Projects/Home Improvement Thread

[wizards8507]

Do need some advise, first time I have ever had to deal with rats. Been in my house for 3 years now and about a month ago my dog starts barking outside nonstop and it is because of rats, they came out of no where. They are only outside thank goodness.. anyone recommend any traps or poisons that work good? I will be blocking off the part of the back yard from my dog so whatever I put down he won't get into.

Fuk rats. I have about a hundred chipmunks that live in my woodpile and I love those little bastards. I know they're fundamentally no different than rats but I don't care. In my mind, they're 100x preferable.

 

[NorthDakota]

Fuk rats. I have about a hundred chipmunks that live in my woodpile and I love those little bastards. I know they're fundamentally no different than rats but I don't care. In my mind, they're 100x preferable.

Chipmunks are cute as hell. Though if you want to have fun get yourself a nice bb gun and pick a few off.

 

[RDU Irish]

Pellet gun/BB gun and a yard full of chippies - that is some quality fun there. My pa-in-law used to put out rat traps for the chippies until he caught a few birds. Now he sticks to BBs. Bastards were digging into the side of their driveway and sinking it.

I don't understand the problem with the rats if they are outside? Mice inside are a PIA - I keep a few traps unbaited in the basement with a 2x4 making a path against the wall just as wide as the traps (back the traps up to eachother so they point both directions). They run along the wall and get snapped up before they get further into the house. Never ending battle and have to check often enough that I don't find dried up stinky carcasses.

Tree frogs in the living room is the one that baffles the shit out of me - I think they come down the fireplace but not sure.

 

[woolybug25]

Pellet gun/BB gun and a yard full of chippies - that is some quality fun there. My pa-in-law used to put out rat traps for the chippies until he caught a few birds. Now he sticks to BBs. Bastards were digging into the side of their driveway and sinking it.

I don't understand the problem with the rats if they are outside? Mice inside are a PIA - I keep a few traps unbaited in the basement with a 2x4 making a path against the wall just as wide as the traps (back the traps up to eachother so they point both directions). They run along the wall and get snapped up before they get further into the house. Never ending battle and have to check often enough that I don't find dried up stinky carcasses.

Tree frogs in the living room is the one that baffles the shit out of me - I think they come down the fireplace but not sure.

This. If they are outside, then you have a reason that they are out there. Do you have a compost pile or trash cans or something? If you poison them, they are going to go into your house/garage/shed and die. Then rot until you track them down. I would suggest figuring out why they are there in the first place, remedy it, then shoot them.

 

[Irish#1]

Do need some advise, first time I have ever had to deal with rats. Been in my house for 3 years now and about a month ago my dog starts barking outside nonstop and it is because of rats, they came out of no where. They are only outside thank goodness.. anyone recommend any traps or poisons that work good? I will be blocking off the part of the back yard from my dog so whatever I put down he won't get into.

Something is attracting them. You have a compost or feed your dog outside? Get a cat. Problem gone in a heartbeat. I'm not a cat fan, but we have one and don't have to worry about mice or rats which is a plus because we have several farms around us.

 

[calvegas04]

This. If they are outside, then you have a reason that they are out there. Do you have a compost pile or trash cans or something? If you poison them, they are going to go into your house/garage/shed and die. Then rot until you track them down. I would suggest figuring out why they are there in the first place, remedy it, then shoot them.

They are coming from over my neighbors wall. My back yard is clean, I would start throwing rat poison over there yard if they dint have dogs.

 

[Irish#1]

This. If they are outside, then you have a reason that they are out there. Do you have a compost pile or trash cans or something? If you poison them, they are going to go into your house/garage/shed and die. Then rot until you track them down. I would suggest figuring out why they are there in the first place, remedy it, then shoot them.

Something is attracting them. You have a compost or feed your dog outside? Get a cat. Problem gone in a heartbeat. I'm not a cat fan, but we have one and don't have to worry about mice or rats which is a plus because we have several farms around us.

Thinking the same thing and posting at the same time. Great minds! lol

 

[wizards8507]

This. If they are outside, then you have a reason that they are out there. Do you have a compost pile or trash cans or something? If you poison them, they are going to go into your house/garage/shed and die. Then rot until you track them down. I would suggest figuring out why they are there in the first place, remedy it, then shoot them.

My compost attracts bears. It's the greatest thing ever when you have a family of black bears camping out in your yard for a week or two every spring.

 

[Irish#1]

My compost attracts bears. It's the greatest thing ever when you have a family of black bears camping out in your yard for a week or two every spring.

