45
votes
Marijuana smoke migrating to my condo!
I would consider adding a positive pressure to your living space with the fresh air being pulled from a wall on the opposite side of the house. I have installed this type of fan in several multi-...
- 102k
31
votes
Marijuana smoke migrating to my condo!
I just had a friend that went through this about 8 months ago. This is not really a DIY question if you want a long-term answer. I will get back to how his situation turned out...
Your answer is ...
- 47.8k
22
votes
Sealing space between counter and stainless stove
I use foam rubber weather stripping gaskets:
Alternatively, rubber hose works equally as well.
Just buy it in a profile slightly wider than the gap, then tuck it in the gap. Friction will hold it ...
- 24.2k
13
votes
Is there really any difference between yellow and white PTFE tape?
The colors mean something, but the meaning has changed over the years so some info may be old. The CURRENT standard is:
White = single density tape and is ONLY good for small fittings up to 3/8 in. ...
- 14.8k
12
votes
Sealing space between counter and stainless stove
Those gaps are rarely sealed because the stove needs to be moveable for cleaning and service. Food will get behind and under the stove, and you'll want to be able to pull it out and clean.
If you ...
- 130k
12
votes
Accepted
How to repair separated rails and stiles on solid wood doors
I have had some similar projects. On occasion, I have been able to force glue into a joint with a glue syringe and clamp the joints together. The key to this method is cleaning out the joint with a ...
- 1,364
9
votes
How to repair separated rails and stiles on solid wood doors
Is the joint still solid? That is, if you grab the two pieces on either side and shake them, is there any movement? If it's solid, then it means that the gap is just a result of shrinkage, and it's ...
- 1,895
8
votes
Accepted
Effective method for waterproofing a tube through a hole drilled in the side of a bucket?
What you want is called a bulkhead fitting.
This has a gasket to make a seal against the container, and threads to connect to whatever fittings you need. Some have outside threads on only one side,...
- 28.9k
8
votes
What kind of putty should be used for sealing rim joist exhaust vent holes?
So the water heater installers had a beaver or squirrel on the crew to gnaw a hole, rather than using hole-saws like competent workers? Ugh.
I'd wrap that tightly in a scrap of plastic (housewrap or ...
- 202k
7
votes
Accepted
Sealing space between counter and stainless stove
There are metal and there are silicone rubber pieces with a T cross section designed for just for this purpose. https://www.amazon.com/Stovetop-Extender-SE24BLA-Oven-Guard/dp/B0027DW4QG. The tops of "...
- 20.9k
7
votes
Accepted
Can I make my stamped concrete a uniform color if there are pieces that are different colors?
There are 3 options:
1) Solid Color Concrete Stain: Just like solid body stain for wood, this is provides a uniform color and should cover the two different color stains you have. However, many feel ...
- 23.1k
7
votes
What material to use for sealing inside of outdoor conduit to block moisture/insects?
You can seal the outside of conduit with closed cell expanding foam (as you suggest) or silicone caulking.
You can seal the inside of the conduit with silicone caulking or duct seal putty (as you ...
- 15.8k
6
votes
What is the correct use for linseed oil on outdoor wood?
Two notes:
Indoors or outdoors, you want to use only boiled linseed oil (not
raw).
Neither Home Depot nor Lowes sells genuine, boiled linseed oil. They sell only "boiled" linseed oil. ...
- 61
6
votes
Accepted
Teflon tape always leaking
I think some modern NPT threads are not as well made as in the past. I have had more leaks than decades ago. Used to be white Teflon tape would work every time, but the last four (recent) 1/2" and 3/4"...
- 20.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Is there really any difference between yellow and white PTFE tape?
I know from handling it that it is clearly heavier. One or two wraps would be equivalent to to six or eight of the white stuff. It is rated for slightly lower temperature. *** After some minor ...
- 6,867
6
votes
Accepted
What kind of putty should be used for sealing rim joist exhaust vent holes?
That kind of putty is called “duct seal” and you can get it pretty much any hardware store, big box hardware stores, electrical supply shops, etc. it will work fine.
- 2,291
6
votes
Accepted
How to seal the top of a wood-burning cooking stove?
I suspect that they are designed not to be sealed. Otherwise, there would be an asbestos-style rope to form a seal. They are called fire-rope nowadays.
If you were to seal it, the fire may not burn ...
- 5,090
6
votes
How to seal the top of a wood-burning cooking stove?
Those gaps do not need to be sealed.
Why you ask, well the draw created by the chimney is more than sufficient to drg all the combustion fumes up the chimney and that also means that a tiny amount of ...
- 26.3k
5
votes
What is the correct use for linseed oil on outdoor wood?
About 35 years ago, I build an Adirondack Chair using pressure treated wood. To preserve the wood I used an old farmers recipe using Linseed oil, which follows...
Apply oil, after time to soak in, ...
- 51
5
votes
Sealing space between counter and stainless stove
As isherwood noted, you don't want to do this in any permanent way. However, there are lots of companies that sell plastic/rubber strips that are meant to fit in this gap. Just Google strip to block ...
- 6,249
5
votes
Accepted
How to prevent vermin from entering garage via space under garage door?
Install weatherstripping on bottom of garage door. From the pics, I can't tell if the garage door rolls up or swings to open.
If the door rolls up, the weatherstripping can be installed on the very ...
- 23.1k
5
votes
How to seal hardwood
There is nothing you can do to turn an existing hardwood floor into something waterproof, short of covering it with something like vinyl.
Wood expands and contracts seasonally across its width, so ...
- 20.4k
5
votes
Accepted
Sealing gap under window
If your home was built to modern standards it has flashing of some sort on the outer portion of the window opening--a pre-formed plastic tray, rubber flashing tape, or a combination of those. You ...
- 130k
5
votes
What material to use for sealing inside of outdoor conduit to block moisture/insects?
I found a supposedly independent test of 4 conduit sealing methods at http://www.hixson-inc.com/_images/ConduitSealEffectiveness.pdf .
Their motivation for testing:
Their test results summaries:
...
- 4,356
4
votes
Sealing gas duct vents with silicone
If your question is about the air ducts, why not use the correct material for the job, rather than silicone caulk. Duct sealant is, literally, made for the job. It also costs less, on a quick look.
- 202k
4
votes
Is there a way to remove condensation and clean inside a double pane window?
No. You're limited by what you can do from the outside, and obviously that's not much.
Energy efficiency is only slightly reduced in such cases, as airflow into and out of the compartment between ...
- 130k
4
votes
Accepted
How to seal around ceiling duct?
I would use drywall compound and fill in between the wall and the duct. And then I would tape using a UL181 tape (I like foil mastic) over the inside edge of the duct and the wall. Apply the tape flat ...
- 1,360
4
votes
Winterizing new wet-treated pressure treated pine deck
Leave it exposed to the elements. You're not doing it any favors by sealing it with plastic. In fact, you'll run the risk of staining it by trapping moisture and/or fostering mildew and other ...
- 130k
4
votes
How to seal where the wall meets the floor?
There are several ways the air can reach the gap between the floor and wall. Your best solution would be to find the entry point and seal it there. Unfortunately, that's almost impossible so your ...
- 1,339
4
votes
Sealing a stained cutting board
Yes. The extent to which that is "sealed" is debatable, but there's certainly no issue with finishing over cured stain - it's done all the time.
Just stay food safe (and be sure to check ...
- 202k
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