The Home Improvement Thread

[CowboyTaco]

Trimmed the bottom of our fence.

When the fence was installed, the guy put the boards all the way to the ground. We have a low line where water runs off the property and it basically formed a dam since the water couldn't run. So I trimmed the bottoms off the boards that block the water. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so I guess I'll see if the water flows better or if I need to trim more boards.

 

[balakay]

Now that I got the truck out of the garage, I need to go buy a bunch of lumber to start knocking out some projects. Need to build a bench for the garage and some flowerbeds out front. Need to build a new deck too but that will probably have to wait until Fall. I scored an 8" light fixture from my grandpa's house that going to fit perfectly over where my toolbox and bench will be. Its setup to just plug into an outlet but I think I'm gonna wire it up to come on with the main garage light fixture. Also have my WallControl panels that I've had sitting in a closet for a year now that I need to hang up.

 

[Silverback]

Bought the kid a basketball goal. One of the adjustable ones. It has two big ass springs to help you raise the backboard assembly. damn things are so stiff I can't lower it down below 8.5'! I want to store it in the lower position to reduce risk of it tipping over. Might be removing one of those springs. Other thing is "damn its heavy" once filled with water! Our driveway has a slope to it, I'm afraid if I take it down to the street I'll never be able to push it back up the drive.

 

[Silverback]

Trimmed the bottom of our fence.

When the fence was installed, the guy put the boards all the way to the ground. We have a low line where water runs off the property and it basically formed a dam since the water couldn't run. So I trimmed the bottoms off the boards that block the water. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so I guess I'll see if the water flows better or if I need to trim more boards.

On the side yards of our house (house sits on a slight hill and runoff from the houses behind us come through our yard) the front fence did exactly what you describe... I would have water up almost my knees the for about 60' of fencing along the sides, up near the fence, water was flowing like a river. More than once I have went out in the middle of a storm and busted out a picket where the "dam" was.. at the front fence that allows the water to get into the front yard and finally to the drains. We installed gutters last year and that really helped though, in theory its the same amount of water but it seemed to have really help... or maybe now that I don't see the water building up right outside the patio area I don't care as much. I was thinking next steps would be to cut the pickets about 1' up and screw them back together with a stainless piano hinge... do ever other one about 3' from the side fence... were it seems to be the deepest. Wide enough water can escape, narrow enough a dog can't.

 

[Taco Loco]

Now that I got the truck out of the garage, I need to go buy a bunch of lumber to start knocking out some projects. Need to build a bench for the garage and some flowerbeds out front. Need to build a new deck too but that will probably have to wait until Fall. I scored an 8" light fixture from my grandpa's house that going to fit perfectly over where my toolbox and bench will be. Its setup to just plug into an outlet but I think I'm gonna wire it up to come on with the main garage light fixture. Also have my WallControl panels that I've had sitting in a closet for a year now that I need to hang up.

Special Buy Of The Day
today only, you can buy caster wheel kit for those benches as well, might be at a higher cost than building, but those definitely more portable in case you relocate.

 

[Anathollo]

Special Buy Of The Day
today only, you can buy caster wheel kit for those benches as well, might be at a higher cost than building, but those definitely more portable in case you relocate.

View attachment 20948 View attachment 20949 View attachment 20950

I use these type of casters on my work tables.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZDDLVI/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_NSYuEbZ9NR750

 

[Silverback]

I sent that HD deal of the day to my neighbor, he is wanting to outfit his garage with some of that stuff. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Oswego]

Woke up to make breakfast (omelette & toast) Saturday and first thing I find is mouse poop in the cabinet I keep utensils. Go to the next one and same crap, literally. 7am breakfast turned into 3pm lunch by the time I got everything cleaned up & disinfected.

At first I thought I had stopped them from getting in when I got the new HVAC system put in last year, but that was a false sense of security. I hadn't seen any signs until this weekend and they hit me hard. Spent the rest of the weekend baiting traps and air/rodent-proofing the house. That false sense of security also led me to storing 2-3 months worth of food in my pantry so after I saw them break into my cabinets for the first time I cleared out my pantry to inspect that. Luckily the pantry was still safe and I addressed some issues so it remains safe. I was going top put some auto door bottoms on a few of my doors that have undercuts larger than 1/16", but that would be a total PITA in the hollow core doors I bought so I put some 1/4 round on the inside on the floor so the mice can't get under the doors (basically gotta eat through the walls - which I will see over time).


Also got all my moldy fences cleaned up then sprayed down with Wet & Forget so the clock on them starts Saturday.

