DIY Home Improvement Thread..

[Park City Skins]

Now that was a re-model. But at leas the light at the end of the tunnel can be seen.

As for here. The sprinkler project is just about done. That will leave time for the garage. Lot's of building going on there including some hang from the ceiling shelves that I'll hopefully have up some time over the weekend. Fall will be under eave and roof vent time,(way too hot to try that now,even though that's the best reason to have them).

[SloppyOneXXVI]

Okay carpenters of ES, I need some help....

I bought custom blinds for some windows in my kitchen. Unfortunately, I'm a moron and didn't measure all the way at the top of the window frames. One of the blinds is about 1/2 inch too big for the top of the frame... it fits perfectly in the middle of the frame! Apparently frames aren't the same size all the way down... who knew? Anyway, is there a way I can shave the top of the frame a bit to make the blinds fit? Or am I screwed?

Cutting the blinds is not an option, they are cellular shades.

[Elessar78]

Have you tried gas and a match? That's probably what I'd do. Wait until nighttime when they've all returned to the nest

Well, I sealed the entrance with a plastic bin and monitored it for a week. Day 1, I could see them actively buzzing inside the bin and a few seemed to have gotten out and were buzzing about. I was worried they would dig an exit tunnel or burrow underneath the bin between gaps in the grass and dirt, but they didn't. Yesterday was a week and I finally took the bin off, a little of making sure they were dead and gone (had not seen any activity for a week) and a little of hadn't really gotten around to go back there, and there were about 200 dead yellow jackets!! My neighbor came over and we were talking over the conquest when the ground underneath his boot gave a little. He picked at the ground and exposed the nest and saw yjs crawling down there but they were lethargic and looked to be juveniles. A couple flew out and tried to attack but they were dealt with and there was no more visible activity. I went back and gave it another good spray of foam into the exposed nest, so I think they're done done.

Next time, I'd do the pesticide dust, because while it doesn't kill on contact they will track it back into the nest and kill others, larvae and essentially poison the nest. Then I'd hit the entrance with foam and seal the entrance. If it's a really virulent hive, I'd go nuclear and hit it with the gasoline but I hated killing the grass in that area.

[DeanCollins]

you won't be worrying about those anymore. Go west young man!

---------- Post added August-14th-2012 at 12:12 PM ----------

Yeah it is. Came with place actually. I first saw it,it was

As for the countertops.....




*



Figures somone would notice. Came with the place. Like the floor.

No need to worry about those any longer, go west young man.

[Forehead]

Well, I finally decided to re-dip my toe into home improvements, even though the last thing I did was furniture restoration, and not really a "home improvement" so to speak. Last night's project? Kitchen faucet replacement, which became a project when my wife turned on the water and the faucet handle snapped off. I knew it was old, but holy hell....

Anyway, like all people who are relatively new to this sort of thing, I figured this would be an easy fix. Went to the store, purchased a faucet for four holes (we have a sprayer) and some plumbers putty. I opened it, and the first direction is this massive diagram of nuts, bolts, and screws being put together, but apparently this was FYI for part replacement because the faucet came pre-assembled. Direction two was shut off the water. Direction three was a list of tools I would need. Direction four was "choose with sprayer or without sprayer installation." If without, go to #5. If with, go to #7.

Holy ****!! I was already up to step seven (out of nine) and all I had to do was shut off the water and collect my tools. This was easy!

Well, maybe not, as step seven was where I began being required to actually do stuff. First, I had to unscrew two plastic cap things (you can tell me DIY vocabulary is limited) but they had been there for so long, and sealed with putty for some reason, that they wouldn't budge. I had to work a small hammer up in the space and give them a few medium taps to loosen them, along with a shower of rust and corrosion. And while I'm thinking about it, who the **** designed these under sink spaces? You have to be a damn midget to do anything under there comfortably.

Anyway, with those off, the next step was disconnecting the hoses. The hot water one came off with some work, then promptly leaked the remaining water it had all over the towel I had put down, soaking it. New towel. The cold water hose...no such luck. It is secured up near the access hole with a large hexagonal nut which won't budge. My adjustable wrench is to small to fit over it. My much larger wrench I can't fit up in the area, thanks to the sink and garbage disposal, or get any torque. So after trying to loosen it by hand, then by hand with a towel, then with a big wrench that wouldn't fit, then with pliers of all things, I managed to make no progress unless you count sore hands and a nagging back.

