150-200 no fuss/time on my end. my sink also leaks. and my dishwasher connection. and the valve that turns the water on to the outside when the hose is on.

d'Kong76 Nov 14 2016 06:36 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

$150/hr is pretty reasonable for the tri-state area so long as they get it right the first time and don't needlessly dilly dally to milk the clock. Hope it works out for you. I found the other thread!

Ceetar Nov 14 2016 07:23 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

d'Kong76 wrote: $150/hr is pretty reasonable for the tri-state area so long as they get it right the first time and don't needlessly dilly dally to milk the clock. Hope it works out for you. I found the other thread! nice. the strange titles always make it hard for me to find stuff. the tech that came and did the estimate seemed fine. they emailed me and said it'd be about $300 if I opened up the wall myself (And closed it) and $450 if they have to find the leak (they still won't close it)

d'Kong76 Dec 09 2016 01:44 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I put off the hoses and making sure the outside lines were safe for winter until late today. I have bad luck with hoses, one has a good 4-5 holes and it wasn't a cheap one. There has to be some hose brand out there that can survive a November without cracks and holes when it dips below freezing a couple of overnights?

Ceetar Dec 09 2016 06:44 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

d'Kong76 wrote: I put off the hoses and making sure the outside lines were safe for winter until late today. I have bad luck with hoses, one has a good 4-5 holes and it wasn't a cheap one. There has to be some hose brand out there that can survive a November without cracks and holes when it dips below freezing a couple of overnights? I've never really had hose problems. but I generally drain the hose a little after I turn off the water every time, so maybe there's just not enough pressure to break.

d'Kong76 Dec 09 2016 07:01 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

There's all kinds of hose repair stuff out there on the intersphere, but I'm skeptical. Maybe I need to go industrial next year!

Ceetar Dec 22 2016 02:15 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

You know those cartoons where like, Daffy Duck is fixing the sink and water literally shoots straight up through the hot water handle and blows it off? I used to think that was only a cartoon.

MFS62 Dec 22 2016 02:20 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Ceetar wrote: You know those cartoons where like, Daffy Duck is fixing the sink and water literally shoots straight up through the hot water handle and blows it off? I used to think that was only a cartoon. I've done electrical things, like replacing indoor and outdoor fixtures, without shutting off the power. (Kids, don't try that at home unless you know what you're doing). But I don't do anything that involves plumbing without first shutting off the water. Thanks for reminding us why. Hope you've dried it all up by now. Later

Ceetar Dec 22 2016 03:29 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

oh, the water was shut off first. it was the turning it back on that cause the problem. Turns out the nut that holds the handle in place (The water rockets upwards into a cartridge and out the side to center faucet) was stripped. well, the bolt was stripped. so when the (too high) water pressure turned back on it wasn't up to the challenge. I removed a washer and was able to get another thread down and it's fine now, but testing it was sure fun.

Ceetar Dec 22 2016 04:25 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

At least the oven didn't just randomly break on 12/23 as I was about to bake Gingerbread cookies and host Christmas. wait, the opposite of that.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 22 2016 04:48 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

BBQ HOLIDAY CHALLENGE IS ON! Good luck, Ceets. Sorry your place is falling apart. I live in constant shame of having a shitty, leaky-roofed sunroom I've never been able to fix. I am also preparing to struggle with running a cord behind the TV wall to hook up the latest xmas-gift gadget. It's harder than it seems because the wall is directly up against the building's boiler room, it's just a half inch of insulation between the drywall and the concrete, noting can be, or probably should be, easily poked through or screwed into.

Ceetar Dec 22 2016 05:16 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: BBQ HOLIDAY CHALLENGE IS ON! Good luck, Ceets. Sorry your place is falling apart. I live in constant shame of having a shitty, leaky-roofed sunroom I've never been able to fix. I am also preparing to struggle with running a cord behind the TV wall to hook up the latest xmas-gift gadget. It's harder than it seems because the wall is directly up against the building's boiler room, it's just a half inch of insulation between the drywall and the concrete, noting can be, or probably should be, easily poked through or screwed into. Parents are making the Lasagna but it'd be nice to be able to heat it up. Plus these Gingerbread men sitting on the baking sheet are getting impatient. I'll make the Krumkakes because they use a standalone oven/iron. Supposedly a guy's coming this afternoon to fix (I'm not brave enough to attempt myself right now) but I don't know what happens if he doesn't have the part handy. Gonna start drinking I think.

Ceetar Dec 22 2016 05:21 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I am also preparing to struggle with running a cord behind the TV wall to hook up the latest xmas-gift gadget. It's harder than it seems because the wall is directly up against the building's boiler room, it's just a half inch of insulation between the drywall and the concrete, noting can be, or probably should be, easily poked through or screwed into. fun in tight spaces.

cooby Dec 22 2016 05:34 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Wow I'll bet your place is toasty warm

Rockin' Doc Dec 23 2016 05:02 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Ceetar wrote: fun in tight spaces. Sounds like the title of Fman's biography.

metsmarathon Dec 23 2016 02:04 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Ceetar wrote: At least the oven didn't just randomly break on 12/23 as I was about to bake Gingerbread cookies and host Christmas. wait, the opposite of that. i havent had a kitchen in nearly two months. i'll also be baking christmas cookies out on the grill tomorrow for santa. in two batches, so i can fuck up the first, and hopefully get the second closer to right...

DocTee Dec 23 2016 02:48 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I am also preparing to struggle with running a cord behind the TV wall to hook up the latest xmas-gift gadget. It's harder than it seems because the wall is directly up against the building's boiler room, it's just a half inch of insulation between the drywall and the concrete, noting can be, or probably should be, easily poked through or screwed into. Before I married her, my wife had an ingenious solution to this problem: we (she) poked a hole through the sheetrock large enough to accommodate the plug of some wall sconces she wanted to install. Then tied a heavy duty magnet (lab strength) to the plug and guided it through the drywall to the place of exit with another magnet on the wall itself. Poked another hole near the socket and voila. I was impressed. I still am.

Nymr83 Dec 23 2016 03:54 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

that IS impressive

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 23 2016 04:09 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Yup. I'm a proponent of the bent coat hanger/fishing line/electrical tape method I invented; I also figure that out of sight = out of mind so tend not to worry about things like proper wall-plating as long as nobody can see it.

Ceetar Jan 03 2017 02:17 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

seems apropos. Tomorrow, I attempt to completely replace the internals of the toilet tank.

Fman99 Jan 03 2017 02:50 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

metsmarathon wrote: Ceetar wrote: At least the oven didn't just randomly break on 12/23 as I was about to bake Gingerbread cookies and host Christmas. wait, the opposite of that. i havent had a kitchen in nearly two months. i'll also be baking christmas cookies out on the grill tomorrow for santa. in two batches, so i can fuck up the first, and hopefully get the second closer to right... That's funny, we're doing ours also. I'm starting week 4 of crock pot meals and indoor grill meals and eating at a folding card table every night, and humping a sink full of dishes. It's brutal.

d'Kong76 Apr 18 2017 05:35 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I thought we had a new one of these, found this on page 4 or five. We have/had a bathroom sink that continually gets clogged. It's makes no sense to me because it's predominately my sink and all I do in it is brush my teeth and occasionally shave (when I don't in the shower). Anyway, I went through three helpings of Liquid Plumber yesterday and it freed it up some. This morning, clogged again. I boiled (I mean ultra-ten-minute-rolling boil) 10 quarts of salted water and dumped it in the sink and phwamo, clog be gone for now. (I know, that's a lot of typing for a clogged sink)

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 18 2017 06:17 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

We finally kicked our lemon of a dishwasher to the curb. Samsung. Worked great when it worked but extremely sensitive: I'd have to pull it out from underneath the counter every couple months and manually clean the bobber thingy that triggered an error code. Dishwashers are probably the least reliable appliance in the home, some think if you get 4 years out of one anymore you're lucky. A stove or fridge or toaster can last 3 times as long easy.

Ceetar Apr 18 2017 06:48 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: We finally kicked our lemon of a dishwasher to the curb. Samsung. Worked great when it worked but extremely sensitive: I'd have to pull it out from underneath the counter every couple months and manually clean the bobber thingy that triggered an error code. Dishwashers are probably the least reliable appliance in the home, some think if you get 4 years out of one anymore you're lucky. A stove or fridge or toaster can last 3 times as long easy. I think we're nearly 2 years in with ours now, works great, though I still haven't fixed the leak under the sink at the connection point. It's 95% the fault of my water pressure that's bottling up at an elbow (it leaks maybe 2oz every wash?) but I haven't managed to find a straight nipple piece that'll fit it yet. I should probably just take the part off and bring it to home depot and try them all until I find one that works, but I think it's a weird/custom size.. the whole house filter I want may resolve it via the pressure issue though. Will also likely resolve the pipes banging any time the water is turned on. On a related note, finally plugged all the holes to keep the mice out, so yay.

