6
votes
1answer
192 views
How do I eliminate and prevent future stink bug infestations?
Throughout the winter we tended to have 1-2 stink bugs buzzing around the house on any given day. We'd either vacuum them up or put them in the disposal. The humidity picked up for a bit and yesterday ...
1
vote
2answers
347 views
dishwasher odor
I have a GE Profile Triton XL dishwasher and the dishes come out clean but have an odor to them, it's a metallic/sour smell. Any idea on the proper way to clean it? There is no built in clean cycle. ...
0
votes
1answer
275 views
Does a fridge thermostat need a ground connection?
I've recently replaced the thermostat in my fridge with a new unit with a much higher temperature range (this unit specifically).
The unit I took out had a ground connector & the original wiring ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I build a sound dampening box for a pool filter?
I have a pool filter next to my house in the 1.5m between my house and the boundary. I'd like to build a box around it to dampen the sound a bit. I will still need periodic access to the filter for ...
1
vote
1answer
114 views
Design and Build Sprinkler Head
How would you go about fabricating a sprinkler head for a general use sprinkler system? I'm talking about the sort in your front yard.
The basics of what I'm looking for:
Design which can be ...
12
votes
3answers
846 views
What is the right way to connect 7 conductors in an electrical box?
What is the "right" way to join 7 different wires in a single electrical box?
Here's the situation. I opened up a four-gang light switch. There were four switches controlling five lights.
As ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views
Do I need an egress bedroom window if I have a walk-out exterior door?
I have a basement with three hopper windows and a walk-out door. There's also a staircase that connects the basement with the upper (main) floor of the house.
If I build a bedroom, do I need an ...
5
votes
3answers
4k views
What should the ratio of crushed rock and sand for a paver patio be?
In effort to find a good answer I've been all over the internet looking for an answer to exactly how thick of a layer of crushed rock and how thick of a layer of sand to use for a patio. Or at the ...
6
votes
2answers
537 views
Best way to tear up half a concrete parking pad?
I have a concrete parking pad in my back yard (butts up to an alley) that is substantially larger than I need, and I'd like to reclaim some of that space for my yard. To that end I'd like to tear up ...
1
vote
1answer
531 views
Toilet Supply Line and Valve Leaking
I had an issue with my bathroom flooding, so I emptied out the toilet (turned off the valve and flushed until it was empty).
Then after 2-3 days, the toilet backed up. Yech.
Anyway, I re-opened the ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Why should I not use standard “house” bricks for a patio?
I'm looking to put in a brick patio and have been really wanting to do it with reclaimed road bricks. The problem here is sourcing enough to do an entire 18x18 patio and not spending a months salary ...
5
votes
1answer
328 views
How can I fix a not-quite-hole in my carpet?
The actual strands of my carpet have been pulled up in a half-dollar-sized area, but the base weave that holds it all together is still intact. Is there any way I can repair this without doing a ...
2
votes
2answers
492 views
What is the best way to seal this old fireplace vent?
I am doing some minor renovations to my basement with the drop ceiling and found that one of the geniuses that owned the house before me, used fibreglass ceiling tiles to seal off an old vent for a ...
1
vote
1answer
4k views
How to prep existing floor for installation of self-adhesive vinyl flooring?
Some quick background to preempt some discussion about quality, longevity, rental issues, etc.: I'm in a rental that is literally "anything goes". It's a long story, but suffice it to say if it does ...
6
votes
1answer
614 views
What is the best way to seal a French drain board due to high levels of radon?
The Radon level in my crawl space is above the threshold (~5.5) and the level in my basement is around 4. I'd like to install a radon mitigation fan that sucks air from the sump pump of a French ...
1
vote
2answers
278 views
How do I install a 2 gang low voltage bracket?
Purchased varying 1 gang and 2 gang low voltage screw-in type brackets as seen here.
Upon inspection they appeared to simply sit in the wall with the the screws being screwed into the side of the dry ...
