30
votes
While drilling into kitchen wall, hit a wire - any advice?
Obviously, safety considerations like isolating that circuit are paramount, and note that even if that circuit's breaker is off, then the neutral touching earth can still trip the Earth Leakage ...
- 20.7k
30
votes
Unlock door with no knob
I would remove the hinge pins and unmount the door. Once removed, the hardware should be visible to remove the bolt assembly.
- 10.9k
20
votes
Cutting a window to see your garage from within the house
You'd do this like you would add any other new window. Find the studs, choose a location, cut square holes in the drywall on both sides, cut sections out of the intervening studs to make room for the ...
- 12.2k
17
votes
Accepted
How do you avoid double doors from jamming when opening at the same time?
If you have a router, you can add a slope to the edge of the doors:
From the outside, this will look like they are touching, so it would probably look better than a radiused corner.
- 5,780
15
votes
While drilling into kitchen wall, hit a wire - any advice?
Given the size and location of the wire, It looks like you hit the range feed which may draw upto 50 amps. Such high current applications require greater care in making connections such as splices. in ...
- 839
11
votes
Reconciling high ceilings with New England cold weather
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are most often installed to help keep cool in the summer but they can also help circulate the hot air in the winter. Some have adjustable blades to make them more effective ...
11
votes
While drilling into kitchen wall, hit a wire - any advice?
Insulated crimped connections are allowed in the UK, and considered maintenance-free so they can be concealed. A proper ratchet crimper is essential. The whole should then be wrapped in self-...
- 2,613
9
votes
Accepted
Interior Brick Wall
Even 'half bricks' up 15' vertical is going to be a massive amount of weight that may require additional support underneath. In addition, splitting bricks in half is no easy task. You're going to end ...
- 23.8k
8
votes
Is it worth it to replace hollow-core interior doors with solid core doors?
The differences between the types of doors is pretty obvious in use:
SOLID CORE DOORS
Mimics the appearance and feel of a solid wood door
Muffles sound better
Heavier and slams better
HOLLOW CORE ...
- 223
7
votes
Accepted
Is it normal for subfloor to extend under walls? If so, how can I replace it?
Utterly standard - the subfloor goes on, then the walls go up. Doing it any other way is rather fraught with difficulties to no benefit.
You've got the general idea, though it is not really critical ...
- 133k
7
votes
Accepted
While drilling into kitchen wall, hit a wire - any advice?
A DIY repair may be possible, though ugly, even if the wires are trapped so you cannot pull through any extra length or a replacement length of cable. Attach a 1-gang box to the wall in exactly the ...
- 668
7
votes
Accepted
How to Reduce Hinge Mortise Depth
Shims.
Go to the local home center and get some of the (free?) laminate counter top samples in the kitchen cabinet section, they are about 3x5 inches. I then cut them to the same size as the hinge ...
- 13.2k
7
votes
Accepted
How do I prevent exterior water from seeping into interior moulding?
Those bottom corners are the only problematic locations, right?
Referring to Page #7 of these Jeld-Wen installation Instructions which I recently followed.
You are missing the foam wedges
Go to the ...
- 10k
7
votes
How do you avoid double doors from jamming when opening at the same time?
So make the gap bigger and for privacy install a "soft" seal on one or both edges. That will fill the larger gap without causing locking.
- 20.7k
6
votes
stop cold air around window cracks
It looks like the caulk there is old and cracked. Scrape it all out so you have a good surface to work with and use a premium acrylic caulk. DAP extreme stretch or 230 would be good choices if you ...
- 1,521
5
votes
What is my drill hitting and not penetrating when I hang curtains?
If you're drilling within about an inch of a corner, then the drywaller may have put a corner bead there to protect it from damage. A corner bead is installed over drywall (and then covered over with ...
- 235
5
votes
Accepted
What should I use to seal around the perimeter of a tile floor?
If all interior walls or, if insulated exterior walls,no need to fill gap with anything. Just get your baseboard moldings up to finish the job
- 66
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 ...
- 421
5
votes
How do I install a distance power switch?
This seems like a shopping question, and so would be considered off-topic..
That said, a web search for 'extension cord switch' produced a number of off-the-shelf results that look like they will do ...
- 19.6k
5
votes
Accepted
Unlock door with no knob
Unless your house is abnormally well built, a prybar applied at the strike plate will find enough flex in the frame to pop the door open. Otherwise see @mikes answer.
- 133k
5
votes
Unlock door with no knob
Sliding a cake knife, piece of plastic (credit card or similar) down at a 45 or 60 degree angle in the gap where the strike plate is, start above, while pushing gently on the door is usually enough to ...
- 20.7k
5
votes
How to Reduce Hinge Mortise Depth
Cut a plug of wood to the height and width of the two mortises. Use pine and cut the depth so the plug stands slightly proud when set in the mortises. You want the mortises to be a single mortise so ...
- 10.8k
5
votes
stop cold air around window cracks
Looks like caulk was applied once before and has cracked due to movement. You'll want to scrape that all away and apply new caulk. Silicone would work, but it's not paintable, so consider that.
- 104k
5
votes
Is it normal for objects to stick to interior paint like this? Or is the paint not fully cured?
Some paint never gives up its tackiness. My overhead door panels still stick together in warm weather 4 years after we painted them with a semi-gloss acrylic. It opens with a series of loud snapping ...
- 104k
4
votes
What consistency should drywall mud be?
Actually...
On the bucket is says mix and apply before adding water. Videos are kak. I'm a trade qualified plasterer blh blah experience etc. What I do is read. Read the bucket, read the data ...
- 41
4
votes
Is it worth it to replace hollow-core interior doors with solid core doors?
The other answers talk about the direct benefits. The question seems to imply an additional interest in the effect on resale value, so I'll try to focus on that. There are several aspects to resale ...
- 5,816
4
votes
Accepted
What shape/bends should a bathroom sink drain pipe have to generally comply with US code and avoid clogs?
You should be able to find a P-trap assembly available at any local hardware store.
The horizontal section should attach directly to the drain line coming out of the wall, while the vertical end ...
- 128k
4
votes
Accepted
What pipe/adapter do I need to make this sink connect to this P trap?
You'll need to install a drain assembly. In a bathroom, pop-up drain assemblies are common.
Here's an image of the drain assembly, with all the parts labeled.
(source: naturalhandyman.com)
The ...
- 128k
4
votes
Cutting a window to see your garage from within the house
Your local building code requirements hold sway, and I encourage you to review them prior to planning.
That being said, many building codes specify a garage/home separation, but fall somewhat short ...
- 3,223
4
votes
What is the difference between "Input" and "Output" values on power adapters? Which one represents the amount of power being drawn from a circuit?
Power adapters convert the electricity from one voltage to another voltage, and sometimes between AC and DC.
The quick answer to your question is to multiply the INPUT voltage by the INPUT current. ...
- 3,305
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