DIY home improvements ITT

[katya422]

I went with Sherwin's super paint for interior walls. The guys who work the counter have a lot of freedom with pricing... try and work out a good deal. I bought a gallon today of super for $33. Regular price was close to $60. They also have big 40% of sales usually once a year if you can put off a big job.

I like Super Paint just fine and I usually watch for a sale.

If you have time/interest, take a look at Benjamin Moore Paints for interior. Many professionals consider them to be the best, with excellent color choices.

Both brands have some nice colors. And IIRC you can get BM color mixed at most SW store *but* I don't believe they will guarantee that it is exact. BM paint is also available usually at Ace Hardware stores.

The trickiest thing about BM paint is their color names- srs they sometimes have more than one paint color with the same name, but from different color collections. So be sure you have the alphanumeric code and not just a name.

Maybe the best tips I've got for less confident/experienced painters is to get BIG color boards of paint colors that you are considering and shift them around to different parts of the room/different times of day. You can buy paint and make your own poster boards, but it is probably less expensive to buy ready made paint boards of your top choices after you narrow it down from the store paint chips.

The chip stage...lol:

Not much going on here.

Finally made a clamp storage rack out of some scraps... need more pipe clamp space.

That's a lot of clamps.

Time to start getting the backyard ready for summer.

Lots of things still on the list including installing about 75' of French Drain, setting up a 10' Stock Tank Pool and building a deck....

Project commenced this weekend with 3 trips to Lowes, many beers, a chit ton of Classic Rock and a sore lower back later....

Gravel bed looks nice. Not jealous of that retaining wall...is there a slope someplace to roll a mower up there?

There is nothing on the land yet (minus a few deer stands) but it is well water so I guess I would have to tap the well (which has been checked and is plenty big for anything/everything for our use) and run a line to the shop and have a toilet, sink and all of that. Now that I am thinking along the lines of water, I would like to have a nice drain set up inside so I can wash off the tractor, and deer spillage that may happen and any other mess

Worth it for long term utility. A spot to wash a big dog, or a particularly dirty human, large utility sink, maybe a double, and a WC.

There are plenty of tasks that would be better kept out of the house because of smells/contaminants...cleaning fish, processing a deer, mixing up lawn chemicals, cleaning painting tools.

Or just jobs that are better done in a less spiffy environment- maybe cleaning dirt off of greens, tie dying clothes, soaking stained laundry, cleaning BBQ grates...etc. etc.

JIC I would allow space for a good sized worktable by that nice big sink.

[DoragonKingu]

Working with paint is good therapy and building is fun outdoors.

[DoragonKingu]

Most cost effective place to buy Sherwin Williams Emerald tier paint?

[shmobin]

Most cost effective place to buy Sherwin Williams Emerald tier paint?

At a Sherwin Williams store.

[MattyMiscer]

At a Sherwin Williams store.

Don't respond to his spamming

[shmobin]

Don't respond to his spamming

I have a soft spot for the special needs kids.

[Hayes21890]

Alright change of plans. No longer building just a shop at my land, but building a house! Things changed in our favor and will be breaking ground in the coming months! I value my marriage so I plan on saying "Yes ma'am" a lot. But, I have free roam of the garage and basement. Any must do's that most folks don't think about? Will be putting a generator set up for the house there also. Garage will be a 3 car garage to store all my bull**** toys haha. Want to put a bar set up in the basement and I plan on having a room that is secured by a door for a safe (think large gun safe door). Anything I need to do, stay away from or anything in that nature? We have a builder we are using who has built some beautiful custom homes in the area.

[_zman]

Alright change of plans. No longer building just a shop at my land, but building a house! Things changed in our favor and will be breaking ground in the coming months! I value my marriage so I plan on saying "Yes ma'am" a lot. But, I have free roam of the garage and basement. Any must do's that most folks don't think about? Will be putting a generator set up for the house there also. Garage will be a 3 car garage to store all my bull**** toys haha. Want to put a bar set up in the basement and I plan on having a room that is secured by a door for a safe (think large gun safe door). Anything I need to do, stay away from or anything in that nature? We have a builder we are using who has built some beautiful custom homes in the area.

