Home Improvement Projects

[mdr55]

I just recently removed and installed a new toilet at my house. One of my uncles who was a plumber helped me by instructing me what to do (plus he had all the tools and all). It wasn't that easy but it wasn't hard to do either. Now only if I knew how to install a new water heater think of all the money I would save.

Anyone else out there do any Home Improvement projects at their house too??

This message was edited by mdr55 on 8-15-04 @ 2:03 PM

[JPMNICK]

I will do small stuff like paint or install new door handles or whatever. nothing major

one of the ways I save a lot of money is by doing my own landscaping. I am not talking about cutting the grass, but trimming hedges, planting bushes and flowers and the like. i used to be a landscaper so i got to practice on other peoples houses!




http://home.comcast.net/~nickcontardo/a_schilling_ft1.jpg
Thanks to Monsterone for my first sig.

[Lumber]

Installing hot water heaters is a breeze...The trickiest part is sweating pipe.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/lumber/njlumbersig.gif">
Thanks ChickenHawk

[FUNKMAN]

The trickiest part is sweating pipe.


that's the part i'm sweating...

mine is 12 years old and i'm thinking about replacing it before it bursts. picking it up from the store and getting it home is the easy part, getting the pipes undone and redone are what i'm 'uneasy' about...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/monster6sixty6/guests/fm2_sig.jpg">

[JPMNICK]

Is it worth replacing before it breaks?

http://home.comcast.net/~nickcontardo/a_schilling_ft1.jpg
Thanks to Monsterone for my first sig.

[Lumber]

Channel locks, clean Steel wool/Emery paper & sm. propane torch you can pick-up cheap at any Hardware store. If you have these simple items , your good to go.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/lumber/njlumbersig.gif">
Thanks ChickenHawk

[FUNKMAN]

Is it worth replacing before it breaks?


i guess on how they are able to accurately predict the 'lifespan' of the heater and whether you may have alot of damage if it breaks... like rugs

i had replaced a 'food recycler/dispensor' for the kitchen sink and found out they come with 4, 5, or 7 year 'lasting' models. The one that broke was a 7 year and wouldn't you know it was 7 years old when it broke

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/monster6sixty6/guests/fm2_sig.jpg">

[Lumber]

Is it worth replacing before it breaks?

http://home.comcast.net/~nickcontardo/a_schilling_ft1.jpg
Thanks to Monsterone for my first sig.That`s a common question from alot of Homeowners. Depending on your basement or where the unit is located, (If in a finished basement) one might want to replace it sooner. If it`s in a basement where you have proper drainage, no worries as to damage. Although, if the unit does shit the bed, what will happen is the automatic water feed will constanly run , increasing water use & gas or electric, whatever heat source feeds it.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/lumber/njlumbersig.gif">
Thanks ChickenHawk

[mdr55]

what will happen is the automatic water feed will constanly run , increasing water use & gas or electric, whatever heat source feeds it.

Yup.......that hits the wallet pretty hard.

[JPMNICK]

my boss has silent flow toilets, and they were installed incorrectly. She got a quarterly water bill of 975 dollars. She was might pissed.

http://home.comcast.net/~nickcontardo/a_schilling_ft1.jpg
Thanks to Monsterone for my first sig.

[Lumber]

I would have flipped...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/lumber/njlumbersig.gif">
Thanks ChickenHawk

[JPMNICK]

me too.

She re-did her whole house and has had nothing but problems.

I wish I were more handy. Is there anyway to learn, or do you just have to be around it to learn?

I feel like learning to do shit like that is much harder than learning the basics of computers?

BTW, how hard would it be to rip down the walls in a house to the beams and put up some fresh sheetrock??

http://home.comcast.net/~nickcontardo/a_schilling_ft1.jpg
Thanks to Monsterone for my first sig.

[mdr55]

[quote]
I wish I were more handy. Is there anyway to learn, or do you just have to be around it to learn?

I feel like learning to do shit like that is much harder than learning the basics of computers?

BTW, how hard would it be to rip down the walls in a house to the beams and put up some fresh sheetrock??
[quote]


Yeah, they make all those Home Improvement projects on television look so freaking easy.

