DIY home improvements ITT

[gixxer0.6g]

The grain on those is too fubared, paint em.

Black ya think?

x2 on the painting them. Get some of those sanding sponges in a medium to fine grit and sand the edges after each coat of paint to help let the wood show through. Also any chance of getting those raised panel center pieces off the doors or are they glued on pretty solid?

I was planning on taking them off too. There are a two screws behind them. Hopefully that's it.

[RoboBob]

The grain on those is too fubared, paint em.

If you paint it black make sure to get a quality black paint that was made that way (no black paint that some guy at Home Depot mixes for you). Sherwin Williams sells a great true black paint.

That bar top will look great! I kind of did the same thing, and used a two part self-leveling epoxy to finish the top. That finish makes all the difference in the world.

Good luck!

[gixxer0.6g]

If you paint it black make sure to get a quality black paint that was made that way (no black paint that some guy at Home Depot mixes for you). Sherwin Williams sells a great true black paint.

That bar top will look great! I kind of did the same thing, and used a two part self-leveling epoxy to finish the top. That finish makes all the difference in the world.

Good luck!

Where did you get the epoxy? I haven't had much luck locally. Seen a few online but don't know much about it.

[shock6906]

I sold my house earlier this year, but I did some various DIY improvements over the years. Biggest one was the garage. It started out with big, ugly cabinets on the floor on one side that dominated a lot of space. Had ugly wood paneling inside and nasty popcorn ceiling.



Painted the walls white, scraped the ceiling texture down, removed cabinets, installed drop-down work benches, bought storage cabinets to go along the back wall, put up some dry erase boards, and added a third fluorescent fixture.





I also did some in-wall wiring and a closet install for A/V equipment, though I don't have much in the way of pictures for that. Built a rack for audio/video/HTPC to put in a closet behind the wall where I mounted the TV. With the way the living room was built, the TV was supposed to go on the opposite wall, but that would have looked like ass. Removed some old shelving that was built into the closet, sanded and painted the closet, and put in jacks for audio and video connections. Some wireless remotes and keyboards made sure everything worked smoothly. It was pretty sweet.

[Adarus]

Black ya think?



I was planning on taking them off too. There are a two screws behind them. Hopefully that's it.

Yeah hopefully there's no glue behind there, otherwise you'll have a lot of cleanup work on the panel once you get that piece off. If they are glued I'd just cut the entire panel out of there and go have a few pieces of glass cut to fit in the door. It's a fairly easy but you will need a router to cut away part of the wood on the back.

Where did you get the epoxy? I haven't had much luck locally. Seen a few online but don't know much about it.

See if your closet Lowe's store has this:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_147376-1149-5050080_0__#img

[JDizleSwoleizle]

I sold my house earlier this year, but I did some various DIY improvements over the years. Biggest one was the garage.

Stop talking about house stuff and tell me about your fourth gens.



Gix, yes black with sanded edges like armour breh said. If you get some pallet pieces with black paint or just really dark pieces it will set it off.

[gixxer0.6g]

Yeah hopefully there's no glue behind there, otherwise you'll have a lot of cleanup work on the panel once you get that piece off. If they are glued I'd just cut the entire panel out of there and go have a few pieces of glass cut to fit in the door. It's a fairly easy but you will need a router to cut away part of the wood on the back.

See if your closet Lowe's store has this:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_147376-1149-5050080_0__#img

Great idea cabinet master. And our lowes does carry that. Thanks dude

Stop talking about house stuff and tell me about your fourth gens.

[img]http://www.gifwave.com/media/83710_nbc-police-salute-uniform.gif[img]

Gix, yes black with sanded edges like armour breh said. If you get some pallet pieces with black paint or just really dark pieces it will set it off.

This. So much hnnggg

[Adarus]

Great idea cabinet master. And our lowes does carry that. Thanks dude

If you go that route check out this guy's video. He pretty much covers every step in the process.

[hpdcoop]

See if your closet Lowe's store has this:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_147376-1149-5050080_0__#img

TY brah.

And 2nd on this stuff. Used it on a workbench I built; made a border/dam with tape around the edges, poured this stuff on, and smoothed it out. Cured hard as nails. The only thing I've found so far it doesn't like is glycol, everything petroleum based wipes right off and cleans up nicely.

