<![CDATA[DIY Home Improvement, Remodeling & Repair Forum - General Home Improvement Discussion]]> http://www.houserepairtalk.com/ en Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:00:49 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[DIY Home Improvement, Remodeling & Repair Forum - General Home Improvement Discussion]]> http://www.houserepairtalk.com/ Installing exterior wall insulation w/ reflectix. http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/installing-exterior-wall-insulation-w-reflectix-9867/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:21:25 GMT I've got a cape cod in northern virginia and I'm redoing the insulation on the exterior walls. The existing insulation is kraft w/ about an inch to the drywall and offset from the siding about a half inch. I was hoping to replace the insulation w/ non faced insul and then put in the reflectix as stated in the reflectix instructions. http://www.reflectixinc.com/basepage...&pageIndex=561

My boss who does a lot on his house said the primary thing to do is stop airflow so he suggested using aluminum tape along the edges of the reflectix and wrap the tape around the studs to create an air seal. In doing this I'll have about 3/4" air gap between the drywall (I was planning on green board just for overkill) and the reflectix barrier. He said that the air inside here should be roughly the same temp as the inside provided the tape seals correctly and I shouldn't have to worry about condensation inside this gap. Also he said wrapping the aluminum tape around the studs is fine since the outer edges of the studs can breathe.

My questions are
A. Since the siding is offset from the stud walls should I not risk putting in the non-faced insulation and stick w/ kraft? There are some thin strips I can use to hold it in place but the kraft siding held it in place before. Since I can't place it directly on the boards holding the siding I don't want it to fall down and also want to make sure any air needed to breathe remains intact (I have no attic vents or soffits along the gutters, just at the roof peak so I assume this was used instead of vents). Reflectix specifically says not to use kraft insul for this type of application. I can try to put the styrafoam offsets inside to keep both airflow and hold the insul off of the siding board. Should I scrap the reflectix idea entirely because of this?
B. Was it a good idea in the first place?
C. if I nailed super tiny, virtually unnoticeable holes at the top and bottom of the drywall to keep the temps inside this gap consistent, is that overkill?
D. Is the airflow too low once I install the reflectix to even concern myself with taping up the sides to completely seal it off? ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion Mojojojo http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/installing-exterior-wall-insulation-w-reflectix-9867/ Please give me your opinion http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/please-give-me-your-opinion-9853/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:57:14 GMT Hi guys if you could give me your opinion based on your experiences i would greatly appreciate it.

I am look at this house to buy, it is just a small bungalow, quiet old. I noticed one room has a very mouldy mildew smell, that the agent says because it hasn't been aired out.

I noticed around the window too smells of mold but the other rooms seem fine. I took some picture from the outside, notice this strange white line around the roof and windows, the agent say she thinks it's paint...


]]> General Home Improvement Discussion bryce http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/please-give-me-your-opinion-9853/ 4x8 joists in my woodshed http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/4x8-joists-my-woodshed-9849/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:49:49 GMT 12 inch) log beams parrallel to each other. The logs are 24 feet long. Since they are supported by posts in the middle, they effectively...]]> About ten years ago I built a woodshed on the side of the hill where I live. It has 9 posts, (10 inch diameter fir log sections), supporting three good sized (>12 inch) log beams parrallel to each other. The logs are 24 feet long. Since they are supported by posts in the middle, they effectively span about 12 feet.

Running across the log beams I have 4x8 full dimension douglas fir joists on 24inch centres. They span about 12 feet. The floor over them is 2x6 fir planks.

The total floor area is about 24 feet by 24 feet, and the 4x8 joists each span about 12 feet, since there's the log runnding down the middle.

I'm using one quarter of this area to store firewood. This year I have more than usual - about four cords of various types of wood. Some of the new stuff is pretty heavy - pitch filled fir and arbutus. I'm wondering how much this floor can support.

I'm guessing the wood averages 2 tons per cord, or a total of 8 tons. That would mean the floor is supporting an average of about 110 lbs per square foot in that quarter of the shed. (144 square feet X 110 lbs = 15,840 lbs).

Does anyone have any idea about how safe this is? I've only got three of the cords in there, and I'm wondering about the fourth, which is arbutus, the heaviest of the wood.

I believe the logs are safe, and the posts are well braced, but the 4x8 joists - don't forget, they're full dimension - they might be close to their limit. It still feels very solid to walk on. It really seems pretty solid, but I'd like to be reassured with the math. I couldn't find much on 4x8 on the web.

Any ideas appreciated. ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion camb http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/4x8-joists-my-woodshed-9849/ Air Conditioner Question http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/air-conditioner-question-9844/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:05:33 GMT We had a new central air conditioner and furnace replaced the other day and the installer told me to do something I've never heard before. He said you should always leave all the vents open as it's a system or something like that. Normally in the summer I would close all the vents in the basement as it's cool down there anyway.

