So I am contractor (Carpenter turned Project Manager for residential remodel/construction) in my normal life, but I have a weird idea for my own place. The landscape subs I use would say "well no one does that, must be for a reason" or show me a catalog for selections from their preferred vendors. And I'm looking to riff on this idea a little, and this is still a fundamentally diy situation.

Basically I want to make pathways around my house with ipe deck boards laid like stepping stones over a bed of gravel. So unsupported, unfastened boards, in contact with the ground in the PNW. The boards would be laid perpendicular to the walking direction (probably obviously) with a decorative rock. I think this could be very nice looking, and keep the path wheelbarrow friendly.

I figure a free-draining crushed rock wouldn't trap enough moisture against it to cause rot. I've seen solid hardwood deck footings in direct contact with poorly draining soils in Hawaii, and though I'd never sell anyone that, it's hard to forget. This whole idea is brought on by the massive pile of shorts and offcuts I have accrued, and the DEEP desire to not re-do my deck in a tight herringbone pattern just to justify keeping them.

Couldn't find anyone doin this online, so idk what do you think?

We recently bought Ikea Baltsar chairs for our dining room, only to find out they are too low for the height of our table. Is there a safe way to raise the height of these chairs or it is a lost cause? They are really comfortable and I'd like to keep them if I can. I googled but didn't find anything that looked safe (e.g regular furniture raisers, which work for furniture that is stationary but didn't look safe for a chair where person shifts their weight around and moves).

Thank you.

I received a Yankee Candle Serene Air diffuser for Christmas. After having no luck searching online for the scent refills, I contacted Yankee Candle. They explained that the Serene Air refills are discontinued and there are no substitutes.

I'm curious if anyone has found any other brand refills to work with this model? I thought that maybe the Yankee Candle Scent-Plug refills might work because they look similar. But the shape is off a bit.

If anyone has tried anything or has any ideas, I'd love to hear them! I really love the diffuser. Sad they're discontinued.

75 gallon gas water heater “knocks” after hot water is run. Mean anything?

Here's a video illustrating the issue https://imgur.com/BU4ZJgi

The bottom of the door on the hinge side is scraping against the sill. You can see in the video that there's no clearance on that side of the bottom but on the doorknob side there's clearance.

I've read some people suggesting to sand the bottom of the door or screw in the sill, but I don't see any screws on the sill. I'm considering sanding the bottom of the door, but if it's an alignment issue, then I think I shouldn't be removing any material from the door?

As the title suggests, I have about 100’ of chain link fence that I’d like to replace with vinyl. I see there are conversion kits that look like they could do the job, which might make this a much more DIY project. Just curious if anyone has done this and how it turned out?

Hello we just bought a home and we noticed this when moving in, it’s towards the basement and it runs up the side of our basement door and it lets air run inside it’s along stone on one side and the wood on the other. How do I fill it?

Hey gang,

Moved into a new triplex and didn't realize the bottom floor windows don't open. My cat has to go outside, or he'll make my life miserable as I did his. Any ideas on how install a pet door?

1. There's an 8-ft back door with one big a 6-ft glass panel in the middle.
2. There's a window that is also one solid piece of glass. (photos attaches).

Your ideas and suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

Got a house and I notice on my bathroom that there is cracked grout in all the angles of the shower. I notice some grout chipping away completely. Do I just remove all the grout with a flat head or just scrape it with a saw to replace it with silicone?

Does anyone have any idea how you would make a floating shelf that is solid and won't sag over time?

First time homeowner here. I need repaint my kitchen and wanted to fix an area with some old water damage before repainting. The drywall under a window is bulging a bit, and it was something that I missed previously because it’s not apparent unless the room is dim. I think the damage is old since we had some heavy rain back in November and I didn’t notice anything getting worse at this corner.

Is this somewhere where I can scrape and patch, or is fully removing the piece needed? I’m new to DIY so any advice is really appreciated.

Not sure if this is the right group but I really need some advice. Two years ago a contractor replaced the siding and windows on our two- story home. We noticed water leaking into the first floor kitchen window approximately three months after they finished the work. The contractor claimed the leak was due to the lack of gutters on the house. (It was winter time and there were icicles on the roof line). We had gutters installed that summer, and now a year later we have water dripping into the same window. The contractor now claims that this is due to heat loss from the attic, and that we need insulation and baffles installed. We are confused as to why this heat loss problem would be causing a leak in only one window, when 14 were replaced. All 14 windows have icicles above them (the gutters didn’t stop the icicles) and just as much water dripping and hitting them as the kitchen window. Does our contractor’s opinion make sense, or is it more likely that the window was installed improperly or is defective in some way? We don’t know where to go from here: pay for insulation and baffles to be installed? Hire another contractor to replace the window? Or something we’re missing? We appreciate any advice!

TL;DR - Built a 12x6 pergola with a 7:12 pitch roof and used Simpson rafter hangers for the top and Simpson hurricane ties for the bottom. Had a friend over and he said the point load will roll the 2x10 on the bottom out eventually. Do I need to rip the roof and solar panels off and cut birds mouths?

Built a 12x6 pergola to provide some shade on my back porch and put some solar panels on to power my shed. Everything I googled said to use 6x6 posts dug 2' deep, 2x10 for attaching my rafters, seat cut in the 6x6 with timberlock screws to attach the 2x10 to post, and if I used rafter hangers up top I could use hurricane ties on the bottom instead of a birds mouth because the bottom "plate" is only 1.5" thick.

Had a friend over last night and he said the point load of the 5/8 sheathing, 29ga roofing, and 250lbs of solar panels will slowly push the 2x10 off the seat cut and Im going to have a huge liability on my hands. Id hate to undo all my work all to cut some 1.5"x2" cuts that I didn't need.

