Home Improvement Today?

There are few things more fustrating than trying to surprise upgrade the kitchen sink for your SO to a beautiful cast iron sink to only find out the manufacturer shaped the sink in some fucked up manner so its not a standard 33x22 sink, although it states its a 33x22 sink on the sink specs. Only when you pull the template do you realize it basically requires a custom cut.

I guess the sink will sit in the garage until the kitchen reno project in God knows how long from now.


I’m bummed gents.

 

That definitely sucks. Probably the worst part is having to hook back up the old sink.

 

New counter tops?

 

I actually went out and got a new stainless steel single basin sink for $100 and put that in.
I’ll put the cast iron sink in when we put new counter tops in either this year or next.
So new sink, new disposal, new dishwasher drain hose, and fancy new faucet. I refuse to waste effort lol

 

Seems like a logical time to wrap the sink up, have wide open it, then say “surprise, we are getting new counters earlier than planned!”

 

That actually seems to be a normal method of installing in certain regions. Saw it in high end stuff in Boston area.

 

Trim is supposed to mask imperfections like flooring meeting walls not the other way around. Am I wrong with that assumption?

 

Actually that would get me in trouble. We budgeted for a sink not the counters.
Plus I’m redoing a cabinet and cutting off the tall bar behind the sink to do a sitting bar and then making (or likely hiring out) a custom cabinet/wine rack so I can extend the counter.

Totally a project I’m not doing now LOL.

 

Replaced the HVAC system and replaced the meter base and panel box. Now that the major projects are done I can start work on the smaller projects I have.

 

How things currently stand:

Currently working on the forms for concrete countertops, will be one big pour in place and two smaller mold pours. We found a big stainless steel apron sink that will work with our cabinet, and ordered/paid for a range, dishwasher and fridge today.

Home stretch! Then a bunch of other stuff to do hahaha

 

We are getting our front yard renovated. I wanted our front yard to look as great as our back yard turned out. Last year we renovated the back yard.
It started out by more than doubling the size of the patio and adding a nice looking planting bed.



Everything was covered in Arizona Gold flagstone with white caps on the plant bed.





We love it and enjoy it every day so now it's time to make the front yard match the back. We hired the same guys and will use the same materials.

The guys are quick. In three days of work the cement was poured. There are two walls that will have the same caps and everything will be covered
in the same flagstone. I had pipes run under the cement just in case I need to run any wires at a later point and a 2" abs pipe run from the corner of
the garage to the middle of the lawn to wire Christmas lights in the future underground.



A nice set of steps and pillars with solar lights will be added.



I will get a tiny bit of more space for parking where the other flagstone wall will go.



It should be done in about three weeks. I already have two neighbors begging the contractor to be next on the list since they have seen the back yard.

 

2019 is already a challenge. Was in the kitchen this morning and my says, hey the light is dripping over the sink.
Sure enough, got a water leak from the flat roof over the kitchen sink. Go into the attic and find lots of leaky areas with the main one over the kitchen....
Fark, the roof, underlayment and another layer of roofing plywood was replaced about 12 years ago.
Not happy.... so sux...

 

have a bad storm there or what?

 

Yeah, it stormed last night, but the attic is showing a lot of leaking areas and the roof is super soft as I walked around in those areas...
Not sure what way to go here, as the cost is ridiculous for only 12 years of return...

 

Did you DIY? Dont they usually have a 25yr on shingles? If you had it done maybe contact the company?

 

We completely replaced the flat roof and removed all the terra-cotta tiles and replaced all the base wood that was either damaged or dry rotted across the entire roof. Cost us $45k to do the entire job ($22k for the flat roof) and the terra-cotta part has a 50 year warranty and I don't remember what the warranty is on the flat roof.
I don't DIY roofing, as I am not a fan of heights. The house is around 130 yo, so nothing is easy.
I have reached out to the company and will see...

 

I'd be pissed if it was leaking after only 12 years too

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnUkD2CAugX/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=thk59pwfi46b



So that's where I first saw it. That lead to a few discussions on regional differences in building practice. New England tends to strap ceilings with additional lumber too. It's weird for sure.

 

I recently walked through some new builds looking for reno design ideas.

I noticed in the kitchens and laundrys where they put in sheet vinyl they put in quarter round.
Its a new home... why would you not lay the vinyl then the trim?

I think quarter round looks tacky and cheap. Its something you do in like rentals where you need to be able to cheaply and quickly replace flooring but have it looked finished.

When I redid all the flooring in my home I pulled up all the trim, sanded and repainted it, then put it over my new flooring.
Its a total PITA to do that and then use nail filler and recaulk the top... but I think the more complete look is worth all the effort.

I’m not sure what the motivation is to lay trim before flooring. Is it because you want walls completed ASAP for inspection purposes?
Laziness?
Different crews doing walls vs floors so its a time/cost issue?

 

1/4 round on baseboards is a traditional thing , most of the 1930-40's houses I've worked on had it on from the original build and I doubt it was becsuse they were lazy seeing as they had to cut it with handsaws and nail it in with hammers

Base first / flooring second is not the normal method in my region but would be advantageous with certain flooring types like hand scraped wood so you wouldn't have to scribe the baseboard to the undulations of the flooring