This Old #%&@*$ House

So close to getting tile correctly installed.....Got the 14 cement backerboard pieces of varying sizes cut and dry fit. Then got 8 of those pieces attached to the floor with thinset and a ton of screws. (watched way too many videos on proper install) Have to finish up the other 6 pieces then use fiberglass tape and more thinset on the seams then ready for the tile guy to come out and install the second weekend in June.

A couple shots of dry fit after cutting boards to shape/size making sure no 4 corners met and they didn't overlap seams from the OSB.
IMAGE(https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/187692328_10227766274369378_2135265482434988358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=2ibxU5fxfzoAX8WhEGS&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=b0fd865b125cbb92385296d93b7e5902&oe=60D1E053)

IMAGE(https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/187749162_10227766274849390_7483200016728211313_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=Vx4C6eq6eB8AX8JUqGV&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=55ec421016ab7774854af045a7b78f85&oe=60D2D5A9)

Got an aboveground pool installed, need to run a 240v line to the filter. I'm going to need a plug for the filter, as well as a light in the pool. Any good resources out there for creating electrical plans/diagrams?

I don't have any helpful stuff as far as electrical, but I've got all kinds of lessons learned about actually maintaining the thing! Are you running the 240 circuit through a timer box, or does the pump have a timer built in?

Speaking of pools, I need to get mine opened this weekend. I think it'll be a lot easier than it usually is! I already tested the water, and it's totally fine except for needing the chlorine brought up to the right level. The water's clear, and I actually managed to get the water pumped off the cover, so taking that off should be simple.

I did pick up about $100 of pvc fittings, because I want to hard plumb the solar heater panels this year. Last year, I ran hard pipe from the filter to near the panels, and flex hose from there to the panels. That worked, but the hose connections were prone to popping off or leaking, and I never fully trusted them. They were also too long, so I had the slack plopped on the lawn, and it was ugly and hard to mow around.

The plan this year is to add a second cutoff valve near the filter on the return line (I thought I could get away without that, but it'd be much better to have it), run the pipe to the panels, and raise the panel frame at least a foot off the ground at the front. I'm trying to make it so I can get the trimmer under the panel frame and the piping to keep the grass in check. The plumbing is kind of complicated because I'm running the panels in parallel instead of serial, so I need to run t-junctions, plus I want to be able to break the whole thing down in winter, so I need unions all over.

Though thinking about it now, I'm not sure that the extra efficiency from running in parallel is actually worth the complicated plumbing to do it.

I'm going to be running it through a timer box.

Rainsmercy wrote:

So close to getting tile correctly installed.....Got the 14 cement backerboard pieces of varying sizes cut and dry fit. Then got 8 of those pieces attached to the floor with thinset and a ton of screws. (watched way too many videos on proper install) Have to finish up the other 6 pieces then use fiberglass tape and more thinset on the seams then ready for the tile guy to come out and install the second weekend in June.

Spoiler:

A couple shots of dry fit after cutting boards to shape/size making sure no 4 corners met and they didn't overlap seams from the OSB.
IMAGE(https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/187692328_10227766274369378_2135265482434988358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=2ibxU5fxfzoAX8WhEGS&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=b0fd865b125cbb92385296d93b7e5902&oe=60D1E053)

IMAGE(https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/187749162_10227766274849390_7483200016728211313_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=Vx4C6eq6eB8AX8JUqGV&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=55ec421016ab7774854af045a7b78f85&oe=60D2D5A9)

A little late to the party here, but make sure you're wearing a mask/respirator when you're working with cement backerboard--the dust is very no bueno. Durock isn't as back as Hardiebacker as it tends to crumble rather than get super dusty, but still.

WellAdjusted wrote:

A little late to the party here, but make sure you're wearing a mask/respirator when you're working with cement backerboard--the dust is very no bueno. Durock isn't as back as Hardiebacker as it tends to crumble rather than get super dusty, but still.

Yup, any cutting on it was done outside, well ventilated and wearing proper protection. Also for the most part for straight lines, used a carbide scoring tool, and snapped it/flipped it over, used a utility knife to cut the remaining string/netting in it. only had 3 places I actually had to cut the board and 2 were notches for water line/gas stove.

Today I'll be taping and thinsetting the seams then I'll be ready for when the tile guy comes out in a couple weeks.

Rainsmercy wrote:
WellAdjusted wrote:

A little late to the party here, but make sure you're wearing a mask/respirator when you're working with cement backerboard--the dust is very no bueno. Durock isn't as back as Hardiebacker as it tends to crumble rather than get super dusty, but still.

