Projects/Home Improvement Thread

[IrishLion]

Just a super dumb, minor question, but I want to ask you guys before I start googling and trying to sift through marketing bullsh*t.

Anybody got a recommendation for general, wide-range bug-bombing? My basement stays damp and the foundation leaves something to be desired, so I'm "constantly" battling insect forces as they move through the house once they're in.

I can just pick something up at the store and treat the perimeter of my basement and the upstairs, but I figured I'd check to see if any of you guys might recommend something that I can use upstairs without worrying about sketchy sprays getting on my couches and tables and kitchen things.

 

[wizards8507]

Just a super dumb, minor question, but I want to ask you guys before I start googling and trying to sift through marketing bullsh*t.

Anybody got a recommendation for general, wide-range bug-bombing? My basement stays damp and the foundation leaves something to be desired, so I'm "constantly" battling insect forces as they move through the house once they're in.

I can just pick something up at the store and treat the perimeter of my basement and the upstairs, but I figured I'd check to see if any of you guys might recommend something that I can use upstairs without worrying about sketchy sprays getting on my couches and tables and kitchen things.

Do you have kids or dogs? We had hella fire ants when we lived in Florida and had great success with Borax for border control. It wasn't a "seek and destroy" solution that would destroy colonies, but if you put a border around your basement perimeter it will keep from going up the walls into your living space. In terms of killing colonies, you'll probably want some kind of bait. Workers take the bait into their colonies, feed it to the queen, and the whole colony dies.

 

[phork]

Do it before you have kids. As soon as our first born came on the scene all the projects in our 80+ year old house came to a screeching halt and I have not been remotely as productive since. At least 3-4 times longer to finish projects than pre-kids.

I want to gut and rebuild our downstairs bathroom and the main hang up is the self awareness that I just don't have that many continuous hours to plug into that type of project to get it done in less than two or three years. The wife is accepting of sectioned off war zone but is lying to herself about the statute of limitations on said war zone.

My wife's motto has become "...but we won't." We're looking to move into a bigger house in the next few years and we're going to have to find something that's move-in ready. Every time we see a house that's less than perfect we end up saying something like "all we need to do is replace the shower in the master bedroom."

...but we won't.

That is the damn truth right here. Kids are fucking awesome. The caveat is that they are free time suckers (in a good way). My wife is constantly pestering me about if we aren't doing projects then we should move. I'd consider it if there was almost zero work done and had the space I'd like for us + a pool etc. But I am sure that house only exists in fantasy land.

 

[IrishLion]

Do you have kids or dogs? We had hella fire ants when we lived in Florida and had great success with Borax for border control. It wasn't a "seek and destroy" solution that would destroy colonies, but if you put a border around your basement perimeter it will keep from going up the walls into your living space. In terms of killing colonies, you'll probably want some kind of bait. Workers take the bait into their colonies, feed it to the queen, and the whole colony dies.

I do have a dog, and a pregnant wife, so I'd like to avoid anything too potent. I'm not too worried about seek-and-destroy. We had standard ants that had found their way in last year and were running a line to an abandoned dog treat that had been lost under a couch. I set some basic ant traps at their point of entry on the inside as well as the outside (they were coming in through a hole in my brick mortar, and somehow then getting through a loose baseboard), and Raided the spots as well, and took them out.

I'm just looking for more basic, all-insect border control. I'll do some research on Borax and similar products.

 

[Wild Bill]

I do have a dog, and a pregnant wife, so I'd like to avoid anything too potent. I'm not too worried about seek-and-destroy. We had standard ants that had found their way in last year and were running a line to an abandoned dog treat that had been lost under a couch. I set some basic ant traps at their point of entry on the inside as well as the outside (they were coming in through a hole in my brick mortar, and somehow then getting through a loose baseboard), and Raided the spots as well, and took them out.

I'm just looking for more basic, all-insect border control. I'll do some research on Borax and similar products.

If you can find the interior entry point, throw some talcum powder down. It helps. Ants have been bad in our area this year so I sprayed the perimeter of the house on the exterior and it helped too. I can't remember the product but I picked it up at Home Depot.

 

[IrishLion]

Looks like I want the standard Ortho Perimeter defense. Safe for pets once it's dried, and looks like it's okay for baseboards in the kitchen as well. That was easy. I thought I'd get a bunch of results for products and have to sift through claims and Q&A's.

