DIY home improvements ITT

[Firefightn24]

Garage was a mess so I finally put the kayak onto the wall. The cradle it came with had dry wall anchors included... no thank you. I put two furring strips down into the studs and then put the cradle itself into the furring strips.

And my smoker still fits under it despite how this picture looks.

[gixxer0.6g]

Almost done. Just have to trim the ends of the decking and the stair rails and toe-kick boards

[taf1968]

Damn . . . looks nice, Gixx!

[SpeedCheeser]

Damn . . . looks nice, Gixx!

seconded

[gixxer0.6g]

One more home improvement money savings hack for you guys if you're not aware.

There are 10% off and $20 off $100 digital coupons on ebay for Lowes. They are only about $1-$5 for a few of them. I prob used five or six of them on that deck and they all worked. The best is to try and have each trip total out to $100 and use the $20 off.

[KilaByte]

One more home improvement money savings hack for you guys if you're not aware.

There are 10% off and $20 off $100 digital coupons on ebay for Lowes. They are only about $1-$5 for a few of them. I prob used five or six of them on that deck and they all worked. The best is to try and have each trip total out to $100 and use the $20 off.

+1!

Also, if you use Samsung Pay at Home Depot you get money back, but anything that qualifies as home decor is 16% off is you use the app.

[Adarus]

One more home improvement money savings hack for you guys if you're not aware.

There are 10% off and $20 off $100 digital coupons on ebay for Lowes. They are only about $1-$5 for a few of them. I prob used five or six of them on that deck and they all worked. The best is to try and have each trip total out to $100 and use the $20 off.

This. Can't tell you how many times I've got on ebay and bought one while I was standing the store. Less than $2 to save $20.

[MattyMiscer]

Spent the past few days sanding and pressure washing my deck. Started applying stain today. I don’t think this deck had ever been pressure washed since it was built in 2011 until I bought the house last year.

[Destor]

Fence progress. I was out of town for almost the entire last two months for work, so this has been taking even longer than it should. But now it's just the gate and buttoning everything up

[Destor]

And the gate, not fully installed yet. I’m really digging the angle cut into it

[FL_Z32]

One more home improvement money savings hack for you guys if you're not aware.

There are 10% off and $20 off $100 digital coupons on ebay for Lowes. They are only about $1-$5 for a few of them. I prob used five or six of them on that deck and they all worked. The best is to try and have each trip total out to $100 and use the $20 off.

The cool kids just generate their own. As long as you know the "master code", you can plug in random digits to create them. I created an Excel formula to do this. Then you just keep trying one until it works.

[MattyMiscer]

Finished staining the deck and decided I need an outdoor electrical outlet. This was the current state of the deck yesterday:



On the other side of that wall is a little storage room that only has exterior access. Here's a pic inside that I posted ITT awhile back after i built those shelves:

You can't see it in the pic but in the back right corner of the room there's an electrical outlet about 54" above the floor. I figured I could tie into that outlet with some romex for the new exterior outlet.

I pulled the outlet, wired in the romex, and then dropped the wire down through the junction box. After measuring out where the outlet is I cut a hole in the exterior wall (well, I actually just traced the box and then drilled a series of holes until I could just punch the rectangle out).



I used this kit from Amazon for 22 bucks:
https://smile.amazon.com/Taymac-MKG4...2103661&sr=8-6


I wanted the fit to be tight in order to secure the junction box but it was a little too tight--you can see a little bit of cracking in the wood plank. I'm going to go in with some wood glue and paint and patch that up as best as I can. Also plan to add a little spray foam where the outlet meets the wall in order to keep moisture out.


It works! I'm going to pick up this wifi outdoor smart plug so I can control the lights with Alexa:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07CG7MB...v_ov_lig_dp_it

Once I get the lights strung up the way I want them I'll post more pics. I'm also thinking about building a ground level deck in the corner of the yard (visible in first pic) that will also be a landing for the existing deck since all the tree roots make it difficult to pour a stamped concrete patio. We're trying to turn that area of the yard into a nice patio area but it definitely needs some work. I can't get grass to grow there at all due to the shade so that's one reason I'm leaning towards concrete or decking.

[gixxer0.6g]

Nice work Matty. You can now have a beer fridge on your deck.

[MattyMiscer]

Nice work Matty. You can now have a beer fridge on your deck.