What do you guys think?

In mind, it's as simple as if you weren't supposed to close the vents ever, why are they adjustable?

Thanks,
Chris ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion Guncho http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/air-conditioner-question-9844/ Buying a moldy house? http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/buying-moldy-house-9834/ Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:24:02 GMT I have found a lakefront property that has a nice lot and a mold problem. If I bought, I would totally gut the property removing everything including plumbing and electric and remodel entirely. Can mold normally be remedied by gutting the interior, if the mold can be seen, can it be completely... I have found a lakefront property that has a nice lot and a mold problem.
If I bought, I would totally gut the property removing everything including plumbing and electric and remodel entirely.
Can mold normally be remedied by gutting the interior, if the mold can be seen, can it be completely removed?
I understand the source of the moisture would have to be eliminated.
The property sits high on a hill so it is not affected by the lake itself. I am thinking problems with roof or drainage.
I know this question is vague and I am supplying little information to go on, I am going to look at the property near the end of the week and will know more about the state of repair at that time.
If I made an offer, it would be based on a total tear down, but I would prefer to keep the structure if possible.
thanks...gary ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion glmoore0001 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/buying-moldy-house-9834/ Help! Smells in house. http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/help-smells-house-9827/ Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:37:46 GMT I'm not sure where to post because I"m not sure the source of my problem. And, I don't know who to call. Please help with me as it's making me crazy and although I'm a little bit of a handyman myself, it's rather outside my knowledge.

I am trying to troubleshoot a problem I've been having with smells in the house. They seem not to be related but I will tell you what I know.

The first smell seems to primarily happen in the evenings, from say around 9-10:30. Out of the air conditioning vents, there is a very noticeable woody, sawdusty smell, almost like a wet brown paper sack. It only happens for a short while and then, it's no longer noticeable. On occasion, I've noticed it in the morning briefly but other than those two times of the day, I am not smelling anything like that coming from the air conditioning vents. The A/C system in this house is less than six months old (Trane) and has the continuous circulation feature so some air is constantly moving through the system all the time. If it were something specific to the air duct system or the A/C unit itself, I would think I would be able to smell it all the time since air is constantly on the move. Anyone have any ideas of what this might be? If I knew what it was, it might give me an idea of who to call.

The other smell issue I have seems to be coming from my bedroom. At times, it smells exceptionally dank, almost sewer-like. There is no bathroom connecting to my bedroom, this is a single story home on slab, the plumbing is actually on the other side of the house, and strangely enough, because I keep the door closed to the bathroom, when I have noticed this smell in the bedroom, I can walk across the house and into the bathroom and it smells fresh. Because it was a sewerish kind of smell, I even have had plumbers come out twice and once, they smoke tested the sewer lines but found nothing at all. Thoughts??

As to the house itself, I'm in Austin, Texas, the house was built in 1984, has hardey (sp?) plank siding, and is on a slab. ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion RLRIL http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/help-smells-house-9827/ spray foam in gap behind baseboards? http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/spray-foam-gap-behind-baseboards-9826/ Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:07:18 GMT Hello, this is my first post.

My wife and I bought a great little 62 year old craftsmen home about a year ago. First thing we did when we got in was pull all the carpet and refinish the red oak floors. Now I'm putting in mdf baseboards and oak shoe molding.

Anyway, my question is this:

As one would expect, there is a gap between the bottom of the wall and the oak floor. In most areas I can see subfloor (looks like 2x12s running diagonal) in the gaps just past where the oak floor ends. And in a few spots I can see dirt foundation through the gaps in the subfloor boards. Hopefully this makes sense. I was wondering if it would do any harm to spray expanding foam in the wall/floor gaps. Something like "great stuff".

Thanks
-AE ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion aaronestes http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/spray-foam-gap-behind-baseboards-9826/ help my driveway is too steep http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/help-my-driveway-too-steep-9822/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:06:37 GMT I am not a homeowner, so I am looking for the cheapest workable solution I can find. Moving is not financially possible right now, but I live in a really rough part of West Oakland, and I really need to find a way to use this driveway. My car has already been stolen once and last week it was... I am not a homeowner, so I am looking for the cheapest workable solution I can find. Moving is not financially possible right now, but I live in a really rough part of West Oakland, and I really need to find a way to use this driveway. My car has already been stolen once and last week it was broken into yet again. This time the meth heads on my block moved into it and used it as a toilet.
The driveway slopes immediately down from the sidewalk to a sublevel garage. I bottom out really bad when trying to pull in because my rear wheels are still in the street when my front wheels begin the descent. To complicate issues the driveway is gated, so I must approach it straight on, and just at the crest is a raised metal slide for the gate, which catches on my cars underbody.
Please any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
And PS... No my landlord will not repour the driveway.

Sorry I couldn't figure out how to attach pics. If I figure it out later I will add them. ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion govinda http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/help-my-driveway-too-steep-9822/ Home Style. http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/home-style-9777/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:26:42 GMT O.K. So we're on a home tour next month, and we've been trying to determine the architectural style of our home. Any ideas on what this is? My guess is Dutch Colonial Revival, but I've been known to be wrong...:o

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]]> General Home Improvement Discussion Hack http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/home-style-9777/ Where do these two pieces of wood go on my bed frame? http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/where-do-these-two-pieces-wood-go-my-bed-frame-9762/ Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:32:14 GMT I took apart my bed that is ten years old to transport into my new house.

I have assembled most of it, but not all of it... I have two pieces of wood that I totally forgot where they go... It's been ten years since I purchased it. I have no manual... please help me identify where these two pieces go!

Here are some pictures:

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad87/nblufire12/843c8da4.jpg
http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad87/nblufire12/Droid%20Uploads/c50ead69.jpg
http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad87/nblufire12/Droid%20Uploads/4b854669.jpg
http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad87/nblufire12/Droid%20Uploads/27dff232.jpg
http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad87/nblufire12/Droid%20Uploads/07da330a.jpg ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion Nblufire12 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/where-do-these-two-pieces-wood-go-my-bed-frame-9762/ Ripping off a wall... worried about dust http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/ripping-off-wall-worried-about-dust-9753/ Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:41:54 GMT Hey All,

I'm new here and I JUST started working on home improvement stuff (bought a house... built in 1931... needs a lot of work) so I'm a total noob.

Anyway, I started ripping off this nasty-looking wood paneling in my house. Underneath is this sort of plaster stuff (honestly not sure what it is but it kind of looks like plaster... our house is a mock tudor if that helps identify it). I noticed that some dust is flying around when I'm ripping this wood paneling off, and I'm paranoid about cancer-causing stuff.

So, is there any chance that there's asbestose or something in this plaster? I've attached some pictures for reference. I know chances of people actually being able to figure this out just by looking at this post are slim but I figured I'd check and see!

Thanks in advance,

-Dean
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]]> General Home Improvement Discussion Dean07 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/ripping-off-wall-worried-about-dust-9753/ Need your advice to remodle bath tub http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/need-your-advice-remodle-bath-tub-9736/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:52:06 GMT Hello to DIY member, I'm new to the forum.
Want to take old bath tub out and just use the porcelain tile for bottom and all wall for the bath shower, Is it good ideal or not? and if it good to use porcelain tile can you tell me how?

Thank you ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion tampc http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/need-your-advice-remodle-bath-tub-9736/ Polyethylene to Metal Adhesion http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/polyethylene-metal-adhesion-9733/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:56:01 GMT I'm looking for a means to bond/adhere a sheet of 1/2" thick high density polyehtylene to a steel metal surface.

The Poly is glass like smooth and the metal surface is enamel painted.
I can remove the paint if necessary and am seeking a non-mechanical means of sticking these to surfaces together.

To get a better idea, I have a flat surface metal shop cart that needs a sheet of plastic on the top substrate surface and don't want it sliding off when parts are placed onto it.

I really don't want to have to drill and tap from the bottom.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated. ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion kok328 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/polyethylene-metal-adhesion-9733/ pipe sound proofing http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/pipe-sound-proofing-9719/ Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:22:36 GMT I just completed my basement, in one of my closets is my pipe that runs to our bathrooms. While whenever someone goes to the bathroom and you are in the basement you hear the water rushing through this pipe. Does anyone know of a product that I can use to help deaden the sound of the water in... I just completed my basement, in one of my closets is my pipe that runs to our bathrooms. While whenever someone goes to the bathroom and you are in the basement you hear the water rushing through this pipe. Does anyone know of a product that I can use to help deaden the sound of the water in this pipe. I thought of sound proofing the closet but that wouldn't work with the bifold door I put in. ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion mgoblue24 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/pipe-sound-proofing-9719/ Removing kitchen cabinets with no back panels http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/removing-kitchen-cabinets-no-back-panels-9711/ Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:53:21 GMT OK I'm just about to start the demo on my kitchen.

My cabs are extremely old and have no back panels with screws attaching to the studs...they have no backs at all in fact. I looked for screws or nails and don't really see many...if at all. They have been painted like 8 times over so that may be helping to hide the fasteners.

Any advice on where to start or what to look for on removing these? How were they attached back in ancient times? Also, some tips to minimize wall damage would be helpful.

FYI, I'm also taking down the soffits above the cabs so they may be nailed up to those too. ]]> General Home Improvement Discussion Christian http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f45/removing-kitchen-cabinets-no-back-panels-9711/