Rockin' Doc Apr 20 2017 02:28 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: We finally kicked our lemon of a dishwasher to the curb. Samsung. Worked great when it worked but extremely sensitive: I'd have to pull it out from underneath the counter every couple months and manually clean the bobber thingy that triggered an error code. Dishwashers are probably the least reliable appliance in the home, some think if you get 4 years out of one anymore you're lucky. A stove or fridge or toaster can last 3 times as long easy. Damn, I guess we have been exceedingly fortunate. We built our home in 1996, moving in 2 days before Thanksgiving. The original dishwasher ran problem free without as much as a single service call until 4 years ago when it it started acting up so we replaced it with a newer model (GE Profile Series). All the other kitchen appliances (oven, cooktop, refrigerator, and vent) are the originals and working beautifully. The water heater is the weak link, we're on the third one over the 21 years. We are fortunate that everything has worked so reliably because I am definitely not very handy as a DIY handyman.

d'Kong76 Dec 20 2017 12:07 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Because we need a little Christmas, hot water heater is bleeding up top. It's working, but needs the elves to give it a look. Hopefully they can get us through the rest of the year.... yay 2017.

cooby Dec 20 2017 12:35 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I'd say if as a group we went eight full months with no home repairs we are lucky. But I doubt that is so, since I've had several just myself. Have I mentioned my one cat, Willow, loves repairmen?

MFS62 Dec 20 2017 12:45 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

cooby wrote: Have I mentioned my one cat, Willow, loves repairmen? Awwwwwww. :) Later

Edgy MD Dec 31 2017 10:42 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Spent Saturday in the attic installing insulation. and caulking like a boss. I breathed in a lot of toxic attic dust even with my mask, and I'm sure I have dabs of caulk that won't completely come off my flesh for a week or two. Plus my spine has fused from a day of crouching. But all of that beats today's job — installing Frost KingTM plastic window insulation. I don't know why I hate that so much. Making the tape stick to the walls, that come off no matter how much you dust it. The way one mistake can ruin everything. The idea that the great achievement in the end lowers your bills ... but gives you some seriously weak-ass looking windows. You can blow dry until you're blue in the face, make it tight as a drum, but it's still there. I'd rather be sent out back to dig a fish pond. In February.

41Forever Dec 31 2017 11:04 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

We had the disposal unit under the sink die just before company came on Dec. 23. One of my co-workers suggested one of those flashlights that strap to your forehead. Looked ridiculous, but I have to say it made it so much easier to match up the screws and things while laying under the sink. Without it, I'd have been trying to fumble around trying to find the holes with my fingers, probably dropping the screws a dozen times. It's still a crappy job, but the headlamp sure did make it easier.

Lefty Specialist Jan 01 2018 12:22 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

This week's weather has made it very easy to pinpoint every single draft in my house. Working to plug them, but with a 65-year-old house that's a losing proposition.

Ceetar Jan 01 2018 02:01 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Edgy MD wrote: Spent Saturday in the attic installing insulation. and caulking like a boss. I breathed in a lot of toxic attic dust even with my mask, and I'm sure I have dabs of chalk that won't completely come off my flesh for a week or two. Plus my spine has fused from a day of crouching. But all of that beats today's job — installing Frost KingTM plastic window insulation. I don't know why I hate that so much. Making the tape stick to the walls, that come off no matter how much you dust it. The way one mistake can ruin everything. The idea that the great achievement in the end lowers your bills ... but gives you some seriously weak-ass looking windows. You can blow dry until you're blue in the face, make it tight as a drum, but it's still there. I'd rather be sent out back to dig a fish pond. In February. ugh, those things. I did them last year but can't bring myself to do it again. Even though the two spots we'd do it are extremely drafty. I did buy one of the infrared temperature guns to see just HOW drafty though.

d'Kong76 Jan 01 2018 02:43 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I bought into the idea years ago that a some draftiness is fine, that a house needs to breathe a little in the winter, or you're just sitting in a sealed box of germs and stale air.