Reddit do I need rip my roof off or am I fine?

I have an older recliner that doesn't come all the way up. The recliner goes all the way back. There is no handle it is completely manual. The mechanism show no obvious breakage and moves freely. Springs are all intact and seem taut. I don't understand enough about recliners to know what to look for. Here are some pictures. Happy to post more if anyone needs another view.

TIA

https://preview.redd.it/qcwzhgp64nde1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=20b87b17245f2ece3785f38145f71ec5677d9320

https://preview.redd.it/7joiijp64nde1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f2d32e17bd0545b4ea2c224297c7bd88a5b9b3a

https://preview.redd.it/a4s6bgp64nde1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61bcae0e1ea41915715d23c1f7611ddcb3dd3a48

https://preview.redd.it/yy0feqp64nde1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de3c230b63db1624cd73dcb03cba6f5a7437df6c

https://preview.redd.it/648oojp64nde1.jpg?width=1576&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6509acd3c6f5d31d89ed8bc2230546067ff1293b

https://preview.redd.it/fisflhp64nde1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af9425abdd794c1c9f38c8c2385cffc6c8717ec4

So I have a long-term vision to become a female general contractor and entrepreneur of a major home-improvement business in my hometown.

The services of my business will include: Interior Design/Installation Landscape Design/Installation Ponds Sunrooms Patios Etc.

I have major respect for DIYers, and am one in many ways. But I can't say I'm very much of the world as far as contracting goes. My real QUESTION is though, how do you think would be the best approach to transform myself from a subtle DIYer into a respectable general contractor in a fashion that is accountable and honorable? Do I just start knocking and doing gigs? Do I take classes? Do I apprentice?

Genova 54705 Elbow PVC 100psi@180deg.f 1/2

I don't have a 90 elbow to mend a broken pipe. Not a lot of info positive or negative about the PVC ones.

The break was above the old elbow. Tom cats fighting...

I have primer and glue, anything else if I'm using it under the floor? Or do not trust it under the home?

I have a ball valve nearby, so nothing is flooding...

This was in a stash of Dad's from perhaps the mid 2000s.

https://preview.redd.it/1dsksozkylde1.jpg?width=450&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08b8d9ff704cf63fcfbe6091f03264f43e0e533f

Looking for some advice on best way to remedy a pocket door that's scraping up against the frame. Link to the picture is below - you can see the center portion of the door with no gap between the frame. I'm assuming I somehow need to sand down the inside of the frame to reduce that material, but not sure the best way to go about it.

Pocket Door

Hi! I’d like to insulate this space but I feel like it’s impossible logistically.

We use this as a mudroom with command hooks for coats and backpacks currently. But it’s so cold! We’re in Minnesota so temps can get -10F with windchill.

This is a side entrance. It’s cinderblock on both sides. To the right is the unheated garage. The left is an exterior wall. There is a gas hookup and exhaust duct on the left wall. House was built in 50’s. No direct central heat except for a vent in the half bath at the end of the hall.

I’ve thought about doing framing and rigid foam but I think we’d lose a lot of precious inches in this narrow hallway. Could I do think rigid foam behind beadboard? Or is that a mold situation waiting to happen? I’m mostly curious about everyone’s thoughts on the walls, because they feel like ice to the touch all winter. (Which is like 6 months here 🫠)

This space also sits directly under a bedroom which is also very cold as a result.

https://preview.redd.it/ak57rnmlklde1.jpg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38e7c9a5a0a7ef9c773e2c3fede42109bc61a955

My foyer (roughly 3' x 5' in size) has a stone tile floor that appears to be laid directly on the concrete/cinder block base beneath it. Without any insulating layer, it conducts cold straight into the house - a thermal camera shows it at 40F on a 32F day. There's about half an inch of clearance beneath the front door, but basically zero clearance below the closet door, so a doormat with any depth at all would stop us from opening up the closet. Theoretically I could sand or plane down the bottom of the closet door, but I'd very much prefer not to go through the hassle if there's anything else that can be done.

I've considered insulating the base beneath it, but it's completely inaccessible. It looks like when the previous owner redid the front porch/foyer they sealed up the base beneath the foyer completely with concrete, and there's no access point through the basement either.

Is there any other way to insulate this floor without ripping up the tiles to add something beneath them?

Is there any way to locate a panel for cat5 in a house? I have a verizon modem but there isn't a place where all of the cat5 cables end from where originate in the walls.

I'm hoping someone might have some suggestions. My mother is remodeling her town home and hired a company that claimed to be full service. Turns out they have no experience in heating. She currently has a combined living / dining room that is approximately 400 sq ft with 10 ft ceilings and is heated by a 3000 watt Cadet in wall heater. She wants to replace it with something that is a little more streamlined not so boxy and Industrial looking. I have been able to find 1500 watt units that look really nice and have oscillating or adjustable vents. When looking for something over 1500 watts I only find the more industrial looking style with a fixed metal grill like the Cadet.

Would 1500 watts be enough for that space? Are there options that are more attractive over 1500 watts? Or are we stuck with the more Industrial style?

See photos. Had the back door replaced while I was out of town. The guy did a great job but apparently didn't include what to dow with this gap. It's on one side only and I think there may have been extra trim/casement there before.

So, do I just put a large line of caulk over it? Fill the mortar in with mortar patch or a combination of mortar patch then cover it? I think trim would look odd but don't know.

https://preview.redd.it/8pwc0y1q8lde1.jpg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3e3d996b38c2c4b2de6ea6dfc90e1fae95ed007

https://preview.redd.it/rclzuy1q8lde1.jpg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60d917bec089e1dfc1c6dab6fec4b3eb4d3e740f