Official Summer Home Improvement Thread

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Post what you plan on doing to your home this summer. Also, include any good deals on things of that nature in here, to help each other keep the costs down.

My plans
1. Level out my yard. I have a lot of depressions in my yard, I've been doing some work (rain hasn't helped) to try to remedy this. First raking out the dead grass. Then I fill it with the cheap top soil and cover it with the premium soil. Then overseed it, and am now hoping for the best.
2. Fix my back walkway. Previous owner kind of did a half ass job on it. Want to redo it with pavers.
3. Complete the basement. This is last on my list because it is going to be the priciest. Need to fix up the floor, take down some paneling, put up dry wall, and get to work on that disgusting bathroom that I haven't touched in the year plus of owning my place.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Good thread idea.

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While not necessarily home improvement.. I am planning on working on my father's and my Ho scale layout..

Plans-

Rip out all old and not usable track, wiring and roadbed.

Re-do some of the benchwork to better utilize the available space.

Plan new track with template..

Insert new wiring.. lay new roadbed and track.

Add scenery and buildings..

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Good thread idea.

----

While not necessarily home improvement.. I am planning on working on my father's and my Ho scale layout..

Plans-

Rip out all old and not usable track, wiring and roadbed.

Re-do some of the benchwork to better utilize the available space.

Plan new track with template..

Insert new wiring.. lay new roadbed and track.

Add scenery and buildings..

If I had the space, I'd love to do something like that. How expensive of a hobby can that get? If you don't mind me asking?

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

If I had the space, I'd love to do something like that. How expensive of a hobby can that get? If you don't mind me asking?

It can be however expensive you want it..

Usually base youll spend about 150-200 bucks on a set (power pack, track, engine a few cars) just for a tabletop..

For what Im doing with my dad..

Its a 10x10 room..

The benchwork is basically around the walls..

Basically a few grand.. but spread it out over time and its not as hard of a pill to swallow.

All just depends how much you want to put into it..

To give an example of how crazy of a layout that can be made.. look at the HO scale layout at the Museum of Science and Industry here in Chicago.. it cost approx 3.5 million to make.

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For just price points..

Generally no matter what scale you go with (unless its G scale which is outdoor) Sets will run approx 200

higher quality engines run 100+

freight cars are usually 5-30

passenger cars are 15-40

track can be had pretty darn cheap.. normally a buck a piece.

normal train power packs are like 20-50 bucks

digital power is 150-600 depending on how much you want.

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a decent site to look at if you are interested..

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

a decent site to look at if you are interested..

ModelTrainStuff | Model Trains | Train Sets | Railroad Accessories

Love seeing the model at the MSI. My dad worked for Metra for since it started (can't remember the year off hand) until May of last year. Before that he worked for the Rock Island line. Matter of fact, my father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and even myself worked at the train yard at 123rd and Vincennes in Blue Island.

I'd like to buy my dad an authentic Rock Island piece.

/hijack


Also looking to build a fire pit in my backyard this summer.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Love seeing the model at the MSI. My dad worked for Metra for since it started (can't remember the year off hand) until May of last year. Before that he worked for the Rock Island line. Matter of fact, my father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and even myself worked at the train yard at 123rd and Vincennes in Blue Island.

I'd like to buy my dad an authentic Rock Island piece.

Thats incredible family history right there!!

You might be interested in something like this then..

Model Train Stuff - Atlas HO 10000879 RTR U30C Phase III, RI #4591

or this

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/96751-RS3-RI-471-p/ath-96751.htm

 

[Crystallas]

No trains, but I have to reshingle the roof and replace a 62w solar panel with an equal sized 87w thanks to some hail damage.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

No trains, but I have to reshingle the roof and replace a 62w solar panel with an equal sized 87w thanks to some hail damage.

Does not sound fun. How much do those things weigh?

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

No trains, but I have to reshingle the roof and replace a 62w solar panel with an equal sized 87w thanks to some hail damage.

That sounds like a good sized job..

 

[Crystallas]

Does not sound fun. How much do those things weigh?

Im not sure on the shingles, but its not too bad. I wouldnt say more than 60lbs a sleeve, and 4 sleeves do the job. The panel is like 30ish lbs, and they are pretty easy to carry, but hard to mount. None of it is bad, just time consuming.

 

[Scoot26]

Hmmm..never thought about Solar Panels being damaged by hail.

 

[Scoot26]

Love seeing the model at the MSI. My dad worked for Metra for since it started (can't remember the year off hand) until May of last year. Before that he worked for the Rock Island line. Matter of fact, my father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and even myself worked at the train yard at 123rd and Vincennes in Blue Island.

My grandpa worked briefly for the New York Central after World War II...his grandfather worked all his life as a telegraph operator for the Chicago & Alton RR.

 

[Crystallas]

BTW, I finished my first basement when I was 17(it was my bedroom at the time). If you plan on living in that house for a long time, make sure the concrete is sealed. Thats something you can do yourself for a fairly cheap price, and if you ever get drain problems or a flood, your basement wont have that "forever moldy" smell.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

BTW, I finished my first basement when I was 17(it was my bedroom at the time). If you plan on living in that house for a long time, make sure the concrete is sealed. Thats something you can do yourself for a fairly cheap price, and if you ever get drain problems or a flood, your basement wont have that "forever moldy" smell.

Have hardwood floors down there now, but they were poorly installed. Not sure how it looks underneath. One thing I know for sure is that I have to have the side of my house sealed. Have had some minor water damage from that.

 

[Crystallas]

Hmmm..never thought about Solar Panels being damaged by hail.

The insurance adjuster claimed it as damaged, and if there's another storm with damage, then I'm liable if I ignore it. Don't you love how common sense works. The Panel works just fine, and I already have a friend who is going to use it on their shed.

 

[Crystallas]

Have hardwood floors down there now, but they were poorly installed. Not sure how it looks underneath. One thing I know for sure is that I have to have the side of my house sealed. Have had some minor water damage from that.

Sweet, you got it covered then. I know too many people who ignore the fact that water is naturally corrosive.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

My grandpa worked briefly for the New York Central after World War II...his grandfather worked all his life as a telegraph operator for the Chicago & Alton RR.

Lots of awesome railroad history.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Sweet, you got it covered then. I know too many people who ignore the fact that water is naturally corrosive.

Paying up front now saves the money in the long run. I don't see why more people don't do it.

 

[DewsSox79]

I want to put in an in ground pool in. it will be tough to get it approved by the strict ass village

 

[IvyPickin87]

Well i just bought a house this weekend... I have some remodeling to do before we move in.
Gotta rip out all of the carpet, if the hardwood is good under the carpet on the first level redo that.
Put up a new closet in one of the rooms, and repaint the rest of the house.
Put all new carpet in the basement and remaining rooms upstairs.
put in ceramic tile entry in the basement too.
Then down the road redo both bathrooms.