iman29
Well-Known Member
This is a great idea too plus it includes the retaining wall from my idea so win win 🤪
The DIY thread - DIYourself
- Thread starter Red Mosquito
- Start date
Make it a little bigger than the current area, so you can backfill the gap - looks like 3/4 stone.
Unless the concrete is pulling away from the house, it isn't going anywhere.
The block walls look nice now - they get glued together, just get the bottom course right and away you go.
Wood gives you more flexibility - 8x8 timbers - if the height gets wonky, use a 10" or 6" along the way.
Could also go higher with the block (they make two sided for the exposed are - leave some drains around the edge, and make a nice "space"
Throw an awning on the back wall if in late sun.
ekuhn
Well-Known Member
Always been a big house fan proponent. Cool evenings/nights allow you to cool the house down rapidly. I installed one at my old ranch style house and I could only run it on low because of the lack of venting in the attic space. When I would run it on high, it would force hot air back into the house via the high hats and other ceiling penetrations.I grew up with one in our house and we used it through a lot of the year without AC. The main point (which is probably obvious) is just that it's counterproductive to use it if you're going to be running AC during the day, due to the amount of humidity that you bring into the house with it. And you may or may not care, but they do put what is usually a poorly insulated and air sealed hole in your ceiling. Tamarack (and maybe others) make models that seem to address this pretty well:
Whole House Fans | Attic Fan | Whole House Fan
www.tamtech.com
I have yet to install one at the new house but its high on the list. Was looking at quiet cools.
Advanced Whole House Fans by QuietCool
Explore QuietCool Whole House Fans to save energy and enhance home comfort. Enjoy efficient cooling, fresh air, and lower energy bills
quietcoolsystems.com
The size I need for the new house is big, but I just need to figure out the nest way to vent. They had a remote option which I liked as well.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
If you decide in favor of a demo and want to do it on your won your best chance is to rent a breaker from HD (see link in my previous comment). It's not hard at all, you actually just hold the BFH upright, let the tool and its own weight do the job for you, gravity worksin your favor as it is a slab (had it been a wall you would have been in a more complicated scenario). The area that I demoed was possibly similar to yours (in a different shape, and around the same thickness), it was a few hours job with the right tool.
qclabrat
Well-Known Member
They work really well for split level houses where airflow is often problematic. My in-laws had one in their old home and it worked great. Considering one for the beach house or a really big gable vent exhaust fan.Always been a big house fan proponent. Cool evenings/nights allow you to cool the house down rapidly. I installed one at my old ranch style house and I could only run it on low because of the lack of venting in the attic space. When I would run it on high, it would force hot air back into the house via the high hats and other ceiling penetrations.
I have yet to install one at the new house but its high on the list. Was looking at quiet cools.
Advanced Whole House Fans by QuietCool
Explore QuietCool Whole House Fans to save energy and enhance home comfort. Enjoy efficient cooling, fresh air, and lower energy bills
The size I need for the new house is big, but I just need to figure out the nest way to vent. They had a remote option which I liked as well.
qclabrat
Well-Known Member
Have any suggestions for fancy wood purveyors? Think a gift certificate for wood maybe a better idea.
I think I know the answer on this one, bet he’d say:
Working Mans Lumber Yard - Boards and Beams, Wide Plank Flooring, Reclaimed Wood, Hardwoods, Plywood
We are a full service lumberyard and custom wood products manufacturer with a huge selection of hardwoods, reclaimed lumber, moldings, doors, plywood, live edge wood slabs, pressure treated decking, composite decking, fireplace mantels, solid wood timbers, PVC decking, ship lap materials, wood...
www.woodboardsandbeams.com
Right next to Magnify Brewing as a bonus.
SmooveP
Well-Known Member
Boards and Beams in Fairfield and Monteath in Old Bridge both have good selections.
SmooveP
Well-Known Member
You know me too well.I think I know the answer on this one, bet he’d say:
Working Mans Lumber Yard - Boards and Beams, Wide Plank Flooring, Reclaimed Wood, Hardwoods, Plywood
We are a full service lumberyard and custom wood products manufacturer with a huge selection of hardwoods, reclaimed lumber, moldings, doors, plywood, live edge wood slabs, pressure treated decking, composite decking, fireplace mantels, solid wood timbers, PVC decking, ship lap materials, wood...
Right next to Magnify Brewing as a bonus.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
@Patrick I think @MadisonDan account has been taken over by a bot, the real MD would have found the perfect Archer meme for the occasion, this reeks chatgpt from a mile away…
iman29
Well-Known Member
Well problem solved. Turns out the next door neighbor that I talk to all the time has access to pretty much a full machine shop of tools from work and brought me home a commercial level pole saw and hedge trimmer (for the back neighbors shrubs that constantly are overgrown into my yard ).
This thing is 10’ long and extends about another 5 or so. Exactly what I needed with a fresh chain and new carb.
On the downside the only time I could do it was after a 55mile road ride Saturday afternoon in the sweltering humidity and heat. He needed to bring it back to work tmw and today I wasn’t going to be around plus they forecast poring rain all day.
The first 30 minutes were ok but then this thing started to get heavy and my shoulders fatigued. Took me about 1.5 hours to also collect all the branches and chop up the bigger ones. A lot of the trimming I did was much higher then it looked but it was badly needed.
This was much more work than I thought but I’m glad I didn’t buy some little electric one I’m sure I would have cut the extension cord somehow too.
Ran out of energy to collect and tie up all the branches and drag them to the curb. That will be a job for after work one night this week.
Before and after.
qclabrat
Well-Known Member
Saving the "shitty" job last. Suspecting a sewage smell in the upstairs bath coming from the toilet. Saving readers from seeing too much, the shoddy spacer was not sealing properly and likely led to gas leakage. Added a thicker spacer but found the flange wasn't quite level so improvised by doubling the wax ring. 24 hrs later, so far so good. No longer smelly and no water leak after flushing. 
JDurk
Well-Known Member
Upstairs bath floor is not level and when I set the toilet, must have compressed the wax ring too much setting down, when I leveled it created a small gap. After a few years started smelling. Got 1 of these and reset the toilet. Been good since.
SANI SEAL TOILET GASKET Toilet Gasket Flexible Waxless Seal - Universal Fit BL01 - The Home Depot
Sani Seal Toilet Gasket is a revolutionary development in Toilet Bowl-to-Flange sealing that is flexible, wax-less and repositionable. The unique design holds the bolts upright and the gasket in place.
www.homedepot.com
This is required by code.
I'll leave the reasons up to the reader's imagination.....eww
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i've been using the flexible seals too - seems like a great idea.
ekuhn
Well-Known Member
Didn't realize that. Just always did it cause it looked nice.
iman29
Well-Known Member
same didnt realize this either. the last time I replaced the toilet in the powder room downstairs I never went back and did that.
added to the to do list...