Projects/Home Improvement Thread

[wizards8507]

Yeah I don't want to sell the one house that looks stupid because it has white vinyl that doesn't fit the aesthetics of the house much less the neighborhood. Just because it works for your neighborhood doesn't apply to every neighborhood.

Says the guy who currently has a chain link metal fence.

I have no dog in this fight. I live in the hills and most people don't have fences. Our backyards are woods and steep hills/cliffs.

 

[Wild Bill]

Damn, that's a hell of an idea. I'll research if that's possible for me, my only concern is how sturdy it would be since it'd be bracketed in one spot.. Seems like it might teeter. I wonder if I could also skip the zoning review then, since I am not putting anything in the ground. Doesn't save me money, but saves me time.

Just make sure the posts are sturdy and use the proper brackets to attach them to the wooden fence and it'll be fine. Use two brackets per post, one at the top and one at the bottom. Add a third in the middle if you think it's needed.

It'll save you a couple hundred bucks. A 4 x 4 x 12 post is around $15 and a bag of concrete is about $3, and you'll need about 20. Cedar and brackets are cheaper.

Vinyl is nice but only if you have stone edging. It's impossible to keep it clean next to grass.

 

[phgreek]

So looking now at building a fence. I live in a residential area in Minneapolis, and many of the houses (about half) have fences. I have a steel fence that goes around and works perfectly for the dogs, but am looking to install a 6' wooden fence around the perimeter of the back yard to add some privacy and increase value.

Any considerations welcomed - as anything I do to this house, this is uncharted territory for me.

Without measuring, I have Two ~ 70' sides, and a 40' side to cover.

And side note - the neighbor on one side just put up a cedar 6' fence along one side of my house - serious qu - do I get off scotch free for not siding that side then? Or should I side that one as well? (this would be one of the 70' sides).

Thanks for any real talk on the topic. Go Irish.

Steel fence w/privacy slats is the low maintenance solution.

Wood is cool and all but the maintenance is pretty brutal if you don't want it to look trashy in a couple years. Sun fade, restain/seal...yuk. Also if you've got wind, your design better account for that, otherwise you'll lose sections periodically.

I've seen some nice stamped concrete numbers that look classy, and generally tolerate the wind, sun better...very little appearance and structural degradation over time. BUT $$$$$

 

[Irish#1]

I think I'd be safe on the disclaimer that my metal fence would still exist on that nighbor's side. But I like the guy so I'd talk to him ahead of time either way.

always a good idea to talk to them first if nothing more then a courtesy. I've seen where someone put up a fence where they think the property line is and then find out later they were mistaken when a survey is done. Then they had to take it down.

 

[gkautz10]

That's interesting. If you kicked the top floor out a few more feet and added some columns and decking in front of the bottom floor you'd have a nice front and or back porch.

A guy down the street did this and it changes the entire look of the house. I will get a picture and post it. Also adding a small front porch, like 5 feet either side of center looks great as well. Gives it more of a colonial look.

And yes the house itself is framed with wood but as I mentioned, the foundation, slab whatever you have becomes more expensive if you build a ranch.

 

[wizards8507]

A guy down the street did this and it changes the entire look of the house. I will get a picture and post it. Also adding a small front porch, like 5 feet either side of center looks great as well. Gives it more of a colonial look.

New England colonials don't have front porches. Very rarely. That two story column look is very evocative of a southern plantation.

 

[wizards8507]

Does anyone have experience converting a traditional masonry fireplace with a wood-burning insert?

 

[ACamp1900]

Does anyone have experience converting a traditional masonry fireplace with a wood-burning insert?

I would like to hear this as well... we are here and have been flirting with the idea for a couple years.

 

[Wild Bill]

It's not an easy job. If you have an existing gas line you to cut and cap the line. Then you have to run electric to the back of the existing fireplace to plug in the insert. The fun part is venting. You have to run a flexible line from the insert to the top of the chimney. You will likely be obstructed and those obstructions have to removed or you can tear or damage the liner on the way down. I hate and do not trust flexible liners. Connect the liner to the insert, plug and install.

Don't do it yourself.

 

[wizards8507]

It's not an easy job. If you have an existing gas line you to cut and cap the line. Then you have to run electric to the back of the existing fireplace to plug in the insert. The fun part is venting. You have to run a flexible line from the insert to the top of the chimney. You will likely be obstructed and those obstructions have to removed or you can tear or damage the liner on the way down. I hate and do not trust flexible liners. Connect the liner to the insert, plug and install.

Don't do it yourself.

