Questions tagged [remodeling]
The remodeling tag has no usage guidance.
305 questions
23
votes
3
answers
27k
views
Do new wire runs in an existing ceiling need to be stapled down?
I've heard some people say that code requires wiring in the wall to be stapled to framing every so often (how often?), but when you are doing a remodel, is that necessary?
I have a two story house, ...
- 28.3k
21
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Precision in Home Improvement, or: How to Trust a Laser Level?
Even though I enjoy DIY, I also suffer from a certain amount of anxiety about it, especially when tolerances have to be tight. If the Internet's advice is that a certain thing needs to be square, or ...
- 463
20
votes
17
answers
13k
views
What is an affordable 2D drafting software for amateurs?
Background: We have about 1500 feet of unfinished basement that I am contemplating finishing off into a "grandma suite". Before getting serious about the project, however, I would like to play around ...
- 1,099
16
votes
10
answers
25k
views
How do I drywall when the studs are not flush? [duplicate]
I have a problem with my bathroom. I recently had someone come and switch the door from the kitchen side to the other side while redoing my kitchen. He did a great job and the kitchen looks great. ...
- 161
15
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Are there any reasons I shouldn't remove this odd nook from a basement room?
I'm thinking about taking out this weird nook in my basement, along with the white-topped blocks/supports that surround it.
Is there any reason I shouldn't? In other words - is there a likely purpose ...
14
votes
5
answers
7k
views
What is the purpose of this joint in my wall stud?
I am getting ready to install a new bathtub and shower.
After ripping everything out I noticed all the studs behind the original bathtub wall have cuts. See photo.
If anyone can explain why the studs ...
- 253
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How can I seal a gap between floor joist boxes and foundation?
I have an unfinished basement that always has tons of beetles, spiders and cold air (yes I know most basements have this, but it is more than normal). I finally decided to take a piece of insulation ...
- 129
11
votes
2
answers
8k
views
How do I install a new, non load bearing wall in my basement?
I'm looking to finish my basement and simply want to wall off the concrete blocks that make up the wall. I want to insulate it as well so that it becomes a usable family room when I'm done. How do I ...
- 435
10
votes
10
answers
20k
views
How common are wet rooms in the US?
I have a half bath to which I'd like to add a shower. It is quite small; currently, the smallest shower pan I've found (32"x32") is too large to fit. I've considered turning the entire room into a '...
- 691
10
votes
4
answers
174k
views
What's the recommended order for completing these bathroom remodel tasks?
I realize that this question is similar to What is the order of tasks when refitting a bathroom? but since I have some different projects, I thought it would be appropriate to ask in a separate ...
- 8,153
10
votes
3
answers
111k
views
Is it code-legal to have a circuit breaker box within a storage room?
I am currently in the process of planning a room remodel to convert an existing bedroom into a home office and storage room. One thing that makes this conversion a little bit tricky, is the existence ...
- 5,155
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Asbestos contamination
Recently we did some remodeling in the house, which is built around 50's. Never crossed our mind to get the house tested for asbestos. So we decided to do so in the middle of renovation. If the result ...
- 91
8
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Which is least likely to crack due to high traffic, large or small tile?
Consider a kitchen on pier-beam flooring with two doors allowing traffic to flow through it.
The floor is 10x10 feet. I plan to tile and would like to minimize risk of cracking. Which size tile would ...
- 1,037
8
votes
4
answers
21k
views
Do I NEED to remove the wood trim to sand and re-stain it?
I have 108 year old original wood trim throughout my house. Due to a roof leak last February, three rooms on my first floor need to have most of the (also 108 year old) plaster walls removed and ...
- 320
7
votes
7
answers
53k
views
How should I tile under kitchen cabinets?
I currently have tile on the floor of the kitchen that just butts up to my cabinets. I plan to change the floors and also change the cabinets. Is is best to rip out all the cabinets and tile, and ...
- 1,061
7
votes
6
answers
18k
views
Previous owner didn't get permits for remodel, am I now liable?
Location is Hillsboro, OR (suburb W of Portland).
I'm considering purchasing a house that had significant remodeling done a few years ago (kitchen and bathrooms incl. plumbing).
If the previous ...
- 587
7
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Closet Wall, is it Load Bearing?
Trying to figure out if the front wall of this pantry cabinet is load bearing. We'd like to remove the front of the pantry and install cabinets here instead of the closet, but unsure if we can pull ...
- 71
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Do knockdown texture walls usually contain asbestos?
The apartment I'm in now is build in Ohio in 2012. It has a textured wall that I'm not too fond of. It reminds me of popcorn ceilings. I'm curious how such wall are fabricated and using what material. ...
- 381
6
votes
1
answer
11k
views
Should I use caulk or grout between the edge of a tiled bathroom floor and the walls?
I just tiled my bathroom floor. What should I put between the tiles and the walls, silicone or grout?
- 61
5
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Installing a 48" vanity between two walls that are 51" apart. How can I cover the 1.5" gaps on the cabinet marble top and the cabinet sides?
Here is the space where my vanity will go. The vanity i'm planning on purchasing is below. How can i fill the gaps on the face and on the top?
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Do I need to replace 14-Gauge Wire on 20-Amp Circuit?
Working on a family home remodel, there is a 20 amp circuit with 12 gauge wire. Recently, at the end of the run, 13 LED can lights were added in an inaccessible vaulted ceiling with no attic space. ...
- 589
5
votes
5
answers
14k
views
Do I have to check if my floor is level before installing new linoleum (from a roll, not tiles)?
I just tore up my old linoleum flooring and will be installing new linoleum in the next few days. Some internet research has revealed that I need to make sure the floor is level and, if it is not ...
- 5,912
5
votes
4
answers
35k
views
Can new wall go over tile floor?
Looking at moving my laundry upstairs, and the right answer is to combine two adjacent closets to get the width and move one of their walls a foot or two into the kitchen to get the depth.
The ...
- 33.2k
5
votes
5
answers
15k
views
Which comes first - Flooring or Kitchen Remodel?
My wife and I are going to upgrade multiple parts of our house but we really want two key areas completed first, but we're not sure where to start or if we should do then at the same time, which is ...
- 205
5
votes
2
answers
9k
views
How can I move a non load bearing wood frame wall?
I am remodeling my basement and want to move the location of a non-load bearing wall that is diving a section of my basement. Currently the wall is down to the bare wooden studs. The header was nailed ...
- 333
5
votes
1
answer
835
views
Mixing Mold Resistant Drywall with Standard
Really simple question.
I have a mix of 1/2” mold-resistant and standard drywall sheets remaining on a remodel. Is there any silly reason why I might not want to mix the two together where I don’t ...
- 589
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Do products like Ditra make tile removal more complicated?
Products like DITRA are great to use when installing tile, but I can't help wondering what it'll be like to remove the tile later. Is it more difficult to remove tile that's been laid on this type of ...
- 132k
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How do I identify support beams?
I'd like to remodel a couple rooms in our home, but am unsure how to identify support beams when the time comes. Are there any easily-identifiable things I should look for to keep my house from ...
- 525
5
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How should I patch a popcorn ceiling?
I had to repair a corner joint between my kitchen and living ceiling (kitchen is ceiling lower than living room) by scraping the popcorn off of the kitchen ceiling and replacing a metal corner bead.
...
- 49
5
votes
1
answer
854
views
Are these walls near a skylight, load bearing?
My master and guest bathroom are back-to-back (toilet-to-toilet). Both bathrooms have a tall skylight this size (~4' square). The skylights are about 5 feet apart from one-another.
Master Bathroom, ...
- 83
5
votes
1
answer
8k
views
How should I convert a double sink to a single sink?
We are going to remodel our bathroom which currently has two sinks (and not that much cabinet/drawer storage) to a single sink with larger (and more) drawers for storage.
Under the current double ...
- 153
4
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What adhesive is typically used to "glue" a porcelain under-counter sink to a stone countertop
Is it silicone adhesive that kitchen and bathroom remodelers use to "glue" a porcelain sink to the underside of a granite countertop around the perimeter of the cutout? Something else?
P.S. ...
- 2,032
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Adjustable Receptacle Box - Drywall Bulging
I’m new to all things drywall. I’m using adjustable boxes for electrical switches and outlets in the bathrooms and kitchen where the finish will be tile.
I’m getting a bulge where the mounting bracket ...
- 589
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is having a window in a room that is below grade a requirement?
This would be in Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County. I vaguely remember hearing somewhere that rooms that are below grade are required to have a full size window in them or they can't be considered ...
- 96
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What should I do about this vanity that won't sit tight to the wall due to trim molding? [closed]
Slight goof during a bathroom remodel - the vanity we got won't sit tight to the wall due to the trim molding.
Obviously one option is to return the vanity and get a new one (ugh!)
Or I could let it ...
- 437
4
votes
1
answer
563
views
Wood floor protection during demolition of roof
I need ideas how to best protect wood floors while roof is coming down during remodel. Roof is made of heavy materials (concrete,brick, metal, etc.)
4
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Can I demo plaster walls but somehow keep the window casing?
My house was built in 1915. It has cracked (original?) plaster over lathe, poor insulation, leaded paint, and knob and tube wiring. To fix all of these things, I'm demo'ing the upstairs down to ...
- 1,157
4
votes
3
answers
737
views
Is this kitchen wall parallel with the joists load-bearing?
I purchased a house with an outdated kitchen. I would like to remove an interior wall to open up the kitchen into the dining room space. I've removed the drywall and was wondering if this wall is ...
- 105
4
votes
3
answers
670
views
Cost effective insulation for a 100 year old home? [closed]
My home is in central Indiana -- climate zone 5. It has lasted 100 years with no insulation at all. I've removed all of the super thick and heavy 3/4" cement sheet rock on the exterior walls and ...
- 141
4
votes
1
answer
11k
views
How can I tell if a slab foundation can be built on?
I am purchasing a small one-story home built in 1955. I want to turn the garage into living space. The home sits on a crawlspace, but the garage is on a slab that was added to the side and abuts the ...
- 901
4
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What is the best way to join toe kick boards?
We got out cabinets installed and the only thing missing are the toe kicks.
Sounds like something “simple” however, both of our runs are longer then a single toe kick board.
The board they provided is ...
- 153
4
votes
1
answer
9k
views
Frame drywall around brick fireplace
Below is my fireplace with the old stones removed. Now it's "bare bone" and up to me to redesign it.
I am planning to put drywall on top and mantel on the bottom with tiles around like this
But then ...
- 1,886
4
votes
2
answers
455
views
Modifying load bearing studs
The builder of our house put two double load-bearing studs in the middle of the media room wall where we want to install an in-wall center channel speaker. Would installing a box frame with double 2x4'...
- 41
4
votes
1
answer
12k
views
How far can I move ceiling joists up?
The second floor of our house has a fairly low ceiling, perhaps 6'8" or 6'10".
The width of the structure is only about 16' with standard construction and the ceiling joists running parallel to to the ...
- 1,664
3
votes
2
answers
850
views
Why was the tile on the end of a shower wall jogged over partway up?
Is it normal to not finish the wall and let the tiles that way with back liner ?
I don’t understand why would my contractor would not finish the wall here while so close to.
Yes it’s aligned to the ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
54k
views
How can I remove the tile from this wall?
Doing a tile removal on our master tub/shower. I'm pretty sure the tile is original to the house, which is 34 years old (1978). It's a 4 1/4 inch tile, that has been backed by dry wall. When I was ...
- 747
3
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How to upgrade wall panels? [closed]
I live in a house with wall panels like this:
This is not a wall paneling but a wood wall. (according to my wife, lol)
I'd like to convert this to something else because it makes the room very dark. ...
- 434
3
votes
2
answers
818
views
Any trick to installing a double electric wall oven "whip" so it doesn't bunch up but slides backwards when the oven is pushed back into the cabinet?
Is there a trick or "life hack" to holding the metal-shielded cable, the "whip", in place on the top of a double electric wall oven so that the 4-wire conductor cable and junction ...
- 2,032
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Reducing two drains from a double sink down to one, that are connected by a loop
Doing a kitchen remodel and I tore out the sink, the sink cabinet and the sheetrock behind the sink and this is what I'm seeing:
It was a double sink (two sinks side-by-side, with two drains but with ...
- 334
3
votes
5
answers
87k
views
Should I put vapor barrier only on exterior wall of a bathroom?
I've been searching around the site and haven't found an answer for my question on where to place a vapor barrier so I'm hoping to get a little more clarity here.
Basically I'm in the home stretch of ...
- 93