DIY home improvements ITT

[Hayes21890]

Hey guys, figured I would make a thread that gives ideas and how-to's for improving aspects of your home. I am a recent first time home buyer and always looking for good weekend projects. I will post pictures of everything I do, but would also like to see what you guys are doing to get ideas as well.
So far, I have only mounted a TV and hid all the wires behind the wall, and ran the power cables to the outlet in the bedroom behind the wall...I do not have any pictures of the work of before, but you can imagine a big empty wall, then this...


I have also done little "Accents" here and there. My fiance and I put a new chandelier up in the kitchen, and have done those decorative "handles" to the garage door...


I will be attempting to create a little handrail/bar around the patio in the next week or two. My idea will be something like this..
4x4's placed into the ground, coming out to about 46-48" high, use a composite decking as the rail/bar top. It will be in a "L" shape on the patio so when we are hosting a party, guests can put their drinks and plates there since we won't have much sitting area. No pictures of this idea but will get some before, during and after when I start on it.


Let's hear some of your ideas and what you have done/will do.

[downunder96]

Painting all the ceilings and most rooms at the moment, got the new carpet coming in a few weeks and plans to concrete the shed to turn it into a proper sealed in workshop pretty fukn excited m8, no pics coz its 10 pm here lmao

[Shoester]

Great thread idea OP. Moved into my house last summer. Currently planning out a sprinkler system for the front/side yards, I'll post pics of the whole process once I get started. In for some more ideas.

[k1ckstand]

Age: 24
Owns home
Mirin'
See's location: North Carolina





Still mirin

[Hayes21890]

Glad to hear others like the idea! My future plans are to epoxy the garage floor, stain the hardwood in the dining room and turn the upstairs bonus room to an official man-cave/office.

[Hayes21890]

Guys, I need to figure out a way to get oil stains out of my garage. I have read several different ways. but do you any that have worked? The garage floor is 12 years old, so there is some good stains set in. I have heard anything from certain types of acid, to dawn dish soap, to kitty litter. What works?

[chevy72blu]

Guys, I need to figure out a way to get oil stains out of my garage. I have read several different ways. but do you any that have worked? The garage floor is 12 years old, so there is some good stains set in. I have heard anything from certain types of acid, to dawn dish soap, to kitty litter. What works?

Kitty litter for a few days (keep sweeping it) and then pressure wash. Best to just cover it honestly

I'm going to epoxy mine soon.

So far since moving into my 10 year old house is repaint, replace the shower heads & cartridges (PIA), some faucets, toilet valves, and replaced the nasty carpet in a bedroom with laminate flooring (easy job). I want to do more but its expensive + time consuming

[Preban_AR15]

I did a pergola, mounted TV, replaced front door and painted walls recently. Also added a nicer toilet in the master and guest bathroom a few months ago.

[BigIan64]

You will never get rid of the oil staining in concrete, especially if they`re really set in.
kitty littler, detergent, acid can work for recent spillages (kitty litter is great for absorbing any kind of spilled chemical)

you can also try sprinkling some cement over the area, but that depends on how smooth the surface is.

Also great Idea for a thread,
I`m about to start renovating my second house as soon as I graduate this summer (BSc (hons) Construction management)

[JoshSP1985]

Subbed will post some before/afters late

I've done a full bathroom remodel

[Bauger89]

I am currently moving into a new home, so this thread would be helpful. Thanks!

[Kerfer88]

Cool thread yo.



I recently added 3 new circuits to my basement to turn it into a game room. Looks sick as chit. Also replaced my flooring a few years back with Tungston.

[motivat3d]

Been wanting to build me a rear patio/pergola... Just waiting for the funds to do so.

Great thread idea OP. Moved into my house last summer. Currently planning out a sprinkler system for the front/side yards, I'll post pics of the whole process once I get started. In for some more ideas.

Keep us updated. Interested to see how difficult it is.

[AGstrong]

if any of you brahs need paint advice send a PM, ive been painting custom homes for about 6 years now.

[KillahJon]

can't wait to buy a house ffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

more excited about the house projects than actually owning a house.

[Hayes21890]

I am surprised this is getting some attention. Awesome. I am still young so learning all these tricks/techniques is sweet. I have done a bunch of little stuff here and there, hanging new light fixtures/ceiling fans, replacing shower heads, hanging shower curtains and very little things like that. My fiance is all about some Pinterest so she gets the idea, buys the supplies and I do the research on how to do it. It's actually kind of cool to see it slowly come together.

Also, this might be one of the dumbest questions, but how can you tell if a floor is hardwood or very high qualify laminate? I have looked to see if there is any nail holes for the hardwood or anything, and find nothing. The wood itself (assuming its hardwood) has defects in it like splitting very small and you can tell the ends are not 100% smooth. My assumption is that this is real hardwood.

[|progress|]

I am surprised this is getting some attention. Awesome. I am still young so learning all these tricks/techniques is sweet. I have done a bunch of little stuff here and there, hanging new light fixtures/ceiling fans, replacing shower heads, hanging shower curtains and very little things like that. My fiance is all about some Pinterest so she gets the idea, buys the supplies and I do the research on how to do it. It's actually kind of cool to see it slowly come together.

Also, this might be one of the dumbest questions, but how can you tell if a floor is hardwood or very high qualify laminate? I have looked to see if there is any nail holes for the hardwood or anything, and find nothing. The wood itself (assuming its hardwood) has defects in it like splitting very small and you can tell the ends are not 100% smooth. My assumption is that this is real hardwood.