9
votes
14answers
1k views
What is your top tip for painting?
Simple really - add your best tips for painting (a room, that is). Ideally one tip per answer for ease of voting.
3
votes
2answers
168 views
Door Repair - 2x6 bolted together
I am purchasing a log cabin built in 1915 with an entry door that appears to be 2x6 boards assembled together. It does have three lights, so I expect it was professionally made, not a homemade item. ...
2
votes
2answers
322 views
What is an appropriate sealer for a Papercrete bench?
I've built a bench out of tires and papercrete two years ago. i've sealed it with lime plaster. in the past two years it held up against 500 m"m of rain in the winter and Mediterranean sun 7 month ...
1
vote
2answers
567 views
Need help with broken plastic pipe in the yard, constant stream of water
Within the past few months I've noticed a steady stream of water from the middle of my yard trickle down to the sidewalk. My House is on a hill, and my yard is sloped downward, so all water goes to ...
0
votes
1answer
288 views
How to fix a leaky toilet flapper valve over brass outpipe
I have a 1950's toilet that leaks into the bowl through the flapper. It differs from modern toilets (this question) in that the outlet pipe is made of brass. I am not inclined to replace the toilet ...
1
vote
1answer
367 views
Exterior entry door repair
I have a 20 year old flat wood entry door (without mouldings or embellishment). I was going to sand and paint it, but when I sanded, I realized that the wood must have been just a veneer (plywood, ...
2
votes
1answer
301 views
Activating chair's gas lift? [closed]
I've ordered a chair from Argos, however, after assembly, the gas lift fails to elevate the chair -in fact, pulling the lever on the side seems to have no effect at all (it just swings back & ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
What should I do with abandoned cinder blocks?
I recently moved to my first home (with a modest yard). The previous owners left behind about 20 cinder blocks. I'd like to build something constructive with them in lieu of discarding them. Any ...
2
votes
2answers
633 views
Concrete slab at a brick wall
I want to build a concrete slab (upon which a deck will be build later) at the foot of a brick wall (by foot I don't mean the foundation foot, I just mean where the brick meets the grade level). I ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
How do I properly seal slate tile?
We recently installed slate tile in our renovated bathroom. We have sealed it with a penetrating water-based sealant. Water still seams to soak in to the tile and little water spots on the tile are ...
0
votes
1answer
746 views
Protecting a finished wood exterior door
I have a solid wood exterior door, that I had stained and finished by the maker. I was looking for a way to prolong and protect the finish. I thought about waxing the door (especially the exterior ...
7
votes
2answers
723 views
What's the best way to adjust a leaning gate post?
I recently built a large double wood gate using 6x6x8 posts. Each post was set with concrete in a 26" hole. After some settling, one of the posts is now leaning about 1/4 inch toward the middle. ...
3
votes
3answers
722 views
Clothes dryer exhaust duct touching PVC pipe
I'm running exhaust duct for a new electric dryer. There's 10cm(4in) space between a 5cm PVC drain pipe and the wall where I wanna run the rigid duct. My concern is that the heat from the dryer might ...
1
vote
2answers
307 views
How do steel and enforced concrete posts compare?
From what I observe in my region posts in both municipal and private construction - mostly fence posts and lighting posts - are gradually replaced from enforced concrete to steel pipes.
Is it just my ...
1
vote
1answer
135 views
Does covering a mattress with sheets prevent dust mites and their allergens?
Does covering a mattress with sheets prevent dust mites and their allergens?
3
votes
1answer
473 views
How to fix a retaining wall that is difficult to access behind the house?
My retaining wall needs to be fixed/rebuilt since it's leaning, but I can't get any machines back there because house doesn't have much side or rear setback(maybe 5ft on each side) and behind the ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I stain a pressure treated pine fence?
I am putting up a pine PT post fence in front of my home. The fencing is new and green and I would like to stain it a natural wood color.I don't want to put it up green or wait for it to dry or turn a ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
What is electrical code for number of wires in a breaker?