Yeah I YouTube'd the installation and I wouldn't attempt that on my own. We don't have any gas line to worry about but the electric sounds like it would be a pain in the ass. Do you know if it would be a "pay one price for the unit and installation" or would I be buying the unit from one place, having an electrician come do the wiring, and hiring a chimney guy to do the install?

 

[GowerND11]

Dishwasher went last night. Seems the motor is fried... Looks like I'll be pricing some new ones over the weekend.

Guess it's paper plates and plastic cups for the time being.

 

[ACamp1900]

Yeah I YouTube'd the installation and I wouldn't attempt that on my own. We don't have any gas line to worry about but the electric sounds like it would be a pain in the ass. Do you know if it would be a "pay one price for the unit and installation" or would I be buying the unit from one place, having an electrician come do the wiring, and hiring a chimney guy to do the install?

Almost certainly multiple contractors.

Does it have to be inspected?

 

[Wild Bill]

Yeah I YouTube'd the installation and I wouldn't attempt that on my own. We don't have any gas line to worry about but the electric sounds like it would be a pain in the ass. Do you know if it would be a "pay one price for the unit and installation" or would I be buying the unit from one place, having an electrician come do the wiring, and hiring a chimney guy to do the install?

You could hire someone to do everything, I'm sure. The electric may not be as tricky as you think. I'm not sure if the outlet would need to be on a separate breaker or if you could tie it into an existing line. If it requires it's own breaker, you have to check your panel to make sure you have room to add one. As long as you have a clear path to the panel or an existing outlet/power supply, you could run the line with relative ease.

The risk of fire or fumes (flexible lines can tear) aren't worth the risk. I admit the risk is probably very small but it's always on my mind with fireplaces.

 

[Wild Bill]

Almost certainly multiple contractors.

Does it have to be inspected?

Camp you live in Cali. You need multi contractors and inspections to change a roll of TP.

 

[ACamp1900]

Camp you live in Cali. You need multi contractors and inspections to change a roll of TP.

And then you need the TSA to come in and inspect... it's true.

We have two large patios and want to just close one up and create my man cave... not that hard with it's current state... but the paperwork and fees and blah blah blah... idk if it'll ever happen.

 

[wizards8507]

You could hire someone to do everything, I'm sure. The electric may not be as tricky as you think. I'm not sure if the outlet would need to be on a separate breaker or if you could tie it into an existing line. If it requires it's own breaker, you have to check your panel to make sure you have room to add one. As long as you have a clear path to the panel or an existing outlet/power supply, you could run the line with relative ease.

The risk of fire or fumes (flexible lines can tear) aren't worth the risk. I admit the risk is probably very small but it's always on my mind with fireplaces.

This might be kind of janky, but could we (in theory) stick the power cord through the ash cleanout door and plug it in in the garage? You can see where the family room is in relation to the garage in this photo.

 

[wizards8507]

Just went to the fireplace store. The nice models are about $4k installed plus the electrician.

 

[Wild Bill]

This might be kind of janky, but could we (in theory) stick the power cord through the ash cleanout door and plug it in in the garage? You can see where the family room is in relation to the garage in this photo.

Yes, in theory. But the cost of installing it properly, with romex or conduit, would not be significant.

And then you need the TSA to come in and inspect... it's true.

We have two large patios and want to just close one up and create my man cave... not that hard with it's current state... but the paperwork and fees and blah blah blah... idk if it'll ever happen.

Better to ask for forgiveness if caught than permission???

 

[Rack Em]

Anybody good with troubleshooting a ceiling fan that's on a vaulted ceiling? The remote will *sometimes* turn the fan and the light on for a short period of time...then it kicks off by itself. We just moved in and I don't have a 12' ladder to look in it.

 

[phgreek]

Does anyone have experience converting a traditional masonry fireplace with a wood-burning insert?

are you putting an insert in, or replacing existing with propane/NG or something.

 

[phgreek]

Anybody good with troubleshooting a ceiling fan that's on a vaulted ceiling? The remote will *sometimes* turn the fan and the light on for a short period of time...then it kicks off by itself. We just moved in and I don't have a 12' ladder to look in it.

call an electrician..sounds like a short or a thermal/safety reset...could be as simple as a shitty remote...but then again, maybe not.

 

[Irish#1]

call an electrician..sounds like a short or a thermal/safety reset...could be as simple as a shitty remote...but then again, maybe not.

Before you call the electrician, check the batteries in the remote. Might save a few dollars.

 

[Irish#1]

Yeah I YouTube'd the installation and I wouldn't attempt that on my own. We don't have any gas line to worry about but the electric sounds like it would be a pain in the ass. Do you know if it would be a "pay one price for the unit and installation" or would I be buying the unit from one place, having an electrician come do the wiring, and hiring a chimney guy to do the install?

