Home Improvement Today?

Ceiling finally got plastered, took 4 guys 8 hrs from start to finish (including resurfacing the fireplace). They filled the room with scaffolding first which I wish we had for the popcorn scraping that just got finished.



Product applied was 6 50# bags Gold Bond Uni-Kal with a little ultra-fine gypsum added. Surface prep was 2 coats Kilz Restoration then weld-crete. The final texture came out as we hoped, so it will stay raw and unpainted. The bare plaster seems to help give a cool feeling as it heats up during the day, sort of like being in a cave or similar.

 

Wrapped up the carpentry today. Installed the deck boards and stair treads. Going to get a coat or two of a natural oil based deck stain on the cedar soon and I'll let the PT dry for the summer before I use the grey solid stain on everything else. I'm pleased with how it turned out.

 

Nice looking job and clean, tidy property too.

 

Thank you.

 

Gave my big bush a trim...





Got tired of grabbing my 8' ladder to trim it, so it got cut way down.

This is what it was last year

 

No rails or handrails on the steps?

 

Negative.

Old one didn't. I think per code I'm supposed to. I did pull a permit. Shhhh.

 

Because it’s less than 30” it may not be required, but because the stairs don’t come straight out of the door you might need one to change the person’s direction when exiting.

 

@Sig45 i see you’re using butyl tape. Is the being used more commonly now as a standard? I haven’t ever used it in this instance but see why it would be helpful.

 

I've seen it used more often in recent years, so I started using it on decks (joists, stringers and even on top if the skirting sections). Basically any horizontal surface below the decking material. I even put some on the bottom section of the stringer where it contacts the ground.

 

Replaced light on the porch with a fan today.

 

Got a nice thick coat of this linseed oil based deck stain on this afternoon (per instructions from the paint store owner). Product went on very nice. Was told to wait until fall for coat #2. Really makes the cedar pop.

 

Some minor plumbing today. Getting ready for the new fridge. They will no longer hook up an ice maker with copper lines coming from the basement, so I brought a line up and shutoff.



Yes, the floor and baseboard is nasty, that was all cleaned afterwards, along with a coat of paint for the walls. I was lazy last time and didnt paint behind it...

And because you can never have enough valves, I added one in the basement. I figure it would be easier to run downstairs then fumble with pulling the fridge out if a leak happens. Also good incase it happens when I'm not home and it's just mother. Easy for her to turn it off.

 

My 20+-year-old deck started pulling away from the house. It got to the point where I was afraid to use it.

I reinforced and added new bolts where the deck connected to the house. Since that work needed to be done, I moved the stairs which really opened up the view from the lower deck. I also added new more modern-looking railings.

Before:



After:

 

Looks great!

 

Nice work!

 

Some "in progress" shots


I was closely supervised...

 

Not sure. They told us the people delivering and installing will no longer hook up to it. The old 1/4 copper line needed replaced anyways. Bought a 10' braided flex line to hook everything up. I honestly like those better.