[litljay]

TY brah.

And 2nd on this stuff. Used it on a workbench I built; made a border/dam with tape around the edges, poured this stuff on, and smoothed it out. Cured hard as nails. The only thing I've found so far it doesn't like is glycol, everything petroleum based wipes right off and cleans up nicely.

I did this exact same thing in my old house on a workbench I built.

In the pic Gix posted, I wonder how they did the sides? Just brush some down the sides? I'm also sure they used a butt load of the stuff as you'd also be filling the cracks between the planks.

The stuff I used, I'm convinced would work really well for an outside kitchen/environment also and would look pretty slick.

[JT11RTR]

Going to go balls to the wall on the bar this weekend. I got some old lower cabinets and an upper from my parent's remodel that I'm going to use down there. I'm thinking about painting them black but the wife doesn't like that idea. What's your thoughts guys? Refinish with a darker stain to try and match the pallet countertops or go black? If I go black it will have some wood show through like below.

I painted mine black and I'm happy with the way they came out.

[Adarus]

I did this exact same thing in my old house on a workbench I built.

In the pic Gix posted, I wonder how they did the sides? Just brush some down the sides? I'm also sure they used a butt load of the stuff as you'd also be filling the cracks between the planks.

The stuff I used, I'm convinced would work really well for an outside kitchen/environment also and would look pretty slick.

I don't know if it's how they did it in the pic but when I worked at Lowe's we had a customer that used that stuff on a bar top in his basement and he said he just laid out some plastic on the ground and poured it on top of the bar top, letting it run off the edges. I'm sure he probably had a decent amount of waste that method but it keeps you from having brush marks in the finish or having lines where you did job in multiple sections.

[jmonty]

awesome thread, subbed

[Adarus]

Getting closer fellas

[gixxer0.6g]

Getting closer fellas

Looks awesome Adarus.

Finished rocking, finishing and sprayed texture at the bar. Also finished the cabinets. They're a lot darker in real life. The camera flash made it look potato. Looks like a ghost flew across when I took the pic. I'll paint tonight and install the cabinets tomorrow. Then I'll cross my fingers and hope the counter top turns out as nice as those pictures.




What should I do for the flooring. The play room, bedrooms and movie room are carpet. The bathroom will be tile. I'm thinking tile for the bar area. Thoughts?

[Adarus]

Those cabinets turned out good, were you able to get those center pieces off the doors?

[ugottabjoshinme]

Gix, you put a projector screen setup in your movie room right? I'm gonna look into doing a projector in the basement of my new house but don't know where to start. What projector/screen did you get?

[JDizleSwoleizle]

Getting closer fellas

Damn, looks great, I bet you can't wait. You probably mentioned previously, but what counter tops?

What should I do for the flooring. The play room, bedrooms and movie room are carpet. The bathroom will be tile. I'm thinking tile for the bar area. Thoughts?

Lookin good bro. I would def stick with whatever tile you are using in the bathroom. Would be kinda weird if you went carpet, tile, different tile all right there. Slate would def look good on the bar, but not sure if it will match bathroom? If you haven't done the bathroom yet though, just do it like the bar!

[gixxer0.6g]

Those cabinets turned out good, were you able to get those center pieces off the doors?

Yup. Two screws and they popped right off.

Gix, you put a projector screen setup in your movie room right? I'm gonna look into doing a projector in the basement of my new house but don't know where to start. What projector/screen did you get?

I went with an Optoma projector and I painted on the screen. I'm actually helping a buddy with a similar setup.

Here's the start of my theater build. Everything you need to know should be there.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...post1319805461

More specific
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...post1335506781

Damn, looks great, I bet you can't wait. You probably mentioned previously, but what counter tops?



Lookin good bro. I would def stick with whatever tile you are using in the bathroom. Would be kinda weird if you went carpet, tile, different tile all right there. Slate would def look good on the bar, but not sure if it will match bathroom? If you haven't done the bathroom yet though, just do it like the bar!

[img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTC1tOyU4akUpwMWSo4qVNOB0ZVEC2CS cZF7p_BW5WnOOv_yHU1[img]

[img]http://www.gradjevinarstvo.rs/ckfinder/userfiles/images/podne-plo%C4%8Dice-15.jpg[img]

Slate looks cool. I'll prob match the upstairs tile.