Ceetar Jan 01 2018 02:46 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

yeah?

d'Kong76 Jan 01 2018 03:01 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Well, maybe that's a little too much fresh air!

Edgy MD Jan 01 2018 03:18 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

41Forever wrote: We had the disposal unit under the sink die just before company came on Dec. 23. One of my co-workers suggested one of those flashlights that strap to your forehead. Looked ridiculous, but I have to say it made it so much easier to match up the screws and things while laying under the sink. Without it, I'd have been trying to fumble around trying to find the holes with my fingers, probably dropping the screws a dozen times. It's still a crappy job, but the headlamp sure did make it easier. I'd use one of those things everywhere. Once it worked for one job, I'd be all, "I can't put polish the silver, Honey. Not without my head lamp!!"

d'Kong76 Jan 14 2018 12:01 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Speaking of fresh air, no hot water for us until Monday afternoon. Yay, smell ya later.

41Forever Jan 14 2018 12:07 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Edgy MD wrote: 41Forever wrote: We had the disposal unit under the sink die just before company came on Dec. 23. One of my co-workers suggested one of those flashlights that strap to your forehead. Looked ridiculous, but I have to say it made it so much easier to match up the screws and things while laying under the sink. Without it, I'd have been trying to fumble around trying to find the holes with my fingers, probably dropping the screws a dozen times. It's still a crappy job, but the headlamp sure did make it easier. I'd use one of those things everywhere. Once it worked for one job, I'd be all, "I can't put polish the silver, Honey. Not without my head lamp!!" Good call. I've found that I'm using it for all kinds of things. Huge help getting all the Christmas decorations back up in the attic! I will be good for exercise walks around the neighborhood during the warmer months. Now I use the iPhone to illuminate the sidewalk sometimes.

Nymr83 Jan 14 2018 04:23 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

for the exercise walks, i recall shark tank having guys selling lights for your shoes

Ceetar Mar 27 2018 02:34 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I just (maybe?) fixed a sink drain leak with a quarter and a rubber band, ama.

d'Kong76 Mar 27 2018 03:33 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Ceetar wrote: I just (maybe?) fixed a sink drain leak with a quarter and a rubber band, ama. We need a picture for full effect.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 27 2018 03:58 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

The Buckets have begun considering their 1st move in 14 years. Wifey wants to upsize and become a landlord; we desperately need a 2nd bathroom with a smelly pre-teen; and we all would like a place to escape from the others to write/read/play video games/watch Mets and Islanders games. We also need to maintain a small yard. It's a long list. That said we have to be very particular about where we go (ez transit & commute, no Westchester, Long Island or New Jersey) and how much we can pay. In other words we need a well-maintained and well-priced joint in Sunnyside. We saw one the other day but need to first sell our joint to get it. My feeling is this happens this time next year or perhaps in the fall.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 27 2018 04:12 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

With a bigger place, maybe your wife will stop making you throw away all your old cool stuff from 40 years ago.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 27 2018 04:14 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

what you mean my underwear?

batmagadanleadoff Mar 27 2018 04:16 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I swear, you made me laugh out loud for real. Not those fake cyber lol's.

Nymr83 Mar 27 2018 04:20 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That said we have to be very particular about where we go (ez transit & commute, no Westchester, Long Island or New Jersey) and how much we can pay. In other words we need a well-maintained and well-priced joint in Sunnyside. STATEN ISLAND!!

batmagadanleadoff Mar 27 2018 04:20 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I'm still laughing. Once when I was a kid, my friend made me laugh so hard from what was an extremely corny joke even by elementary school standards. I laughed so hard that my head fell back against a metal edge on his furniture. I had to go to the hospital to get some stitches.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 27 2018 05:07 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Nymr83 wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That said we have to be very particular about where we go (ez transit & commute, no Westchester, Long Island or New Jersey) and how much we can pay. In other words we need a well-maintained and well-priced joint in Sunnyside. STATEN ISLAND!! That's basically New Jersey as far as my hipster ass is concerned. Plus I'm worried about the commute. Mets games = nightmare. Lunchpail's school = double nightmare

Chad Ochoseis Mar 27 2018 05:31 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Three bedrooms, two baths, yard, rooftop deck, 2-car garage, urban location with plenty of hipsters and hipster bars, 1800 SF, $360K. Just over an hour from Citi... [url]https://www.howardhanna.com/Property/Detail/1853-W-48th-St-Cleveland-OH-44102/NorthernOH/3921214 ...by airplane.

