The Home Improvement Thread

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by bigtmac19

I had a small flood in the lower level of my townhouse on Wednesday night. The restoration company was in Saturday morning to tear out the carpet and set up the fans, dehumidifier, etc. I want to paint while everything is out. Do I need to wait until the fans etc. are taken away? All that got wet was the carpet, nothing else was really affected. They have taken off the baseboards, cut a couple of inches of drywall up from the floor on a couple of walls where they set up fans.

Is this an insurance claim? Maybe it's going to get done along with everything else.

[K1LLswitch]

In need of new windows in the house. Any recommendations on where to go / who to use?

Thanks in advance.

[V]

I take possession of a new place tomorrow, and am probably going to want to move some windows around as part of a new kitchen install I'm hoping to do. How hard is this to do? Just a bit of framing and window install? Doesn't seem too bad.

[calgarywinning]

For the sewer to diagnose your problem use the company Electric Eel. They are knowledgable and can advise and assist with course of remedy.

[EM11]

Can anyone on the thread recommend a good bathroom renovation company? Is this even the best way to do a bathroom renovation? I need a shower re-tiled, new tub, new toilet and possibly a new counter and sink installed.

Is it easier to hire one company to coordinate all of this rather than trying to find each individual part myself?

Thanks!

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by K1LLswitch

In need of new windows in the house. Any recommendations on where to go / who to use?

Thanks in advance.

PM sent. I always recommend Rusco

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by K1LLswitch

In need of new windows in the house. Any recommendations on where to go / who to use?

Thanks in advance.

Check out Supreme Windows. Service is great. I have 6 windows on order right now for installation in about a month. Quality seems great, they have been in business for a long time and the windows are made here in Calgary. They have their own installation crews instead of contracting that work out. Hopefully the install is quick and without any problems.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Check out Supreme Windows. Service is great. I have 6 windows on order right now for installation in about a month. Quality seems great, they have been in business for a long time and the windows are made here in Calgary. They have their own installation crews instead of contracting that work out. Hopefully the install is quick and without any problems.

I also used Supreme Windows, and like them, even though I did not get them to install and did it myself. Still, high quality windows, and they can do custom orders and such so you know you will get just what you want.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by V

I take possession of a new place tomorrow, and am probably going to want to move some windows around as part of a new kitchen install I'm hoping to do. How hard is this to do? Just a bit of framing and window install? Doesn't seem too bad.

Remember the exterior siding/stucco/brick or whatever you have out there. That might be a little more difficult to work around.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by V

I take possession of a new place tomorrow, and am probably going to want to move some windows around as part of a new kitchen install I'm hoping to do. How hard is this to do? Just a bit of framing and window install? Doesn't seem too bad.

Originally Posted by Knalus

Remember the exterior siding/stucco/brick or whatever you have out there. That might be a little more difficult to work around.

Are the new window locations in structural walls? If they are, you will have to install the required structural headers and cripple studs.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Are the new window locations in structural walls? If they are, you will have to install the required structural headers and cripple studs.

Oh, right, you will also have to do a building permit, and they may not allow too many windows on one wall. When installing new window holes in my basement walls, I was only allowed 25% of a wall's linear length to have new window openings in it. This was in the foundation, but there may be regulations regarding load bearing walls

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Oh, right, you will also have to do a building permit, and they may not allow too many windows on one wall. When installing new window holes in my basement walls, I was only allowed 25% of a wall's linear length to have new window openings in it. This was in the foundation, but there may be regulations regarding load bearing walls

Foundation windows are different that windows in wood studs in that regard. Foundation windows don't have engineered headers on top of them, and may only have a couple inches of concrete over top, which may not be adequate support for the wall above - if there are extended lengths or higher percentages go the total wall.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Oh, right, you will also have to do a building permit, and they may not allow too many windows on one wall. When installing new window holes in my basement walls, I was only allowed 25% of a wall's linear length to have new window openings in it. This was in the foundation, but there may be regulations regarding load bearing walls

If the windows face your sideyard there are building code maximums of allowed unprotected openings. Calculation of the percentage is based on the setback distance and the area of the exterior of the house facing the sideyard.

