Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

DIY home improvement projects

zarnold56 said:
Good info. Biggest issue I have is it is fairly high up on the ceiling. I need to get a taller A-frame ladder, but not sure I have the space to store it (or feel safe up there on one if I'm being honest).
Click to expand...

Not sure how tall we're talking but I got rid of all my ladders and only have this now. It's heavy but easy to store and multi use. It's great for around the house.


Edit: Not sure where you're located but like an Ankeny Hardware rents ladders.
 
Last edited:
zarnold56 said:
Good info. Biggest issue I have is it is fairly high up on the ceiling. I need to get a taller A-frame ladder, but not sure I have the space to store it (or feel safe up there on one if I'm being honest).
Click to expand...
Not sure where you're at but most home improvement stores have ladder rental so you can use it and then lose it when you're done. Here's Menards as an example: Menards Ladder/Scaffolding Rental

Edit:And.... CyDaddy beat me to it by THAT much. Lol.
 
zarnold56 said:
Good info. Biggest issue I have is it is fairly high up on the ceiling. I need to get a taller A-frame ladder, but not sure I have the space to store it (or feel safe up there on one if I'm being honest).
Click to expand...
You can rent ladders and scaffolding from menards and other stores. Ladders taller than 8 feet get expensive
 
Not necessarily home improvement, but last week I fixed the door on our microwave which was not latching shut, and today I replaced a snapped drum/drive belt on our Whirlpool dryer and got that back up and running.

Relatively minor fixes, but for a guy who's never been all that handy, feeling a little like this...

1mum5l.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Althetuna, CysLoveChild, flycy and 6 others
Worth a try here lol

Anybody have a handyman/contractor that does side jobs that might be able to frame out and drywall a bedroom in my basement?

Waterloo/Cedar Falls area.
 
Gonzo said:
Not necessarily home improvement, but last week I fixed the door on our microwave which was not latching shut, and today I replaced a snapped drum/drive belt on our Whirlpool dryer and got that back up and running.

Relatively minor fixes, but for a guy who's never been all that handy, feeling a little like this...

1mum5l.jpg
Click to expand...
YouTube is a wonderful thing!
 
  • Winner
Reactions: Gonzo
1UNI2ISU said:
Worth a try here lol

Anybody have a handyman/contractor that does side jobs that might be able to frame out and drywall a bedroom in my basement?

Waterloo/Cedar Falls area.
Click to expand...

Use extreme caution hiring someone to frame and drywall as side work when you haven't personally seen their results. It's something a lot people think they can do because it seems easier than it actually is. It really brings out the bottom of the barrel type folks when you offer up a job like that.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: 1UNI2ISU
Gonzo said:
Not necessarily home improvement, but last week I fixed the door on our microwave which was not latching shut, and today I replaced a snapped drum/drive belt on our Whirlpool dryer and got that back up and running.

Relatively minor fixes, but for a guy who's never been all that handy, feeling a little like this...

1mum5l.jpg
Click to expand...
selena-gomez-t-hats-my-man.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gonzo
When you are just going to half ass it and anything will work . . . . finish it with slacquer.

1783967283652.png
 
AgronAlum said:
Wife decided she wanted a new patio door.

Old:
View attachment 172201
View attachment 172202

New:
View attachment 172203

View attachment 172204

The only thing is had to custom make was the threshold because the new door was slimmer than the old. Had a stick of oak that I planed down and routed to match the golden oak on the inside.
Click to expand...
Looks like it turned out well. Did the door have nailing fins on it--did you have to r/r the siding to weatherproof it? My pet peeve on those is when the siding guy goes the easy route and nails the soffitt J over the top piece of siding rather than using a finish trim on the top course as yours appears.
I had to replace two of my garage entry doors (one on the attached garage and one on the detached), extruded aluminum frames--top quality. The salesman suggested I remove the nailing fins, screw through the jams, and caulk the hell out of things. Having done many as a side job on new and replacements, I opted to do it the "right way", removed all of the steel double 4 siding, used the nailing fins, taped over to the Tyvek, and replaced (in order) the siding. A lot more work but a much cleaner "professional" look with guaranteed weather proofing
 
AgronAlum said:
Wife decided she wanted a new patio door.

Old:
View attachment 172201
View attachment 172202

New:
View attachment 172203

View attachment 172204

The only thing is had to custom make was the threshold because the new door was slimmer than the old. Had a stick of oak that I planed down and routed to match the golden oak on the inside.
Click to expand...

Nice work, man! I had to replace my slider earlier this year. I wasn't all that fired up about taking on the project myself. That is, until I got an estimate from a place that installs them: $7,800.

That was all the motivation I needed. Did myself (with a little help from my son and son-in-law) and saved about $4000.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AgronAlum and CycloneDaddy
cydnote said:
Looks like it turned out well. Did the door have nailing fins on it--did you have to r/r the siding to weatherproof it? My pet peeve on those is when the siding guy goes the easy route and nails the soffitt J over the top piece of siding rather than using a finish trim on the top course as yours appears.
I had to replace two of my garage entry doors (one on the attached garage and one on the detached), extruded aluminum frames--top quality. The salesman suggested I remove the nailing fins, screw through the jams, and caulk the hell out of things. Having done many as a side job on new and replacements, I opted to do it the "right way", removed all of the steel double 4 siding, used the nailing fins, taped over to the Tyvek, and replaced (in order) the siding. A lot more work but a much cleaner "professional" look with guaranteed weather proofing
Click to expand...

Pulled the siding, nailed the fins, flashing tape and then reinstalled the siding. I ended up having to buy new J channel which you can see is now white because I couldn't find anything color matched to the siding in stock. I think that was a good choice because it makes the door look a little more bulky on the exterior.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cydnote
Pope said:
Nice work, man! I had to replace my slider earlier this year. I wasn't all that fired up about taking on the project myself. That is, until I got an estimate from a place that installs them: $7,800.

That was all the motivation I needed. Did myself (with a little help from my son and son-in-law) and saved about $4000.
Click to expand...

7800!? I didn't even attempt to get an estimate. I was all in for like 700 bucks because the door is an off the shelf Pella door from Lowes and just the flashing tape was like 40 of that. Took about 6 hours with another person helping for about half of that.
 
AgronAlum said:
7800!? I didn't even attempt to get an estimate. I was all in for like 700 bucks because the door is an off the shelf Pella door from Lowes and just the flashing tape was like 40 of that. Took about 6 hours with another person helping for about half of that.
Click to expand...
That estimate was for a middle of the line Pella door. Not their cheapest model, but not their most expensive.

The project took me a couple of days because I had to replace some rotted wood below the threshold. The most challenging part was getting it up on my deck which is about 8' off the ground. I had to remove the railing from my deck, tie the frame to some ropes, and recruit my son and son-in-law to help me lift it up to the deck.

All in all, it was still worth saving $4000!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom
Back