Yup, any cutting on it was done outside, well ventilated and wearing proper protection. Also for the most part for straight lines, used a carbide scoring tool, and snapped it/flipped it over, used a utility knife to cut the remaining string/netting in it. only had 3 places I actually had to cut the board and 2 were notches for water line/gas stove.

Today I'll be taping and thinsetting the seams then I'll be ready for when the tile guy comes out in a couple weeks.

On the concrete note, I had to fix my garage floor at my old house and will need to again at this house. Got the diamond saw and had an old HVAC blower motor from my HVAC repair neighbor. We had masks on but had that blowing the dust out and away. Soon the masks were not needed holy ish, that thing made the air clear so fast. The resulting dust did collect in my driveway and then in subsequent rain reformed as concrete. I couldn't really believe it. That sh*t is dangerous! Get a big f*ckoff fan or mask up with small fans.

I noticed a small thing in my parents' suburban Iowa neighborhood. Almost everyone has street curb on their driveway cut/smoothed down. Now I know the neighbor across the street had this done almost 20 years ago but then I noticed every single house on the block had it done, including my parents. I didn't get a chance to ask them about it. I get that it is less jarring coming in and out of your driveway but doesn't it serve some purpose with rain water? None were cut down all the way. Just curious if this is a "thing" now that everyone does.

PoderOmega wrote:

I noticed a small thing in my parents' suburban Iowa neighborhood. Almost everyone has street curb on their driveway cut/smoothed down. Now I know the neighbor across the street had this done almost 20 years ago but then I noticed every single house on the block had it done, including my parents. I didn't get a chance to ask them about it. I get that it is less jarring coming in and out of your driveway but doesn't it serve some purpose with rain water? None were cut down all the way. Just curious if this is a "thing" now that everyone does.

I gotta be honest, I may not know what you mean - like, you have to drive over the raised curb to get in your driveway? I have never seen that as a thing in New England. If we have a curb, it always ends at the sides of the driveway using curved or cut blocks.

Yeah I am not sure either. Do you mean like this where the driveway has a smooth entrance into the street and the curb rises up on either side?

IMAGE(https://www.portlandoregon.gov/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=490962)

That is a normal thing and how they build driveways in pretty much everywhere I have lived. Sometimes there might be a little lip of an inch or two, but not that 4-6" of a regular curb.

EDIT: I found this example which might be what you mean, where the curb is a slight hump/dip curb instead of the more usual vertical formed concrete, and then they cut it to make it wider and less deep.

IMAGE(https://www.northwestindianaconcretecutting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/curb-cutting-existing.jpg)

Done and ready for tile. Not pretty, probably used more than I needed to but its done.

Fiberglass tape:
IMAGE(https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/192356457_10227807105390128_1960504589798761610_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=USPwZDbmamQAX_giks-&tn=KJSZRLEPSZW7xaNX&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-1.fna&oh=6df262b42e9bb41eb27dd0aa912a1cdb&oe=60D73B7D)

IMAGE(https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/192611620_10227807105630134_8839450890256409319_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=QFJ0a3RETeAAX9Ru_nS&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=f008512c68eca7521045dbd89c27d1c9&oe=60D5B1BD)

Thinset on the seams:
IMAGE(https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/192441006_10227807106030144_3999712021151380224_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=AM-RY7VIxl4AX8bp4gV&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-1.fna&oh=6de894e81cd4924ba92bb16e11a3a1df&oe=60D83EE9)

IMAGE(https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/191047475_10227807106470155_2883089360960187238_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=t4KoINqP_f0AX_UVJNd&_nc_oc=AQnyXAvNOWPH429myxzN_HL4I77AAZhz2xTr0K4hS7u8hKeTihAX8pAaDfigb3o0e4M&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-1.fna&oh=2b0000da284293cc5944ffe8fc219b79&oe=60D7630E)

Yes LeapingGnome your 2nd (edit) picture is what I'm talking about. I've seen the 1st picture too elsewhere which is clearly nicer since it was formed that way. But my parents neighborhood had them all cut. I walked by at least 10 consecutive houses in a row that had the curb cut down. I'll ask my parents about it at some point.

Gotcha. My guess would be that one side started sinking, so the curb part started being more like a speed bump. I have seen that before, and they even make these plastic curb-filler things to make the transition smoother.

IMAGE(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.wixstatic.com%2Fmedia%2F2554a1_00f80a2028b14d06b6b22d26f2589049~mv2.jpg_srz_323_242_85_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz&f=1&nofb=1)

Rains - looks like a nice job!

LeapingGnome wrote:

Gotcha. My guess would be that one side started sinking, so the curb part started being more like a speed bump. I have seen that before, and they even make these plastic curb-filler things to make the transition smoother.

