Home Remodel: Do, Don'ts, Advice

[old goat]

I drilled a 1 1/4 hole through the rim of a SS sink with a Lennox bi-metal hole saw. It was easy. The saw was 10 bucks. The arbor was 20 because I didn't have any Lennox snap-back arbors. Probably the hole saw would work with the arbors I already have but the 20 bucks was worth it to not have to make a return trip to Mountain Hardware.

I installed a push button that air-actuates the switch on the garbage disposal, saving me from having to reach behind the microwave to turn it on. It's a neat thing. https://www.acehardware.com/departme...posals/4785747

[Skidog]

Anyone have experience installing an RO water filter? Is it DIY-friendly? Our countertop is 16 gauge stainless, who can I get to come in and put a hole in it for a filtered water dispenser?

i had one installed. Price wasnt bad when combined with the softener. We only had it plumbed to the fridge water/ice. Didnt want a spout in the nice counters.

[dan_pdx]

I'd stick with that step drill over a hole cutter for going through the stainless. Most hole saws aren't great for metals, and the ones that are cost $$$.

For drilling, just a drop of oil, keep the rpm's low, as much pressure as you can bear (get on top of the counter and bear down), and watch the chips coming off that they're not discoloring from heat (bluish tint). Stainless hardens with heat, so high RPM's work against you, and I'd bet that's what you did before. Lots of RPM's and not enough push.

I'm pretty sure you're right, thanks for the advice and the link.

[dan_pdx]

i had one installed. Price wasnt bad when combined with the softener. We only had it plumbed to the fridge water/ice. Didnt want a spout in the nice counters.

There's a thought! Current fridge only has an icemaker, so we'd need a new fridge, but that would let us save a step. Way more room to install one behind the fridge too.

[::: :::]

trim plate on your spigot.

likely there's an escutcheon as part of the assembly

drill baby drill

[Skidog]

There's a thought! Current fridge only has an icemaker, so we'd need a new fridge, but that would let us save a step. Way more room to install one behind the fridge too.

Ours is in basement and plumbed up so no need to move anything to change filters/service. Our water is mostly good (well), but a bit hard so we have a softener. Before i got the R/O the ice had a salt taste from the softener. Hence the plumb to the fridge. Plus it's a lot less wear on the R/O being only drinking water. Another nice part if fridge had a filter too so it's like double filtered. I basically ignore the fridge replace filter warning about 4 times before replacing, since it's R/O going into that filter already.

Good luck.

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[bigdude2468]

Ours is in basement and plumbed up so no need to move anything to change filters/service. Our water is mostly good (well), but a bit hard so we have a softener. Before i got the R/O the ice had a salt taste from the softener. Hence the plumb to the fridge. Plus it's a lot less wear on the R/O being only drinking water. Another nice part if fridge had a filter too so it's like double filtered. I basically ignore the fridge replace filter warning about 4 times before replacing, since it's R/O going into that filter already.

Good luck.

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I want to add a RO system for our fridge that has a water dispenser + ice maker. I read somewhere that RO systems sometimes do not have enough pressure to adequately fill the ice cube tray, you had no problem with this?

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

I want to add a RO system for our fridge that has a water dispenser + ice maker. I read somewhere that RO systems sometimes do not have enough pressure to adequately fill the ice cube tray, you had no problem with this?

I put in an Apec HO system for this reason, and it works great. Also fills pots a lot quicker than the old dribble system we had.

[Skidog]

I want to add a RO system for our fridge that has a water dispenser + ice maker. I read somewhere that RO systems sometimes do not have enough pressure to adequately fill the ice cube tray, you had no problem with this?

not yet....seems to produce ice just fine. My fridge actually has 2 ice makers. One in door and one in freezer drawer. Small cubes/crushed top, bottom large cubes. But the RO has had no issues keeping up. Ours has something like a 3gallon capacity.

[RootSkier]

What were the ages of houses you tested?


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Old as balls. One was built in 192x and had vermiculite insulation. The vermiculite, by some miracle, did not have asbestos.

Then there was a popcorn ceiling from the 1960s or 1970s (guessing) in a much older house. No asbestos.

Then our current house was built in 1966 and has some sort of weird shaved wood product as ceiling insulation. Again, no asbestos.

I also 100% agree with everyone who is saying it's not a problem unless you are going to make dust.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Pro tip: Don't do this.

[skaredshtles]

Pro tip: Don't do this.

WTF is going on here? Attempt to burn the house down?

[Skistack]

Pro tip: Don't do this.

Is that speaker wire?


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[skaredshtles]

I knew I was in for some homeowner fuckery when I recently installed a new microwave. I was not, however, prepared for this retardation:

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

WTF is going on here? Attempt to burn the house down?

I cannot see how they didn't burn it down.

[glademaster]

What's that wrapped in pipe wrap running through there? I'm confused and scared. Somebody got really lucky.

[RootSkier]

What is it? I have zero clue...except that it's hot and appears to have scorched the closed cell insulation. The duct tape is a nice touch, though.

[glademaster]

That's why I'm confused. Whatever it is looks like it's wrapped in pipe wrap, but it got hot enough to scorch the spray foam? Weird, wild stuff.

[skaredshtles]

My guess is that's a hot water line that someone did some solder work on and attempted to light the floor joist on fire? Then put pipe wrap over the line 'cause hot water?

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Copper pipe to hydronic baseboard heat. Someone was soldering and somehow didn't set that foam insulation on fire. That stuff burns like gasoline. Someone came along later and insulated it.

[Timberridge]

I don't see a problem, other than that speaker cable should be insulated as well.

[Ted Striker]

Does it sound better if it's kept warm?

[Choss Jonger, Sr.]

any of you dentists ever repoint a flagstone chimney?

[skifishbum]

not flagstone but yes ive tuckpointed flashed and counterflashed my share of chimneys
arcrylic mortar fortifier ftw

[old goat]

The front of our garage has 3 concrete shear walls on either side of and between the doors. I covered the concrete with granite. I don't recall what mortar I used. The stone has held up well for 10 years, but this winter one of the stones at the top of a pillar fell off. What should I use to cement the stone back in place--mortar--if so what type, thinset, something else? Subject to heavy freeze/thaw. The top of the pillar is open to the sky and gets drips from the deck above. The top of the pillar is above the top of the concrete and the top stones lie against the T111 siding. I could add a brick tie or two under the replaced stone or would that be unnecessary if I use the right adhesive and seal all gaps well?

The joint between the top stone and the T111 was originally sealed with silicone caulk but I assume water got behind the stone and froze. Is there something better to use to seal that joint.