The grain on true hardwood never is the same. If it's laminate, more than likely there is going to be some repetitive boards. If you don't have nails, it's more than likely laminate or engineered hardwood. You will also see imperfections in true hardwood - knots, dents, scratches, irregular patterns, etc.

[Hayes21890]

The grain on true hardwood never is the same. If it's laminate, more than likely there is going to be some repetitive boards. If you don't have nails, it's more than likely laminate or engineered hardwood. You will also see imperfections in true hardwood - knots, dents, scratches, irregular patterns, etc.

I have looked at most of the wood, and did not see any repetition nor was it flawless. I will look harder to see if I see any nails. Are they going to be on the board itself or would it be in the creases?

[Miked1978]

In on this. Already built a deck for my above ground pool and a shed. Already thinking about rennovating the shed. Wife used crappy paint and i didn't hang the door properly. I tend to rig chit up to make it work.

Funny story about my shed, i live on a corner lot so i get a decent amount of traffic. I told my wife i wanted her to paint the shed red after she was done making me a sammich so she went and got some red paint that when applied it was pink until it dried. It took 8+ hours for it to dry red so everytime someone passed by my house i could see them staring at my pink shed. lulz were had.

[Dusthappy1]

Guys, I need to figure out a way to get oil stains out of my garage. I have read several different ways. but do you any that have worked? The garage floor is 12 years old, so there is some good stains set in. I have heard anything from certain types of acid, to dawn dish soap, to kitty litter. What works?

Engine degreaser. Smells awful but works. Make sure garage door is open.

Edit: 12 year old grease stains? Not sure if the degreaser will work. But it's cheap and might be worth a try.

[FL_Z32]

Can't see your pics OP.

I'll be closing on my first house this Friday. Most likely going to end up gutting 95% of it. Itz original still from 1971. I don't know how to do any of this home renovation stuff but my dads an engineer and will also be my new neighbor. Anyways, I'll prob start my own thread with pics of said renovation. House is nice though, 2500 sq fr 4/3 with 2 car garage.

[NEBinAK]

Subbed

Bought my second house recently, I built my first and kept it as a rental, there is some stuff we want changed on the new one though.

Little projects we will do ourselves, painting, hardwood floors, new carpet...

But there are some bigger projects in having people give me quotes on, new windows and sill, gutter system, and landscaping


Cool thread idea though, I'll rep you when I can op.

[psai]

strong location, and mirin house

chapel hill brah checking in

[Dusthappy1]

We are currently rehabbing our second house. This one is almost finished. So far we've refinished the hardwood flooring and replaced subflooring, painted every room and ceiling (3700 sq), updated light fixtures, new screen door, new bedroom doors and hardware, replaced windows. We hired out the stucco and the pool refinishing.

My husband built the fence around the front acre. I'm landscaping the front and backyards. I planted a 25 tree fruit orchard and I'm currently leveling the spot that I want the spa (right outside the master bedroom) for cement to be poured. And in our spare time we are converting half the sunroom into another bedroom.

Home ownership is expensive. But satisfying.

[Hayes21890]

New question, are home warranty's worth the money?

[JoshSP1985]

New question, are home warranty's worth the money?

It depends I got one with the house I bought which the seller paid for as an incentive and I went ahead and renewed it because my HVAC system is ancient and could go at any minute. I guess it's a call you can make depending on how old the items it covers are or if something were to fail if it would be a huge financial burden on you etc. You're basically paying 300-500 or whatever a year for the chance that you might not have to pay 500-10,000 in damages depending on what fails.

[getbustered]

I did a pergola, mounted TV, replaced front door and painted walls recently. Also added a nicer toilet in the master and guest bathroom a few months ago.

Pics of pergola? I'm putting a deck around my pool and have ideas for a pergola or some sort of shelter type thing. I already have electricity ran for the filter and had an additional circuit breaker put in so I can run lighting and electronics.

I'm picturing late august Saturday afternoons outside with kids in the pool, a football game on the outside tv, and hopefully a fridge handy with some cold beers in it.

[BigIan64]

I have looked at most of the wood, and did not see any repetition nor was it flawless. I will look harder to see if I see any nails. Are they going to be on the board itself or would it be in the creases?

Floor boards can be fixed with a nail through the grove so no nail may be seen from above.
Another thing to look for could be any filler in knots and other imperfections

Also find an inconspicuous spot (coverd by the sofa etc) and press on it with some thing firm, if its laminate it probably wont mark natural timber however will normally be much softer and you may find a slight indentation left behind.

[NEBinAK]

Nice looking home OP,

Bought my house a year and a half ago and in the middle of my biggest project so far.
Having a woodstove installed this month, between supplies and labor I'll have over 4k into it.
Alongside that operation, I am working on refinishing the basement as well right now.

Also, subbed for insight and ideas from the work of others

Goodnight sweet insurance rates, you have to disclose an addition of a wood stove or in the event of an accident they won't pay out. Places up here won't even insure you if you have a Wood burning stove.

[JoshSP1985]

I'm having it done by the company I bought the stove from,
One of the top businesses in the area for decades who are fully insured and work to code.
Many insurance companies wont insure a woodstove that wasn't professionally installed,
but I have that base already covered.

I've talked to my insurance representative previously for a heads up,
and to receive their advice;everything should be good to go.
The amount saved on oil the stove should pay for itsself in about two years,
plus I can't wait to be able to sit and relax by it.

My parents have a wood stove in their house the radiant heat from it feels great on a chilly day.