Home Improvement Today?

nothing easily accessible. My connections were to low and moving my machines is a massive pain. In the long run this will work out much better, just wasnt planning ahead very well

 

My parents are still together, but the lessons I learned from both of them ring true to that. Nothing good comes with out work, and sometimes really hard work. I'm 40 and in the process of building a barn/shop/entertainment area, with the hopes of renovating the house soon. I'm younger, but still I get worn and burned out. Props to you for sticking to it, the work, and those lessons to your sons hopefully will last a long time.

 

I actually was fairly impressed with it. I know it's not the highest end airless sprayer but for the price I think it could be difficult to beat. I have used the Graco paint guns that have the half gallon size container mounted on it. This unit is shockingly better. Makes me very curious to see what the higher up models would be like.

 

Lots of progress on the barn since the last time I posted. All insulation up (except the front corner where the gas line will run), plywood ceiling and walls. In the process of staining everything now. The second pic is the back corner where the "dry kitchen" will go for entertaining. When I'm done, I hope never to touch it again!!

 

House had a TV nook to put one of those monster 90s console TVs in. Shelf was at an awkward height that putting TV on top was way too high, under was too low. Fixed it by cutting back the shelf and creating this built in. . Only problem is it now makes my newish 55" TV look small. Time for a 70"??



Matches the fireplace and kitchen, all in the same 'great room'. Also replaced all the verticals with wood blinds.

 

Looks really good!

 

Yes. The answer to that question is always yes!

 

Not always. There is a formula for viewing distance to TV that should be applied to avoid going to large that could lead to neck and eye strain.

 

Yeah... I'm well within those limits. The chart I was looking at only went up to 80" but even that was fine. Built in accommodates up to 70 without covering any molding... The wife doesn't know I designed it that way.......... Time to start dropping hints about TV sales.

 

The above cabinet lighting in my kitchen consists of three separate T8 bulbs arranged end to end, powered by one ballast. The ballast just took a crap and I'm thinking about upgrading to some LED strip lighting. Two rows of the led strips at 380 lumen per foot should produce the same combined output as the three T8 bulbs, I think. I'm hesitant because these strip lights are generally used for accent lighting, but the existing lights provide the majority of the light in the kitchen. Anyone out there with experience using LED strip lights as primary room lighting?

 

We used some LED strip lights as an "accent" wash on the ceiling at that modern place I recently completed and they were so bright when on we had to add a dimmer

 

Foundation is now fully stripped , foundation coating applied , Superseal dimple membrane installed on the back wall and perforated drain tile installed

Machine comes in the morning to bail in washed drain rock for our perimiter drain and bail a bit of compactable material inside for our skim coat prep

Laid out the wall plates today so we will start laying bottom plates tomorrow too

Building Inspection comes Friday to approve perimiter drains then we are free to backfill

 

A contractor friend of mine used the Superdrain on his job but I've been using the dimpled membrane for over 10 years

 

Looks good, a common practice here is to put drain tile inside and out. Also, we do not backfill till weight of building is on foundation. We have basements though. Nice work!

 

What is the purpose of the interior weeper ?

Do you use rebar in your foundation walls ?

 

Kitchen backsplashes...

Granite countertops

Do the 4” or so slab of matching granite material?

Slab then some sort of tile (or other material) above that and up to upper cabinets?

No slab, just tile?

 

Man made quartz or stone tops with matching backsplash

 

I don't like the 4" unless you're leaving it drywall above. Makes any tile look like an afterthought. I like granite and then glass/Mosaic tile or I also like white Subway with grey grout if you're looking for something timeless, low maintenance, simple and cheap.

 

Who has an easy cheap garage lighting solution? I've got a 3 car garage and aside from the openers, I've got one 60w bulb for lighting lol. I want simple and effective. Currently browsing craigslist for some cheap flourescent fixtures, but didn't know if anyone had any experience with something better? LED? I've already got a switch wired up for the one bulb and I'll be running them all off of that switch. Attic is completely accessible above for the most part..

 

Costco usually has a couple of LED fixtures at a reasonable price.