The Home Improvement Thread
- Thread starter texasislandboy
- Start date
Oswego
n00b
Good vetting! Can't beat a good chain store installer. Those guys usually have their stuff strait on every chain Ive ever worked on. We just did a pot shop with a bunch of subs from Chicago that follow the pot store around and they were great. Even during Covid they had their stuff 100% and weren't even in their hometown.
tex
That's Mr Asshole to you
Drain is going in at the bottom. It will tie into the drain my neighbor has already.
The ivy on the upper will be torn out and I will put in grass. The yard will be level with the top of the wall.
Fence is planned for tomorrow. I am doing that. Picking up the cedar for that after work.
The ivy on the upper will be torn out and I will put in grass. The yard will be level with the top of the wall.
Fence is planned for tomorrow. I am doing that. Picking up the cedar for that after work.
Bigger gate.
AlienXtx
Nignog
I figured he'd hand them a weed eater so they could edge up the side of his house for him
Oswego
n00b
Finally figured out where to set my hammock posts. Ill move the yaks to the other side of my yard once that fence is replaced.
Not sure what Ill build to top off the posts...... but thinking something along the lines of a combo birdhouse, incognito trail cam, motion lights.
Not sure what Ill build to top off the posts...... but thinking something along the lines of a combo birdhouse, incognito trail cam, motion lights.
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CowboyTaco
Well-Known Member
I that a fire pit between the posts? Nobody wants a roast Boyd.
Oswego
n00b
Horseshoe pit (little grey post in the middle). I might move them this fall when I do some grass seeding or just get rid of them altogether. I don't play much anymore and all I use them for is putting leafs the tree rats drop when building their nests.
BTW that reminds me - I used the 4th of July fireworks to do some demo work to those nests. As of now there are no active nests in that tree when there were three of them. When the fireworks explosions started I used that noise to allow me to evict them.
BTW that reminds me - I used the 4th of July fireworks to do some demo work to those nests. As of now there are no active nests in that tree when there were three of them. When the fireworks explosions started I used that noise to allow me to evict them.
Oswego
n00b
Also spiked all my trees and my rose bush with some Jobe's fertilizer spikes yesterday. Hopefully it helps them out. I like their stuff because I don't worry about run off (spikes are underground) and they have ORMI organic 3rd party testing done.
Will be my first time trying to help any of my trees. Supposed to do it early spring/late fall so hopefully I don't harm them.
Will be my first time trying to help any of my trees. Supposed to do it early spring/late fall so hopefully I don't harm them.
CowboyTaco
Well-Known Member
Ok, so let's talk about Solar panels for a moment.
I'm seeing estimated figures of $18-25k for parts and install, but have not gotten any official quotes. My electric company offers an incentive/rebate of $450 per kWh up to 10 kWhs. Based on estimates from automated systems that look at your roof lines from satellite images, I can get an 8.4kWh system, which equates to $3,780 in rebates. There looks to also be some federal incentives for it as well. If I'm reading it right, and I'm probably not, it looks like I can get 26% of the cost back in tax credits. (source: DSIRE)
My average electric bill is $100 and the 8.4kWh system would provide 107% of my current usage. I also have 3 kids and I expect the usage to go up as they get older. That said, I could (in theory) eliminate my electric bill. Obviously, some months I would be providing power back to the grid and others I would need to pull excess power from the power company.
I've see figures that a solar system can increase the value of a home by $25k. Is that an accurate number? I'm actually thinking that @TacoXpo might be the best person to answer the question.
If I spend an average of $1200 per year in electric, it would take me 15 years to save $18k. I'm hoping to get a house with more land before that time period. I figure we'll either move before my daughter starts real school (roughly 2-3 years from now) or wait until the kids are out of school unless a major job change happens. It obviously makes sense to do it now based on the rebates and incentives if you plan to live in the house for a while. But would it be a worth-while investment if you plan to sell or rent the house in a few years? i.e. Does it really increase the value of the home? If so, is it really equivalent the rough cost of initial purchase?
I'm seeing estimated figures of $18-25k for parts and install, but have not gotten any official quotes. My electric company offers an incentive/rebate of $450 per kWh up to 10 kWhs. Based on estimates from automated systems that look at your roof lines from satellite images, I can get an 8.4kWh system, which equates to $3,780 in rebates. There looks to also be some federal incentives for it as well. If I'm reading it right, and I'm probably not, it looks like I can get 26% of the cost back in tax credits. (source: DSIRE)
My average electric bill is $100 and the 8.4kWh system would provide 107% of my current usage. I also have 3 kids and I expect the usage to go up as they get older. That said, I could (in theory) eliminate my electric bill. Obviously, some months I would be providing power back to the grid and others I would need to pull excess power from the power company.
I've see figures that a solar system can increase the value of a home by $25k. Is that an accurate number? I'm actually thinking that @TacoXpo might be the best person to answer the question.
If I spend an average of $1200 per year in electric, it would take me 15 years to save $18k. I'm hoping to get a house with more land before that time period. I figure we'll either move before my daughter starts real school (roughly 2-3 years from now) or wait until the kids are out of school unless a major job change happens. It obviously makes sense to do it now based on the rebates and incentives if you plan to live in the house for a while. But would it be a worth-while investment if you plan to sell or rent the house in a few years? i.e. Does it really increase the value of the home? If so, is it really equivalent the rough cost of initial purchase?
Silverback
Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
I had 4 different companies come out and give me estimates on solar. All four were different.. from 7k kw to 14k kw.. panels on easterly facing or panels on southern facing or panels on both. Nobody knew WTF they were doing. Then there was the energy plan. Net-metering (putting power back on the grid) isn't really a thing around here. So putting power back into the grid and getting paid for it wasn't happening. Anyhow, lots of mis-information. Had one person stop by about 2 years ago and said Oncor was offering a deal where it was a zero cost. (Oncor is the main energy provider, not just some reseller of power) Well it was some fly-by night who just had a name that was spelled very similar... and it was a loan that just happened to be the same cost as your energy bill... but there was no way to put power back into the grid and when you went over you were actually on a plan that paid about 5-6 cents more per Kwh. Plus they all seemed like snake oil salesmen. Had one that I "trusted" but they also where 2x the cost. Someplaces wanted $3 a Kw and these guys wants like $6.50 or $7.00. Good luck.
No, it's not worth the cost if you plan to sell your house or rent it out in a few years. Also, if your electricity bill is $100 on average then you're doing just fine.
Also, don't forget to add the cost of a new roof install before you put on the panels. So that can range from $2,500-$10k depending on your roofline complexity and labor rates in your area.
Silverback
Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
His house is new, don't think it would need a roof.
Oh ok. Didn't know that. But if you're 10 years into a 25 year roof, it doesn't make sense to put solar panels on them (if this is your forever home). It'll be cheaper to have someone replace your roof than to do it down the road where you have to have a company come take the solar panels off and then re-install them.