IMAGE(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.wixstatic.com%2Fmedia%2F2554a1_00f80a2028b14d06b6b22d26f2589049~mv2.jpg_srz_323_242_85_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz&f=1&nofb=1)

Pop, I need that. My drive has the stupid curb on purpose. One thing I love in winter is the snow and ice smooth it out.

LeapingGnome wrote:

Rains - looks like a nice job!

Thanks, my body is feeling it....ouch.

lunchbox12682 wrote:
LeapingGnome wrote:

Gotcha. My guess would be that one side started sinking, so the curb part started being more like a speed bump. I have seen that before, and they even make these plastic curb-filler things to make the transition smoother.

IMAGE(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.wixstatic.com%2Fmedia%2F2554a1_00f80a2028b14d06b6b22d26f2589049~mv2.jpg_srz_323_242_85_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz&f=1&nofb=1)

Pop, I need that. My drive has the stupid curb on purpose. One thing I love in winter is the snow and ice smooth it out.

I also need this. My old house had a flat curb and driveway. I never knew how spoiled I was!

While I can appreciate the use of the ramp thing doesn't it look ugly to anyone else?

I don't really have skin in this game though. My garage access is through a deteriorating alley that I have to be careful not scrape the bottom of my car on. A slightly jarring bump would be nice.

PoderOmega wrote:

While I can appreciate the use of the ramp thing doesn't it look ugly to anyone else?

I don't really have skin in this game though. My garage access is through a deteriorating alley that I have to be careful not scrape the bottom of my car on. A slightly jarring bump would be nice.

Totally ugly. But having half a curb to go in and out sucks.

Final bedroom flooring done! Take that days off not used to relax!

Before baseboards:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/A1bCQ8x.jpg)

After baseboards:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/V3RvchK.jpg)

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/BBJjecZ.jpg)

We used the second to longest planks only because we noticed we were having way too many extra. Had to dig into a bunch of boxes to get more out, but it should help a lot maximizing how much square footage we get since they did a crap job with the "cuts" they give you.

Question for the collective: for big home projects using a small business provider, how many of you will do a cash deal?

Obviously can't do that with a big chain but little guys will do it.

What do you all do?

Top_Shelf wrote:

Question for the collective: for big home projects using a small business provider, how many of you will do a cash deal?

Obviously can't do that with a big chain but little guys will do it.

What do you all do?

You mean pay a contractor in cash as opposed to financing?

I paid cash -- cash from savings and a bit of home equity -- for my new roof. Got a 5 percent discount for doing it.

I'm not a points/mileage card guy, and I'm already pretty leveraged as it is, so I figured I didn't need another major IOU hanging over me.

Depends on what you mean by "big" for the project. If you mean like $50k I would probably do a home equity loan for the current ~3% rates. If you mean like $2k or $5k or similar I would be fine paying cash/check if there is a discount. If not I would probably pay with a credit card just to get the cash back rewards / points and then pay it off at the end of the month. I have done both in the past depending on what the business offers.

Heretk wrote:
Top_Shelf wrote:

Question for the collective: for big home projects using a small business provider, how many of you will do a cash deal?

Obviously can't do that with a big chain but little guys will do it.

What do you all do?

You mean pay a contractor in cash as opposed to financing?

We financed the AC back in the day but we're now doing a repair and paint job for $9k and if I pay in cash (literal hundos) the guy will cut me a break.

For other projects I always just do card because I get cash back but this is a smaller business, referred by a family member.

I guess that depends on how you feel about tax evasion...

LeapingGnome wrote:

I guess that depends on how you feel about tax evasion...

Yeah, that was my first thought as well. Counter offer to pay via bank check.

Top_Shelf wrote:
Heretk wrote:
Top_Shelf wrote:

Question for the collective: for big home projects using a small business provider, how many of you will do a cash deal?

Obviously can't do that with a big chain but little guys will do it.

What do you all do?

You mean pay a contractor in cash as opposed to financing?

We financed the AC back in the day but we're now doing a repair and paint job for $9k and if I pay in cash (literal hundos) the guy will cut me a break.

For other projects I always just do card because I get cash back but this is a smaller business, referred by a family member.

He's not charging a fee for paying by credit card? That seems unusual. Every contractor I've received a bid from always charges about 3% if I choose to pay by card, so I never have.

LeapingGnome wrote:

I guess that depends on how you feel about tax evasion...

I've always taken the position that someone receiving cash isn't necessarily evading tax. It maybe easier to deposit. Checks can be cancelled or can bounce. There's no additional charge (like with debit and credit cards).

I'm not the conscience of my vendors.

I had the same question of cash vs checks. My roofer didn't seem to care if I gave him a bag of twenties or wrote him a couple of checks (one to my bank account, another to my HELOC). Either way I got a discount (and a spiffy new roof) and he got paid.