2021 Home Improvement Projects

[Tater]

Damn Crys, if you can afford it get some help for that project. I hope it all goes smoothly for you. Older houses can be a nightmare at times.

 

[truthbedamned]

My master bath. I am buying my shower panels from a company named Onyx Collection. Just like @airtime143 they are 14 weeks out. Going to complete the entire bath and wait for the shower to arrive. I was told it is because of the shutdown they had during covid.

 

[Urblock]

View attachment 12479
View attachment 12480
View attachment 12481

My master bath. I am buying my shower panels from a company named Onyx Collection. Just like @airtime143 they are 14 weeks out. Going to complete the entire bath and wait for the shower to arrive. I was told it is because of the shutdown they had during covid.

You're lucky your wife hasn't killed you over this. Every time I've had a project go way to long the house seems much colder.

 

[truthbedamned]

You're lucky your wife hasn't killed you over this. Every time I've had a project go way to long the house seems much colder.

We have had our moments.

 

[airtime143]

I am actually running a concurrent project during the clearing process- inspired by @DC .
His railroad tie pics, although ratty, are in spectacular shape compared to the fallen retaining wall i have out front.
I am alternating between clearing trees for the coop and chopping up and removing the fallen wall below.
There is supposedly a brick walkway under all of that... railroad ties, leaves, and about a 2 inch layer of soil and 20 years of broken down vegetation.

View attachment 10997

Finally got around to tackling this mess- yanked out all the ties, and there was a fun little walkway underneath.

it was a shit ton of work, but I finally got all the rotten ties out, pulled the rebar, moved a shit ton of dirt, and decided on my retaining wall bricks.

over the next week I will lay the sand base, tamp it, and throw in the wall and some mesh.

Gonna go 4 high with the large version of these bricks below and a rounded topper- about 140' of wall to build.
The job is cake from here on out.

 

[airtime143]

Anyone ever do a switch from a pressure tank to a constant pressure system on their well?

I am about to make the switch... my pressure tank blows ass- it pulses quite a bit.
Water supply is great- artesian well that i have uncapped and let flow for the past 3 days, not a single change in flow rate.

Gonna get a new pump, cap, constant pressure system, then change all the pipes to the shower I built to 3/4"... the body jets are gonna peel the skin right off of me.

 

[wonky73]

I gotta seal the driveway we had re-done a couple years ago.. keep putting it off. Soon the its' too hot.. it's going to rain excusses won't cut it anymore

 

[airtime143]

I gotta seal the driveway we had re-done a couple years ago.. keep putting it off. Soon the its' too hot.. it's going to rain excusses won't cut it anymore

I feel your pain on that- that was a massive failing of mine at my first place. Literally wound up not doing it ever.
Went from "i will do it next year" to "eh- its fucked. Will just get it re-paved." And wound up never doing it.

 

[Bearly]

I redid my entire interior from floors to kitchen, baths and fireplace/bookcase wall, doors, electric, gas, plumbing and moving a wall or 2. That was over 20 years ago. Some needs refreshing, some redo and some fine. Having a hard time motivating this time, LOL. Was nice when I had the energy to rip through stuff before and after work.

As for the pressure washer, I have an electric but for serious stuff, I'd prefer to have a gas unit with 3200 psi or more. Faster and more effective. I'd expect it to go twice as fast as an electric for the same job. It's like one pass instead of 2 or twice as fast passes for the same result.

 

[Bearly]

Ah gotcha.

This is our "forever house" so we're here for the long haul. Anything we do want to be good & quality for the most part.

Are you looking to stay in the same area you are now?

I think I am as well. I keep trying to downsize and move near water but the wife doesn't want to the hassle of a move.

 

[airtime143]

Anyone ever do a switch from a pressure tank to a constant pressure system on their well?

I am about to make the switch... my pressure tank blows ass- it pulses quite a bit.
Water supply is great- artesian well that i have uncapped and let flow for the past 3 days, not a single change in flow rate.

Gonna get a new pump, cap, constant pressure system, then change all the pipes to the shower I built to 3/4"... the body jets are gonna peel the skin right off of me.

Got the new pump and constant pressure system installed-

18 gpm, and at 70 psi it is significantly stronger than my old one set at 75 psi.

