0
votes
0answers
8 views
How do I support a deck that spans a driveway?
I am planning to reinforce my deck, as it is has a lot of sway, and was built with 12' 4x4s, and not 6x6s. The deck spans my driveway, which is the width of a two car garage, so a fairly decent span. ...
0
votes
0answers
7 views
What are the drawbacks of not attaching deck to house?
I am planning on building a small deck on the side of my house where there is no door or window. The level of the deck is below the top of the basement, so I need to drill through the concrete for the ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
How can I prevent aluminum window frames from heating up when they're in full sun?
There is a room that has a window, the frame of the window is made of aluminum. This window is subjected to direct sunlight a long time of the day, which makes the aluminum get really hot, and start ...
5
votes
7answers
1k views
What should I do with old furnace filters?
I seem to be stock piling used furnace filters, are there any uses for these things once the furnace is done with them? It seems a shame to throw them out; given that I change them once a month, ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
How can I make a sturdy frame out of square, steel tubing?
Update 5/25/2013: I went with mike's idea of using corner braces, but with a twist. Instead of 7/8" braces and epoxy, I went with 1" braces and metal framing screws. The results are pretty good (see ...
2
votes
1answer
247 views
Is a water pressure booster pump with an induction motor suitable for kitchen tap use?
The water pressure in my kitchen is too low to achieve a reasonable flow rate through the kitchen tap. For many years I have fitted a series of booster pumps which are activated when water is flowing ...
1
vote
3answers
49 views
How can I remotely monitor a GFCI receptacle?
How can a sump pump in a crawl space only accessible by crawling down a hole in a closet have its GFCI protected outlet monitored from the living room?
I am imagining the best way to run the pump is ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
How can I remove an inner wall of a gambrel house?
We own a Gambrel house built in 1978. I want to remove a six foot wall section that includes a doorway. This wall runs parallel to the floor joists in the basement. The main center beam is about three ...
2
votes
2answers
191 views
Can I extend the ground/bus bar in a main service to accomodate subpanel equipment ground?
I am about to replace the main service breaker panel in my house. The old panel (a 200amp Siemens 40-circuit) had bus bars that extended the entire vertical length of the box. The new panel I would ...
6
votes
2answers
79 views
Is a high electric bill for a pump house caused by a well pump running constantly?
I recently had to turn on the electric for a shared well in my name. I got a bill and it's as high as what my house bill is. The well is the only thing connected to the electric in the well house. We ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
What features should I look for in a full-house surge protector?
How does one select a surge protector for a typical home?
We get surges and slight drops in line voltage. We are the last pole on a small town electric provider, three miles from town. Surge ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Low-Cost 2x2 Ceiling Tile?
I don't like the look of the standard drop ceiling tiles in my finished basement. I'd like to replace them with something like the one picture below. However, the cost of these is prohibitive given ...
2
votes
3answers
878 views
What to expect when tearing up carpet?
What should I expect when I tear up carpet? My brother's dogs have stained my carpets with their pee and poop, he also has tracked in grease from his work boots and stained it with tattoo ink. I want ...
1
vote
2answers
21 views
How do I pre-treat and stain my hardwood floors a dark color?
I'm about to embark on my first floor-refinishing adventure and I'm jumping in the deep end — not just refinishing, but also staining. And not just staining, but staining a light wood pretty dang ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Is there a glue which holds to glazed porcelain tiles?
My shower does not have a cabin, only a curtain. Said curtain tends to wave around while I am in the shower, clinging to my legs and letting water flow outside.
My best idea for a low-cost solution ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
What post size should I use for a 20'x24' deck [closed]
My deck is 20' by 24'. Should we use 6x6 posts or 4x4 posts? Which will look better on such a large deck?
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Why do I get water hammer after turning water supply back on?
I shut off the main water supply in the evening to replace the shower cartridge. I came back the next afternoon to finish the job. When I turned on the water main I started getting continuous water ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
What underlay is used for installing pool tiles
Is it concrete? (i.e. cement and water)
Is it some kind of special caulk?
