DIY home improvement projects

Notice the shovel, how many bodies ya got buried down there
Very old house we ****** floors. When I get home I will take some photos of bottles I’ve found buried in the floors! Like 1870ish it’s cool
 
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I tackled repainting my kitchen cabinets last summer, and it was more work than I expected. I ended up hiring help to clean up some streaks and stains I couldn’t get out. Found craftsmanssealpainting.ca through a friend’s recommendation—they did a solid job finishing things off. If your paint job doesn’t come out the way you want, they’re worth checking out for touchups or full redos.
 
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Repainted all the interior trim and doors from the old orange oak to white—took forever, but made a huge difference. Also swapped out all the outlets and switches to match.
Did you sand or just prime and paint?

Did this with the door frames at my last house. I sanded them to get the sheen off, which was a huge pain. Then later a saw/read something that you can just go right over with primer and then paint..

That makes a huge difference getting rid of that orange oak, I'm sure it looks great!
 
Did you sand or just prime and paint?

Did this with the door frames at my last house. I sanded them to get the sheen off, which was a huge pain. Then later a saw/read something that you can just go right over with primer and then paint..

That makes a huge difference getting rid of that orange oak, I'm sure it looks great!

It absolutely depends on the primer and paint you're using and what you're going over. At absolute minimum, I'd recommend using a deglosser. You generally don't need to remove all the finish but it's not recommended to cover without a cleaning, scuff sand and degloss.

It says this stuff can completely replace sanding but I'd at least take a power sander and scuff it then wipe down with something like this.

I've had good luck with BM Scuff X paint if you don't go the full UTE paint route. It applies a lot more similar to a latex paint that people are used to. BIN primer is the best but holy hell either wear a real cartridge mask or have every window in your house open. It can and probably will make you sick without. If you go with water or oil based instead, make sure it's compatible with the base it's going over.
 
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I am about to hookup waterlines to a new shower, vanity, toilet in the basement

might be dumb question but what is best way to splice into existing lines? I only see 1 main shutoff for the house. lot of water to drain since i am in the basement..

also, any suggestions on fittings? sharkbite pushlock style? 1/2 hose to each device?
 
I am about to hookup waterlines to a new shower, vanity, toilet in the basement

might be dumb question but what is best way to splice into existing lines? I only see 1 main shutoff for the house. lot of water to drain since i am in the basement..

also, any suggestions on fittings? sharkbite pushlock style? 1/2 hose to each device?

Are the existing lines PEX or copper?

Also, as far as draining the house down, a lot of times an outdoor spigot will do most of it. Not sure what you have below their level.
 

Best is probably to get yourself a PEX crimper and add real pex lines and fittings. You can use shark bites but they're expensive and might not be worth it for a whole bathroom. Where and how you splice really depends on how your house is set up. Is there a manifold that feeds all the water lines to the house?

Drain the house down from the lowest faucet (a lot of times it's an outdoor spigot if the basement isn't finished off). Test everything before putting the finished walls up.
 
Best is probably to get yourself a PEX crimper and add real pex lines and fittings. You can use shark bites but they're expensive and might not be worth it for a whole bathroom. Where and how you splice really depends on how your house is set up. Is there a manifold that feeds all the water lines to the house?

Drain the house down from the lowest faucet (a lot of times it's an outdoor spigot if the basement isn't finished off). Test everything before putting the finished walls up.
I dont see any manifolds. There is like a 3/4 hot and 3/4 cold line that run the length of the basement. Basement was unfinished. Its all finished now except window trim and bathroom plumbing. I guess I should have done this earlier LOL
 
That's the one thing I wish my house had was a wood stove or a wood fireplace. Just something about that smell and sound I love. A gas fireplace just isn't the same.
Have 3 fireplaces and 1 wood furnace. The Amish provide reasonably priced wood. I think it went through 9 cords last year. Hoping to break that this winter
 
I dont see any manifolds. There is like a 3/4 hot and 3/4 cold line that run the length of the basement. Basement was unfinished. Its all finished now except window trim and bathroom plumbing. I guess I should have done this earlier LOL

Tee into the main and run 1/2 inch lines to the fixtures. Get your PEX from a supply house if you can. The PEX sold at the big box stores is usually lower quality consumer stuff. If you have to go to a big box store, buy name brand especially on the fittings.
 
Looks like PEX type B. the diagram is what I am thinking to minimize amount of shutoff valves I need.

really appreciate the feedback
 

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Did you sand or just prime and paint?

Did this with the door frames at my last house. I sanded them to get the sheen off, which was a huge pain. Then later a saw/read something that you can just go right over with primer and then paint..

That makes a huge difference getting rid of that orange oak, I'm sure it looks great!


The best product by far is oil based Zinsser BIN shellac. It's about $90 a gallon and really lets off some fumes, but on all jobs I have done there is nothing better. Saves a ton of time and gets the job done right.

Had a duplex where the tenant tried to burn it down with a mattress because she was evicted. Everything was taken out from cabinets to flooring to tub. Sprayed the entire inside from top to bottom. Next day walked in and couldn't even smell a hint of smoke. Does great with cat p*** smell and of course going over stained wood for painting.

Happy Thanksgiving
 
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