Your shower is leaking: Home Repair in 2020 (and beyond)

[kcmets]

What's the first thing you learn in plumber's school? Don't chew your fingernails.

[MFS62]

What's the first thing you learn in plumber's school? Don't chew your fingernails.

BA DA BING!
Later

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

The permit was a township thing, which was a surprise since we didn't need it for any other home repair so far!

I sure do appreciate their skills, and anything involving natural gas is something I'd never attempt on my own! I just didn't except the installation to cost nearly double the price of the unit.

But. I'm thrilled it's something I don't have to worry about for the next decade or so.

[MFS62]

My $1350 oil tank cost over $2000 to install.
Later

[Chad ochoseis]

My kitchen is slowly sinking into my basement. I'm starting to understand why I got such a good deal on this house eight years ago.

Home went up originally in 1894 and therefore has a bunch of quirks, one of which is that I have a crawl space for a basement that is surrounded by what I've learned is called a "Michigan wall" - basically a ledge that stops about two feet below the kitchen floor. Current plan is to excavate the ledge, which is earth behind the brick wall, and put in a jack and beam that will keep the floor from sinking further. A bargain at $10,000!

If that doesn't work, plan B is to remove the oven, drawers, and countertop and cut a hole in the kitchen floor to excavate and put in the jack. I don't want to think about what that's going to cost.

[metirish]

Damn, sounds like a nightmare , hope it all works out

[Edgy MD]

The decline of my dog led to uneaten treats drawing mice into our home. This was apparently compounded by a bag of grass seed in the crawlspace adjacent to the external basement stairs. My wife has become obsessed with mouseproofing. Today I'm ripping up the carpet in my closet and installing shoe molding at the foot of our baseboards to cover up the three-quarter-inch gap at the bottom of the baseboards where the wall-to-wall carpeting runs under, but may or may not be letting a delighted family of mice easy access. They seem to even like chewing on the carpeting itself.

If that works, I do the same to the bedroom, where I have long since ripped up the wall-to-wall carpeting (more dog adventures) but covered that gap with ugly-assed tape.

I feel like this is the beginning of an unending war, but I'd like to bring back my home's original flooring as best as I can.

[MFS62]

Get a good pair of knee pads. Your knees will thank you.
Later

[metirish]

I absolutely hate mice and over the years have dealt with them in the building, pretty good at catching them, although even when I do I dread picking them up. In mouse-proofing my place I stuffed wire wool into every conceivable hole, no matter how small. One of the easiest places for them to get in is the plumbing for the stove etc , get in there and close any holes , good luck

[Edgy MD]

Thanks for the tips. I'm indeed using knee pads and we're plugging in the stove area.

We've been using live traps and relocating the ones we catch down by the lake.

[A Boy Named Seo]

+1 on the steel wool. Good luck.

[whippoorwill]

They say that peppermint oil on cotton balls repels mice

I’ve used it in closets that have had mice and it seemed to work plus it smells nice

[metirish]

How did it go?

[Edgy MD]

Lots and lots of peppermint oil in my life these days. I feel like I'm sleeping in Santa's pantry.

It's pretty much forced us into jumpstarting a wider renovation.

What about adventures in car repairs? Do they go here or do they deserve their own thread?

[metsmarathon]

only if you live in your car, or your car has a shower.

[Chad ochoseis]

Damn, sounds like a nightmare , hope it all works out

Been a while since I visited this thread. So far, so good.

[Edgy MD]

only if you live in your car, or your car has a shower.

You know, some days I realize I'm closer to that than I like to think.

[Edgy MD]

How do you those of you who don't live in New Mexico seal the edges of your door to keep the drafts at bay?

[metirish]

You're not talking about the bottom right?

[Edgy MD]

Bottom and edges.

Just came from hardware store where I picked up a new sweep for the bottom and some foam tape for the gaps. I've taped in those gaps before but we're seeing some daylight again.

I am a slave to Frost King products.

[MFS62]

Need one of those for under the garage door.
How hard is it to put on? Do you need a nail gun?
Later

[metirish]

Suptikes Door Draft Stopper Under Door Seal for Exterior/Interior Doors, Door Sweep Strip Under Door Draft Blocker, Soundproof Door Bottom Weather Stripping, 2 Inch W x 39 Inch L, Black https://a.co/d/3J40CYj

I like this one for doors

[kcmets]

I googled Draft King to see if it was good as Frost King. DK offers:
New Customers - Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly PLUS
a No Sweat Same Game Parlay.

I think I went down the wrong rabbit hole.

(We have a rolled up bath towel up against the bottom of our front
door that even kinda matches the rug. Classy, I know...)

[MFS62]

Our washing machine crapped out over the weekend.
We bought a new one on Monday at Home Depot and it was delivered today.
I was afraid we wouldn't be able to disconnect the old hoses because the faucets couldn't turn (hard water crusted them shut). I tried a wrench. Wouldn't turn.
But the guy was able to do it (He's stronger than I am) and was able to install it.
Phew! I didn't want to have to call a plumber and re-schedule the installation.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Took down our plastic window insulation sheets today.

Best day of every spring. Those things are so de classe.