Home Improvement Today?

Still a work in progress, but I replaced my load center. Kept it the service a 150 amp just got a little bigger panel. The old Challanger panels are known for issues so wanted to be proactive getting it out. Also bought a transfer switch to add a generator hook up, digital timer for the pool, whole house surge protector, and an energy monitor. Electricity bill almost doubled when they switched me to a smart meter, so now I can track my usage myself to double check their numbers.

Also redid some of the pool wiring. Changed the motor to 240v vs 120 and replaced the boxes outside. Still gotta wire in the transfer switch and a random circuit or two. Wanted to take a pic before it gets too messy in there lol.

 

I don't have any pictures, but I have a friend who has the most over engineered grounding on his house.

He took 2" gas pipe, filled it with epsom salt, buried it in the ground with irrigation on the pipe. He is into ham radio, and when he turns on the water, the noise floor in the radio visibly drops.

 

Hoping to get this done this summer. Had the water softener changed last year. Now I need to replace that water tank and all the fittings. Hopefully my neighbor will have time soon (he’s a plumber) he’s been booked solid for a while now. It doesn’t leak, all the water is from when the softener being replaced.

 

Whoa, how old is that thing? Looks like you definitely got your moneys worth!

 

Was here when I bought the house 24 years ago.

 

Had the water softener replaced last fall and the furnace the summer before that. Tank is next.

 

Just an FYI for anybody who gets one of these or similar. After running the regen cycle on initial startup, flush the system way more than I did. Control unit said I used about 4 gallons which obviously wasn't enough. Water in the toilet looked discolored this morning and thinking it was just dirty (the hard water made it nasty quick) but decided to peek inside the tank. Hey look some resin beads! I think the first thing I did after the regen cycle and inadequate garden hose flush was use the restroom. Whoops. Aerator screens weren't bad in the faucets so it looks like the toilet took the brunt of it.

Other news I notice the well pump does not cycle near as much with the proper pressure in the bladder. How long that will last, who knows.

 

And it says maintain. But thats different right?


Ill admit i was wrong on the cost for commifornia. That baffles me.

 

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It's all good man. I don't care enough to research each states laws regarding fences. lol

As far as Cali goes? I don't agree with a lot of the shit that goes on in this state. I'm only here because of this.

 

Haha, that's one idea

 

So...one of my shed doors is off.
Opening is square. Got a fix for me?
If it wasn't dragging on the ramp and sticking I wouldn't care but Mrs. SpruceMica does so...

 

Looks like 1/2” T111 sitting in a 5/4 x3” piece of trim with a routered groove? If yes this is where mine failed as well. The gaps on 3 sides look consistent so my guess is that the vertical piece has shifted down due to the weight of the door. My door didn’t have a backer board though it did have a center brace…so I cut a piece of 1/8” door skin to fit, put a flat shovel under the sagging corner and had my son press down on it until it raise the end level with the other door and the used glue and a pneumatic stapler to attach the skin to the back of the door. Stapling around the door and across the center frame brace. Then painted the inside of the door.

 

After stapling and before removing your shovel, insert a sturdy shim to lift the door 1/4" above 'level', so when dry the door will come to rest to desired height. With weight of door, time, and usage, one might suspect a little more settling.

 

Hahaha thanks for mentioning this…and yes the use of a shim is probably (most definitely) a more appropriate device for this application.
I will say that my backyard ingenuity was probably fueled by my frustration of not being able to open the door!!!

 

Replace that valve with all stainless steel

 

The fake hinges and handles on my garage doors are rusting a bit so it was time to fix that.

Before:



After:

 

The deer really destroyed my bushes this past winter. Last year I covered them up, this year I thought they thinned out from being covered up so I left them uncovered. Didn’t know the deer loved them.

So finally had enough and chopped them down a couple of weeks ago. Started digging up the roots and then the Nor Easter came rolling in. Had a break in the weather yesterday so got everything dug out and started planting. Finished 30 min today before I needed to head to work. Have one small boxwood by the other side of the garage I need to put weed barrier around and mulch. I’ll finish that tomorrow.

Got some shrubs that the deer shouldn’t eat, and all low maintenance free stuff. Since neither me or my wife have much of a green thumb.

 

Well my small part on this job was to simply demo the bathroom in this 1840's home as part of a remodel. Last known bathroom remodel was back in 2002. My job was to remove the tile and the fake mdf beadboard and trim....fairly easy. I was then asked to rip up the subfloor and install new along with a partition wall for the end of the new tub/shower. Ok. The plumber had hacked a hole to run supply and drain for the new shower and he didn't remove the toilet flange (which is being repalced). Nothing is in normal rough in state. I'm just shoring up the floor where needed and covering everything with new 3/4 subfloor. I'll have to have a joint at the toilet flange. Original subfloor are 1" thick boards. Two walls still have the original horse hair plaster/lathe. One day turned into 2-3.



Anyone know what this semi cylindrical thing is in the wall? I've not seen anything like this. Appears to be galvanized.

 

Not sure what the edges look like in your example, but I’ve seen a similar plate used to mount a toilet paper holder. The holder screws into the two holes in the middle of the galvanized plate