Home Improvement: I just finished remodeling my small master bathroom and tried to keep detailed notes on costs. Hopefully this can help anyone that's thinking about a remodel. |
- I just finished remodeling my small master bathroom and tried to keep detailed notes on costs. Hopefully this can help anyone that's thinking about a remodel.
- Am I being overcharged by my GC
- Drunk Driver Mowed Down Trees in My Lawn
- Floor Plan Advice
- Question about pilot hole size for lag screws
- Trying to build a pretty small section of 4' tall chain link fence. I could use some advise.
- Removing a simple deck.
- Basement has spray foam on concrete (no framing) how to finish?
- Was wondering what type of door closer this is?
- Do you need to prime coat a metal door if you are painting it the same or a similar color?
- Mobile Home Window Recommendations
- Would home warranty cover this plumbing issue regarding galvanized pipes?
- Price to build my own fence?
- Is a rooftop deck a good or bad feature to have/maintain? Bug problems? North Chicago IL
- Tips for prepping subfloor after demoing old tile?
- Attic insulation - Plan Validation
- Garage Floor Epoxy
- Stove top is not working.
- Fluorescent light flickers
- Advice when Comparing Estimates
- Lightbulb suggestions
- Need cheap (temporary) flooring for basement ideas
- The 50 gal gas water heater gushed water from its bottom overnight and flooded the basement. Unit was installed in 1978!!!! Made by RUUDGLAS. Is this something a DIYer can fix or replace? What steps should I take? I have never touched the unit for the 10+ years that I have lived here.
- GFCI works downstream but its outlet doesn't
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 11:42 AM PST I just finished up remodeling my 1960's 8'x5' "master" bathroom in which I wanted to keep as detailed records of cost as I could. This was my first big project since purchasing the house with my wife a year ago (first house). We started demo on Jan 1st and finished around February 18th so it took a decent amount of time. Luckily I work from home 4 days a week so I was able to get some stuff done here and there throughout the day. We are extremely happy with how it turned out. It feels like we're in a different house. I'm hoping I did everything correctly so we don't experience leaks or mold anytime soon. Here is the spreadsheet used. Let me know if you guys can see this OK. Our budget was around $5,000. Total cost was about $5,300. Cost of materials was around $2,500 and I had contractors come in for tiling and plumbing which ended up being about $2,800 (Philadelphia suburbs). Much more than I would have liked, but I wanted a professional job done in those areas and didn't trust myself being able to do that without prior experience. I bought a circular saw, miter saw, and a few other tools here and there but did not add them to the list since they will be used plenty in future projects. In the spreadsheet, the estimate is what we budgeted for. If there's a $0 there it's something I likely overlooked when planning. It's not very accurate but I wanted to get an idea of what everything would cost before we started. The actual is what we spent on the items. I put in there what was on our receipts so it's pretty accurate, I just might be missing a few small things. As we went along in buying a lot of the materials, we decided to spend a little more on stuff like Delta hardware and a good toilet. I didn't account for the 8000 trips to Lowe's and Home Depot since they're right around the corner from my house. All in all, it was stressful at times but I learned so much from it. I would say it would take about half the time to do this if I had to do it again and had the knowledge I have now. I am hoping this helps you guys who are thinking about tackling a similar project. Edit: Added some $/sqft to the screenshot for the tile [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Am I being overcharged by my GC Posted: 04 Mar 2020 05:55 AM PST I'm putting in an addition and chose smooth texture vs knockdown. It's $20 per drywall sheet. My GC quoted 114 sheets of 4x12 drywall and just notified me that they actually installed 179 sheets of 4x8 drywall. He wants me to pay the difference in smooth coating ($20x179) vs ($20x114). Square footage hasn't changed. Is this a fairly common and legit ask? [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Drunk Driver Mowed Down Trees