Home Improvement II - Page 2

BrianR · 03-10-2009, 01:33 PM

My wife and I have an impressive list of fix-it-up projects for our house.
New windows, floors, electric, install A/C, new chimney (wait'll you see what passes now), new garage door and roof, extensive yard work and more. So far, it's just a list and I like it that way.

HungLikeJesus · 03-11-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juniper

Our master bathroom is completely gutted at the moment.

Hubby is great at doing these home improvement projects, but unfortunately does not seem terribly motivated to move forward with this. A few years ago, he'd be at it the moment he got home from work and maybe even up past midnight. Now, he can spend a whole day off work pretending it isn't there.

I guess there's no big hurry, we do have another full bathroom to use down the hall.

Next project after that will be replacing the kitchen flooring, and then replacing the entire 1st floor carpet with (I hope) Pergo. Then we're thinking about adding a room in back of the house to use for laundry/utility, closing in the solarium to use for my office, remodeling the basement bathroom and maybe putting a 3rd bath/shower in there once the washer/dryer is out of it.

That's inside. Outside we're building a deck around the pool, busting up some concrete beside the house and fixing some grading/drainage issues, which will probably involve replacing the air conditioning unit 'cause it's sitting on that concrete and it's old anyway.

:::deep breaths::: I keep telling myself, when it's done, we'll have a heckuva place!

Just think of all the trouble you would have saved if you had just bought a house you liked in the first place.

Pie · 03-11-2009, 10:23 AM

We've got plans to redo the bathrooms and the kitchen in our house. We've already done a kitchen before, so we know what we're up against. There won't be any change to the floorplan, just new and updated materials, so it's not that bad.

The master bathroom -- I want to bump out the shower area into the eaves over the garage. There's a huge amount of space back there, and with a little finish-work, it could significantly expand the storage capacity of the master closet as well.

Oh, and re-carpeting the upstairs and the den.

These will be on a reasonably tight schedule. We will be getting professionals for all these projects.

Clodfobble · 03-11-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Just think of all the trouble you would have saved if you had just bought a house you liked in the first place.

Who can afford one of those?

SteveDallas · 05-09-2009, 11:31 PM

We're painting our dining room and kitchen. Plaster/lath walls, c.1950 post-war inner-ring suburb housing boom cookie cutter colonial.

When we pulled off the wallpaper in the kitchen, there was another layer of wallpaper underneath. This was NOT pullable. So we forged ahead with scraping it off. Actually, in some places, we succeeded in pulling it off a few inches at a time--and the paint under came with it. But only in places.

So now we have this wall that has half a coat of paint on it. Where do we go from here? Sand, prime, and paint? Try to strip the rest of it off? Other suggestions?

Clodfobble · 05-10-2009, 08:46 AM

If it's a thick layer of paint, priming won't hide the torn edges, and sanding won't smooth it. Get some spackle (or go for the big container of "mudding" compound if you need a whole lot) and smear it over the edges so it's a smooth transition from one to the other. Then prime and paint.

classicman · 05-10-2009, 11:31 AM

Depending upon the condition of the walls.... skimcoat the whole thing and lightly sand to a smooth "as new" finish and paint - it'll certainly take two coats.

SteveDallas · 05-10-2009, 11:52 AM

How "lightly"? Would 220 be good?

classicman · 05-10-2009, 02:15 PM

the grade of the sandpaper is an issue, but not as much as how much pressure you use. 100 grit should be fine. The "lightly" is so you do not sand it off in some spots and have to recoat again. Basically you are putting a new layer of wall on so that its all even and you can paint it.
DO not use a palm sander or other power tool. It will come out much better if done by hand.

Dust will be an issue - wear a mask and have proper ventilation/air flow while sanding and be prepared for some serious dust. (just so you aren't surprised)

Its a PITA to put the spackle on at first, but once you get the hang of it, it goes rather quickly. Use a large blade - 12" minimum.

Oh, and DO NOT USE the lightweight stuff - it will not work. Get the big bucket with the blue lid.

I had to do this in a couple small rooms in my house - one which had a crappy faux paint job.

Before/after pics required. Good luck.

08-25-2009, 05:26 AM

Many people are crazy about creating lofts at home so they have extra storage space but that isn’t always a wise decision. To think of it logically it’s not the most feasible option. This is because you don’t want to crawl into the loft each day trying to put back things or take out things. As a result your loft and extra storage spaces built in your home actually reduce room area making rooms look smaller because you have dedicated space to the creation of a loft.

classicman · 08-25-2009, 09:59 PM

not if it is for seldom used things ie: storage space.

ZenGum · 08-25-2009, 11:14 PM

Greetings Alvaro and

I am toying with the idea of vacuuming the rug in the living room soon. By my standards, that counts as home improvement. Should I take pictures, and post progress reports?

Is there any advice you can offer me, as a first-time vacuumer? Will there be dust or electrical hazards? Should I get a proffessional in?

Shawnee123 · 08-25-2009, 11:16 PM

How much air does a loft use, actually?

Howdy Alvaro!

glatt · 05-22-2011, 08:41 PM

Crazy home improvement weekend here. We got all new carpet installed upstairs. It looks great. But of course as soon as it was in, we realized how horrible the walls are. So we've been painting the hallway all weekend. At least all the furniture was already out, but it's still a ton of work. Not even close to being done.

