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Official Pit Home Improvement/DIY thread

Nah, the bamboo is holding up nicely. If anything, I'll sand it down and stain it a lighter color in the future.
 
I need sump pump advice.

I haven't even looked at my sump pump since we bought the house. The inspector said it was fine a couple of years ago, and we've had no issues since. Yesterday I noticed a loud rushing water sound coming from the pump well. I looked in and the water in the well is turbulent and there almost looks like steam coming off of it. I unplugged the pump and went upstairs to try to google WTF was going on. We did recently have a LOT of snow melt outside our house, but there's been no obvious flooding in the basement. I turned it back on a few hours later and it immediately started circulating the water in the well again. I left it on for a few minutes, and nothing seemed to be happening, so I turned it off again. It's in no danger of overflowing or anything, I'm just not sure what is going on here.

Any advice?
 
Would it be easy to access and replace? A new one may be in order depending on the age of your current one. Definitely not something you want to stop working. A new one isn't really that expensive, especially if you know how to change it yourself.
 
Dryer busted. I'm guessing it's a belt. Any guesses as to how much a repair guy will cost?
(Yes by asking the question I know it violates the spirit of the thread. If I could find a repair manual online I'd take a swing myself.)
 
tiltdeac said:
I need sump pump advice.

I haven't even looked at my sump pump since we bought the house. The inspector said it was fine a couple of years ago, and we've had no issues since. Yesterday I noticed a loud rushing water sound coming from the pump well. I looked in and the water in the well is turbulent and there almost looks like steam coming off of it. I unplugged the pump and went upstairs to try to google WTF was going on. We did recently have a LOT of snow melt outside our house, but there's been no obvious flooding in the basement. I turned it back on a few hours later and it immediately started circulating the water in the well again. I left it on for a few minutes, and nothing seemed to be happening, so I turned it off again. It's in no danger of overflowing or anything, I'm just not sure what is going on here.

Any advice?
Click to expand...

UPDATE:

So I used my wetvac to get a bunch of the water out of there so I could see what was going on. Turns out the pump was just floating freely in there, unattached to the PVC leading out of the well that I assume it's supposed to be attached to. It looks like it was attached by a circular metal clamp thing (I'm sure that's what it's called!) that is super rusted. I think I might be able to just get a new one clamp so I can reattached it?
 
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I know this is a DIY thread, but I'm not enough of a DIYer for this whole project.

I'm going to re-do my bathroom. It's my only bathroom so I can't let the project drag out too long. In my estimation, it would involve an electrician, plumber, and someone to put down a new subfloor (water damage, likely some mold) and tile. I've worked with a plumber once before so I have a small pre-existing relationship there, but don't know who to call for the other needs.

In looking for a combo of efficiency, speed, and lower cost, would I be better off hiring a contractor or separate specialists? I have a lot of other electrical work I should get done around my house so I'm leaning toward separate people for each project.
 
RollTheQuad06 said:
I know this is a DIY thread, but I'm not enough of a DIYer for this whole project.

I'm going to re-do my bathroom. It's my only bathroom so I can't let the project drag out too long. In my estimation, it would involve an electrician, plumber, and someone to put down a new subfloor (water damage, likely some mold) and tile. I've worked with a plumber once before so I have a small pre-existing relationship there, but don't know who to call for the other needs.

In looking for a combo of efficiency, speed, and lower cost, would I be better off hiring a contractor or separate specialists? I have a lot of other electrical work I should get done around my house so I'm leaning toward separate people for each project.
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Would you feel comfortable as acting as the contractor for the process?
 
DistrictDeacon said:
Would you feel comfortable as acting as the contractor for the process?
Click to expand...

Perhaps I'm underestimating the involved work, but I figure that me being a "contractor" would just involve me choosing and hiring the people to come over and do their portion, and trying to coordinate schedules so they can come on relatively close days. Am I missing something?

I expect that a tile or floor guy would be able to move the toilet in the morning and replace it at the end of the day - I shouldn't need a plumber for just that part each day, right?
 
tiltdeac said:
UPDATE:

So I used my wetvac to get a bunch of the water out of there so I could see what was going on. Turns out the pump was just floating freely in there, unattached to the PVC leading out of the well that I assume it's supposed to be attached to. It looks like it was attached by a circular metal clamp thing (I'm sure that's what it's called!) that is super rusted. I think I might be able to just get a new one clamp so I can reattached it?
Click to expand...

You should be able to reattach the pump to the PVC with a new clamp. They are pretty cheap. Get one with a screw, not one you squeeze with pliers. That way you can get the proper adjustment for your connection. Probably the easiest fix out of the possible problems you could have had with those symptoms.
 
VaDeac said:
Dryer busted. I'm guessing it's a belt. Any guesses as to how much a repair guy will cost?
(Yes by asking the question I know it violates the spirit of the thread. If I could find a repair manual online I'd take a swing myself.)
Click to expand...

There are a lot of repair manuals for appliances on the interwebs. Unless it's a really weird brand or really old, you should be able to find a manual.