in My Lawn Posted: 04 Mar 2020 05:16 PM PST Title pretty much says it all. A drunk driver swerved off the road and destroyed 6 fully grown eastern hemlock trees. He's fine as he was driven away in the back of a police cruiser with a DUI charge. My question is, how should I proceed? The police report lists his car insurance company, so I assume I call them to file a claim. I've never done that before, though. Do I estimate damages? Or get a landscape company to quote what it would cost to remove the damaged trees, their stumps, and replant new trees? I liked the row of trees I had along the road (probably 30 in total) but now there is a big gap between them thanks to this drunk idiot mowing down six of them. I would think replacing those trees with six new trees would be the best "home improvement" move here. Guess it could always be worse; he could've been uninsured. [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 08:03 PM PST Advice needed Not sure if this is the appropriate community but first time homeowner in the Midwest and first time poster seeking help. It is a 1 bathroom house with the only entrance through a room. My thought was to move the wall in the 11'x7' room 2ft out so it is just shy of the front door and adding a closet through the conjoining wall of the 12x10 room. This will create a master bedroom of the house. I can utilize the now smaller what used to be the 12x10 room as an office which wouldn't be as weird to walk through to get to the bathroom. The 14x11 room is a dining room I would use as a foyer initially until I come up with another room idea. Any thoughts on a floor plan to make accessing the bathroom any easier? [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Question about pilot hole size for lag screws Posted: 04 Mar 2020 12:25 PM PST I'm installing a wall-mounted pull-up bar into studs in a garage (with drywall). If I'm using 3/8 lag screws (4.5 inch) going into wood studs, what size drill should I use for the pilot? I'm seeing different info online, from 1/4 to 5/16. I initially tried 1/4 and wound up breaking a screw trying to torque it in - so I'm guessing the pilot was too small. But I'm a little worried 5/16 might be so big as to not give enough grip for the screws. Don't want this coming out of the wall on me. Thanks! [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Trying to build a pretty small section of 4' tall chain link fence. I could use some advise. Posted: 04 Mar 2020 08:04 PM PST We are trying to build a fence that is attached to a portion of our shed. Basically a 3 sided fence. It will be chain link and 4' tall. See poorly drawn picture below for reference. The problem is that I'm trying to shop around online for supplies and it seems absurdly expensive. Where do I start as far as supply shopping goes? [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 07:11 AM PST I have a little wooden deck in front of my house that I want to remove. Here's a photo. My plan is to put a garden in its place. Can anyone give me some advice/guidance on how to go about removing it? What tools would you use? Where would you start? What would you do with the leftover lumber? Dumb questions, I know, but I'm a new homeowner, don't have many tools, and know next to nothing! Thanks! [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Basement has spray foam on concrete (no framing) how to finish? Posted: 04 Mar 2020 12:35 PM PST Hoping to get some insight on how to approach finishing the basement of our house. We're outside of Boston (for codes/climate), and want to turn a portion of the basement into a TV/game/play room along with some nicer storage areas, and keep part of it more unfinished for a small workshop area. All the walls (where concrete) are insulated with spray foam (and there is what I assume is a fire protection coating sprayed on top) but have no framing. Is the proper way to add framing to just build in front of foam? Since it's not 100% even, I assume we'd have to just pick our reference points to form 90 degree corners so things don't look funny. Is there something I'm missing? [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Was wondering what type of door closer this is? Posted: 04 Mar 2020 07:56 PM PST It's pretty old, does anyone know what kind it is so I can get a replacement for my door? https://i.imgur.com/TGCQXgU.