DA01

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May 2	comment	What to look for in a new furnace Furnaces aren't necessarily complex machines. These days, I'd go with a high efficiency rating and most anything you buy today will be infinitely better than the 20 year old one you have now.
May 2	comment	How do I fill a recurring sinkhole in the rainforest of Hawai'i? Dow GREAT STUFF™ Sink Hole Filler is pretty good. The catch is that it comes via railroad tanker cars and it's a real chore shaking it before every use.
May 2	comment	How can I get a straight line at the ceiling when painting a textured wall? +1 It's a revelation the first time you decide to not go with masking and paint freehand. It's surprisingly easy to paint a crisp corner with a decent brush. I now no longer waste all that time masking.
May 2	comment	How do I fill a recurring sinkhole in the rainforest of Hawai'i? Fixing the earth's crust doesn't seem like a DIY project.
May 1	comment	How effective is a heat pump for AC and a heat pump/furnace for heating in New England? Oh, and as for cost, the electricity runs the fan (just as any furnace) and the compressor pump (to extract the heat). In terms of total energy costs used, it's a lot less than a fuel-based heating source as none of the energy sources you are paying for are being used to heat the air. Essentially, you are getting the heat for 'free' but still paying to extract it/circulate it in your house.
May 1	comment	How effective is a heat pump for AC and a heat pump/furnace for heating in New England? A ground-loop heat pump is very efficient. So if that's the route you're thinking of going, definitely a good choice. However, I assume you are maybe talking about an air source pump, which is less efficient. It will work, but won't be very efficient when the temp gets too low (and may not be the best for your sole source of heat if you have extremely low temperatures). For A/C, though, it'll be just fine (as it is, in essentially, a big A/C unit.)
May 1	comment	How to know what color of paint was used on the walls? Even then it's a crap shoot. There's often subtle differences in finishes between brands that can show up glaringly in the right light. I'd suggest just waiting to repaint the entire wall.
Apr 29	comment	How can I add insulation to my roof? It's definitely less of a hassle for you if it's done on the outside, but if you need to do it on the inside, you can certainly cover the carpet during the remodel.
Apr 26	comment	Is pressure grouting of a wall-crack, a good or potential solution? If they are still growing, then this needs to be answered by a structural engineer.
Apr 26	comment	How do I calculate the takeoff for a 45 degree elbow joint? Wouldn't it depend on the particular fitting being used?
Apr 26	comment	Can I build a 28" retaining wall using blocks with no lip? Those feel rather small for a wall of that height. But I'm not an engineer, either.
Apr 25	comment	How do I cut a new crawlspace access in a brick foundation? You can cut it with a masonry saw. Warnings would be to make sure you're not cutting out too much as to weaken the integrity of the wall as it is supporting the house.
Apr 25	comment	How do I work around a tree in my fence line? If you own enough of the property behind it, add one more post behind it, then two fence panels to that so you end up with `____/\_____`
Apr 24	comment	Is it bad that my porcelain tiles were stored outside in the rain? If there is mold on it, give the tiles a bath in a tub of water with a bit of bleach in it.
Apr 24	comment	What type of nail gun is recommended? @Eric sorry, to clarify, the battery doesn't have to recharge between each shot, the flywheel (if the gun uses a flywheel) has to rev up between each shot. So you can't do the 'machine gun' firing that you get with an air compressor. I don't know if electric is any more or less powerful than the air cartridge models. Fine Homebuilding is a good resource for tool reviews: finehomebuilding.com/Tool-Guide/Product-Finder/Nailers/…
Apr 23	comment	Is creating a concrete driveway a diy? A well laid paver driveway shouldn't have any issues regarding ice (or any more issues than concrete would have)
Apr 23	comment	What type of nail gun is recommended? re: cordless, the big benefit is you don't need to haul and charge the compressor. The big drawback is that you can't do continuing nailing (with the battery versions) as you have to let it charge between each firing.
Apr 23	comment	How do I know if my power drill needs to rotate clockwise or counter clockwise to drill forward? "Righty, tighty. Lefty, loosy"
Apr 23	comment	Is creating a concrete driveway a diy? @MDMoore313 I suppose it depends on your concrete, but I imagine you'd need a high powered impact drill to make easy work of the concrete. The idea, however, is that it's easier to drill a bunch of holes than it is to spend a week with a sledgehammer.
Apr 23	comment	Is creating a concrete driveway a diy? @MDMoore313 I'd say it was a 'small' driveway size. About 40' long x 10' wide. I should have noted that I hired out the removal of the old concrete part. If you DIY yourself, you'll want to break up the existing driveway by drilling holes and then filling with 'expansive mortar' to break it all up. Then rent some heavy equipment to do the actual hauling away of the concrete.