12
votes
Accepted
What's this layer in between OSB sheathing and house wrap?
It's gypsum sheathing, and it's white (as is the Tyvek). Your camera's white balance is off. In the full-res photo you can clearly see the porous texture and paper facing. Here it is looking a little ...
- 115k
8
votes
Accepted
What’s this small metal post sticking out of my wall?
It doesn't strike me as a functional component of the wall, as a brick tie or weep string might. I can't imagine how it would relate to the fireplace. It was probably for hanging something decorative ...
- 115k
6
votes
Running new 10/3 dryer line exterior first then inside?
You can't run standard NM cable (a.k.a., Romex) outside. That's in conduit or not, because it will get wet and it doesn't do wet.
You can either use THWN wires in conduit (which will be much easier ...
6
votes
Accepted
Use Polyurethane or Epoxy Paint Over Latex?
If you accept that your adhesion is only as good as the adhesion of the paint you don't remove, since you'll be painting over paint; yes, that will work.
If you want full benefit of (particularly) an ...
- 167k
5
votes
Accepted
What tools do I need to make a hole in an exterior stucco wall?
A carbide hole saw for the stucco. And that will work for the interior (drywall I presume?) as well. Always be aware that there could be pipes and/or wires in the wall where you are drilling. Seal ...
- 4,523
4
votes
Does PVC conduit penetrating an exterior wall require a box on the interior side?
You can't run Romex there at all. Romex is only rated for indoor use. Conduit outdoors is a wet location. You could use UF-B cable, which is "outdoor Romex" if you will.
Metal boxes are ...
3
votes
Home siding blown off by strong wind. Wood and housewrap exposed
That tyvek is the vapour barrier, it won’t let rain through… As long as it has been installed correctly…
But if they failed to install the siding correctly then who knows.
Sooner it is covered the ...
- 24.2k
3
votes
How to reattach faux stones to wall?
One uses tile mortar for tiles.
In your case you can look at the stones as tiles.
Apply tile mortar to the tile then flip it and push against the wall. Hold in place for a short wile.
Since the ...
- 11.2k
3
votes
How to reattach faux stones to wall?
I've used Liquid Nails Fuse It adhesive for many outdoor, masonry projects like securing paver planters. It works best when you apply it heavily to both surfaces and then fit them together. Support ...
- 69.1k
3
votes
Brand new exterior paint is failing (bubbling) on old cedar siding
Bubbles or blisters under wood paint are caused by trapped moisture that heats up and builds up pressure in gas form. There likley is moisture trapped in or behind the cedar.
This is much like a ...
- 15.2k
3
votes
Accepted
Brand new exterior paint is failing (bubbling) on old cedar siding
TLDR:
The most likely culprit for your issue is moisture being trapped behind siding. Address that before doing anything else.
POSSIBLE ISSUES:
I’ve been painting cedar siding for decades and seen ...
- 145
3
votes
Accepted
new window install and exterior trim
It is not to big of a gap. I have seen joints in commercial building as big as 1 1/2' It is all how the joint is prepared and the type of caulk used to fill the gap.
A 1/4" gap is completely ...
- 32.5k
3
votes
How can I eliminate odor from exterior paint used indoors?
Exterior paint doesn't care which side of the wall it's on. It shouldn't stink.
Stink is usually caused by old paint that has gone rancid because of mold or fungus growth, because modern paint isn't ...
3
votes
What's this layer in between OSB sheathing and house wrap?
EDIT: Most likely isherwood is correct that it's a gypsum layer due to fire codes in this case, but as rigid foam is a good possibility in other cases, I'll leave this answer in place.
That is most ...
- 1,018
3
votes
What is the best way to paint the exterior of an old brick wall?
Paint on brick is a disaster. You need to fix the pointing, that's normal maintenance for masonry, and paint is not that, nor will paint replace that.
If you paint, you will be dealing with peeling ...
- 167k
3
votes
Accepted
What can I do about my bay window? There is a bobbly layer of cement which is not holding. Should I shotblast?
Is this UK? It looks like someone has used Artex over a poor render. It's always a bad idea to render stonework like that - just look at all the old council properties that were pebble-dashed in the ...
- 7,260
2
votes
Accepted
What is this exterior wall feature?
Yes, it’s purely aesthetic. It’s called a “wainscot cap”. It’s more common on the interior. You can look it up on Google.
The portion of the wall below the cap is called wainscoting panel and is often ...
- 3,678
2
votes
Accepted
External Oak Door refurbishment
I would use a mild brightening agent to clean it up, go mild! nothing harsh. Then sand lightly until you get a fairly uniform appearance. Then re-oil with Danish oil (great product choice you made ...
- 148
2
votes
How can I neaten the edge of my existing flat roof extension
A rain gutter with a taller profile and mounted in the right place could conceal the roof edge.
If quirky design is your thing, that edge looks to me like it could be dressed up to look like icing ...
- 23.5k
2
votes
Accepted
Material to re-stucco compromised exterior wall
First of all
you will only temporary cover those cracks, they will aper again.
Use stucco products in a tube and press them in.
Your skill set for plastering needs some improvement, practice.
Stucco ...
- 11.2k
2
votes
How can I repair loose stucco?
That looks like spalling.
The correct way to fix this is to hire a qualified concrete restoration contractor to take a look at it. They will give you an estimate to fix it. You must find and fix the ...
- 581
2
votes
What type of product can I use to tint exterior primer?
If you want to tint your primer yourself, you an use a univeral colorant. One brand is called Mixol, you can find it online or at a specialty store like Rockler wood working.
I recommend you review ...
- 153
2
votes
Hanging a left hinged door as a right hinged door
You cannot hang a left hand hinge door with the hinges on the right unless you are willing to have the door open out (not good for an entry door). And then yes, the exterior of the door would be ...
- 4,523
2
votes
Does code require exterior hose bibs to have a dedicated shut-off valve in areas where freeze is possible?
My last house, I installed shut-off valves before every tap in the house.
They are cheap and make life so easy. They were not required by code (in my location) but having had to drain then bleed many ...
- 24.2k
2
votes
Does code require exterior hose bibs to have a dedicated shut-off valve in areas where freeze is possible?
As always, it depends on your local code in force at the time of the work.
If your applicable code is, or is based on IPC (International Plumbing Code)
606.2.2 requires a shutoff on the water supply ...
- 167k
1
vote
Accepted
Bronze Hose Bibb with Galvanized Pipe
Bronze is not going to create galvanic corrosion when attached to galvanized pipe.
- 4,523
1
vote
What type of product can I use to tint exterior primer?
I would not bother tinting primer - it is not designed as a color coat but a substrate to support one or two coats of top coat.
- 24.2k
1
vote
What type of product can I use to tint exterior primer?
Almost anyplace that sells paints starts with something in the white to black range and then tints it as needed, using concentrated mineral pigments (which resist fading under UV). If you buy a can of ...
- 21.4k
1
vote
Accepted
Drying out wooden house frame after minor Water Ingress
The hairline crack isn't going to ventilate enough moisture to benefit the drying process. Seal it up when convenient to keep out further moisture from rain.
Be wary of using silicone, though. It's ...
- 115k
1
vote
Accepted
Home siding blown off by strong wind. Wood and housewrap exposed
Builders leave the entire building in this state for months. The tyvek is generally recommended to be covered within 6 months for uv issues. As is it should shed water and you have a rainscreen gap. ...
- 11.9k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible