Home Improvement Today?

That is a good question about age. House was built in 1965, but not sure if the well is that old. I have a 2,000+ gallon cistern that is basically my back patio which a lot of houses this age on this road do. I can only assume the well was added later? I'm thinking early 70's? Either way. Talking to some folks were thinking because the well head is slightly below grade and with the rain we've had surface water/dirt is infiltrating and causing some of the excess sediment. This house prior to my new water softener install did not even have a filter. They were using the old water softener as a filter I recon. It did last 24-25 years and the resin was still OK, it was the valve assembly that finally shit the bed and caused water to go everywhere.

Going to figure out some better filter systems. For now I'll know to keep some filters in stock. There's a 1/4" female threads on the filter housing I could install another pressure gauge, but I plan on replacing the unit so not sure if it's worth it right now.

Also speaking of cistern, I happened to walk past and tap the pressure tank for that system. Hmm, that didn't ring like a bell like it normally does. Gently tried to rock the tank. Nope, water logged. Dammit... I seriously cannot win.

 

Sauna progress.

 

Wow that's cool. Are you doing this from plans, or is it totally DIY design and build? My wife wants one...

 

From scratch DIY. My original drawing.

It’s been a brain buster, our climate requires a more robust design. Never have I said, “I’m looking forward to winter” Ya, my wife is stoked.

 

Sketchy find of the day. The anchor bolt for the sill plate was 1" into concrete. I also found that a good portion (about 6 feet) of the foundation is pretty much just cement without any meaningful aggregate. So, I'll start ripping that section out tomorrow.


But, I did get the first re-pour done. Once fire level drops and I take the form off, I'll do the outside pad that connects to it.

 

Been working on installing quarter round and painting the trim in the hall and living room. Still need to cut in the wall color, but this is a coat of oil primer and two coats of paint.



For reference this is what it used to look like.




I had to add the quarter round as it originally had it installed and they removed it to install the nice shag green carpet in the 70's. The wood was damaged and look pretty bad. Kinda odd on a 3 1/4" base, but was the quickest solution.

 

Went to PA to install a transfer switch and inlet box for my aunt and uncle. They are going to be buying a 13k watt generator soon, and I was thinking of grabbing their smaller one. But it was a little smaller than I wanted. So I decided to look around and found a new champion generator on clearance for a price I couldn’t pass up. That also inspired me to finish up my electrical panel that I upgraded a few months ago and get my transfer switch wired in.


My Aunt and Uncles:

There main is upstairs so had several circuits I had to run there. The rest went into that sub panel right next to the transfer switch.





Mine:
Must say I really love the look of the Leviton panel. Next up gotta add in my new pool pump timer, outside.

 

Finished up the screens in the windows yesterday and only had enough to do just 1 more.
That's a win.

 

I just aerated my one screen the other day putting a fan in it...

Next to roofing, one of my least favorite jobs is replacing screens.

 

Took fence panels down yesterday then had the posts pulled and ground start to be smoothed out/graded.

Moving the fence line 75 ft back

 

Forgot to post this here. The deck is completed. Will move on to stairs next. Now that school has started it will be piecemeal. Next year the hope is to push half the deck out an additional 4’ to give more room for the table. But it works for now. Solar LED strip lights under handrails gives a nice glow around the perimeter.

 

If you can, I think you should push the whole deck out 4’, I don’t think you would be disappointed with the extra space.

 

That would require removing my wife’s favorite magnolia tree. Plus we have a patio just below the deck with furniture and a gazebo with a larger table and chair set and outdoor kitchen for larger groups

 

Dug most of the trench for the new water line. 24" deep, a little variation in line due to roots and big rocks that wouldn't budge.
Have about 15ft left, but I had to turn around and dig the other direction away from the pump. Unfortunately, even with a fire waiver that let me work til 1pm instead of 10am, I ran out of time.

 

Ok, what's a fire waiver?

I always figured as long as I'm doing the work kn my own property, I can work as long as I please. It's the inspection after the work is complete that has a time limit

 

has to do with risk of starting a forest fire, risk is lowest in the morning

 

The area I am in is in fire season. Depending on the threat of spread of a fire (humidity, temp, wind, and other stuff) they give a fire danger and there are things you can and can't do during the different levels. Because I have my own fire apparatus (375 gallon tank, 136gpm pump, 100ft of hose), I was able to get the agency that manages the area and fights the fires when they happen (had one pop up last night about 7 miles away) to grant me approval to work beyond the cut off time set by the fire danger level.
They can actually issue fines and press charges (mainly for repeat offenders and people who cause fires due to willful negligence) if someone within the protected area doesn't abide by the rules.
The waiver is basically just a piece of government paper that says I can keep working because the scope of my work isn't likely to cause a fire and if it does, I have the ability to suppress it without assistance.

 

Got the first half of the last joist in, and the first 8ft of framing up. If I have enough time tomorrow, I'll knock out the rest of the old wall to fix/replace the rest of the foundation. I have to get the temporary gutters on before it starts raining and I am going to go move stuff around to clear out the area needed for the guy who's taking the doublewide up top to come split it on Monday to move it out on Wednesday.

 

20 of 32 posts put in. It is not fast work by myself. Operate the mini skid, fill with gravel, level post, fill water, dump concrete. But i think the new fence line is turning out well. A couple arent level or in line because of roots but they arent crazy far.

 

might not be fast, but a whole lot faster than digging by hand!