Ceetar Mar 27 2018 05:46 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

d'Kong76 wrote: Ceetar wrote: I just (maybe?) fixed a sink drain leak with a quarter and a rubber band, ama. We need a picture for full effect.

d'Kong76 Mar 27 2018 05:51 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

[fimg=475:1vr763yu]http://www.kcmets.com/CPF/brilliant.jpg[/fimg:1vr763yu]

d'Kong76 Mar 27 2018 05:56 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That's basically New Jersey as far as my hipster ass is concerned. With a different, yet equally disturbing, smell. (I'm gonna catch hell, who typed that!?!)

Ceetar Mar 27 2018 05:58 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I replaced that piece of pipe the rubber band is around. previously it was the exact same piece (with a cap where the quarter is) except when I replaced the sink drain I had to cut that piece and I guess I did it wrong and it leaked whenever I stopped up the sink and let water sit in there and opened the drain. I _think_ this fixed that, with some plumber's putty and tightening. I just bought the exact same piece figuring it had to be right. turns out, when I went to find a cap for it today at Lowes, and couldn't, that that extra piece is actually meant for a dishwasher hookup, but my dishwasher is hooked up elsewhere. They must not have replaced the pipe when they moved the dishwasher to the disposal sink. I bought a different pipe piece without, but if it's working now I hesitate to go back down there. I've never felt more akin to Mario.

A Boy Named Seo Apr 02 2018 05:05 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

I had a pretty productive home upkeep weekend, yall. I signed on for work on Friday, was told it was a company holiday, and ran out of the house like Fred Flintsone hearing the end-of-shift bird/work whistle. Went to HD and got some lumber and busted out three big 6'x4' planter boxes and bought this sweet horse trough to use as a 4th planter. cool horse trough planter in the back, plus my site foredog, Willie Nelson and my freshly re-seeded lawn: new planter boxes here: Went back to HD and bought drip irrigation supplies and by Sunday, busted out a sweet (working!) drip system for the new planters, my existing flowers and trees. There's so so many components for these drip systems that it seems a little overwhelming, but really it's just like connecting Legos. If you know where you want water to go, just run it, punch it and connect it. The real work is in the lower back and the digging, not the thinking. irrigation drip main line. I've since run some short 1/4" feeds off the main into the planter boxes, centered the boxes and buried the main line. Then, I finally finished the fence and gate I built last summer when I commissioned gf to paint this very serious warning to anyone intending to play games of pepper on my lawn. Don't you even think it. I am the classy neighbor.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 02 2018 05:17 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

great work!

Edgy MD Apr 02 2018 05:30 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Terrific, but will those planter boxes get enough sun between between the house and the fence there?

A Boy Named Seo Apr 02 2018 05:42 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Good Q, that side of the house faces east, so they get very good sun for half the day. No trees on my neighbor's side. I have one stupid tree that I trimmed down this weekend, too, just to make sure.

Fman99 Apr 03 2018 01:25 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

That's a nice set up, you should be able to cultivate lots of hemp for making your own rope and tunics and such.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 03 2018 02:25 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Lololllol

d'Kong76 Apr 03 2018 03:36 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

[fimg=350:30z9qont]https://i.imgur.com/7ggoteJl.jpg[/fimg:30z9qont] Love this.

Ceetar Apr 03 2018 12:53 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Fman99 wrote: That's a nice set up, you should be able to cultivate lots of hemp for making your own rope and tunics and such. i was thinking hops myself. the Bines will climb right up the wall. :-D

A Boy Named Seo Apr 03 2018 03:37 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Hey guys, I just got back from the fair-trade market, and bartered for some beautiful organic, cage-free hemp seeds from a really warm human I met at flute carving class. I love all you special crane souls so much, man. If you want to embark on this blessed journey with me, please donate to my kickstarter campaign "Seo Sews" and after the first harvest, early adopters will get a handmade pink hemp hoodie like the one in this picture. Love and light, guys. Love and light.

