DIY Home Improvement Thread..

[PleaseBlitz]

OK, this spring I plan on doing some serious fixing up of the homestead. Im pretty handy, but i dont have any specific training in most of the things I want to get done, besides painting.

I know lots of people on ES either do this stuff for a living or have experience fixing up their own homes.

Feel free to ask for advice in this thread.

My first project:

Fixing a leaky fridge. For some reason, about once a week, i find a puddle around my fridge. Anyone know what the deal is and how to fix it? Preferably without buying a new fridge.

Also, I have some mold on the wall in my upstairs bathroom. What should I use to clean this off?

[rincewind]

Put up a fence this weekend.




I was going to post pictures this evening when I get home. Next project is doing something about the lawn.

[rictus58]

Also, I have some mold on the wall in my upstairs bathroom. What should I use to clean this off?

Use bleach. Scrub good. Re-paint. There is a paint you can buy at home depot called "Killz" it prevents mold from growing. It solved the problem in my bathroom.

This is assuming it's just spots of mold/mildew. If its a serious mold problem, call a professional.

[PleaseBlitz]

Use bleach. Scrub good. Re-paint. There is a paint you can buy at home depot called "Killz" it prevents mold from growing. It solved the problem in my bathroom.

This is assuming it's just spots of mold/mildew. If its a serious mold problem, call a professional.

Its just spots. Bleach will work.

[Kosher Ham]

How is your fridge leaking ?
And how old is it ?
Have you found the source of the leak ?

[Major Harris]

we are completely renovating a back porch that was converted into finished living space before we bought the house. i took out the window of the redskins room that leads to the porch and installed french doors. we are taking up the carpet and putting vinyl down.

i spent a large part of the last week or so installing a paver patio in the back yard, around our brick grill.

my next big project will be a split rail fence.

our house was built in 1952. since we bought it in '03, we have, in addition to the above, painted every room, ripped up almost all the carpet since the floors are hardwood, replaced all the windows, installed a new heating/ ac system (that was contracted), updated the electricity in the kitchen, renovated the bathroom.

i have a guy that takes care of the lawn as far as fertilizer, lime, weed kill.

[PleaseBlitz]

How is your fridge leaking ?

Uh, how? Um, water is escaping from it. Not sure what you mean by "how?"

And how old is it ?

Conveyed with the house, so i dont know. Probably 10 years or so.

Have you found the source of the leak ?

No. How do i go about doing that?

[zoony]

My offseason project was building a deck off my back porch. Screened in porches are great, but no place to put the BBQ


Anyways, there is not one nail in the entire deck. Screws used for everything. I thru-bolted all of the major joints & I used 4 2x6 runners to lay the joists on top of... it's over-built to say the least. But that's half the fun.

Anyways I just recently put the finishing touches on it... low voltage lighting integrated in the steps and in the landscaping... as well as a japanese maple & some assorted red & white azaleas. I even used cobblestone pavers for the landing. The landscaping needs to fill out a bit more, but I guess I just need to be patient.

I started this last January... worked on it nights & weekends mostly when I was home and the wife would allow

[PleaseBlitz]

Damn Zoony. :

[zoony]

PB... I would bet that your leak is from the water line coming into your fridge. (does it have an icemaker/water dispenser?)

Your fridge should be on wheels, so you should be able just to roll it forward away from the wall. Keep in mind though that the fridge has been sitting there for a while so it might be difficult to break free.

Anyways, look behind the fridge where the water line (should be copper, sometimes they're other material though) connects to the fridge... I bet that's your problem.


Otherwise, you've got a problem with your condensor or something... in which case you should just buy a new fridge.

[Kosher Ham]

PB... I would bet that your leak is from the water line coming into your fridge. (does it have an icemaker/water dispenser?)

Your fridge should be on wheels, so you should be able just to roll it forward away from the wall. Keep in mind though that the fridge has been sitting there for a while so it might be difficult to break free.

Anyways, look behind the fridge where the water line (should be copper, sometimes they're other material though) connects to the fridge... I bet that's your problem.


Otherwise, you've got a problem with your condensor or something... in which case you should just buy a new fridge.

I agree, if I had to guess it would be one of the two.

And if you figure its a ten year old plus fridge, than it might just be time to invest in a new one.

Might cost you more to fix repeatedly in the long run.

[cjcdaman]

I don't know the exact terms, but there is probably something blocking a vent in your freezer. Same thing happened to me. Cleaned out the freezer and organized it better. Hasn't leaked since.

[canethang 305]

Waiting on my new deck to be built, damn Berkley County takes forever with the building permits.

[Shadowplay]

Does anyone have a Trex Deck? If so, have you ever cleaned it? I've got one and it's not recommended to use a power washer but you need to use a soft bristle brush along with some soap and water. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this.

[zoony]

Does anyone have a Trex Deck? If so, have you ever cleaned it? I've got one and it's not recommended to use a power washer but you need to use a soft bristle brush along with some soap and water. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this.

I've got Trex on my front porch. (And I'm glad I do, because otherwise I would have been tempted to use it on my back deck. That stuff gets brutally hot in the sun... you can't even walk on it.)


Anyways I clean it with a bleach solution and a scrub brush. Doesn't take long at all... dirt comes right off. Pressure Washers are over-rated... a lot of times it's less work to just use a scrub brush and cleaning solution.

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