[Adarus]

Damn, looks great, I bet you can't wait. You probably mentioned previously, but what counter tops?

I was originally going to build walnut counter tops but the more I thought about it the more I realized within a few years they'd be ruined probably so we're going granite. Went Saturday and looked at some slabs and decided this was the one we liked best


It's hard to see in the cabinet picture but on the left side of the room there's a cutout between the kitchen and living room. I'm going to get a walnut slab and make a bar top to put there so that I can still have the black walnut like I wanted.

[JDizleSwoleizle]

I was originally going to build walnut counter tops but the more I thought about it the more I realized within a few years they'd be ruined probably so we're going granite. Went Saturday and looked at some slabs and decided this was the one we liked best


It's hard to see in the cabinet picture but on the left side of the room there's a cutout between the kitchen and living room. I'm going to get a walnut slab and make a bar top to put there so that I can still have the black walnut like I wanted.

My sister has either that same stone or something similar with antiqued white cabinets. Looks real good. Gettin close mane.

[ironicinori]

Are all of these houses owned? Condos?

This thread interests me. I am probably gonna buy a condo when my lease is up. The area I am looking at has mostly older buildings that may have some run-down bits inside (the trade off for 10/10 location). I'll likely be doing a good amount of DIY improvements, though as a first time owner, I'm not sure where to begin, or what is allowed in a condo complex.

[gixxer0.6g]

Are all of these houses owned? Condos?

This thread interests me. I am probably gonna buy a condo when my lease is up. The area I am looking at has mostly older buildings that may have some run-down bits inside (the trade off for 10/10 location). I'll likely be doing a good amount of DIY improvements, though as a first time owner, I'm not sure where to begin, or what is allowed in a condo complex.

Most of what I've seen in here are houses. Not sure about condos. You own it so I'm sure you can do what you want on the inside. But the outside most likely has to match everyone else.

[JDizleSwoleizle]

Are all of these houses owned? Condos?

This thread interests me. I am probably gonna buy a condo when my lease is up. The area I am looking at has mostly older buildings that may have some run-down bits inside (the trade off for 10/10 location). I'll likely be doing a good amount of DIY improvements, though as a first time owner, I'm not sure where to begin, or what is allowed in a condo complex.

There will probably be stricter regulations on condos. You will want to check out the by laws for the condo which may or may not be through an HOA before you sign if you are wanting to do extensive reno. Though some HOAs for neighborhoods are very strict as well, just depends. I would think at a minimum outer appearance like Gix mentioned would be regulated along with certain hours you can be working on the house (ie making noise).

[ugottabjoshinme]

I was originally going to build walnut counter tops but the more I thought about it the more I realized within a few years they'd be ruined probably so we're going granite. Went Saturday and looked at some slabs and decided this was the one we liked best

It's hard to see in the cabinet picture but on the left side of the room there's a cutout between the kitchen and living room. I'm going to get a walnut slab and make a bar top to put there so that I can still have the black walnut like I wanted.

Good counter choice to go with the white cabinets. Your kitchen is going to look great.

The counter almost matches what I had in my old condo.

[FL_Z32]

I was originally going to build walnut counter tops but the more I thought about it the more I realized within a few years they'd be ruined probably so we're going granite. Went Saturday and looked at some slabs and decided this was the one we liked best
[img]http://i.imgur.com/QIeAi13h.jpg[/ig]

It's hard to see in the cabinet picture but on the left side of the room there's a cutout between the kitchen and living room. I'm going to get a walnut slab and make a bar top to put there so that I can still have the black walnut like I wanted.

Good choice on going with a stone over a butcher block style. Consumer reports recently did a whole thing about kitchens. Wooden counter tops were rated the worst.

Also, I think a SS fridge would look a whole lot better than that white one.

[Adarus]

Good counter choice to go with the white cabinets. Your kitchen is going to look great.

The counter almost matches what I had in my old condo.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/PpjoUzS.jpg[img]

Thanks, the counter tops do look a lot like yours. St Cecilia or something like that was the name on them.