Is it something else?
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Why is my shower cold even though there is hot water?
My shower gets full hot water with the cold turned off, but once I turn the cold water back on to the house my shower is barely lukewarm. I replaced the mixing valve on my single handled valve. When ...
1
vote
1answer
137 views
How to insulate my garage walls using sheathing
My garage is a pool building type with pressed wood walls and exterior siding. I want to put sheathing on the walls for some insulation. The studs that the exterior wall is attached to are 1.5" x 4" ...
2
votes
4answers
54 views
What can I use to stop drawers in an organizer from sliding out all the way?
I have purchased several of these small drawer units:
However, when I open the drawers, they come straight out - there is no mechanism to ensure that the drawers stay in the slot.
In the past, I ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
How to install this cheap metal curtain rod?
I bought one of these cheap curtain rods for my home theatre blackout curtains:
But it doesn't appear to have come with any instructions. I mean it appears that I'm supposed to just screw those ...
3
votes
1answer
53 views
Why won't the fan run independently of the air conditioner?
I have central air and heat, with a Nest thermostat. My system has Y, G, R, C and W wires coming out of it:
which are wired into my Nest like so:
In between, there is a splice where the C wire is ...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
How can I remove this flapper alternative?
I had good luck in the past using this product to replace a leaky flapper valve.
However, this new toilet does not have a flapper hinge on the base of the flush valve. Instead, there is a ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
How do I remove a small amount of water based concrete sealer from a painted floor?
I was using a water based concrete sealer on my painted concrete floors. I did something wrong, and one tiny section didn't dry clear.
My question is, what can I use to remove a small portion ...
-2
votes
0answers
54 views
What is the name of a transparent nonflammable solid nonbreakable material? [closed]
The material is easily processed and easy to screw up screws. Perhaps there is a nonflammable (refractory is a requirement of the specification) transparent material used in construction (ie easy to ...
4
votes
5answers
794 views
How Do I Power A 220 Water Heater Off Two 110 Breakers
First off I know this is not the best idea.
To start my 200 Amp Main has suffered a partial failure and as it is old (60s) and unusual it will be very hard or impossible to replace it. Since the main ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
How do I repair a leak in a ferrocrete overhead water tank?
I have a ferrocrete overhead water tank. It has developed a leak at the edge. How do I repair this leak?
1
vote
2answers
84 views
Why doesn't my garage door close?
I have a genie medallion garage door opener. The door opens with the remote but won't close. The wall unit is not working. Not seeing any lights on the sensor, and I just replaced the sensors. I ...
3
votes
1answer
30 views
How should I mask when spraying trim?
I am getting ready to spray the trim in my house using a 211 tip. How much of each room needs to be masked or do I just need to mask everything (except the trim)?
5
votes
4answers
128 views
Why would my TV image turn black when electrical appliances turn on?
I have my computer connected to my TV via HDMI. Every time something electrical happens (fridge turns on, stove sparks, etc), the image on the TV goes black for a second and then comes back on. And ...
0
votes
2answers
85 views
What's causing the popping noise from my speakers?
Several weeks ago, I moved into a new home. In office, I have my computer set up with a set of media speakers (older model of Logitech Z-550's). Every now and then the speakers will make a popping ...
4
votes
1answer
145 views
How can I soundproof my bedroom walls as cost effectively as possible?
My bedroom is next to the kitchen on one wall, a hallway on one wall, the outdoors on one wall and the PC room on the other. The wall that bothers us the most is the kitchen wall.
We would like to ...
3
votes
0answers
25 views
How should I connect 2x4 (or wood horizontal railing pieces) to exterior painted wood?
I'm planning to add a 10-foot railing to a patio that has a 6x6 wood post on one end and the exterior of the house on the other end of what will be the railing. I'm planning wood horizontal rails ...