Feeding wildlife is for the poors. No honey we can't go to the zoo because I don't get discount tickets like I do for DW. Besides, I can throw some egg shells and banana peels in the compost and attract the bears for you to see and they won't be in a cage which is even better.

 

[koonja]

I'm remodeling my 1st floor bathroom as I get ready to sell. It's a small bathroom (80 square feet) and we're not touching the shower/tub.

Basically, I need to remove the floor tile, put new tile down, replace the vanity, and then place a new mirror/cabinet. The mirror/cabinet has 4 lights at the top currently, and they provide almost all of the lighting in the bathroom (ceiling light sucks). So I need whoever I hire to be able to replace this and possibly do some minor electrical work.

I'm personally going to repaint when finished and remove the current tile to save costs.

So I'm looking to hire someone to put new tile down, remove and replace the vanity, and then remove and replace the crappy mirror/cabinet with lighting. Any advice? This seems straight forward but things like this never are.

 

[wizards8507]

Feeding wildlife is for the poors. No honey we can't go to the zoo because I don't get discount tickets like I do for DW. Besides, I can throw some egg shells and banana peels in the compost and attract the bears for you to see and they won't be in a cage which is even better.

I have the "Zookeeper Tier" annual pass dawg. Not for the poors.

 

[woolybug25]

I'm remodeling my 1st floor bathroom as I get ready to sell. It's a small bathroom (80 square feet) and we're not touching the shower/tub.

Basically, I need to remove the floor tile, put new tile down, replace the vanity, and then place a new mirror/cabinet. The mirror/cabinet has 4 lights at the top currently, and they provide almost all of the lighting in the bathroom (ceiling light sucks). So I need whoever I hire to be able to replace this and possibly do some minor electrical work.

I'm personally going to repaint when finished and remove the current tile to save costs.

So I'm looking to hire someone to put new tile down, remove and replace the vanity, and then remove and replace the crappy mirror/cabinet with lighting. Any advice? This seems straight forward but things like this never are.

In this case... it actually is...

 

[Bluto]

Anybody want to provide structurals on a swimming pool and a gable roof deck cover? I was building a shed and well...Lol

 

[zelezo vlk]

My friend's boyfriend wants me to help construct a pergola this weekend...this won't end well

 

[Irish#1]

I'm remodeling my 1st floor bathroom as I get ready to sell. It's a small bathroom (80 square feet) and we're not touching the shower/tub.

Basically, I need to remove the floor tile, put new tile down, replace the vanity, and then place a new mirror/cabinet. The mirror/cabinet has 4 lights at the top currently, and they provide almost all of the lighting in the bathroom (ceiling light sucks). So I need whoever I hire to be able to replace this and possibly do some minor electrical work.

I'm personally going to repaint when finished and remove the current tile to save costs.

So I'm looking to hire someone to put new tile down, remove and replace the vanity, and then remove and replace the crappy mirror/cabinet with lighting. Any advice? This seems straight forward but things like this never are.

First, take out the vanity and mirror yourself. Turn off the water under the vanity, disconnect the water lines, remove a few screws and your done. Paint after demo and before installing anything. That way you don't get paint on anything new. Once you see how easy it is to remove a vanity, you'll decide to install the new one as well. $$$ in your pocket.

 

[koonja]

First, take out the vanity and mirror yourself. Turn off the water under the vanity, disconnect the water lines, remove a few screws and your done. Paint after demo and before installing anything. That way you don't get paint on anything new. Once you see how easy it is to remove a vanity, you'll decide to install the new one as well. $$$ in your pocket.

Thanks and reps. Is there really nothing to installing a vanity yourself? I know jack-ish about maneuvering through water lines/faucets.

 

[Rack Em]

Thanks and reps. Is there really nothing to installing a vanity yourself? I know jack-ish about maneuvering through water lines/faucets.

And replace the light fixture yourself. They're literally idiot proof to install.


That's funny now that I read it out loud...

 

[Irish#1]

Thanks and reps. Is there really nothing to installing a vanity yourself? I know jack-ish about maneuvering through water lines/faucets.

Water lines are already installed, so you just turn off both valves under the sink and disconnect the lines with a wrench. Your drain line is PVC and should unscrew by hand. The vanity should have about four screws going into studs in the wall. Typically there aren't any screws or brackets holding it to the floor. It should pull away from the wall with a little tugging. Once you've removed the vanity, you can disconnect the PVC drain pipe from the sink, as well as the water lines from the faucet. If they're in good shape you can reuse. New ones aren't that expensive either, but remember to get some teflon plumbers tape to wrap around the outlet before you reattach water lines. Install the faucet to the counter top before you put it on the vanity. It will save time and be much easier. Before you put the counter top on, make sure your vanity is level.