Nymr83 Apr 04 2018 03:03 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

What the heck did you smoke at this "market" and is THAT available?

A Boy Named Seo Apr 04 2018 04:34 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Your aura is a brilliant green, bro.

A Boy Named Seo Jul 25 2018 08:24 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Today's cucumber harvest from those once empty planter boxes!

Ceetar Jul 25 2018 08:46 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Today's cucumber harvest from those once empty planter boxes! nice. The baby groundhogs ate all the cucumbers I planted as the first green came out of the ground. next year I'm getting a raised bed with a fence. tonight though, tonight is fixing the water intake valve to the fridge, complete with pipe-cutting the water pipe/compression fitting.

A Boy Named Seo Jul 25 2018 09:52 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Yeah, we got some PVC and made these little nets we can flip open to get in. Then we put little shower curtain hooks on the bottom of the net so we can clip it shut. Maybe a clever groundhog would sneak in still, but it's done the job here to keep out birds and neighborhood cats. Dig the sunflowers! So many bees now! Before: After!

d'Kong76 Jul 25 2018 10:24 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

That looks great. We've had so much rain our flower beds and veggie garden have exploded with weeds and some crazy-ass crab grass. I'm a little overwhelmed, and talking with KB about it, I'm going to try and spend an hour or so per day now through end of July and reclaim our outdoor surroundings to enjoy for Aug and Sept. #beamsandceilings

41Forever Jul 26 2018 12:16 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

We were having an issue with the path leading to our front door. One of the concrete panels had lowered, and there was about a one-inch difference, creating a mini step of sorts. It became an issue, especially on Halloween after a couple of little kids tripped on it. I thought fixing it meant busting everything up and pouring new concrete or grinding off the step to make it less of a step and more of an incline. Both, I thought, would cost and arm and a leg. But, a crew came out this week, drilled two holes into the panel and injected something that elevated the panel back to the proper level, then filled the holes. Looks great! Cost about $350, which is a big bite, but much less than the other options I was envisioning.

cooby Jul 26 2018 02:42 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Spent the three day tropical storm cleaning out closets. Found a tennis racket in the front coat closet and I don't know where it came from. It's pretty nice. Any way my husband said it was for bats. Good thing I found it and then knew where it was because last night while reading in bed the cats started jumping around and suddenly I was buzzed by a bat! I yelled down for my husband to come up and he still has his old softball swing cos he downed it in one shot. I threw it out the window and it's gone today so I guess it's okay. (relieved, actually) Did you know bats have to take off from a high surface? The rag I wrapped him up in landed in some tall ornamental grass so I guess that was lucky for him :D

MFS62 Jul 26 2018 11:22 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

They finally cut and took away the tree that had been downed in my back yard during the tornado. So now I have to re-seed and landscape the area where the tree killed the grass. About a 20' X 25' area is totally dead. And I will not be able to do anything strenuous (or lift anything more than 10 pounds) until the Doctor gives me a green light next month (Follow-up exam to my surgery). Later

Nymr83 Jul 27 2018 12:21 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

it's gone today so I guess it's okay. that is a very optimistic (for the bat) guess at what happened.

Frayed Knot Jul 27 2018 01:36 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

MFS62 wrote: They finally cut and took away the tree that had been downed in my back yard during the tornado. So now I have to re-seed and landscape the area where the tree killed the grass. About a 20' X 25' area is totally dead. And I will not be able to do anything strenuous (or lift anything more than 10 pounds) until the Doctor gives me a green light next month (Follow-up exam to my surgery). So you're not going to chop up the tree for firewood?

MFS62 Jul 27 2018 02:14 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Frayed Knot wrote: So you're not going to chop up the tree for firewood? No. Soft wood. They took it away. Or were you trying (unsuccessfully) to be funny? Later

d'Kong76 Aug 04 2018 07:31 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Lost power overnight and awoke to no internet/tv. An hour on the phone with one of the worst tele-techs working at Verizon and someone's coming Wednesday after noon (Wednesday!!) to replace some outdated equipment?