On most dryers it is pretty easy to replace the belt, if that is what broke (and it commonly is). It involves taking off the outer shell, usually by removing a bunch of screws or small bolts; working the new belt around the drum and whatever drive pulleys your dryer has; setting the proper tension on the belt, usually by the position of one of the pulleys; and closing everything up.

Finding the proper size belt may be the hard part, depending on make/model of your dryer.
 
RollTheQuad06 said:
I know this is a DIY thread, but I'm not enough of a DIYer for this whole project.

I'm going to re-do my bathroom. It's my only bathroom so I can't let the project drag out too long. In my estimation, it would involve an electrician, plumber, and someone to put down a new subfloor (water damage, likely some mold) and tile. I've worked with a plumber once before so I have a small pre-existing relationship there, but don't know who to call for the other needs.

In looking for a combo of efficiency, speed, and lower cost, would I be better off hiring a contractor or separate specialists? I have a lot of other electrical work I should get done around my house so I'm leaning toward separate people for each project.
Click to expand...


Do you also intend to replace you sink/vanity? What about your tub/shower?
if you GC the job yourself, you need to make sure all the proper permits are obtained. The individual contractors can do their own specialties, but the GC is responsible for making sure
Your plumber may have someone he has worked with before, electrician and/or tile and floor person. Your best bet for the quickest (but probably not cheapest) project would be a company that does bath remodeling. They would have all the proper skills on staff and bring them in as needed and when needed.

Inevitably, if you do all separate contractors, one will either not show on schedule or run over allotted time and the next one in line will then have to reschedule for two weeks in the future.

Whichever way you go, you will need to pick your new paint, floor and wall tile, toilet, vanity, lighting and fan, sink, faucet set, tub/shower and faucets (if applicable) (or reuse old???) Contractors may have preferred suppliers they use, or they may just ask you to get whatever you want installed.

If your bath does not have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet, preferably on a separate circuit, this would be the time to get that done.

if you GC the job yourself, you need to make sure all the proper permits are obtained. The individual contractors can get permits (if needed) in their own specialties, but the GC is responsible for making sure each one does it.

Good luck!
 
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Aw shit I need to get permits? In that case I guess I should hire someone who knows wtf they are doing. Basically for electrical, I'd like to add an exhaust fan and a new outlet (no outlet in the bathroom), and replace the light fixture. Then replace vinyl floor and bad subfloor with new flooring and tile on top. Keep the toilet. Replace the vanity. I don't expect that re-tiling the shower is in the budget for this, so tile surround and tub stay as-is.

Painting I'll definitely do myself, though I should probably take care of that while the toilet is not installed so I can get behind it, unlike the current paint job.

thanks!
 
wow, I'm reading the City of Winston-Salem website and yep, I need a permit to change a light fixture. Seems a little ridiculous. I just bought a new fixture that I was going to try and install in my hallway to replace an ugly boob light but guess I can't do that by myself.

jeez it just seems crazy that legally I have to pay the city for a permit in order to replace a light fixture. I want to replace most of them, one with a ceiling fan, so I guess I should do it all at once.

tumblr_inline_na19fdpzuh1sots0h.gif
 
RollTheQuad06 said:
Aw shit I need to get permits? In that case I guess I should hire someone who knows wtf they are doing. Basically for electrical, I'd like to add an exhaust fan and a new outlet (no outlet in the bathroom), and replace the light fixture. Then replace vinyl floor and bad subfloor with new flooring and tile on top. Keep the toilet. Replace the vanity. I don't expect that re-tiling the shower is in the budget for this, so tile surround and tub stay as-is.

Painting I'll definitely do myself, though I should probably take care of that while the toilet is not installed so I can get behind it, unlike the current paint job.

thanks!
Click to expand...

Well, if you want that much electrical work done, then you probably need an electrical permit. Just pulling/reinstalling toilet probably won't require permit - but all that is subject to locall government requirements.

If you don't have an outlet in the bathroom, go for 20 amp circuit with GFCI. Blow dryers etc. The exhaust fan can go on the same circuit. If you get a ceiling exhaust and light combo, get it done with separate switches for the light and exhaust fan. Thank me later.
 
RollTheQuad06 said:
wow, I'm reading the City of Winston-Salem website and yep, I need a permit to change a light fixture. Seems a little ridiculous. I just bought a new fixture that I was going to try and install in my hallway to replace an ugly boob light but guess I can't do that by myself.

jeez it just seems crazy that legally I have to pay the city for a permit in order to replace a light fixture. I want to replace most of them, one with a ceiling fan, so I guess I should do it all at once.

tumblr_inline_na19fdpzuh1sots0h.gif
Click to expand...

Replacing a light fixture probably won't upset anyone at the city. Doing an exhaust fan, particularly if you vent it outside - which you should do- just might.
 
I've been helping a buddy do some improvements on the house he bought a few weeks ago. One issue we're having is with changing locks/deadbolts.

Specifically, the holes in two doors for the deadbolts are too small. Not the ones through the door on each face but the one in the side/edge. The whole is two small to fit the new deadbolt mechanism. I need to shave off just a little material to be able to get it to fit easily. Since the whole is already there, it will be hard to try to center a drill bit or a hole saw. Any ideas?
 
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