Home Improvement Today?

Appreciate the concern, but this is the house I'm retiring in and the fireplace is not operable right now. It's blocked off by a thick piece of rigid foam (painted black) that's wedged into the opening. Can't even tell it's there when doors are closed. Doors are 100% decorative. In the event I were to use the fireplace, I'd install an insert (wood or pellet).

I have a dual flue chimney (furnace & fireplace) that's capped with a stainless steel cap...so no moisture is getting down there.

if I were to sell, I'd remove both.

 

I've considered one of those electric heaters that resemble a small woodstove. Would simply place on the hearth and use during those really cold spells...just to take the chill off. Purely supplemental & asthetic.

 

I'm using one of these in my basement, I really am happy with it. I saw a few people on youtube put it inside their existing fireplace.

PuraFlame Western Electric Fireplace Insert with Fire Crackling Sound, Remote Control, 750/1500W, Black, 29 59/64"es Wide, 23 3/16"es High

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R73DYJW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Kidde smoke detector recall.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/k...ue-to-risk-of-failure-to-alert-consumers-to-a

 

Has anyone gotten concrete counter tops? My current kitchen has tiles (4"x4" ish) and its getting a bit annoying so looking at other options. Kind of wanting to keep it on a budget as we are only planning on staying in the house two more years.

 

Trying to remember who but think someone here did do it for a laundry room countertop as a trial run.

 

www.concretecountertopsolutions.com

A co-worker of mine used this and his countertops turned out phenomenal, I have his left over material to do a laundry or bathroom. Worth checking out!

 

Kind of funny but thats the "system" Ive been looking at....if i do it myself.

 

Check out Instructables. Several Concrete desks on there I saw in the past, should be same concept.

 

It's pretty awesome, I've seen the results firsthand and couldn't reccommre it enough. Just post about it if you go for it!

 

Glad to hear you (and they) like it! I havent found anyone locally that I know who has done it.

Its definitely something Im thinking I would like...just a matter of deciding if its worth the cost. Both a good thing and a bad thing (when thinking of redoing them) is the fact it would be 64sq ft of counter top without any extra. Plus would mean a new sink too.

 

Question for you.... son moved into a brand new house last July, so 8 months ago, and his garage floor is cracking, even going through the grooves they put in. How worried should he be? Thanks for any inputs.

 

Depends on the size of cracks. Some cracking is fine, but I don't know any specifics on amount/size that constitutes worry.

 

I'll take some pics next time I go up there.... I'd worry about the number of them and some of them, the floor isn't "smooth" anymore - has shifted a little on one side of the crack

 

There are only 2 kinds of concrete .

Concrete that has cracked and concrete that will crack .

If by grooves you mean the control joints , it is supposed to crack there , that's why they are there

 

At what point is it too much cracking? Yes, the control joints, but it's not cracked along there, but like a 90* right through it

 

when your 10mm socket rolls in the crack you know its too much...

 

If there is differential settling I would be concerned ( ie slab sections at different heights ) .

Control joints can be ineffective if too shallow , too far apart or the slab is constrained by other obstacles that don't allow for shrinkage

 

Not a Kidde but a First Alert with a 10 year battery that is only 6 month old went out last night a 3am. Why is it always around 3am when they die?