Got half of my lower cabinets mounted last night, didn't take a pic though cause it was late and I was ready to crash. Never realized how unlevel my floor is until I started mounting them, many packages of shims will be used.

Good choice on going with a stone over a butcher block style. Consumer reports recently did a whole thing about kitchens. Wooden counter tops were rated the worst.

Also, I think a SS fridge would look a whole lot better than that white on.

Yeah it will look better, but that white one's going to have to die first. It's not very old and I know I'd lose my arse if I tried to sell it used so I'm just going to stick with it for now unless there's a good deal on that model in stainless steel around Black Friday. This is the vent hood I'm going to install so once it goes in I may decide the fridge needs to get swapped sooner than I planned.

[gixxer0.6g]

Thanks, the counter tops do look a lot like yours. St Cecilia or something like that was the name on them.

Got half of my lower cabinets mounted last night, didn't take a pic though cause it was late and I was ready to crash. Never realized how unlevel my floor is until I started mounting them, many packages of shims will be used.

I was placing cabinets too last night and noticed the same thing about my floors. How do you anchor a lazy susan? It seems mine isn't wide enough to reach the walls. I'm thinking as long as it's level and the other lowers are anchored to a wall it's not going anywhere when the coutertop goes on.

Painted walls/ceiling last night. Updated pics


Under counter mini fridge in the space between the pony wall and lazy susan.

I'll put an upper cabinet above the outlets

Bar sink will go in that gap. I need to figure out how to cover that gap. I've got a few extra doors from the other cabinets I can salvage to close it off.

[FL_Z32]

I was placing cabinets too last night and noticed the same thing about my floors. How do you anchor a lazy susan? It seems mine isn't wide enough to reach the walls. I'm thinking as long as it's level and the other lowers are anchored to a wall it's not going anywhere when the coutertop goes on.

Painted walls/ceiling last night. Updated pics

[img]http://i.imgur.com/HBpwKOR.jpg[/ig]
Under counter mini fridge in the space between the pony wall and lazy susan.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/WGXxQwj.jpg[/ig]
I'll put an upper cabinet above the outlets
[img]http://i.imgur.com/3JW5XSw.jpg[/ig]
Bar sink will go in that gap. I need to figure out how to cover that gap. I've got a few extra doors from the other cabinets I can salvage to close it off.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/A5w6CQn.jpg[/ig]

I think some sort of backsplash tile/stone would look good behind the bar. If you plan on doing that, don't forget to change out the 1/2" raised rings for 3/4" raised.

[Adarus]

I was placing cabinets too last night and noticed the same thing about my floors. How do you anchor a lazy susan? It seems mine isn't wide enough to reach the walls. I'm thinking as long as it's level and the other lowers are anchored to a wall it's not going anywhere when the coutertop goes on.

Painted walls/ceiling last night. Updated pics

[img]http://i.imgur.com/HBpwKOR.jpg[img]
Under counter mini fridge in the space between the pony wall and lazy susan.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/WGXxQwj.jpg[img]
I'll put an upper cabinet above the outlets
[img]http://i.imgur.com/3JW5XSw.jpg[img]
Bar sink will go in that gap. I need to figure out how to cover that gap. I've got a few extra doors from the other cabinets I can salvage to close it off.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/A5w6CQn.jpg[img]

That one's tricky, I made mine like a regular lower cabinet and installed the lazy susan inside.


For yours I would probably get the cabinets on each side of it dry fitted in place and leveled, then screw the cabinets to the wall but don't run the screws up all the way, give yourself some room to adjust as needed. After that put some screws or bolts through the cabinets on each side into the lazy susan cabinet so that it'll pull them together and let the lazy susan use the other cabinets for support. Use plenty of shims so the weight of that cabinet isn't just being supported by the screws you shot in between the cabinets.

Another thing you can do if you're not going to cover that section where the studs are exposed is scab a scrap piece of a 2x4 to one of those studs and run it up to the back of that lazy susan once it's in place and shoot a few screws through the back of the cabinet into it just enough to give it support. Won't be the prettiest looking thing but if it helps support it and wont be seen I'd go for it.

Let me know if those instructions are clear as mud and I can try to get some pictures of mine tonight. I installed the corner and two adjoining cabinets last night and had to do something similar to get them to line up well since the floor was so off.