Changing the filters after running the water for a few hours, then off to menards to pick up a shit ton of pex piping.

I jave an upstairs bathroom that I have never lifted a finger in after roughing it in, because I planned on abandoning the old half inch and going bigger.
Looks like it is time to get busy.

 

[Hawkeye OG]

Stained my deck last weekend. Looks good - can't wait to not do that again for 2-3 years lol

 

[Hawkeye OG]

I gotta seal the driveway we had re-done a couple years ago.. keep putting it off. Soon the its' too hot.. it's going to rain excusses won't cut it anymore

I've never sealed my driveway. Should I? House is 5 years old. I swear my FIL does it every six months lol

 

[wonky73]

I've never sealed my driveway. Should I? House is 5 years old. I swear my FIL does it every six months lol

Probablly needs it. Should be done every few years

 

[airtime143]

View attachment 10678

Thanks for the advice ya'll but I don't have the skills, tools, or time for this project. I will research and who knows, maybe I'll get a wild hair up my ass. Its a lot of dirt/debris and a super steep slope.

Off to make them doughnuts.

@DC - you tackle this bad boy yet?

Mine are in far worse shape than yours, and I finally got around to ordering a solution.
This is what I was dealing with- (included pic of the finished retaining wall I had posted on earlier. once the stairs to the right are rebuilt, I will backfill the void and landscape the whole front.)




I ordered what appears to be a pretty solid solution- "Rockstep" natural faced pre-fab stone steps. 48" wide, 18" deep, 6" high.

Going 5 steps up, a 5 foot landing, 5 more steps, and a landing at the base of the stairs.

They are coming in october 10th, and will get them in and photographed- let you know if it was a smart thing or a dumb thing to do.

Install seems easy- gonna rip out all the existing crap with the bucket of my tractor, then slap down gravel, bottom step, and build upwards with whatever overlap I want step by step.


Below are the ones I am using, and I am also getting their landing blocks- materials will be less than 2500 and it will make a world of difference.

 

[DC]

Hell no, unfortunately. Too busy getting my ass kicked at work.

 

[airtime143]

Hell no, unfortunately. Too busy getting my ass kicked at work.

You own your business, correct? Getting slammed is awesome!
I will post pics when I get them in. Really looking forward to getting the materials and getting them in.

 

[airtime143]

View attachment 12479
View attachment 12480
View attachment 12481

My master bath. I am buying my shower panels from a company named Onyx Collection. Just like @airtime143 they are 14 weeks out. Going to complete the entire bath and wait for the shower to arrive. I was told it is because of the shutdown they had during covid.

Any word on the goods yet?

I have a 3 month wait on a 10 jet whirlpool that was on sale for a really good price.
When I asked for compatible in stock models, the closest thing was well over twice the price... no thanks.

 

[truthbedamned]

Any word on the goods yet?

I have a 3 month wait on a 10 jet whirlpool that was on sale for a really good price.
When I asked for compatible in stock models, the closest thing was well over twice the price... no thanks.

Oh my goodness. Where shall I start. This bathroom has been a nightmare. Everything moved smoothly until it was vanity time. We bought our vanity from Wayfair. It arrived with a cracked bowl. Called Wayfair and Waifair replaced it. Second one came. I installed it and 2 days later the wife noticed another crack in one of the bowls. This time I just insisted on a refund from Wayfair which by the way were very professional to deal with. So Wayfair gave me back my 1700 and this time I removed the top.....broke both bowls off,,,,,,,,,,ground the top smooth and ordered 2 new bowls from HD for 129.00. Ordered mounting clips and epoxy from Amazon and put the bowls on myself, reinstalled all the plumbing and top and called it a day. So my vanity cost me about 150.00 bucks....lol. Was supposed to finish the shower this week after waiting 15 weeks for it and guess what.....lol. The shower pan arrived cracked.

I called Onyx and the new pan should ship on the 28th and then I hope I can put this nightmare to rest. Here is what is done so far.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Stained my deck last weekend. Looks good - can't wait to not do that again for 2-3 years lol

I keep trying to do that but the weather on the weekends has not been cooperating.

So I may just leave the Thompsons and the sprayers for the next owner.