c/diy-homeowners

Tried to fix a leaky faucet with plumber's tape versus the actual cartridge kit

Last Tuesday I spent two hours wrapping and rewrapping that white tape around the threads, thinking I was a genius. The drip just came back faster each time. My buddy Frank came over, laughed, and said "You're putting a band-aid on a broken bone." We went to the hardware store, got the $18 Moen cartridge replacement, and it took 10 minutes to swap. Has anyone else wasted a ton of time on the quick fix before doing it right?

Overheard a contractor at the hardware store tell a new homeowner that 'paint is the cheapest upgrade you can buy.' It made me rethink my whole approach to my 1980s kitchen.

Serious question, my basement drain backed up during a storm in Cincinnati

I was down there moving some boxes last week when I saw water starting to pool around the floor drain, and it smelled awful. I grabbed my 25 foot drain snake from the workbench and managed to pull out a huge clump of roots that had worked through the old clay pipe. What's the best way to check for more root damage without digging up the whole yard?

My deck joist hanger choice came down to nails versus screws

I was replacing a section of my back deck in Tacoma and had to pick between using joist hanger nails or structural screws for the new Simpson LUS28 hangers. I went with the screws thinking they'd be easier, but one snapped during installation and I had to drill it out. Has anyone else had a structural screw fail like that on pressure-treated wood?

My basement floor went from a swamp to a dry slab in two months

I had water seeping up through the concrete every time it rained for years. Last spring I rented a jackhammer for a weekend and dug a trench around the inside edge. I put in a French drain with a sump pump that cost about $400 total. Now the floor is bone dry and I can actually use the space. Has anyone else had to deal with a high water table under their foundation?

I was convinced my old deck stain was fine for another year

After a heavy rain in April, water started beading right through it, which showed me the finish was completely shot. Anyone have a go-to brand for cedar that holds up better?

Why does nobody talk about how long it takes to level a floor for tile?

I figured a weekend project in my kitchen. Two days later, I'm still grinding down high spots with a rented concrete grinder. Has anyone else had a simple prep job balloon into a multi-day ordeal?

Thought painting trim with a brush was the only way to go

Used a cheap 2 inch brush for years, always had streaks. My cousin in Phoenix told me to try a small foam roller last month. Did my bathroom window frame with one, finish is smooth like glass. No more brush marks at all. Anyone got other trim painting tricks that work?

Showerthought: my old house had a draft I couldn't find for months

The living room floor was always cold. Checked the windows, checked the door. Nothing. My dad visited and said to try an incense stick. Held it near the baseboard. Smoke blew sideways. Found a half inch gap under the baseboard where the wall met the floor. The old carpet hid it. Sealed it with a $4 tube of caulk. Draft is gone now. Anyone else find a weird hidden air leak?

My neighbor told me to use a 3/4 inch spade bit for the new door latch and I should have listened

I was putting in a new interior door last weekend and needed to drill the hole for the latch. My neighbor Frank, who's been doing this stuff for 30 years, came over and specifically said 'You need a 3/4 inch spade bit for that, don't use a Forstner.' I only had a 1 inch Forstner bit handy and figured it was close enough. Big mistake. The Forstner bit grabbed and splintered the wood around the edge of the hole, leaving a real mess. I had to fill it with wood putty and sand it for an hour, and the finish still looks rough. Now I have to look at this janky latch hole every time I walk by. Frank just shook his head when he saw it. Has anyone else messed up a simple drill job by using the wrong bit type?

PSA: My basement sump pump gave up during a 3-inch rainstorm last Tuesday

I came home to about two inches of water across the entire floor, ruining a stack of old hardwood I had stored down there. The backup battery alarm was beeping, but the main pump just quit. I spent the next six hours with a shop vac and a rented dehumidifier, which cost me $75 for the day. Some folks say you should replace the whole unit every five years no matter what, while others run them until they fail. Has anyone else had a pump die at the worst possible moment, and what's your replacement rule?

Pro tip: I learned to check for a second shutoff valve the hard way

Honestly, I was replacing a bathroom faucet in my 1950s house last month and thought I had it all set. I shut off the main water valve in the basement, like I always do. Started unscrewing the supply lines and got a face full of cold water. Tbh, I panicked for a solid minute, scrambling with a bucket. Turns out, the previous owner had put in a second, separate shutoff valve just for that bathroom sink, hidden behind some drywall in the closet next to it. A plumber friend came over, showed me where it was, and now I check for extra valves on every single job, no matter what. Has anyone else found weird hidden valves in their old house?

My neighbor in Springfield said to use a 2x6 header for my shed door and it was way too heavy.

He insisted it was the only way to do it right, so I built the whole frame with it. When I tried to hang the door, the whole wall sagged and I had to take it all apart. Has anyone else had a bad piece of building advice that cost you a day's work?

My neighbor's deck collapse made me rethink every weekend project

I was helping my friend in Cincinnati build a simple patio cover last spring, and we saw his neighbor's deck fall off the house because the ledger board was only nailed, not bolted. That whole mess cost over $15,000 to fix and really showed me how a small shortcut can wreck everything. Do you guys always check the building code for stuff like this, or just go with what seems strong enough?

Tried to fix a squeaky floorboard with baby powder and made it worse

Honestly, I saw this old tip online about sprinkling talcum powder between the boards to stop the noise. I used a whole small bottle of Johnson's baby powder on the spot in my hallway. Ngl, it just made a huge dusty mess and the squeak got louder, like a crunching sound now. Has anyone actually had this work, or what's a better fix for an old pine floor?

The day I realized my house was breathing

Last Tuesday, after a solid week of rain in Spokane, I went to paint a bedroom and the old trim just would NOT take the primer, it kept beading up. My neighbor, a retired contractor, came over for a coffee and pointed at my basement dehumidifier, which had been off for months. He said 'Your house is full of damp air, kid, it's sweating through the walls.' I cranked that thing on for 48 hours and the difference was night and day. How often do you all check your indoor humidity levels, especially in older homes?

Has anyone bought from Duramax Sheds Online?

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on an 10x4 vinyl shed from Duramax Sheds Online. Has anyone bought from them recently? I just want to make sure the delivery process is reliable before I drop the cash.