Nothing like new people to help get a 2nd wind. Or 3rd. Or 23rd.
The Home Improvement Thread
- Thread starter texasislandboy
- Start date
Nothing like new people to help get a 2nd wind. Or 3rd. Or 23rd.
Well it wore me out because I had to go to the house two hours earlier at 5:30AM to get a bunch of piddly shit ready to go.
We got the rest of the sheathing for the downstairs bay side done, applied 3M weather flashing to the door studs to help seal them against water (all of the studs were rotted out there), installed tyvek, installed the doors and trim this past weekend.
But by Sunday afternoon we were all burned out and making stupid little mistakes so I called it a day. Unfortunately, I'm not happy with the support for the door thresholds so I've got to pull two of the doors out to modify the thresholds.
Edit: After reviewing the Tyvek installation manual, I installed the trim correctly and don't have to re-do it, so I'm super pumped about that. I was just doubting myself like usual.
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This past Friday I got my shipment of sheetrock and the last of the siding needed for my house. After the price increases, I saved ~$3,000 on material cost increases after May 2nd.
I had a crew of guys out on Saturday and we demoed my upper deck and sheathed most of one side of the house. We would've got more done but we found a ton of wood rot on the exterior side of the stud walls, ledger board, and sill plates. There was also some floor plates that were eaten up by termites as well. So that took us sometime to tear out and replace it.
Deck was demoed out.
Ledger board and sill plate are completely rotted out. This deck would've collapsed if it had weight on it. The nails holding the deck joists were completely rusted out. The old galvanized flashing was holding up the deck joists at this point. And they used regular uncoated steel nails to secure the galvanized flashing to the house which rusted out and put holes all in the galvanized flashing so water was getting into the house.
This asshole replaced the ledger board in some areas and just covered up the rot. He used uncoated nails to top it off. You can still see the wood tags on the end of the boards.
I had a crew of guys out on Saturday and we demoed my upper deck and sheathed most of one side of the house. We would've got more done but we found a ton of wood rot on the exterior side of the stud walls, ledger board, and sill plates. There was also some floor plates that were eaten up by termites as well. So that took us sometime to tear out and replace it.
Deck was demoed out.
Ledger board and sill plate are completely rotted out. This deck would've collapsed if it had weight on it. The nails holding the deck joists were completely rusted out. The old galvanized flashing was holding up the deck joists at this point. And they used regular uncoated steel nails to secure the galvanized flashing to the house which rusted out and put holes all in the galvanized flashing so water was getting into the house.
This asshole replaced the ledger board in some areas and just covered up the rot. He used uncoated nails to top it off. You can still see the wood tags on the end of the boards.
I was able to work on the house yesterday for a couple of hours by myself after work...no dog or other people. It was really nice to just work without distraction and I got more done than I thought I was going to. I installed a new electronic door lock, flashed and caulked the downstairs doors and put on some 1/2" sheathing. The sun was going down and there was a nice bay breeze...pretty therapeutic. I'm looking forward to doing it again on Thursday.
Worked all day, got home and ran to homeless despot to pick up a load of wood, dropped it off at the house and installed the Pella door lock. Called it a night at 7:30PM, came back to my house to take a shower and as soon as I was about to sit down on the couch to relax, I get a call that one of the rent houses thermostats went out. Luckily I had a spare one and swapped it out real quick. But man the new thermostat took it's sweet time to start up the compressor and fan for the first time. I was standing there doubting my wiring and about to go grab my Fluke to start testing wires when it turned on and started running 
Overall goal is to start working towards qualifying the house as a "smart home" to pad on some extra curb value over the next couple years for resell. Opinions on two things -
1) Google Nest Learning Thermostat - current Honeywell setup does not have any programming capabilities. Would like to get a setup that I can set a schedule on easier and also do remote control as I want. Plus I can get a $50 rebate from my electric provider.
2) Hybrid Hot Water Heater - my current water tank is 15 years old; want to plan to swap it before I am forced to swap it. Looking at one of the latest models with auto leak detection built in. This will drop my electric bill and help the home insurance some too with the auto leak detection. Also a rebate from the electric provider for $150.
1) Google Nest Learning Thermostat - current Honeywell setup does not have any programming capabilities. Would like to get a setup that I can set a schedule on easier and also do remote control as I want. Plus I can get a $50 rebate from my electric provider.
2) Hybrid Hot Water Heater - my current water tank is 15 years old; want to plan to swap it before I am forced to swap it. Looking at one of the latest models with auto leak detection built in. This will drop my electric bill and help the home insurance some too with the auto leak detection. Also a rebate from the electric provider for $150.
Rheem ProTerra 50 Gal. 10-Year Hybrid High Efficiency Smart Tank Electric Water Heater with Leak Detection & Auto Shutoff XE50T10HS45U0 - The Home Depot
Save your home from water damage with Rheem ProTerra 10-Year Hybrid High Efficiency Smart Tank Electric Water Heater with Leak Detection and Auto Shutoff.
www.homedepot.com
I put a Bradford White water heater in that I was impressed with the quality of. But if you're still going to sell the house then buy the cheapest 50 gallon water heater and throw it in.Overall goal is to start working towards qualifying the house as a "smart home" to pad on some extra curb value over the next couple years for resell. Opinions on two things -
1) Google Nest Learning Thermostat - current Honeywell setup does not have any programming capabilities. Would like to get a setup that I can set a schedule on easier and also do remote control as I want. Plus I can get a $50 rebate from my electric provider.