[Lumber]

That`s just as easy, just physicaly draining. Although, ceilings are a bitch...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/lumber/njlumbersig.gif">
Thanks ChickenHawk

[JPMNICK]

I hate watching that shit on TV.

in a 1/2 hour show they will rip out and install a brand new gas firwplace including doing all the nice brickwork and painting. Its such bullshit. They never hit a snag or have a problem, and they work on houses that are like 110 years old.


http://home.comcast.net/~nickcontardo/a_schilling_ft1.jpg
Thanks to Monsterone for my first sig.

[Mike Teacher]

This really sucks, because I don't do 75% of the repairs/work of the house that I'm sure are doable by anyone here.

It's stupid, and illogical, but I went the 'college prep' route, and thats means you were lucky if you got a couple of wood shops. Meanwhile, and this is back a while, schools put what I guess youd call those who Obviously Not Going to College into Auto Shop, and Drafting, and stuff that now pays Serious money if you have the Skills, or saves Serious money because you have the skills.

That pisses me off to this day, that they tracked us that way. Fucking A I wanted to take Auto and then Auto 2; in 1981 about the most complex diagnostic computer was a timing light, I think. See, I know all the science of internal combustion negines, but stare at the sideways mounted thing I see when I open the Hood, and I'm like: OK there's the battery and the Oil and the Trans fluids and the radiator, and then I Glaze Over. I didnt dive in early like I should have; ditto with Electrical work. Why do I think I'm gone burn the house down if I do it? Stupid stupid stupid.

I was busy in French 2 not knowing a fucking word. Still don't.

OK I can wire a socket but fuck me that about it.

<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/miketeachr/anisig3">

This message was edited by Mike Teacher on 8-15-04 @ 2:55 PM

[Lumber]

That`s another thing! Depending on the age of the house, the labor involved may vary. Older houses have plaster over lath walls. That`s a bitch & a mess. Plus , older houses were built w/ true 2x4`s. Depending on the State/ Municipality you live in, the codes may vary. I know N.J. code very well. (Except for electric).

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/lumber/njlumbersig.gif">
Thanks ChickenHawk

[JPMNICK]

The one thing I can do is electric because of my EE degree. Though I know more theory than practice and I am not certified, but I will still do small stuff like install dimmer switches, replace light fixtures or install fans.

when I buy a house and I want to do all the shit, I know it is going to cost me a mint and is going to suck. I wish I knew how to do more, like install windows, replace a sink or toilet, that kind of shit

http://home.comcast.net/~nickcontardo/a_schilling_ft1.jpg
Thanks to Monsterone for my first sig.

[Lumber]

Dude, that`s how we learn, from doing this shit ourselves. My Dad taught my brothers & I alot of stuff. home improvements, auto , stuff like that. Alot of other stuff I learned from Contractors. even decks are cake!
Roofs too.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/lumber/njlumbersig.gif">
Thanks ChickenHawk

[Mike Teacher]

Dude, that`s how we learn, from doing this shit ourselves. My Dad taught my brothers & I alot


OK you wont get all bummed if I tell ya my dad was one of those Away All the Time Dads and we didnt do a whole lot together? But yer right, the Only way is to dive in, fuck things up once or twice, learn by the mistakes. Mechanically? I'm fine, I build those frigging micro balsa wood models and shit, and the guy at the hobby store said anyone who can do this can build a house, it's simply having the Stones and Will to do it.

Not mick and mr. smith

<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/miketeachr/anisig3">

[mikeyboy]

OK I can wire a socket but fuck


:gasp:

<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=mikeyboy">
Ron & Fez Show Log (http://www.osirusonline.com/ronfez.htm)

[Mike Teacher]

I Slipped and it Fell into the Socket I SWEAR ! ! !

<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/miketeachr/anisig3">

[JohnnyCash]

I do all the repairs around my house. I also do them for friends all the time. Last summer I did a full renovation of my bathroom myself. I spent a few years as a carpenter and I still love building furniture. I turned my friends empty basement into a fully legal-rental apartment. I have installed kitchens and built decks for friends.Home Improvement projects are the one thing I am actually good at.

Right now my girlfriend and I are looking for a small house we can fix up, live in for a year or 2 and then sell it for a nice profit.

Home repairs arent really that hard usually. People just need the balls to attempt them.

<IMG SRC="http://www.osirusonline.com/cashsig.gif">
Thank You Reefdwella