 

[NDRock]

Just a super dumb, minor question, but I want to ask you guys before I start googling and trying to sift through marketing bullsh*t.

Anybody got a recommendation for general, wide-range bug-bombing? My basement stays damp and the foundation leaves something to be desired, so I'm "constantly" battling insect forces as they move through the house once they're in.

I can just pick something up at the store and treat the perimeter of my basement and the upstairs, but I figured I'd check to see if any of you guys might recommend something that I can use upstairs without worrying about sketchy sprays getting on my couches and tables and kitchen things.

I use a product called Talstar. Seems to work well, easy to apply.

Talstar One, Talstar P, Talstar Pro Insecticide - Free Shipping

 

[Irish#1]

I do have a dog, and a pregnant wife, so I'd like to avoid anything too potent. I'm not too worried about seek-and-destroy. We had standard ants that had found their way in last year and were running a line to an abandoned dog treat that had been lost under a couch. I set some basic ant traps at their point of entry on the inside as well as the outside (they were coming in through a hole in my brick mortar, and somehow then getting through a loose baseboard), and Raided the spots as well, and took them out.

I'm just looking for more basic, all-insect border control. I'll do some research on Borax and similar products.

Borax works on all kinds of insects. I would put it down around the perimeter of your house, then where the floor meets the wall in the basement.

 

[koonja]

Contractor came back with a materials list and price for the 10x16' deck. He gets a 31% discount through someone he knows there, and the total for materials is just over $500, which seems very fair.

However, the list includes AC2 Green Treated lumber. This is what I assume it is:

http://www.menards.com/main/search.html?search=AC2+Green

From reading about it, this sounds like it'll do fine, but wondering if anyone has had any experiences with this type of wood and staining it. I'd like to give it a dark/caramel colored stain and wondering how it'd take to it. I don't understand the 'green treated' because the wood doesn't look green.

 

[Monk]

I don't know what "green treated lumber" means, but "green" lumber typically means it is freshly cut and has a higher moisture content than kiln dried lumber. The "treated" typically means it has been pressure treated which is what you want for most outdoor uses. I wonder if he is getting his lumber directly from the lumber mill?

Possibly they are using "green" to refer to the green color from the pressure treatment.

 

[wizards8507]

Contractor came back with a materials list and price for the 10x16' deck. He gets a 31% discount through someone he knows there, and the total for materials is just over $500, which seems very fair.

However, the list includes AC2 Green Treated lumber. This is what I assume it is:

http://www.menards.com/main/search.html?search=AC2+Green

From reading about it, this sounds like it'll do fine, but wondering if anyone has had any experiences with this type of wood and staining it. I'd like to give it a dark/caramel colored stain and wondering how it'd take to it. I don't understand the 'green treated' because the wood doesn't look green.

I don't know what "green treated lumber" means, but "green" lumber typically means it is freshly cut and has a higher moisture content than kiln dried lumber. The "treated" typically means it has been pressure treated which is what you want for most outdoor uses. I wonder if he is getting his lumber directly from the lumber mill?

Possibly they are using "green" to refer to the green color from the pressure treatment.

I think "green" in this context might mean eco-friendly.

 

[woolybug25]

Green treated wood is just another name for pressure treated wood. It's called that because the chemical treatment used to pressure treat leaves green residue on the outside of the wood. It stains fine and is a good economy choice for decks.

 

[Irish#1]

I think "green" in this context might mean eco-friendly.

If you look at the link, it's pressure treated he's referencing.

 

[koonja]

This is from Menards.

I'm having a hard time to compare because the list, produced by Menards, spells out that I need to get 'AC2 Green Treated Above Ground'.

But when you go to their website, it only says 'AC2 Pressure Treated'. There's no 'AC2 Green Treated'.

Maybe I'm looking too closely at the details and these are actually the same thing, just wish they'd name them consistently from their invoice to their website.

 

[koonja]

.

 

[woolybug25]

This is from Menards.

I'm having a hard time to compare because the list, produced by Menards, spells out that I need to get 'AC2 Green Treated Above Ground'.

But when you go to their website, it only says 'AC2 Pressure Treated'. There's no 'AC2 Green Treated'.