Instead, I went to the other end of the hose and loosened a much smaller and more accessible nut, breaking whatever seal was there, because when I refastened it and tested the water line, water sprayed everywhere. I would up yanking the hose out of the pipe at that end instead of bothering with the large nut anymore. All that was left was to loosen the sprayer. Well, this should have been easier, but due to it's positioning against the back wall and behind the hot/cold water connections, I couldn't really get to it, and my hands were getting torn up, so we cut the sprayer hose in half with a pair of scissors, which is okay, because the new one comes with its own sprayer hose. Success, after some jimmying, we were able to pull the entire faucet off of the sink, exposing some pretty hideous looking stuff, and remove the rest of the sprayer as well.

That was it for the night. We now have a kitchen sink with three holes, a rusty pool that needs to be cleaned along the back, and a new faucet waiting to be installed. I need to go back to the store for a replacement cold water hose and the corresponding nuts to hopefully avoid leaks, but otherwise, I think this might turn out alright. Hopefully, there will be positive updates tonight/tomorrow.

[pointyfootball]

That was it for the night. We now have a kitchen sink with three holes, a rusty pool that needs to be cleaned along the back, and a new faucet waiting to be installed. I need to go back to the store for a replacement cold water hose and the corresponding nuts to hopefully avoid leaks, but otherwise, I think this might turn out alright. Hopefully, there will be positive updates tonight/tomorrow.

I consider myself fairly handy, but I have NEVER had a plumbing project (no matter the size) go according to plan. There's a reason those guys charge $60+ per hour!

[Park City Skins]

Okay. Rescued the lawn,(though a lot of it is going bye bye down the road. Xeriscaping),next up is the building of storage space in the garage,then the eave venting thing. Oh joy.

[Elessar78]

For the DIY junkies out there: http://ana-white.com/

They have plans for building popular pieces of furniture that you see in magazines or, say, Pottery Barn. Kinda awesome.

I stumbled upon it this weekend while looking for a plan for a minimalist console table my wife wants.

[SWFLSkins]

Okay. Rescued the lawn,(though a lot of it is going bye bye down the road. Xeriscaping),next up is the building of storage space in the garage,then the eave venting thing. Oh joy.

The four foot by five foot racks that hang from the ceiling are great, Kobalt brand at Lowe's for about 139. They hold 500lbs. Put them in for a customer I did kitchen work for, I will put in two of these in my garage in the future.

[Park City Skins]

I like those,but I'm going to go ahead and build them myself for the most part,(though I may look in to those for above the garage door). Cheaper and I customize.

Tools are ready for the new home,(few small additions to make,but overall ready to go). Even have this half of the garage for building too,(carpenter's man cave. ).

[zoony]

Oooooooo, somebody got him a shiny new DWS780. How do you like the light? Much nicer than a laser IMO

You also bought the correct stand. I have the Delta version that stand is a copy of, it's probably 7 years old now. Best stand ever.

Look for a rolling change on compressors to all go back over to Emglo branded (will still be the same thing)

You have great taste PCS

[Park City Skins]

I figured you just might notice the telltale yellow of those guys. I like the light and the stand is superb. Especially in this particular environment. I've used a lot of tools in my day,including versions of both of those guys in the picture. If I have to frame a house and such,I'll take those two. Exterior and big finish work as well. Unlike a few other things I've used from Dewalt,(though that was several years ago),those are durable as hell,(work very well in the very cold weather I might add). I'd take them along with their impact driver,(every man must own one by the way). I've set windows to huge pine corners with oly logs with that little beast. If I'm doing fine finish work,I like the Hitachi compound saws. Oh and thanks for the heads up on the compressors.

[jb4348]

I consider myself fairly handy, but I have NEVER had a plumbing project (no matter the size) go according to plan. There's a reason those guys charge $60+ per hour!

I actually think plumbing is one of the easiest things for me when remodeling. I have replaced all my old plumbing in the house to CPVC, changed toilets, drains etc...as long as you take your time its not bad. Also if you ever have a burst pipe the easiest thing to do is grab a shark bite fitting and fix it that way. Very quick fix and it will last as long as glued or solder pipe. I have now done all new plumbing, flooring, tore down my kitchen and rebuilt it new drywall and electrical. This is an awesome thread btw OP.

[Elessar78]

I like those,but I'm going to go ahead and build them myself for the most part,(though I may look in to those for above the garage door). Cheaper and I customize.

Tools are ready for the new home,(few small additions to make,but overall ready to go). Even have this half of the garage for building too,(carpenter's man cave. ).

Not sure if you're responding to the site I posted, but if you got a rig like that then you're probably capable of doing it on your own. My carpentry skills are just a little north of "girl scout".

[Park City Skins]

Not sure if you're responding to the site I posted, but if you got a rig like that then you're probably capable of doing it on your own. My carpentry skills are just a little north of "girl scout".

Nope. I bookmarked that site you put up and it looks to be a good companion to others and the books I have here.