The Home Improvement Thread

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

So my yard isn't anything close to level. And the back corner of the house the yard is actually sloped toward the house, not away.

To fix the sloping issue, especially at the corner of the house, would basic top soil be all I need? Anything special?

Tamp down every few inches of thickness or it'll end up settling below your final height as gravity does it for you.

[scotty2hotty]

I need the eavestrough replaced along one side of my house. 50' straight piece.

Was quoted $2300 + HST.

Seems extremely high to me ... but I've got no reference. Does this seem reasonable?

How hard is it to order a custom length and replace myself? (average handy-level)

[Shazam]

Call Gutter Doctor.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

I need the eavestrough replaced along one side of my house. 50' straight piece.

Was quoted $2300 + HST.

Seems extremely high to me ... but I've got no reference. Does this seem reasonable?

How hard is it to order a custom length and replace myself? (average handy-level)

Agreed, that seems super high. I did my entire bungalow and detached garage for $1700 in 2010. Obviously a long time ago, but you're talking about 25% of what I did for $600 more.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

I need the eavestrough replaced along one side of my house. 50' straight piece.

Was quoted $2300 + HST.

Seems extremely high to me ... but I've got no reference. Does this seem reasonable?

How hard is it to order a custom length and replace myself? (average handy-level)

$2300 sounds stupid high. You should be able to do a whole house for that price. For a section of a single side of a house, I seem to recall being told it shouldn't be much more than a few hundred bucks.

Hard to do yourself purely because of the physics of an awkward shaped wobbling piece. You'd want a helper and you'd probably want to rent something like a scissor lift rather than mess around with ladders or building a rolling scaffold?

DIY wise, shouldn't be too bad, albeit, I don't actually believe you'd order a single 50' piece. You'd break it down into sections.

Originally Posted by Shazam

Call Gutter Doctor.

Since he mentioned HST, I assume that poster is not local.

[timun]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

I need the eavestrough replaced along one side of my house. 50' straight piece.

Was quoted $2300 + HST.

Seems extremely high to me ... but I've got no reference. Does this seem reasonable?

How hard is it to order a custom length and replace myself? (average handy-level)

For reference I paid about $2,300+GST six years ago for 90 ft of eavestrough, two downspouts, complete replacement of the fascia boards (1"x6" x ~175 ft) and aluminum trim over the fascia boards. The same price for about half the length of eavestrough and none of the other work, even factoring for inflation since 2016, still seems like a lot...

That said it's very hard to do yourself, you'd need at least one extra pair of hands.

I'd continue shopping around.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Since he mentioned HST, I assume that poster is not local.

Doh! Yeah, look for a company that does just eaves repair. They're going to be waaay cheaper.

[Engine09]

Does anyone know where to buy LVL beams? Looking for 16' and 24'.

Making a few calls but no luck, either do not sell or it's a special/custom order.

[CarlLester]

Originally Posted by Engine09

Does anyone know where to buy LVL beams? Looking for 16' and 24'.

Making a few calls but no luck, either do not sell or it's a special/custom order.

I think ours came from Dick's Lumber

[Cube Inmate]

I'm looking for recommendations for a kitchen design+general contractor for a full (non-structural) reno. Everything but the walls goes! Or anti-recommendations, if you want to warn me off anyone (via PM to keep CP from getting sued)!

I'm too old to do this labor myself but I generally know what's what with construction and I really value transparency in a contractor.

Thanks, brain trust!

[hungryhun]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

I'm looking for recommendations for a kitchen design+general contractor for a full (non-structural) reno. Everything but the walls goes! Or anti-recommendations, if you want to warn me off anyone (via PM to keep CP from getting sued)!

I'm too old to do this labor myself but I generally know what's what with construction and I really value transparency in a contractor.

Thanks, brain trust!

PM'd

[Icon]

Originally Posted by hungryhun

PM'd

PM me too! Not likely pulling the trigger on this anytime soon but thinking of costing this out at least for next year. Thanks

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

I'm looking for recommendations for a kitchen design+general contractor for a full (non-structural) reno. Everything but the walls goes! Or anti-recommendations, if you want to warn me off anyone (via PM to keep CP from getting sued)!

I'm too old to do this labor myself but I generally know what's what with construction and I really value transparency in a contractor.

Thanks, brain trust!

One thing I'll mention about kitchens... In all honesty, the cost to refurbish an old kitchen (ie: Cabinets) isn't worth it if paying someone else to do it for you. You're probably better off replacing than refurbing.

In my situation, I think the ending price difference was only like 20-30% more vs my original expectation that it would cost like half to 1/3 the cost of new. But in that price point difference, a new cabinet would look nicer, could be a better layout/size, looks new and modern, has upgraded options like soft close and also would take like 1/2 the time to do and install, even with the potential several weeks to month manufacturing wait.

[hungryhun]

Originally Posted by Icon

PM me too! Not likely pulling the trigger on this anytime soon but thinking of costing this out at least for next year. Thanks

PM'd

[jeffporfirio]

So after the recent storm, some of the eaves in our house seems plugged.
Can you recommend a gutter cleaning/unplugging service? or is gutter doctor the safest way to go?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Yes use cheap top soil. Nothing with compost as compost disintegrates and then you'll have to fill some more.

Often called "loam".

https://www.barkmulchdepot.ca/catego.../screened-loam

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Tamp down every few inches of thickness or it'll end up settling below your final height as gravity does it for you.

Just passing along some thanks. It took WAY more soil than I anticipated but after some major rainfall the other day, basement was bone dry and there was no pooling of water by the house.

I did use the concrete crack repair I the basement, as well.

It's a big relief having the issue fixed.

[Icon]

Has anyone installed attic vents & have any recommendations on the type of vent or system to try to bring the overall heat in their home down in the summer? We have an AC unit and it seems to need to kick on to keep the house anywhere near the setpoint, even when it's not as hot as that outside (and if we open windows to get some airflow overnight or in the morning, etc). House is south-facing and those rooms do get hotter than the rest, also considering tinting those and/or replacing them with new/better windows.

[Leondros]

Any recommendation for an alternative to using a parge coat on the foundation between our stucco and the soil. We have a very old 1948 home and are looking to update the exterior. The parge is all falling off and we are looking for something that will last about a decade before we knock it down and build. Don't want to go too crazy doing ornamental stone etc.

Any companies that do this? Thanks ahead of time.

[timun]

Just... re-do the parging...?

[Leondros]

Originally Posted by timun

Just... re-do the parging...?

That certainly is an option - the quote we got was expensive (over $2K) for what I felt would have been a quick 1 day job max.