There has to be some vid's on Youtube.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I think I have a mouse in the house. Any pointers? My wife set up some expensive, likely scam, traps that have done nothing.

 

[wizards8507]

I think I have a mouse in the house. Any pointers? My wife set up some expensive, likely scam, traps that have done nothing.

No poison if there's any chance they're in the walls. They'll get in there, die, and rot.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

[Irish Insanity]

No poison if there's any chance they're in the walls. They'll get in there, die, and rot.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Basically a month or so ago my daughter claimed she saw one roll thru the dining room. I didn't believe her because we've never had any issues like that. Then my wife said she saw it strolling down the hallway early in the AM. So we searched everywhere. Only spot we found with a trace of anything is in a cold air return which apparently runs in behind the bathtub. Set up a dozen fancy traps, some with poison. None worked. But, we saw nothing for a month or more, no activity in the same spot either. Then I woke early this last weekend and was lounging in the living room. I look up and see the damn thing out of the corner of my eye rolling down the hallway. There's not really anywhere in the house for it to be aside from where we found a small bit of activity last time. But we can't seem to catch it. I put out a small plate of peanut butter in its walking path after the first siting and it was never touched. There's obviously at least one, but I can't seem to get the bastard.

 

[Bluto]

I think I have a mouse in the house. Any pointers? My wife set up some expensive, likely scam, traps that have done nothing.

B.B. Gun, head lamp and some coffee or a cat.

 

[calvegas04]

I think I have a mouse in the house. Any pointers? My wife set up some expensive, likely scam, traps that have done nothing.

been catching ones in the backyard with the cheap 4 for $2 traps and they have worked. Put some peanut butter on them

 

[dshans]

Just get a cat. It will ignore you unless it's hungry or don't want to be bothered, but will solve your problem.

 

[phgreek]

been catching ones in the backyard with the cheap 4 for $2 traps and they have worked. Put some peanut butter on them

this...peanut butter is deadly...just make sure the snap traps are set to go off with very little pressure...and make sure you get peanut butter placed so that he has to put a foot or feet on the trigger to reach it all...

If that doesn't work, and you kep waking up to licked clean traps....I have a Rube Goldberg esque contraption I'll tell you how to make...used it to rid many an out building of rodents...and its cheap, and requires no fire arms....

 

[Irish Insanity]

Cat is a no go. I wanted to use the generic snap traps originally but the wife insisted on the fancy enclosed plastic ones that didn't work. Mainly because of the little one in the house and not wanting to catch a kid as opposed to a mouse. But I think it's time to roll with the snap traps.

Sent from my LG-H871 using Tapatalk

 

[ozzman]

I've found that hot gluing a piece of dog food to the bait trigger of s snap trap works best. They grab onto it with moreforce, and 100% results so far. I've had mice get the peanut butter, set the trap off,and get away.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Tapatalk

 

[RDU Irish]

this...peanut butter is deadly...just make sure the snap traps are set to go off with very little pressure...and make sure you get peanut butter placed so that he has to put a foot or feet on the trigger to reach it all...

If that doesn't work, and you kep waking up to licked clean traps....I have a Rube Goldberg esque contraption I'll tell you how to make...used it to rid many an out building of rodents...and its cheap, and requires no fire arms....

you talking a plank up to a five gallon bucket half full of water - sprinkle treats to float on the water?

 

[RDU Irish]

Drip, drip, drip.

Water leak behind downstairs shower finally discovered after what must have been a couple months. I figure about a gallon of water per day. Well the insulation in the wall was sending it all over the floor under the tub so there is a ten foot stretch of water damage you can see from under the house. Wood floors in the bathroom and walls opposite side of the bathroom wall have gotten warped from this. Dripping under the house onto the insulated air return for the HVAC - poke a hole at the bottom and a couple gallons of water flush out of there. Found it while checking out the basement after some real frog pounder rain storms this spring and finally tracked this down yesterday - oh, the joys of home ownership.

Any thoughts on things to look out for to make sure I hit the insurance adjuster with as much as possible? Having an HVAC guy check the system - obviously the soaked insulated return needs to be replaced but want him to make sure no mold type issues in the rest of the system. One of the kids has had sinus issues for a few months, another has an asthma history.

Only good news is we were wanting to renovate that bathroom anyway - moves up the to do list pretty quickly now.

 

[BGIF]

you talking a plank up to a five gallon bucket half full of water - sprinkle treats to float on the water?

Sunflower seeds work well.

Cover the entire surface of the water with the seeds or treats so the water is not visible. Mouse walks the plank, jumps to the "floor of seeds", and takes the deep six.