Typical 1.2m setback in most cases allows 7%. Wall area is calculated from grade to ceiling level. Check with an A.T. or the City.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by V

I take possession of a new place tomorrow, and am probably going to want to move some windows around as part of a new kitchen install I'm hoping to do. How hard is this to do? Just a bit of framing and window install? Doesn't seem too bad.

Doesn't seem too bad at first. But take into account your exterior finish that needs to be reworked and patched. What's the material? Don't forget about wiring running to outlets, that may need to be pulled and re-run after new king, jack, and cripple studs are in place for the new window. Don't forget about proper tie in details at the exterior building paper and interior poly v.b. You'll also be dealing with insulation, drywall, mud/tape plus casing and base.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Has anyone built a double detached garage lately, or even one with a suite on the second level? Looking for a cost estimate

[Sylvanfan]

I take back what I said about the partical board....As I got thru the kitchen, I noticed an odd shape cut at the board joints. Some fricken clown had used a layer of mdf glud and stapled along the edges every inch. To remove an 8 foot by 12 foot section....It has taken me over 24 hours to poly off a death room, cut the ever living crap out of this with a skill saw, sweep up the mountain of saw dust. Chip out all these 4x4 blocks, rip out these stupid staples at the edge. Than hammer and chisel the layers still on the plywood off of it. I swear that crap started growing into the plywood. Only 120 more square feet of this crap to go!

Initially I tried to get at it with the pry bar, but between the glue and the fortris of staples I could not break into it. At least now I know to cut about 4 inches back from the edges as it's my best chance to get the staples with the board and only have to chisel off the glue. It's still brutal, and even with a respirator I still blow chunks of saw dust out my nose that break thru paper towel.

I hope whoever used this mdf drove one of those damn staples thru his hand the next time he or she tried it. Curse you, hack builder!

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I take back what I said about the partical board....As I got thru the kitchen, I noticed an odd shape cut at the board joints. Some fricken clown had used a layer of mdf glud and stapled along the edges every inch. To remove an 8 foot by 12 foot section....It has taken me over 24 hours to poly off a death room, cut the ever living crap out of this with a skill saw, sweep up the mountain of saw dust. Chip out all these 4x4 blocks, rip out these stupid staples at the edge. Than hammer and chisel the layers still on the plywood off of it. I swear that crap started growing into the plywood. Only 120 more square feet of this crap to go!

Initially I tried to get at it with the pry bar, but between the glue and the fortris of staples I could not break into it. At least now I know to cut about 4 inches back from the edges as it's my best chance to get the staples with the board and only have to chisel off the glue. It's still brutal, and even with a respirator I still blow chunks of saw dust out my nose that break thru paper towel.

I hope whoever used this mdf drove one of those damn staples thru his hand the next time he or she tried it. Curse you, hack builder!

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but that is how it is supposed to be done. Unless you want squeaky, unstable, moving floors. It's frustrating enough tearing that stuff out when you know what is ahead of you, I can only imagine how frustrating it must be when you don't know what you are going to be going through.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I take back what I said about the partical board....As I got thru the kitchen, I noticed an odd shape cut at the board joints. Some fricken clown had used a layer of mdf glud and stapled along the edges every inch. To remove an 8 foot by 12 foot section....It has taken me over 24 hours to poly off a death room, cut the ever living crap out of this with a skill saw, sweep up the mountain of saw dust. Chip out all these 4x4 blocks, rip out these stupid staples at the edge. Than hammer and chisel the layers still on the plywood off of it. I swear that crap started growing into the plywood. Only 120 more square feet of this crap to go!

I hope whoever used this mdf drove one of those damn staples thru his hand the next time he or she tried it. Curse you, hack builder!

+

With a side of



Earlier this summer I took out 500sq ft of tile over vynil ontop of glued/stapled pressboard. Took a couple days, with 2 of us

[V]

Haha, I helped a buddy with this once and we broke out the belt sander to get the really stubborn part of the floor. What a gong show. I hope to never see that ever again.

[V]

Does anyone on here know anything about self-priming pumps?