US, Georgia
I am adding some new ciruits to add some additional outlets. The closest place is to run a wire to the main panel box.
My question is, can I connect more than one wire to a breaker and ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
What is causing the loud, electrical humming noise in my walls?
I have a loud electrical sounding humming noise that is vibrating through my house, and appears to be coming through the adjoining wall of my neighbour's house. It starts and stops at any time of day ...
2
votes
2answers
606 views
How often do I need to drain Boiler Expansion Tank?
I have an old style (without a bladder) expansion tank installed on my heating system. Recently i noticed that the water pressure fluctuates a lot in the system and wonder if that maybe because the ...
2
votes
2answers
189 views
Can PEX be used for the trunk
Currently I have a length of galvanized steel pipe (3/4") from the water meter, which is feeding the main trunk (3/4" copper). The water pressure in the house is very low, and I suspect it is due to ...
3
votes
4answers
585 views
Should I seal my granite countertop?
I recently redid my kitchen and brought new granite countertops. The company that did the installation was crappy and I had to put in my own supports and other odds and ends that I thought was ...
1
vote
2answers
500 views
How to make a second story floor fire proof?
I have a few bench burners on my second story house. While the dry wall has been replaced with a double layer of Type X 5/8 drywall with off-set sockets I worry the floor. Due to the layout of the ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
What is this clunking noise in my water pipe?
Earlier today, I noticed a strange, repetitive clunking noise from the vicinity of my water heater. After some investigation, it seems to come from the cold water supply to the water heater.
Here's ...
9
votes
6answers
3k views
How do I reduce how much the sun heats up a front room of my house?
My office room is in the front of the house and facing south. It gets hot very fast during hot days (even in spring). It is a fairly small room and I have computers there attributing to heat. There's ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
What size posts do I need to use to build a wooden driveway gate?
I have just built a 6 foot fence all the way around my property. To finish it offI need to build a driveway gate. The gate will be 15 feet wide and have two swing gate sections. I have used 4x4x8 foot ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I run a wire underground to an outdoor post lamp?
I live in Geauga county Ohio. My question is three part. First what type of wire do I need to run from the house underground to a post lamp 100 feet away? Second,does it need to be in conduit and ...
2
votes
1answer
150 views
What material should a year-round green house in high elevation be made of?
I am constructing a green house this summer. I live in Ely, Nevada. It is at a high elevation and cold more so than it is warm. Building the structure is not a problem for me, but I do not know what ...
3
votes
2answers
755 views
Building a sunken tiled bath
I'm planning to build a sunken bath/wet room type shower. The plan is to raise the floor of the bathroom by 18" and then build a bath with its bottom just above the original floor level (to allow for ...
3
votes
3answers
816 views
Is there some flexible cement-based mortar?
I live in an apartment in a multistoried building. The building is assembled of huge enforced concrete plates - one plate is size of a wall of a room. One of the inter-plate seams has a crack in it ...
1
vote
2answers
6k views
What can I do about my leaking washing machine faucet?
I recently hooked up a new washing machine to the faucets in my sink. They mostly work well, but both of the faucets drip slowly when there's water flowing through them.
What can I do? I've tried ...
4
votes
1answer
552 views
Tips on making classic brick and plywood shelves
Moving into a new apartment in a couple weeks and I'm planning on making the classic brick and plywood shelves to put books and stuff. Any tips for me? Do I have to have it secured to a wall?
1
vote
1answer
418 views
Basement shower drain backing up when washing machine runs
When running washing machine, water backs up through a nearby shower drain and makes a gurgling noise. How do I solve this problem?
1
vote
4answers
424 views
Mowing a badly inclining lawn
I've got a lawn with a rather steep drop that I'm finding difficult to mow.
My wife thinks we should get a self-propelled push mower, but I don't think anything in a consumer range is going to be ...