If money were no object, I'd put in a heated driveway, heated floors for kitchen and bathroom, and a geothermal heat pump. Oh and a very nice deck/patio area.

[Hayes21890]

If money were no object, I'd put in a heated driveway, heated floors for kitchen and bathroom, and a geothermal heat pump. Oh and a very nice deck/patio area.

Should have mentioned, I live in North Carolina so no need for a heated driveway. Money is an object, but this is our "maybe forever home" so we are not cutting corners. Also, I am the only person in the world, I think, that does not like heated floors in bathrooms. My feet stay hot all the time so stepping onto a nice cool tile is refreshing to me haha.
I do plan on having a nice deck/patio area with an outdoor kitchen for when I am smoking some meet or just basic grilling.

[_zman]

Should have mentioned, I live in North Carolina so no need for a heated driveway. Money is an object, but this is our "maybe forever home" so we are not cutting corners. Also, I am the only person in the world, I think, that does not like heated floors in bathrooms. My feet stay hot all the time so stepping onto a nice cool tile is refreshing to me haha.
I do plan on having a nice deck/patio area with an outdoor kitchen for when I am smoking some meet or just basic grilling.

Yeah, if you don't see snow, forget all the heated chit. I prefer cold floors in the summer. Warm in the winter feels nice and is pretty efficient? i think?

My buddy built a huge brick grill, might be worth a thought. Can double as a bon fire.

Likely an afterthought...
All sorts of idea on that on google images:

[Hayes21890]

Yeah, if you don't see snow, forget all the heated chit. I prefer cold floors in the summer. Warm in the winter feels nice and is pretty efficient? i think?

My buddy built a huge brick grill, might be worth a thought. Can double as a bon fire.

Likely an afterthought...
All sorts of idea on that on google images:

Those do look cool! That is a great idea and on the list. I have seen some cool stone ones before that look real nice too. Will def. keep those in mind as things get moving!

[SpeedCheeser]

If you're going to put a coating on your garage floor, do it ASAP, before you move in. If you don't, you'll fill your garage with chit and never do it. That's one thing I wish I had done.

[Destor]

Finished putting in the lava rock out front as the new shrubs seem to have taken, here’s a before



And now, cut in a new line along the sidewalk on either side and filled it + the shrub bed with lava rock (took out the original mulch around the shrubs)





Will be getting an additional new property soon here with a ton of land, if financing goes through, so might have adventures to post there in a bit

[Bluestar92]

Just moved into an almost new home with a 3 car garage. Definitely doing this in the next couple months.

[_zman]

Finished putting in the lava rock out front as the new shrubs seem to have taken, here’s a before



Will be getting an additional new property soon here with a ton of land, if financing goes through, so might have adventures to post there in a bit

Looks real nice brah. Unfortunately, I'm on spread.

[Destor]

Looks real nice brah. Unfortunately, I'm on spread.

Thx man I'm happy with how it turned out, works really well with the strips of rock leading up to the pillars

Thinking of putting some solar lights or something in the rock along the path, that might be next

[_zman]

Thx man I'm happy with how it turned out, works really well with the strips of rock leading up to the pillars

Thinking of putting some solar lights or something in the rock along the path, that might be next

If you have a Costco they recently had some good deals on those.

[niospecv]

To the lawn maintenance brahs. Do you all keep or remove the string trimmer guard? Why or why not?

I've been contemplating this on my electric Ryobi string trimmer.

[SpeedCheeser]

To the lawn maintenance brahs. Do you all keep or remove the string trimmer guard? Why or why not?

I've been contemplating this on my electric Ryobi string trimmer.

Leave it. Why remove it? Doesn't really get in the way of anything. Also has a blade on it for if you let out too much string.