There's a company in Indy that does it all. Wife did some temp work there. I would think you'd have a similar company in your area.

 

[wizards8507]

are you putting an insert in, or replacing existing with propane/NG or something.

New insert in regular wood burning firebox.

 

[phgreek]

New insert in regular wood burning firebox.

I'm sure you know all of this, but it merits mention, just in case. California now regulates wood burning, so much so they have DEQ staff issuing citations for burning your woodburner stove.

More places are beginning to adopt these measures in line with tougher PM restrictions.

Dude...I love wood burning stoves...part of my chores growing up was splitting and stacking wood...

But two things to consider...4K is a big nut for something that may be restricted. If you plan to leave your lovely home (mean it...classic), having a wood burner may be looked at like a boat anchor.

I replaced an old cook stove in my cabin with a Propane...but back then I considered wood burners too. They are awesome. For the reasons above I chose the Propane Unit. I was able to remove obstructions with a plasma cutter, and chisel. I ended up with a straight shot, and the chimney was big enough to accommodate two SOLID liners (not the accordion deals)...had to use an intake line and a separate exhaust line. I know they sell units with the intake and exhaust integrated in one pipe now for NG/Propane. I had my gas line inspected by the Propane company, and the rest of the installation by a regular building inspector. Inspections cost me 200 bucks. My unit Does 40,000 BTU. Not the top end of a wood burner, but that shit works, especially with the blower on.

If you are set on wood, I'd really let someone come do it...with wood you are dealing with combustibles up the exhaust, and secondary burns, etc...mistakes there can be dangerous...with gas stoves...you are less likely to unwittingly make a mistake.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Anybody good with troubleshooting a ceiling fan that's on a vaulted ceiling? The remote will *sometimes* turn the fan and the light on for a short period of time...then it kicks off by itself. We just moved in and I don't have a 12' ladder to look in it.

One of ours with a remote has a timer setting on it. Check that 1st. It also has an automated mode where it will turn the light and fan on at certain times to make it look like someone is home.

 

[wizards8507]

I'm sure you know all of this, but it merits mention, just in case. California now regulates wood burning, so much so they have DEQ staff issuing citations for burning your woodburner stove.

More places are beginning to adopt these measures in line with tougher PM restrictions.

Dude...I love wood burning stoves...part of my chores growing up was splitting and stacking wood...

But two things to consider...4K is a big nut for something that may be restricted. If you plan to leave your lovely home (mean it...classic), having a wood burner may be looked at like a boat anchor.

I replaced an old cook stove in my cabin with a Propane...but back then I considered wood burners too. They are awesome. For the reasons above I chose the Propane Unit. I was able to remove obstructions with a plasma cutter, and chisel. I ended up with a straight shot, and the chimney was big enough to accommodate two SOLID liners (not the accordion deals)...had to use an intake line and a separate exhaust line. I know they sell units with the intake and exhaust integrated in one pipe now for NG/Propane. I had my gas line inspected by the Propane company, and the rest of the installation by a regular building inspector. Inspections cost me 200 bucks. My unit Does 40,000 BTU. Not the top end of a wood burner, but that shit works, especially with the blower on.

If you are set on wood, I'd really let someone come do it...with wood you are dealing with combustibles up the exhaust, and secondary burns, etc...mistakes there can be dangerous...with gas stoves...you are less likely to unwittingly make a mistake.

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate that. Shit would BURN (pun intended) if they tried to pass those left-coast regulations on wood heat in New England, so I'm more worried about the EPA than anything the state of Connecticut would try. We have a small bucket of money to spend on new furniture and the like in the new house, and the stove is somewhere in the middle of the priority list. It sounds like the installation won't mess with the masonry at all so we could rip out the unit if a future buyer doesn't want it. I have no access to a natural gas line and zero interest in propane, so logs and pellets are all I'm really considering.

 

[phgreek]

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate that. Shit would BURN (pun intended) if they tried to pass those left-coast regulations on wood heat in New England, so I'm more worried about the EPA than anything the state of Connecticut would try. We have a small bucket of money to spend on new furniture and the like in the new house, and the stove is somewhere in the middle of the priority list. It sounds like the installation won't mess with the masonry at all so we could rip out the unit if a future buyer doesn't want it. I have no access to a natural gas line and zero interest in propane, so logs and pellets are all I'm really considering.

Send pics when Done...want to see what ya did ....

 

[wizards8507]

Send pics when Done...want to see what ya did ....

This is what we're leaning towards.

 

[phgreek]

This is what we're leaning towards.

...really nice looking unit.