Then yesterday I found a puddle in the basement under the first floor toilet. This damn toilet springs a leak every 2 years or so, and I replace the wax ring. I've tried everything, even tearing up the old slanted floor and putting in a level one. It always leaks where the ring contacts the toilet. This time I bought a new toilet, and I'm really hopeful. For the first time, when I put the wax ring on, I could feel it really seating well over the horn. But we'll see in a couple years. I think it will work this time.

Of course, nothing is ever easy. Even though the new toilet was the same rough-in size as the old, it has a bigger footprint, and I needed to hack away at the quarter round molding to make it fit. It's a nice toilet though. Much better quality than the old one.

Undertoad · 05-22-2011, 09:18 PM

How do you get rid of the old toilet?

03-10-2009, 01:33 PM	#16
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	My wife and I have an impressive list of fix-it-up projects for our house. New windows, floors, electric, install A/C, new chimney (wait'll you see what passes now), new garage door and roof, extensive yard work and more. So far, it's just a list and I like it that way. __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

03-11-2009, 10:23 AM	#18
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	We've got plans to redo the bathrooms and the kitchen in our house. We've already done a kitchen before, so we know what we're up against. There won't be any change to the floorplan, just new and updated materials, so it's not that bad. The master bathroom -- I want to bump out the shower area into the eaves over the garage. There's a huge amount of space back there, and with a little finish-work, it could significantly expand the storage capacity of the master closet as well. Oh, and re-carpeting the upstairs and the den. These will be on a reasonably tight schedule. We will be getting professionals for all these projects. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

05-10-2009, 08:46 AM	#21
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	If it's a thick layer of paint, priming won't hide the torn edges, and sanding won't smooth it. Get some spackle (or go for the big container of "mudding" compound if you need a whole lot) and smear it over the edges so it's a smooth transition from one to the other. Then prime and paint. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

05-10-2009, 11:31 AM	#22
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Depending upon the condition of the walls.... skimcoat the whole thing and lightly sand to a smooth "as new" finish and paint - it'll certainly take two coats. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

05-10-2009, 02:15 PM	#24
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	the grade of the sandpaper is an issue, but not as much as how much pressure you use. 100 grit should be fine. The "lightly" is so you do not sand it off in some spots and have to recoat again. Basically you are putting a new layer of wall on so that its all even and you can paint it. DO not use a palm sander or other power tool. It will come out much better if done by hand. Dust will be an issue - wear a mask and have proper ventilation/air flow while sanding and be prepared for some serious dust. (just so you aren't surprised) Its a PITA to put the spackle on at first, but once you get the hang of it, it goes rather quickly. Use a large blade - 12" minimum. Oh, and DO NOT USE the lightweight stuff - it will not work. Get the big bucket with the blue lid. I had to do this in a couple small rooms in my house - one which had a crappy faux paint job. Before/after pics required. Good luck. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

05-09-2009, 11:31 PM	#20
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	We're painting our dining room and kitchen. Plaster/lath walls, c.1950 post-war inner-ring suburb housing boom cookie cutter colonial. When we pulled off the wallpaper in the kitchen, there was another layer of wallpaper underneath. This was NOT pullable. So we forged ahead with scraping it off. Actually, in some places, we succeeded in pulling it off a few inches at a time--and the paint under came with it. But only in places. So now we have this wall that has half a coat of paint on it. Where do we go from here? Sand, prime, and paint? Try to strip the rest of it off? Other suggestions?

05-10-2009, 11:52 AM	#23
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	How "lightly"? Would 220 be good?

08-25-2009, 05:26 AM	#25
Alvaro Rogers Guest Posts: n/a	Many people are crazy about creating lofts at home so they have extra storage space but that isn’t always a wise decision. To think of it logically it’s not the most feasible option. This is because you don’t want to crawl into the loft each day trying to put back things or take out things. As a result your loft and extra storage spaces built in your home actually reduce room area making rooms look smaller because you have dedicated space to the creation of a loft.

08-25-2009, 09:59 PM	#26
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	not if it is for seldom used things ie: storage space. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

08-25-2009, 11:14 PM	#27
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Greetings Alvaro and I am toying with the idea of vacuuming the rug in the living room soon. By my standards, that counts as home improvement. Should I take pictures, and post progress reports? Is there any advice you can offer me, as a first-time vacuumer? Will there be dust or electrical hazards? Should I get a proffessional in? __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

08-25-2009, 11:16 PM	#28
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	How much air does a loft use, actually? Howdy Alvaro! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

05-22-2011, 08:41 PM	#29
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Crazy home improvement weekend here. We got all new carpet installed upstairs. It looks great. But of course as soon as it was in, we realized how horrible the walls are. So we've been painting the hallway all weekend. At least all the furniture was already out, but it's still a ton of work. Not even close to being done. Then yesterday I found a puddle in the basement under the first floor toilet. This damn toilet springs a leak every 2 years or so, and I replace the wax ring. I've tried everything, even tearing up the old slanted floor and putting in a level one. It always leaks where the ring contacts the toilet. This time I bought a new toilet, and I'm really hopeful. For the first time, when I put the wax ring on, I could feel it really seating well over the horn. But we'll see in a couple years. I think it will work this time. Of course, nothing is ever easy. Even though the new toilet was the same rough-in size as the old, it has a bigger footprint, and I needed to hack away at the quarter round molding to make it fit. It's a nice toilet though. Much better quality than the old one. Attached Images

05-22-2011, 09:18 PM	#30
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	How do you get rid of the old toilet?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)