Topic: The Contractor/Handy home owner thread - Power tools, fun toys & cool projects

[WP v3.32]

Nice job GBA!

[OliverD]

You didn't want to deal with that textured ceiling while you were in there? 

No.

lol, I wouldn't either, that stuff is nasty to deal with. Don't know that I've ever seen it in a bathroom before though; I am surprised that the steam hasn't deteriorated it.

When we bought our previous house we did a bunch of renos and it had them in most rooms. I took them all down myself – had a fairly good technique by the end of it but it was definitely a messy job.

[WP v3.32]

You didn't want to deal with that textured ceiling while you were in there? 

No.

lol, I wouldn't either, that stuff is nasty to deal with. Don't know that I've ever seen it in a bathroom before though; I am surprised that the steam hasn't deteriorated it.

When we bought our previous house we did a bunch of renos and it had them in most rooms. I took them all down myself – had a fairly good technique by the end of it but it was definitely a messy job.

yeah I did it before,  fairly easy but time consuming and messy.

[draghon]

Quick turnaround GBA, especially for a DIY project! I'd be hesitant to remove the popcorn ceiling as well, especially in an older house. Its probably covering up a lot of drywall warts that would be a PITA to refinish, and potentially full of asbestos depending on when it was applied.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Quick turnaround GBA, especially for a DIY project! I'd be hesitant to remove the popcorn ceiling as well, especially in an older house. Its probably covering up a lot of drywall warts that would be a PITA to refinish, and potentially full of asbestos depending on when it was applied.

I took a week off work, and the first four days were pretty much non-stop go - 10-12 hour days pretty much.  Demo, then cleanup, then plumbing, then tub, then concrete board, then mud/tape. 

By Wednesday, I was well into the mud stage, and basically just sat around waiting for the mud to fully dry before sanding and adding another skim coat.  Same goes for paint on Fri/Sat.  I actually felt like I was on vacation a little bit, watching movies and playing video games. 

Then Sunday was another go-go-go day. 

[WP v3.32]

Quick turnaround GBA, especially for a DIY project! I'd be hesitant to remove the popcorn ceiling as well, especially in an older house. Its probably covering up a lot of drywall warts that would be a PITA to refinish, and potentially full of asbestos depending on when it was applied.

I took a week off work, and the first four days were pretty much non-stop go - 10-12 hour days pretty much.  Demo, then cleanup, then plumbing, then tub, then concrete board, then mud/tape. 

By Wednesday, I was well into the mud stage, and basically just sat around waiting for the mud to fully dry before sanding and adding another skim coat.  Same goes for paint on Fri/Sat.  I actually felt like I was on vacation a little bit, watching movies and playing video games. 

Then Sunday was another go-go-go day.

How many trips to Home depot/Stars/Windsor PW?   

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Quick turnaround GBA, especially for a DIY project! I'd be hesitant to remove the popcorn ceiling as well, especially in an older house. Its probably covering up a lot of drywall warts that would be a PITA to refinish, and potentially full of asbestos depending on when it was applied.

I took a week off work, and the first four days were pretty much non-stop go - 10-12 hour days pretty much.  Demo, then cleanup, then plumbing, then tub, then concrete board, then mud/tape. 

By Wednesday, I was well into the mud stage, and basically just sat around waiting for the mud to fully dry before sanding and adding another skim coat.  Same goes for paint on Fri/Sat.  I actually felt like I was on vacation a little bit, watching movies and playing video games. 

Then Sunday was another go-go-go day.

How many trips to Home depot/Stars/Windsor PW?   

Seriously, 12-13. 

[PJungnitsch]

potentially full of asbestos depending on when it was applied.

Wow, did not know that

[Seafoam]

^^ Yup a lot of drywall compound from the 70's has this in it. It wasn't just plaster.

[WP v3.32]

potentially full of asbestos depending on when it was applied.

Wow, did not know that

I believe the law passed around 1992-3 ish banning asbestos but they were allowed to sell existing supplies which can be up to 1996.  u

[Great_Big_Abyss]

So, I'm a long way from an electrician.  I can replace light switches, timers and outlets without major issue, but trying to figure out where wires go from box to box isn't really my thing. 

Anyway, our electrical outlet in the bathroom has been tied to the bathroom light switch for as long as we've been in the house.  Annoying as hell.  The wife can't use a plug-in air freshener in the bathroom, and electric toothbrushes don't charge unless the light is on, etc.   I've poked around in the electrical boxes (light switch is outside the bathroom, so separate boxes) a few times over the last few years to see if I could figure it out and change it, but no luck. 

Well, yesterday, seeing as our new light fixture is dimmable, the wife asked me to put a dimmer switch on the bathroom light.  I wasn't enthusiastic about having an outlet tied to a dimmer switch, so I had another look.  Turns out the electrician who wired the house left a single blank wire run between the two boxes, not hooked up to anything.  I checked for continuity, and confirmed it was the same wire.  Jackpot.  I rewired the circuits so that the outlet is now run off the hot side, and Bob's your uncle.  Plug is now on all the time, and the light is dimmable.  Kudos to the original electrician for leaving the wire.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

The shower walls came in.  I installed them yesterday.  Bathroom is now basically complete, save for a couple small details like a curtain rod, towel bar, etc. 

The light in the bathroom makes the paint look green.  It's actually blue, to match the blue in the shower wall.  I'm strongly considering changing the light out for something cooler, but the wife likes this one, so we'll see.

[PJungnitsch]

Looks great!

Kind of odd they wired the bathroom that way to begin with

[Firm]

Painted the little girls room this weekend, just a color change on the walls. Started the job using my trusty Canadian Tire paint roller and rollers I had left over from pre-move as well. Ran out of rollers so opened up a package I had bought down here....well, at that point I learned that while the standard roller size in Canada is 9.5", it's 9" in the US. WTH!

[rrocket]

, at that point I learned that while the standard roller size in Canada is 9.5", it's 9" in the US. WTH!

Metric would be my guess!

240mm

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Pretty cool Customer Service Story from Moen:

So last Tuesday I was finishing up the bathroom, and while I was installing the shower faucet handle, I lost the little set screw that holds it to the valve body parts.  And by 'lost', I mean it went down the drain.  It's  pretty specific set screw, meant to hold the handle on without any play.  I went to Crappy Tire to source a replacement stainless machine screw, and while it prevents the handle from falling off, it's a little 'floppy'. 

So I call Emco on Friday to see if I can order a replacement.  I do the research for my specific faucet and have the part # in hand.  Emco informs me they don't have a SKU for that particular part# and to call Moen directly to order a replacement.  Fair Enough.  So my next call is to Moen.  Moen just covered it under warranty and is sending the screw free of charge.  Small item, I know, but that level of customer service still resonates with me, even though I admitted to them it was my fault I lost it.