Maybe I'm looking too closely at the details and these are actually the same thing, just wish they'd name them consistently from their invoice to their website.

Did you not read my post? Green is the same as Pressure Treated.

 

[koonja]

Did you not read my post? Green is the same as Pressure Treated.

Thanks!

 

[pumpdog20]

Don't know what green treated wood is? Yeah, better let other people handle your projects.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Contractor came back with a materials list and price for the 10x16' deck. He gets a 31% discount through someone he knows there, and the total for materials is just over $500, which seems very fair.

However, the list includes AC2 Green Treated lumber. This is what I assume it is:

http://www.menards.com/main/search.html?search=AC2+Green

From reading about it, this sounds like it'll do fine, but wondering if anyone has had any experiences with this type of wood and staining it. I'd like to give it a dark/caramel colored stain and wondering how it'd take to it. I don't understand the 'green treated' because the wood doesn't look green.

You mention a contractor giving a supply quote. Is this person also installing or just supplying the material to you?

 

[Irish#1]

This is from Menards.

I'm having a hard time to compare because the list, produced by Menards, spells out that I need to get 'AC2 Green Treated Above Ground'.

But when you go to their website, it only says 'AC2 Pressure Treated'. There's no 'AC2 Green Treated'.

Maybe I'm looking too closely at the details and these are actually the same thing, just wish they'd name them consistently from their invoice to their website.

Make sure your contractor doesn't buy their lumber from Menards. It's third rate compared to Home Depot. Lowes is a little better, then Menards. A true lumber yard is typically the best place to buy lumber. You get what you pay for.

 

[Wild Bill]

Anyone have experience with vinyl plank flooring?

I have to lay a kitchen floor for a rental and it's supposed to be really durable. Installation is easy too.

 

[woolybug25]

Anyone have experience with vinyl plank flooring?

I have to lay a kitchen floor for a rental and it's supposed to be really durable. Installation is easy too.

Isn't that a pretty pricey option for a rental?

 

[koonja]

You mention a contractor giving a supply quote. Is this person also installing or just supplying the material to you?

Make sure your contractor doesn't buy their lumber from Menards. It's third rate compared to Home Depot. Lowes is a little better, then Menards. A true lumber yard is typically the best place to buy lumber. You get what you pay for.

He did the design with Menards and printed out an itemized list of every item needed. He's also building it with me, I told him I want to help to see how it's done.

I'm getting it at Menards. Home Depot is out of my budget for this project as it pushes the price a few hundred dollars as I'm getting a 31% discount at Menards from ordering from the contractor's friend who works there.

 

[wizards8507]

I told him I want to help to see how it's done.

Isn't that a huge no-no from an insurance perspective?

 

[koonja]

Isn't that a huge no-no from an insurance perspective?

No idea, but we're building a ground level deck so I think we'll be fine. What's life without a little risk.

 

[wizards8507]

No idea, but we're building a ground level deck so I think we'll be fine. What's life without a little risk.

Hell, if he shoots himself in the foot with a nail gun and you get sued.

 

[koonja]

Hell, if he shoots himself in the foot with a nail gun and you get sued.

We're screwing everything.

 

[RDU Irish]

Southern crawl spaces - I am confused on proper ventilation. Hear to open vents summer and not winter, seal it up and climate control, or even open winter and not summer.... Just confused.

So I added a dehumidifier direct draining to outside and have it mostly closed up. Essentially goes from full height with large concrete slab and entrance in once corner to hands and knees in opposite corner due to slope of our lot. Store a lot of tools and golf cart down there so want it done right for reasons beyond normal crawl space considerations.

And no, I am not going to convert it to a rental unit.

 

[woolybug25]

Hell, if he shoots himself in the foot with a nail gun and you get sued.

Nails for a deck... Pfft... Amateur...

 

[koonja]

Advice on staining a new deck with pressure treated wood?

I see there are a ton of options. Transparent and waterproof (dont want transparent cause treated by itself looks bad), toners, semi transparent stain, semi solid stain, solid color stain, restoration coatings.

After transparent and water proof, they all start to sound the same. i'd like it a color like the below, but more concerned with protecting the wood. Any first time advice?

https://www.google.com/search?q=dec...hVGMFIKHbqwATYQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=G7a6DJQP1xnjrM: