44
votes
Moisture leaking out of chip in floor tile
I think your cracking the floor is a blessing in disguise. Clearly there is water under the tile that needs to be dealt with.
I'd start by checking the obvious things like the toilet seal and the ...
- 23.5k
36
votes
Do studs in wooden buildings eventually get replaced as they lose their structural capacity?
No.
Wood frame construction is generally done for rigidity not strength. You can climb a tree and have the branches deflect significantly before they break - the strength is fine - if you build a ...
- 14.3k
25
votes
Accepted
I think my electrician compromised a loadbearing stud
That is a little rough. It's not a problem.
Any stud is part of a system, which includes many other studs, wall plates, wall sheathing, the roof structure, etc. You could take just about any common ...
- 144k
23
votes
Is wiring with melted insulation and exposed copper dangerous?
Sounds like a fire waiting to happen. You'll need to cut out the damaged part and splice them together again.
If there isn't enough slack then you'll need a new short run of wire to bridge the gap.
...
- 12.8k
20
votes
Accepted
Can you identify the source of these grooves/notches on the edge of the deck?
Squirrels.
I have a number of homemade plant pots made of synthetic decking scraps, and squirrels often gnaw at them and my plastic plant pots out of curiosity or hunger. Once they know it's not tasty ...
- 144k
17
votes
Electric Bill Serious Spike (Possible Wire Damage)
From data you just gave, previous usage was 90 KWH/day and have leapt to 250 KWH/day, so 140 KWH/day unexplained. That is 6 KWH per hour, or more simply 6 KW. And this is the AVERAGE. OK, so what is ...
16
votes
Accepted
Protecting solar panels from kids who may throw stones to get monkeys off roof
The real problem is the monkeys. The collateral damage due to flying rocks would best be dealt with by trapping and relocating the monkeys. Or, it might be helpful to use an electric (chicken wire) ...
- 6,242
15
votes
Can anyone tell if this floor joist damage was from termites or wood rot?
The black color indicates wood rot caused by moisture.
Termites would be dry and the wood would be the same color with tubes eaten through the center.
- 38.1k
12
votes
Protecting solar panels from kids who may throw stones to get monkeys off roof
I live in a small Himalayan Village facing the same problem. But we kept our solar panel in such a place which is not accessible to kids or monkeys. The second thing I would like to mention is that ...
- 121
12
votes
Do studs in wooden buildings eventually get replaced as they lose their structural capacity?
The only case of having to replace studs and such I’m aware of is from termite/dry rot damage. A number of years ago, my 2-story California home was to be painted. Before starting, the contractor went ...
- 13.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Can hail-damaged shingles be repaired, or should they be replaced?
The ceramic granules are the protective layer of the shingle. They're not merely aesthetic. They offer UV, impact, and corrosion protection, and the shingle is vulnerable when they're removed.
The ...
- 144k
10
votes
Is wiring with melted insulation and exposed copper dangerous?
A picture would help, but the "runs into a socket" part sounds like this is an appliance cord and not house wiring. Which makes it a lot easier.
If there is ONE copper wire exposed, and the rest ...
- 101
10
votes
Moisture leaking out of chip in floor tile
It’s highly unlikely that “failed” grout would create the refill rate of wet flooring you describe. Most shower failures are generated by leaky or failing plumbing in the wall, behind the tile.
I ...
- 569
10
votes
Moisture leaking out of chip in floor tile
Call a plumber immediately!
This is uncomfortably close to my recent experiences..
My kitchen floor had a damaged tile (similar story, something got dropped on it) and water was welling up from under ...
- 201
10
votes
Accepted
Why is this townhouse only $5,000?
You need to consider the final selling price you could get for it, if it was fixed up and in great shape. Based on "outdated" ones at $43k, maybe $45k-$50k? So there's a bunch of costs you ...
- 29.1k
9
votes
Accepted
Moisture leaking out of chip in floor tile
Get a dehumidifier running in there and see if you can dry it out, you’ll have to stop using the bathroom (if you can) and it might take a while (possibly days) Once it’s completely dry try using one ...
- 339
9
votes
How do I fix a new unfinished hollow interior door that got wet and has buckling?
Most hollow doors are made with fiber board and when they get wet, the fiberboard swells and crumbles. I'd take it back to the store and see if they'll replace it. The cost to them isn't worth an ...
- 83.8k
8
votes
Removed wallpaper, what’s this underneath?
If you've got drywall in the other rooms, then you've probably got drywall in the rooms you're dealing with. Most wallpaper paste used back in the 80's was a cellulose type. After it dries, which you ...
- 83.8k
6
votes
How to repair damage from vehicle swipe/scrape?
Looks like rough cut lumber to me. Scrape off the loose, hairy stuff, get a quart of color matched exterior paint, and paint the damaged areas.
- 9,801
6
votes
What do I need to do and repair where these 3M strips pulled off
Is this paper?
If not then crip659's answer should work fine but you should also apply mud.
If it is paper then don't mud it directly or else it can blister.
Follow crip659's answer but before ...
- 16.8k
6
votes
Accepted
Is this outlet unsafe?
What you are seeing is the result of the very short duration arc-flash from mechanical/electrical short that popped the breaker. You've discovered first-hand how well your breaker is functioning.
You ...
- 11.2k
6
votes
Can anyone tell if this floor joist damage was from termites or wood rot?
If the wood is damp then its likely to be wood rot. If there is wood-dust (sawdust) around, then it is probably termites.
Feel the timber and around that joist/beam with your hand to see if its damp. ...
- 7,052
6
votes
Accepted
Is this damage to a plastered brick wall from furniture typical?
That looks like a normal scuff on a wall covered with plaster or drywall compound, textured and painted.
Plaster and compound be scratched with a fingernail. If the paint is very new it may be dry but ...
- 38.1k
5
votes
Accepted
Damaged wire while drilling wall caused power to go out. How to fix it properly?
So it sounds like the AFCI breaker did its job and saved you from a potentially nasty jolt. The AFCI detects the arc (i.e. your metal drill bit contacting the live wire) and cuts the power.
If the ...
- 25.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Repairing holes in an interior door
Another trick, actually a variation of that of @agentp, is to use wire mesh (also called hardware cloth) instead of a wood strip. Choose one with small holes, 1/8" if you can find it, 1/4" is real ...
- 441
5
votes
Do studs in wooden buildings eventually get replaced as they lose their structural capacity?
Yes there is a time when wood frame buildings have that happen it is a narrow case but I'll explain it. Back "in the day" cantilevered decks were all the rage for houses. These work by ...
- 1,777
5
votes
Why is this townhouse only $5,000?
Gregmac's answer is good but just take material costs. Here are your bare bare minimums.
3k drywall + 500 misc drywall.
4k for appliances
2k for demo removal
3k for cabinets and counters - kitchen ...
- 50k
5
votes
Why is this townhouse only $5,000?
The Building Code requires any structure that looses more than 50% of its value must be brought up to the new current code...it cannot just be replaced to match existing.
This includes fire walls ...
- 23.4k
5
votes
What do I need to do and repair where these 3M strips pulled off
Remove all the loose paint from the wall. Any paint that pulls from the wall just by finger nails.
Sand the edges out so you have a nice feathered(very low slope), should not be able to feel the ...
- 28.3k
5
votes
Electric Bill Serious Spike (Possible Wire Damage)
Electricity doesn't just "leak" out like water would. It needs to complete a circuit, and if a buried underground cable was leaking that much to ground, I'd expect you'd be tripping a ...
- 7,200
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