 

[CowboyTaco]

On the side yards of our house (house sits on a slight hill and runoff from the houses behind us come through our yard) the front fence did exactly what you describe... I would have water up almost my knees the for about 60' of fencing along the sides, up near the fence, water was flowing like a river. More than once I have went out in the middle of a storm and busted out a picket where the "dam" was.. at the front fence that allows the water to get into the front yard and finally to the drains. We installed gutters last year and that really helped though, in theory its the same amount of water but it seemed to have really help... or maybe now that I don't see the water building up right outside the patio area I don't care as much. I was thinking next steps would be to cut the pickets about 1' up and screw them back together with a stainless piano hinge... do ever other one about 3' from the side fence... were it seems to be the deepest. Wide enough water can escape, narrow enough a dog can't.

I used an oscillating saw to take out the bottom ~1/2" of 3 boards. You have to really look close to see that i did anything. When they graded the lots, they basically made little channels along the property lines. They sort of missed the property line when they did ours, so I have about 4 feet of property that is on my neighbors side of the channel. I gave it just enough space for the water to run underneath, so hopefully there is no more dam effect. I should find out today though as it is supposed to rain.

 

[Oswego]

if it starts rotting out - wet & forget will kill the mold

I spent more time pulling back my river rocks to expose the bottom of my fence and the 4 x 4 fence posts than actually spraying my fence. dirt and organic matter adds up over time...15 years later

 

[Taco Loco]

I sent that HD deal of the day to my neighbor, he is wanting to outfit his garage with some of that stuff. Thanks for posting it.

If he missed out, HD will put that stuff back on sale within the next 5 weeks.

 

[CowboyTaco]

Speaking of which, they have some Milwaukee tools that aren't normally listed in the special buy of the day. I kind of want that kit of step bits, but don't have an immediate need so it's hard to justify the expense.

 

[Oswego]

24 traps set this weekend.

So far 2 were licked clean (I need to set the triggers better) and 1 fat ass mouse dead

 

[Silverback]

Looks like I am buying a new garage door spring assembly and get it installed this evening! Got home and door wouldn't open. Went in the house and out to the garage and inspected it. Looks fine. Grabbed the spring cables on the sides.. I can move them. Pulled the emergency release and tried to lift the door... fuck its heavy. Luckily I got ahold of someone who just came out and are going to replace it this evening.

 

[tex]

Looks like I am buying a new garage door spring assembly and get it installed this evening! Got home and door wouldn't open. Went in the house and out to the garage and inspected it. Looks fine. Grabbed the spring cables on the sides.. I can move them. Pulled the emergency release and tried to lift the door... fuck its heavy. Luckily I got ahold of someone who just came out and are going to replace it this evening.

Had to do that recently as well

 

[Silverback]

The size of the Wayne Dalton spring is a joke!!! Its inside the 1" tube!! The new one is outside and HUGE! Don't feel bad about spending $500. I probably could have shopped around and maybe saved a hundred bucks or whatever... but this way its done within a few hours of finding the issue and the wife isn't parking outside.

 

[Oswego]

I used to work next to a garage door mfg named Clopay and they made some good stuff. This was 20 years ago so no clue about now, but back in the day the quality was top of the line.



Got another one overnight

 

[Taco Loco]

I mixed up a gallons worth of wet & forget so later this week when temps are higher I can start spraying.

Then I couldn't just sit there so even though it was 30* I sprayed down a deck board that's rotten just to see what happens.

View attachment 19879

I applied about 6 gallons of this stuff, a day or two after you did. I didn’t get that good of results but I did use Simpson GC190 with good results.

 

[Oswego]

I applied about 6 gallons of this stuff, a day or two after you did. I didn’t get that good of results but I did use Simpson GC190 with good results.

That sucks to hear. Sorry if I led you down a bad road. I haven't had any issues with it. Probably just environmental issues creating the difference and hopefully it starts working better for you.

You'll never beat a pressure washer but I'm not using that on my old ass roof. Prob do more damage trying to remove the lichens than good.

Only item I haven't sprayed yet that needs it is the roof of my shed.

So far Ive had good results with:

All of my outdoor tables and chairs (Aluminum/ceramic/synthetic)
Deck (PT Wood)
Fence (PT Wood)
Roof (Asphalt shingles)
Lawnmower (Plastic/painted metal/rubber)
Weber Grill (Plastic/painted metal/stainless steel)
Anderson series 200 windows (wood and plastic)
Pella plastic sliding doors
36" back door (fiberglass/glass)
Sidewalks & driveway (concrete)

Ill post up some before/after pics when there is noticeable difference in the materials and I make some time

 

[Oswego]

BTW - on my 7th mouse. Catching about 1 a day it seems. This is the most Ive ever had and it's getting real old real quick. Might devote a day this weekend to tracking down their nest and entry to my basement.