2) Hybrid Hot Water Heater - my current water tank is 15 years old; want to plan to swap it before I am forced to swap it. Looking at one of the latest models with auto leak detection built in. This will drop my electric bill and help the home insurance some too with the auto leak detection. Also a rebate from the electric provider for $150.
Rheem ProTerra 50 Gal. 10-Year Hybrid High Efficiency Smart Tank Electric Water Heater with Leak Detection & Auto Shutoff XE50T10HS45U0 - The Home Depot
Save your home from water damage with Rheem ProTerra 10-Year Hybrid High Efficiency Smart Tank Electric Water Heater with Leak Detection and Auto Shutoff.www.homedepot.com
My last apartment came with the Gen 1 Nest (it sucked bc the heat from processor would give it inaccurate temp readings). So in 2016 when we moved into the house I'm in now, we got the Gen 2 Nest because we liked the ease of use from the Gen 1 (Gen 2 didn't have the heat issue anymore). It's nice to be able to program it all from the app or manually adjust the temp setting through the app while you're sitting on the couch. Or to be able to turn on the A/C when you land at the airport so the house will be cool by the time you get home. The only thing I'd advise against is signing up for the occasional Nest energy savings program they send you. We agreed to it the first time and it fucked up all of the temp settings we had put in over the years (we had it dialed in perfectly). So we never agree to any of the new programs that they send us.
I've never used the Ecobee thermostat but have heard good things about it.
CowboyTaco
Well-Known Member
Our last house had the water heater in the living space, so to get around code the previous home owners installed a battery powered shutoff valve with a sensor in the drain pan. It was kind of a PITA and had to have the batteries changed periodically, but it had a loud audible tone when it was that time, and it worked.
As for the thermostats, I've had a Nest and currently have the honeywell "equivalent." The Nest was far superior.
As for the thermostats, I've had a Nest and currently have the honeywell "equivalent." The Nest was far superior.
This past Saturday I got two of my kitchen door and large picture window out by myself (damn near killed me. One of the doors just slipped out and I had to drag that heavy fucker back in. Kicked my butt). I got the picture window framed in correctly (last guy who did must've been on some really potent crystal rocks). I also moved it up so we get more of a bay view since we'll most likely have a small table and chairs there in front of the window.
On Sunday, my nephew came over and helped me out all day. We worked 12 hours straight and got a ton of shit done. Unfortunately, I was so busy working that I forgot to take pics But we got the remaining master bedroom door out and the two small windows in the master bathroom. We shimmed all of the door frames and the two small window frames out to be a tighter fit (they had 1" or more of clearance all around and then they just filled it in with foam
). We replaced the last of the rotted out floor plate and studs so we could finish sheathing this side of the house. Then we flashed all of the windows and doors with G tape (it's tedious so it takes sometime to do but it'll be worth it since that's where the majority of the wood rot was on this house). Then we put the housewrap on and cut it in to flash the windows and doors again.
On Sunday, my nephew came over and helped me out all day. We worked 12 hours straight and got a ton of shit done. Unfortunately, I was so busy working that I forgot to take pics
But we got the remaining master bedroom door out and the two small windows in the master bathroom. We shimmed all of the door frames and the two small window frames out to be a tighter fit (they had 1" or more of clearance all around and then they just filled it in with foam). We replaced the last of the rotted out floor plate and studs so we could finish sheathing this side of the house. Then we flashed all of the windows and doors with G tape (it's tedious so it takes sometime to do but it'll be worth it since that's where the majority of the wood rot was on this house). Then we put the housewrap on and cut it in to flash the windows and doors again.
Silverback
Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
Hung the kids old BMX bike on the wall in her room. She likes it.
PSU Taco85
Well-Known Member
Blower motor on the HVAC unit seemed to be hit or miss lately. This happened once or twice in the winter and the unit tripped out on high limit but didn't think too much of it. Turning it on for the first time in the spring here the HVAC motor stalled out even though the condenser was running. Looks like the running cap was starting to dry out, 11.2 uF a bit low for the rating.
New one measures right at 20 uF
I re-ordered another spare cap to keep on the shelf in the basement, as well as a spare control board while they were still available. Once they go obsolete the price gets crazy, and at 15 years old this model is probably borderline for being able to get certain parts.
I also set up my wasp/carpenter bee repellant. Some fake nests and a sticky trap, we'll see how well they'll work, but it's gotta be better than nothing
New one measures right at 20 uF
I re-ordered another spare cap to keep on the shelf in the basement, as well as a spare control board while they were still available. Once they go obsolete the price gets crazy, and at 15 years old this model is probably borderline for being able to get certain parts.
I also set up my wasp/carpenter bee repellant. Some fake nests and a sticky trap, we'll see how well they'll work, but it's gotta be better than nothing
Silverback
Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
Lots of work man! Looking good. So what are your plans for the concrete right there?
I'm going to fill it in once I get the yard regraded to where it doesn't flood the house after a heavy rain.
There used to be a pool that the previous owner had filled in. They didn't grade the yard properly so it slopes back towards the house.