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0IS5i1U.jpg https://i.imgur.com/M8mgh2V.jpg [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Do you need to prime coat a metal door if you are painting it the same or a similar color? Posted: 04 Mar 2020 07:47 PM PST I want to repair some dents in a metal door. Can I just paint over the existing paint, bondo after cleaning, and scuffing? [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Mobile Home Window Recommendations Posted: 04 Mar 2020 07:40 PM PST I'm looking to put a couple of windows into a mobile home, curious if anyone's prefers a certain manufacturer/retailer and why. Thanks. [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Would home warranty cover this plumbing issue regarding galvanized pipes? Posted: 04 Mar 2020 07:35 PM PST I have American Home shield and I'm trying to review my contract for this issue. I have galvanized pipes so I'm worried about my health also. I live on a crawl space and also have access to the back of the tub/to the pipes through a closet wall. The faucet is leaking in the tub (probably just needs a washer) because of the hot water knob not being able to shut water off all the way. You can hear the specific pipe running. In the wall, the hot water pipe is starting to look rusty and corroded up to the point it meets the knob area. Does the rustines/corrosion count as a leak? I'm worried this is a sign it's going to bust any day now. I know they will only cover so much but can I get this fixed before it busts completely? My warranty says:
I have a plumber coming out through AHS for the tub faucet leak, but not this new pipe issue. What do you think? Do I have to wait until it actually breaks and starts flooding everything? [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 07:28 PM PST Half of my backyard is already fenced by the neighbors South of me and Southeast of me. I need to finish the job with 128 Feet of white vinyl. No Gates, only two corner posts. Several years ago I helped some family install some vinyl fencing, so I'm vaguely familiar with the process. I'll be doing the labor myself and am curious what reddit thinks I should be paying for all of the product. This Link has a quick sketchup model of what fencing I'll be installing. [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Is a rooftop deck a good or bad feature to have/maintain? Bug problems? North Chicago IL Posted: 04 Mar 2020 10:07 AM PST So I'm looking to remodel a 1600 square foot 3 story townhouse (built-in 2016, in a suburban/rural area of the Chicago area). It has the potential for an easy/cheap rooftop deck conversion from 3rd floor as the rooftop is already flat. The property will be for a family member. Any input is appreciated. [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Tips for prepping subfloor after demoing old tile? Posted: 04 Mar 2020 05:20 AM PST Hello all, I'm planning on gutting/completely redoing my master bath in the coming months, and while there is a wealth of instructional information available on YouTube, I've discovered one serious gap in my knowledge: While I'm planning taking the walls and ceiling down to studs, I'd like to leave the plywood subfloor in place, assuming it's in good condition. Now, I'm also going to assume that there will be mortar bonded to the subfloor from the existing tile installation. What's the best way to clean, prep, and level the subfloor for a new flooring install? [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Attic insulation - Plan Validation Posted: 04 Mar 2020 01:08 PM PST I just got an energy audit (blower door test) done on my home, and they came back with a few estimates ranging from 5k-18k. 18 being the works. This is mainly for air sealing and adding insulation. The attic is already insulated, but not well enough. Right now there is the pink stuff, not sure of the R value. I have 3 skylights as well as a bunch of recessed lights. I just wanted to post this to get another opinion on what I plan on doing. The attic space is split between the garage and a living space, and the other attic is much larger and covers all the bedrooms. I am planning on starting with the garage attic to determine whether I can handle the larger attic or if it's worth getting someone to do it. The contractor suggested spray foam for the knee walls as well as the skylights. I plan on cutting some insulation batts to size for where they walls meet the roof, and air sealing it using some of the GreatStuff.
