What home improvement work did you do today?

Just a quickie bathroom. Tub, tile, vanity, vinyl click floor that is all the rage.

 

Got rid of all the concrete in the backyard. Old concrete was all poured 6" thick for some reason so between the jackhammer and moving it all with a wheel barrow, got quite the back workout in...

 

@scpete24 I feel your pain

 

No rebar?

 

Landscape concrete... doesn’t surprise me. Though 6” is a lot of material for a landscape pour.

 

Thanks, Material is standard house construction these days. Plastic pipe vs copper, fiber concrete board siding vs cedar. I hate to move from my present home, but there will be a lot of pluses. A major one is that it will be mainly one floor living. We’re getting to the age where stairs are not recommended. I’m in a Fixed contract with a major builder so they have their prices locked in for the build, thank goodness.

 

You can get the premade sections of rebar to make it stupid proof... oh well

 

Yeah, that storm was brutal. The orange tree had a little growth starting at the base but it wasn't worth keeping. I'm still seeing things that I thought was dead sprouting new life. It's crazy. Most of my trees that died were replaced with Crape Myrtles. Those suckers are almost bomb proof.

 

It took a new chain for my chainsaw, my 5lb mattock, an axe, a Texas Toothpick, a shovel, branch clippers, and a lot of freaking swearing but I finally got the damn rootball out. My Okame Cherry tree arrived today and didn't look to happy to have been in a box for 3 days so I got it into the ground and put some fuzzy looking colored flowers around it for some color. I took the picture a few hours ago - the cherry tree looks much happier already. I need to do some more clean up tomorrow and get the mulch around it. Oh, I also got a pinky blister...

 

When a slab is 6" thick you don't really need rebar. Airport runways, even much thicker, are poured without any rebar.

 

Needed one of these
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CNfeivYHHSV/?igshid=8p3vzkmhns8e

 

I don't do Instagram or Facebook... Is it a puppy?

 

I don't either but I could open the link. It was a stump puller.

 

Huh, it asked me to log in. I'm probably on a list somewhere. A stump puller would have been helpful for sure. Or dynamite.

 

Yeah...IG is weird lately. It was a stump puller... I’d never seen one before.
I have used dynamite.

 

A puppy powered stump puller would be outstanding - with a little dynamite at the end for good measure.

 

Talked to, face timed and emailed 4 solar reps. Wish me luck.

 

Ok, need some plumbing experts to answer this:

I’m about to install plumbing for my rain fall shower head, hand held, and tub spout - are rough in valves universal? I know that we can screw on the extras through drop ears, but what about the rough in valve?

Also, going to be using PEX.

 

I’m not an expert, but I think you will hear they are not universal. That’s why there are different cartridges.

 

That’s what I’m trying to wrap my head around because the turning handle is specifically in each and every kit....

 

I think there is a bit of commonality, but not all are universal. I replaced the cartridge in mine a while back, but I want different controls, so I’m going to be sure to check compatibility. But you are buying new, so why not just get the setup you like by a trusted name?

 

Well that was the plan until the wife was stating that you can buy the parts separately (which isn’t entirely wrong), but also the fact that we’re running new PEX lines and so I’ll need the kit and drop ears to measure out before screwing in the cement boards.

 

I think I understand better. I’ve run pex and copper. Buy the main controller/diverter valve you want making sure it has the accessories you want. The behind the wall stuff. It doesn’t matter if you are running pex or copper, the depth counts. Those are usually kits, hoses and stuff are fairly universal. Plum as needed with brass elbows, etc. and then run pex push or crimp fits. I would use pex for supply, but ridged for the overall assembly. Are we adding jets in addition to rain and perhaps tub?

 

This sounds like something you want. No reason to mismatch. The rain head can be mounted overhead if you like. The in wall plumbing should be rigid to attach it all together and pex supply lines.

 

the diverter/control valve body is specific to each manufacturer and to specific product lines. For instance, Delta uses a handful of bodies (or did when we built) across their lineup based on features.

You can mix-and-match individual components (provided they aren’t integral to the valve unit) by running the in-wall piping to the drop ears and simply threading in whatever you want, but you do need to buy a valve body and valve controls that will support the features you want. And make sure to match your finishes (hard to do it mixing and matching sometimes).

Make sure you have all the parts before you start to ensure you have the layout like you want it during rough in - it is hard to change after the tile is up.

I would also do the in wall pipe to the drip ears in copper...a little more positive rigidity. But that’s me being a little old school too

 

Had my well pump pulled and replaced yesterday (new depth 560') and another 500 gallon propane tank installed today. Next is a new roof and cover over a new back deck. After 20 years here, I'm puttin' down roots!

 

Mine only had what looked like 10 gauge remesh wire. That might have been the biggest pain getting it all broken up and out. Used bolt cutters to cut the pieces apart. Some areas you could tell they just kept walking on when they poured as it sat/rusted between the concrete and ground

I agree with you on the 6" being a lot of material. Some areas were up to 8" where it looked like they just kept pouring until they got to their level height. The whole walkway eventually settled and sloped so I'm not surprised if the old owners cut corners when pouring. The ground underneath did not have the proper base or compaction.

 

Congratulations! I love the Hill Country. We lived in Wimberley for a few years and I loved the area.

Also, thank you for your service!

 

Haven’t tuned in closely in a while(projects still happening) but I wanted some outsider advice or guidance for this one; I’m building a rolling gate for my back alley access. It won’t be used more than 10x a year(I’ve probably only used it 7 times in the 5 years I’ve lived here)
The opening is 143” wide(block wall on both sides) I plan on approaching 7’ tall with this, 6’ corrugated panels for the top section and 3 or 4 squared wire/mesh grid for the bottom for my dogs to scare the piss out of anyone back there.
I was going to use one of those fancy gate lock hardware sets from the local welding supply; but then I though, I don’t want anyone being able to even look at a lock from the alley side. So instead I will do some sort of pass thru lock eye on the closing end(haha any help or ideas with this would be great, I know what needs to be done but would like to make it pretty, almost hidden like the job box locks are.
I plan on making a one sided picture frame to lay the panels in and screw into, to keep them inside the 1 1/2” frame so it can keep tight to my block wall.
I’ve got steel wheels(for angle) and rubber guides, that I’ve measured and made some caveman drawings and it all looks good.
The gate will be wider than the opening, 6” past the closing edge into the locking mechanism, and 10” pas the opening edge where a upright post will be holding the rubber bumper rollers. I will also put a open stop and a closed stop enclosure to make sure it’s all secure when opened or closed.