[Jacobcapra]

Hello again misc DIYers

Did a facelift in our kitchen, a new backsplash, paint job, new stove, and all new lighting


Don't have pics of the old paint or backsplash. But it was a baby blue (made no sense with all the grey and beige everywhere else) with a glass/metal/tile mosiac backsplash that was WAY too busy and colorful. There was also a 4" kickup granite backsplash at the bottom that matched the countertops. Looked horrible.


Anyway here are pics of the new lighting. I took out the fluorescent light and routed its power to the recessed lights, which are on new dimmable switches. I also ran new power to two new dimmable switches to separately control the pendant lights.
Replaced the old electric cooktop with a higher end gas one.

I've learned that snaking wire down walls to run new switches and repairing ceiling drywall are both very annoying.

[niospecv]

Leave it. Why remove it? Doesn't really get in the way of anything. Also has a blade on it for if you let out too much string.

Appreciate the feedback my fellow Texas brah. I was just curious that's all. Just wanted some feedback to see if there are any pros/cons.

[SpeedCheeser]

Appreciate the feedback my fellow Texas brah. I was just curious that's all. Just wanted some feedback to see if there are any pros/cons.

I mean, I guess if you remove it you might be able to get in tighter spots or around obstacles easier, but I don't really feel like that's been much of an issue for me at least.

[Jacobcapra]

Appreciate the feedback my fellow Texas brah. I was just curious that's all. Just wanted some feedback to see if there are any pros/cons.

The only real pro is if you use it for edging. If the guard is on it's not as easy to see where the string is hitting and you might not take a great edge line.

Best case scenario is to just get an edger and not use a weed whacker for edging as they don't penetrate the dirt very deep and don't prevent grass from encroaching onto pavement very well.

[_zman]

To the lawn maintenance brahs. Do you all keep or remove the string trimmer guard? Why or why not?

I've been contemplating this on my electric Ryobi string trimmer.

Depends on the trimmer/guard.

I've been debating removing mine as well. Mine barely does anything to stop grass and rocks spraying on me. The benefit is running a longer line and when you tap it to release line, it won't get cut when you release too much, saving you line. Then when you have a lot of grass to cut, it's more efficient. Obv run less line in the intricate areas.

[niospecv]

The only real pro is if you use it for edging. If the guard is on it's not as easy to see where the string is hitting and you might not take a great edge line.

Best case scenario is to just get an edger and not use a weed whacker for edging as they don't penetrate the dirt very deep and don't prevent grass from encroaching onto pavement very well.

My string trimmer allows for multiple attachments. I have an edger with a metal blade. Was simply looking for opinions.

Thanks.

[MattyMiscer]

The only real pro is if you use it for edging. If the guard is on it's not as easy to see where the string is hitting and you might not take a great edge line.

Best case scenario is to just get an edger and not use a weed whacker for edging as they don't penetrate the dirt very deep and don't prevent grass from encroaching onto pavement very well.

Personally, I kind of hate the look of an edger digging down into the dirt. I really prefer this look:





To this one:

[Jacobcapra]

Personally, I kind of hate the look of an edger digging down into the dirt. I really prefer this look:





To this one:

You can get the first one with an edger too, but you need a thin blade and some skill. I agree much prefer the first pic.

[niospecv]

That 2nd pic is terrible. That is done with a string trimmer. I would say my edges are in between the 2 photos you posted. I use a edger with a metal blade.

[_zman]

I go with the same approach.

[bsmit107]

Time to start getting the backyard ready for summer.

Lots of things still on the list including installing about 75' of French Drain, setting up a 10' Stock Tank Pool and building a deck....

Project commenced this weekend with 3 trips to Lowes, many beers, a chit ton of Classic Rock and a sore lower back later....

2 part Post -Big update on my never ending backyard project for the Fire Pit & Stock Tank Pool........Currently about 2 months behind schedule and still have about 10% left to do. Currently under budget though.....not to mention savings $15k by doing it all myself.

Part 1....

French drain was step 1 to remedy the inside corner by the wall....holds water and is muddy/soft 80-90% of the time.