tl;dr: My attic insulation is insufficient, I plan on air sealing, replacing the recessed light cans with LED built ins, and blowing cellulose insulation over existing. For skylights and knee wall, air seal and insulation batts supported by wood or poly sheet. Good idea? Looking for validation really! [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 12:54 PM PST Hello! I have been seeing a lot of Epoxy covered garage floors lately. I really like the look of it but I am wondering if there is any benefit outside of aesthetic? Do any of you have experience doing this yourself? Cheers M8's. [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 06:49 PM PST I have a Frigidaire smooth surface stove. The front 2 elements do not seem to be working properly. When I put them on high they begin to work, I can see them glowing red under the surface, but then they turn off. It makes a very quiet click and no longer is able to heat up. If I leave it on you can still feel it heating, but it isn't even hot enough to burn you or boil water. Any ideas? Edit: It seams like the quiet "click" is coming from the actual switch. [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 07:03 AM PST First post so go easy. I have 2 double fluorescent lights in my garage that are both one switch. When turned on they flicker and hum and are not very bright. I already tried replacing 2 of the bulbs and same results. I appreciate any and all tips thanks. [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Advice when Comparing Estimates Posted: 04 Mar 2020 11:50 AM PST I need to have my NG hot water heater replaced as it has a slow leak. I've had two estimates so far, one from a local plumbing company that even knew the owners of the house prior to me, and another from Horizon Services another local, but much larger heating/cooling/plumbing company. (I live in Montgomery County, PA). The estimate from the local guy was 1400$ for a 40g replacement including providing the water heater itself. I don't know anything more about his plans on the project than that, other than he offers a 6yr warranty. The other estimate is ~2040$ for same size tank, but he gave me more detail, such as how he'd re-do the gas hook up at no extra charge, adding a flexible line between a new shutoff valve and and a new valve at the heater, and new hot/cold shut off valves. Also offers a 6 year warranty parts/labor. Both estimates included adding an expansion tank. I need advice as to whether the extra 600$ is worth it or if I need to do more research or ask the first plumber for more details, or if that is even acceptable to do. Thanks for your input! [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 06:31 PM PST Hey all. Just purchased this fixture (the one with the daylight led bulbs) for above our island and was hoping to get some suggestions for LED bulbs to use. I was thinking of a vintage/Edison bulb where you could see the filament. Thanks! [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Need cheap (temporary) flooring for basement ideas Posted: 04 Mar 2020 11:35 AM PST My girlfriend and I rent our home. It is an unfinished basement with a plain concrete floor. I want to use the basement as a mancave/etc... but don't want to be walking on bare concrete all the time. We don't own it, so I'm not going to invest in finishing the floor/walls/etc. Any suggestions on cheap flooring I should look at? [link] [comments] | ||||||
| Posted: 04 Mar 2020 07:30 AM PST I turned off water to the entire house. I was so tired at dawn that couldn't figure out how to stop the water from exiting the heater. I used the wet vacuum to vacuum up what I could and used fans to redirect existing water to floor drain the basement. Water is still on the floor but not much. I am thinking I should drain the water heater after I figure out how to turn off the water to the heater. Because it is a gas unit I am scared and wondering if I need a plumber with gas exp to fix it... replace it. [link] [comments] | ||||||
| GFCI works downstream but its outlet doesn't Posted: 04 Mar 2020 11:09 AM PST I had a 15 year old GFCI reworked by an electrician as part of a new pool equipment installation. The GFCI's line black wire comes from a 15 amp breaker dedicated to the pool lights. That pool light breaker is powered by a 30 amp double breaker. The GFCI's line white wire comes from a wire attached to the neutral bar connected the the 30 amp double breaker's 10 gauge neutral wire. The GFCI's load wires go to the pool lights. Downstream works fine, GFCI's green light works fine, GFCI's test/reset work, but the GFCI outlet itself does not work. I've verfied the outlet has no power with a plug-in outlet voltage tester and I've verified the hot wires to work properly during both tripped and untripped states with a non-contact voltage tester. I figured maybe the GFCI is just old and replaced it with a new Leviton WR GFCI. I made sure to note that Leviton has line at top and load at bottom (opposite of the old GFCI) and installed it. Same problem. Also verified outlet with plug-in voltage tester and the hot wires with non-contact voltage tester. The pool lights still get downstream power, the GFCI still gets green light, I can still trip the GFCI through the outlet using the plug-in GFCI tester, etc. Line provides power. Load provides power downstream when GFCI isn't tripped, stops power downstream when it is. The neutral bar and neutral wires look new and in good condition. Yet the GFCI outlet itself doesn't work (just like with the old one). I'm new to this and am wondering if maybe I'm missing something obvious. [link] [comments] |
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