MFS62 Aug 04 2018 10:28 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

d'Kong76 wrote: Lost power overnight and awoke to no internet/tv. An hour on the phone with one of the worst tele-techs working at Verizon and someone's coming Wednesday after noon (Wednesday!!) to replace some outdated equipment? Had the same problem when I had AT&T service. We live in what they called a "fringe area", so they installed a special kind of repeater in the modem to boost the signal. It has a backup battery. The backup is to provide telephone service for customers who have that as part of their package and generally provides phone service for up to six hours. When the power goes out for an extended period of time (varies), once the battery dies it sometimes cannot recharge when the power comes back on. At this point, your modem becomes a boat anchor (or paper weight, your choice). Replacement batteries are heavy and expensive, if you can find them on the Internet. The newer equipment handles power outages much better. I now have Frontier Communications (they took over CT AT&T accounts) and they replaced the old unit when I described the problem. Later

d'Kong76 Aug 06 2018 02:01 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Problem is similar, not the same. The difference is, this is an issue with the first piece of equipment the signal hits when in the house.This thing sends the stuff to the modem/router, old-fashioned land phones and the tv boxes. We've been here over seven years and didnt originaly have Verizon Fios. When we switched they didn't replace the antiquated box in the basement that the former owner had and were like oh cool you re already half set up. I think it's infant-f ios old. I will be back on the phone at 8:00 mañana.

cooby Aug 06 2018 02:07 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Spent Sat/Sun at my daughter's. Despite thefact that i have spent the past three years on my Son-I-L's wifi, I was offline until this morning. No way to check the weather, my fantasy team, Mets score, Hawaii's volcano, Trump's latest outlandish Anyway, I'm home now and can't find my phone (and don't care) Not sure what I was going to say except I hope I never find it

dgwphotography Aug 06 2018 01:30 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Was extremely fortunate this weekend - found water dripping out from under my furnace. Turns out that the pan that catches the condensation from our central air was overflowing because the drain hose was clogged. Was afraid it was going to be a lot worse.

41Forever Aug 06 2018 02:01 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

dgwphotography wrote: Was extremely fortunate this weekend - found water dripping out from under my furnace. Turns out that the pan that catches the condensation from our central air was overflowing because the drain hose was clogged. Was afraid it was going to be a lot worse. Phew! We had that a couple years ago. There was much relief!

dgwphotography Aug 06 2018 04:18 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Has anyone had experience with having a walk-in tub installed? My mom, who lives with us, fell and broke her hip a couple of weeks ago. While she's in rehab, we're looking at the modifications we need to make to the house.

d'Kong76 Aug 06 2018 10:25 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

My friend's Mom has one and loves it. She's in her 80's and has many limitations and it's her favorite place in the house. Heated seat and bubbly side jets. I tried it last winter and it was heaven haha... They got it from a plumbing supply dealer, cheaper than those ads that run on 3rd tier tv stations.

cooby Aug 06 2018 10:56 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Thank you for somebody finally mentioneing these tubs! Do you have to sit in them until they drain? Don’t you get cold? Don’t you feel kinda strange sitting there naked and wet?

d'Kong76 Aug 06 2018 11:40 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Well yeah, you can't open the door with water in it but you can stand up and start drying off and stuff and suppose put a robe on if need be. It drained pretty fast, faster than our normal tubs we have.

Frayed Knot Aug 07 2018 12:53 AM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

My mom talked to a guy about them -- not a guy who sold them but to one who installed and did other home work -- and he was not so enthusiastic. He claimed to have taken more out than he put in. His main complain, IIRC, was that they took a while to fill while, as mentioned, you have to already be in it, at which point the water often isn't so warm by the time things fill. And they use a lot of water.

cooby Aug 07 2018 04:17 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

you have to already be in it, I hadn't even thought of that

d'Kong76 Aug 07 2018 06:20 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

That's why the seat is heated, keeps the tushtush toasty.

dgwphotography Aug 10 2018 04:08 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Thanks everyone for the info. My mom is not a bath taker, so that part shouldn't be a problem. The problem is that we're going to have to use a slide bench instead, because we don't think she'll be able to lift her foot up over the bottom of the doorway. With the way the tub is designed, we may have to redo all of the walls around it. It's currently one of these tub surrounds that actually sticks out 2 inches from the wall, so I don't think we can properly mount the safety bars as it's currently situated

dgwphotography Aug 13 2018 04:09 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Ugh... So I come home Friday night to a slight odor in my house, and no a/c. My central air unit seized up, and since it was installed in 1989, I think I have to get a new one...

d'Kong76 Aug 13 2018 05:13 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

That sounds expensive. I guess, at least, a new one will be quite more efficient electricity-use wise than a 30 year-old unit.

dgwphotography Aug 13 2018 05:32 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

d'Kong76 wrote: That sounds expensive. I guess, at least, a new one will be quite more efficient electricity-use wise than a 30 year-old unit. Yeah - I figure that it should pay for itself within a couple of summers with the lower utility bills.