Thanks brah. I found out a week ago that I’m going to be a dad and I think this is my form of nesting. My wife is all focused on buying a crib and painting the room that’s going to be the nursery and whatnot meanwhile I’m focusing on all sorts of home improvement projects. Our upstairs bathtub has a crack in it so naturally I’m going to remodel the whole bathroom at some point in the next few weeks.

[MattyMiscer]

Started the bathroom renovation. I’m going to be replacing the cracked bathtub and cheap tub surround with a new tub, white subway tile with black grout, and matte black fixtures. I’m also pulling up the old tile and using a black and white decorative tile to match what I laid in my laundry room last year.

Here’s what the tub and surround looked like before:


Hard to see, but the tub was cracked in the back. I knew it was leaking when I started to see some water marks on the ceiling downstairs.


Beginning the tear down and I find out that the tub overflow drain was sealed so it served no purpose. Also look how nasty that thing is—I’m looking forward to brand new, clean stuff.


Tub surround almost completely out. The faucet handle gave me a lot of trouble because the tiny little set screw inside it was stripped. I ended up having to drill it out which set me back a couple of days.


Water damage on the floor. A lot of the old wood was rotten and falling apart.


Cut out the drain pipe while the floor was open so I can replace it. I cut the old tub apart so I didn’t even bother using the drain tool to get the old drain out. Also notice the old dead end electrical cable hanging there. It’s disconnected from the power, I just need to head up to the attic to pull it up


Looks like black mold to me. I scrubbed all of the moldy spots with bleach and told my wife not to come anywhere near the bathroom until I’m done


Adapter for the drain is installed. I didn’t know the difference between tubular and pvc plumbing when I ordered the drain assembly but luckily this adapter was only $2 at Lowe’s and allows the new drain assembly to slide right into the old PVC.


Since since these pics were taken I’ve sealed the floor back up with some 3/4” board, gotten the last little pieces of surround out, opened the walls up a bit more to fit the new tub, and begun breaking up the tile. I’ll post more pics as I make progress. New tub will hopefully go in tomorrow and then I’ll be able to hang the cement board and Redgard it. I’ll HOPEFULLY have this project mostly wrapped up next weekend.

[MattyMiscer]

Most recent update on the bathroom:
Patched the subfloor up and then laid a mortar bed for the tub



New tub is in and leveled


I hung cement board on two of the three walls but had to take them back down twice. First time was to add some studs and blocks to support the boards, then I opened it up again when I realized I needed to add some shims to bring the boards level with the existing plaster walls. Took this pic before hanging the boards for a third and final time last night:


Had to switch out the old valve from this cheap Gerber model...


...to this Moen. Also had to move the whole thing an inch to the right to center it on the new tub

Just need to secure the copper tube to that block and add a 1x4 or something to secure the valve itself then I can put the last cement board up and mortar/Redgard it and then start the tiling.

Had a moment of panic last night removing the old valve. I cut the water off and then when I went to cut the pex line running into the valve it started spraying water out. I grabbed it and held it tight to stop the flow and was literally the little Dutch boy with my finger in the dam for a minute trying to figure out what to do. Luckily it was just some water that was still in the line and the flow quickly stopped when I removed my hand.

[MattyMiscer]

Random question—so I’m assuming I’m supposed to use a moisture barrier under my floor tiles in the bathroom and I’m planning on using the Redgard I already have. With a vertical wall the moisture barrier redirects the water downward and back into the tub. But where does a barrier on the floor direct the water? Is it supposed to just sit there until it evaporates back up and out?

[shmobin]

And the gate, not fully installed yet. I’m really digging the angle cut into it

What are all of those wild ass white PVC pipes coming out of the houses everywhere for?

[Berts]

Random question—so I’m assuming I’m supposed to use a moisture barrier under my floor tiles in the bathroom and I’m planning on using the Redgard I already have. With a vertical wall the moisture barrier redirects the water downward and back into the tub. But where does a barrier on the floor direct the water? Is it supposed to just sit there until it evaporates back up and out?

