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 ...
- 26.3k
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.
- 11.2k
27
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Accepted
Where to locate knobs on bifold doors that must be opened and closed from both sides?
Welcome to the world of flush mount, flush ring mount.
Nothing is sticking out and in your way.
There are many options in finish, sizes and you can mount them on both sides.
Source: Amazon
- 16.9k
24
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Where to locate knobs on bifold doors that must be opened and closed from both sides?
For this purpose they invented the handle hinge.
One of these at door-handle height and matching plain hinges in above and below, and you get a handle that dissapears into the fold when the door is ...
- 19k
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.
- 8,767
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 ...
- 887
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-...
- 2,663
8
votes
Where to locate knobs on bifold doors that must be opened and closed from both sides?
There's a reason that this type of door is normally only used on closets. You've discovered it. Best bet - choose a door type more suited to dual-sided opening, rather than committing to a door that ...
- 202k
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 ...
- 778
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 ...
- 13.5k
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 ...
- 16.5k
7
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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.
- 26.3k
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 ...
- 1,695
5
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 ...
- 51
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
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 ...
- 27.9k
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.
- 202k
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 ...
- 26.3k
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 ...
- 10.9k
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.
- 129k
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 ...
- 129k
5
votes
What kind of header do I need for a 10 foot span supporting twin pocket doors?
The primary concerns here are sag and lateral stability. Since you don't have swinging door involvement you don't have a lot of lateral force being regularly applied. However, you do have two door ...
- 129k
5
votes
Where to locate knobs on bifold doors that must be opened and closed from both sides?
How thick is the wood?
You could drill a finger-recess opposite the handle, and then route around making an undercut. The shape could be a circle, or a vertical slot with rounded ends.
The recess ...
- 10k
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 ...
- 6,068
4
votes
Accepted
Strange White Box in New Apartment
Inovonics Wireless SKU: EN1723
The Inovonics EN1723 provides internal measurement and external thermistor options in a single device. The on-board sensor is excellent for monitoring ambient ...
- 13.4k
4
votes
Metal object encountered when drilling into wall above radiator
Stop. You probably hit a metal plate protecting plumbing or wiring behind it. It's there specifically to prevent people like you from drilling through it and electrocuting yourself or causing a flood.
...
- 12.5k
4
votes
Repairing holes in an interior door
This is a trick for small holes.
Cut a strip of wood just wide enough to fit through the hole and length about 2x the size of the hole. ( form the looks a wood paint stirrer may be just the thing )
...
- 402
4
votes
Unlock door with no knob
This looks like the sort of latch which is activated by pressing the end of the piston-like piece towards the strike plate. If it's not sticking this can be done with your fingers, otherwise MacGyver ...
- 2,083
4
votes
How do I prevent exterior water from seeping into interior moulding?
You'll need to look straight on at the gaps around the door (top and sides) - any place you see daylight (like the bottom left corner in the first picture) will need to have the weather stripping ...
- 43.1k
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