MFS62 Oct 17 2018 11:04 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Got a call at work from my wife saying the her garage door opener didn't work and she didn't have her house keys with her. I figure dead battery. Then she says that she hears the motor and the light is on but the door isn't moving. So I drive home (about an hour) and it looks like no cables are broken. I call the garage door guy and he says it sounds like the gears are burned out. Naturally, he doesn't have the full kit, so he won't be here until tomorrow and he's not sure what time. Of course its my day off. Later

Lefty Specialist Oct 18 2018 12:33 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

My garage door opener has this annoying habit of randomly opening part of the way. I usually just duck under to do what I have to (we have used the garage for parking a car exactly twice in 26 years). There's no rhyme or reason to it. It can work fine for a week, then it opens two feet and stops randomly. I'll cycle through closing and opening and then it'll be fine. If I believed in those kind of things I'd say it was possessed.

MFS62 Oct 18 2018 01:12 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Lefty Specialist wrote: If I believed in those kind of things I'd say it was possessed. Y'mean throwing goat entrails under a full moon didn't work? Then I can't help you. Later

Ceetar Oct 18 2018 01:17 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Lefty Specialist wrote: My garage door opener has this annoying habit of randomly opening part of the way. I usually just duck under to do what I have to (we have used the garage for parking a car exactly twice in 26 years). There's no rhyme or reason to it. It can work fine for a week, then it opens two feet and stops randomly. I'll cycle through closing and opening and then it'll be fine. If I believed in those kind of things I'd say it was possessed. grease it? or maybe clean it? something tricking it into thinking it's bumped something?

MFS62 Oct 18 2018 01:28 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Ceetar wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: My garage door opener has this annoying habit of randomly opening part of the way. I usually just duck under to do what I have to (we have used the garage for parking a car exactly twice in 26 years). There's no rhyme or reason to it. It can work fine for a week, then it opens two feet and stops randomly. I'll cycle through closing and opening and then it'll be fine. If I believed in those kind of things I'd say it was possessed. grease it? or maybe clean it? something tricking it into thinking it's bumped something? Yes, special silicon based spray lubricants for garage door rollers and tracks are available at most hardware stores. Later

d'Kong76 Oct 18 2018 05:36 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

MFS62 wrote: Ceetar wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: My garage door opener has this annoying habit of randomly opening part of the way. I usually just duck under to do what I have to (we have used the garage for parking a car exactly twice in 26 years). There's no rhyme or reason to it. It can work fine for a week, then it opens two feet and stops randomly. I'll cycle through closing and opening and then it'll be fine. If I believed in those kind of things I'd say it was possessed. grease it? or maybe clean it? something tricking it into thinking it's bumped something? Yes, special silicon based spray lubricants for garage door rollers and tracks are available at most hardware stores. Later That it's opening on it's own is likely something in your neighborhood is on the same frequency? Newer garage-door openers change frequencies every time you use it so no one can intercept the frequency and break in. At least that's what my garage-door guy told me once. He also told me to only use incandescent lights because the new ones can cause the door to open on it own... so he may have been a quack. That it's stopping is kind weird. Clean the gook out of the tracks and put some small engine oil (5W30) and lube the wheels and a little in the track 3-4 times a year.

Lefty Specialist Oct 18 2018 06:00 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Cleaned and lubed it already. It's still possessed.

d'Kong76 Oct 18 2018 06:06 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Perhaps an exorcism is needed.

Fman99 Oct 18 2018 06:16 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Lefty Specialist wrote: Cleaned and lubed it already. It's still possessed. Just like my anus.

Ceetar Oct 18 2018 06:19 PM Re: Home repairs and upkeep

Lefty Specialist wrote: Cleaned and lubed it already. It's still possessed. My next guess is that it's on it's way out. The motor sputters and can't pull the weight and stops.