There is no need to run the redgard up the walls creating a "tub" effect unless you plan on flooding that floor which is crazy. Yes if you get water on the floor clean it up or let it evaporate. If you are doing a shower, that needs to be completely sealed obviously. I work in tile. We never see waterproofing up walls on a bath floor, even if its full tile floors and walls. There is zero need, its just extra time and money. We do see it in commercial kitchens, mostly fast food restaurants. With Redgard since its a roll on, you could roll it up a couple inches I guess. We use Schluter products exclusively so I am not too familiar with Redgard. I'm not sure how thing Regard is but running that up the wall might create a issue with the base to floor transition.

[shmobin]

There is no need to run the redgard up the walls creating a "tub" effect unless you plan on flooding that floor which is crazy. Yes if you get water on the floor clean it up or let it evaporate. If you are doing a shower, that needs to be completely sealed obviously. I work in tile. We never see waterproofing up walls on a bath floor, even if its full tile floors and walls. There is zero need, its just extra time and money. We do see it in commercial kitchens, mostly fast food restaurants. With Redgard since its a roll on, you could roll it up a couple inches I guess. We use Schluter products exclusively so I am not too familiar with Redgard. I'm not sure how thing Regard is but running that up the wall might create a issue with the base to floor transition.

Mike Holmes seals the walls.


Because he makes it right.

[FL_Z32]

Thanks brah. I found out a week ago that I’m going to be a dad and I think this is my form of nesting. My wife is all focused on buying a crib and painting the room that’s going to be the nursery and whatnot meanwhile I’m focusing on all sorts of home improvement projects. Our upstairs bathtub has a crack in it so naturally I’m going to remodel the whole bathroom at some point in the next few weeks.

Congrats dude, and great progress on everything.

[MattyMiscer]

There is no need to run the redgard up the walls creating a "tub" effect unless you plan on flooding that floor which is crazy. Yes if you get water on the floor clean it up or let it evaporate. If you are doing a shower, that needs to be completely sealed obviously. I work in tile. We never see waterproofing up walls on a bath floor, even if its full tile floors and walls. There is zero need, its just extra time and money. We do see it in commercial kitchens, mostly fast food restaurants. With Redgard since its a roll on, you could roll it up a couple inches I guess. We use Schluter products exclusively so I am not too familiar with Redgard. I'm not sure how thing Regard is but running that up the wall might create a issue with the base to floor transition.

The Redgard is only on the walls in the shower, not any other walls:



My question about the floors was if I'm supposed to use a moisture barrier on the floor (which I'm assuming is yes, because no one wants water leaking into the subfloor). I mainly just want to make sure I get the Redgard down on the subfloor around the tub and the toilet which are the only two areas that I'd expect to ever see any water on the floor.

Congrats dude, and great progress on everything.

Thanks man, we found out this morning it's a boy!

[shanedawg]

Thanks man, we found out this morning it's a boy!

hell yeah! congrats, boys are awesome.

[oldandintheway]

Just wrapping up 1000 sq ft tile demo and retile. Laundry room countertops, new baseboard and door casing in back of house.

[Destor]

What are all of those wild ass white PVC pipes coming out of the houses everywhere for?

Various air vents and intakes

[shmobin]

Various air vents and intakes

For what purpose? We don't have anything like that in my region. Is this a basement specific thing?

[Destor]

For what purpose? We don't have anything like that in my region. Is this a basement specific thing?

One is a vent for the dryer, one might be for the hood over the stove although that could be higher up somewhere. One miiiight be a fresh air intake for the furnace, one is an air intake for the Heat Recovery Ventilation system and there would also be an outlet for the HRV

You must have some kind of air intakes and vents on the house exterior right? I’m guessing ours are built with PVC this way because it’s a winter climate and other vent designs might be more prone to ice buildup etc

[wings_unhinged]

For what purpose? We don't have anything like that in my region. Is this a basement specific thing?

https://youtu.be/BuxvKbIIYLU?t=282

Exhaust/intake for central heating.

[phikappa]

Most recent update on the bathroom:
Patched the subfloor up and then laid a mortar bed for the tub



New tub is in and leveled

Have you checked code about having an outlet right against your tub? I know there's going to be backer board and tile (or similar), but I'm unsure if this is allowable, as a leak could me a bad day.

[GM54]

Have you checked code about having an outlet right against your tub? I know there's going to be backer board and tile (or similar), but I'm unsure if this is allowable, as a leak could me a bad day.

great point. however, i would assume (not an expert in electric) that if the outlet got wet it would trip the breaker?