0
votes
3answers
903 views
How do I pressure test a natural gas line and what do the valve pressure ratings mean?
I'm planning to add an appliance to my house, and will want to do a pressure test of the newly installed gas lines. My main shutoff says 175 PSI, but most of the appliance valves say either 1/2 or 5 ...
3
votes
3answers
68 views
Can a TV be mounted directly into a heavy wooden entertainment center?
My dad has a built in entertainment center that is buit to accommodate an old CRT television. As such, the entertainment center itself is fairly deep (call it 24" or so), but the cavity for the ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views
Suction Side vs. Pressure Side Pool Cleaner
What is the difference/advantages/disadvantage of pressure side vs. suction side pool cleaners, and which one to get for a concrete pool?
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Can I convert a window A/C unit in to a pool-water cooled system?
I have an 18,000 BTU A/C unit that blew a compressor last year. Perfect for a small project. I however could not find a professional to help me out, so maybe it's DIYable. I know just about enough ...
4
votes
1answer
54 views
How can I repair this wood window trim?
A small section of the window frame has rotted away (either that, or a woodpecker went at it)
Here is a picture of it
Click for larger view
What is the best way to fix this? Can I just cut out ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What could cause taps for both hot and cold water to suddenly stop working?
There are two taps in one of the bathrooms of our house. A few days ago, one of them "went out": after giving a noise as if very suddenly closed, the water stopped flowing, only a little trickling ...
4
votes
5answers
4k views
How to remove closet shelf clips and brackets without damaging the wall?
The previous owner of my new house installed ClosetMaid shelves in the closet. I removed the shelves, but had a really hard time with those clips and brackets (pictures attached). Seem like they were ...
4
votes
0answers
206 views
+50
How do I replace this bathtub handle that has a plastic piece?
I have followed a number of videos, but they all seem to have a copper (?) stem. At this point I'm up to some plastic piece that has no notches (namely around the metal piece) to use a wrench on.
...
17
votes
4answers
5k views
Would you ever wire white and ground together?
I was replacing some outlets in my house with tamper-resistant ones, and came across one where the white and ground were wired together, as seen in this picture. Why? Is that okay or appropriate ...
2
votes
0answers
27 views
Why aren't my radiators heating up after I replaced a rusted through pipe?
We had a bit of corrosion in an old pipe and it started leaking and losing pressure and so I drained all the central heating system (radiators), replaced the pipe and fitting. It was awkward and the ...
7
votes
2answers
262 views
Will security system wiring cause interference in data cables?
Is it acceptable to run 22/4 security wire along side Cat6 and Coax cables, or is there any possibility for interference?
5
votes
1answer
3k views
What's the most common cause of AC coolant lines freezing?
I noticed my house wasn't getting under 75°F this weekend when I had the thermostat set for 70°F. Since I'd done a lot of drywall sanding inside recently, my first idea was to replace the filthy air ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
How do I calculate the proper fan size for a bathroom exhaust and the number of pickups?
Getting ready to remodel my bathroom and I'm thinking about installing an inline fan to reduce noise. I'm looking at Panasonic 120 and 240cfm models.
Bathroom is 7' x 8' x 8'. With a shower in one ...
15
votes
4answers
2k views
Is it OK to borrow a ground wire from a different circuit?
I've got a circuit in the basement carrying a handful of outlets. This circuit has no ground wire. I want to add a couple of outlets and want them to be grounded. I may even want gfci outlets on ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
What are my options for multi-room audio?
Multi-Room Audio
I've been tasked by the wife with setting up a multi-room audio system. We've broken the house down into the following zones:
Kitchen (Stereo)
Office (Stereo)
Master Bed/Bath ...
7
votes
4answers
425 views
Why don't people use rigid or spray foam insulation in attics?
I'm looking to upgrade the insulation in my attic bumping it from an R-6 to R-30 or better, and while looking into things I realized I've never seen anyone use rigid or spray foam insulation in an ...
