What did you do today?

[Ron Van]

No, you got rid of the blue tape holder? I thought that was a perfect place for it, at least in my house I would know when "someone" used the last of the roll and forgot to tell me!

Yeah...Ruby strongly objected to the tape holder in the shower!

Really looks good Ron!

Thanks! I have to mount all the hardware and finish the back of the wall behind the valve.

That looks very professional. Great job

Thanks! I learned a lot watching the guys (professionals) build my BIL's shower.

I learned what not to do! The worst thing they did was to build the walls first and then installed the finish tile on the pan later. That put the cement board on the wall below the tile on the pan. This is the biggest reason showers fail is when the cement board is exposed to constant water. I mentioned it to him but he trusts his contractor.




They didn't seal the niche at all



Then when my BIL saw the plumbing under his new vanity, he started to have doubts.



But...This reinforces why I DIY!

 

[zannej]

Ron, that illegal p-trap fitting is worthy of being put on the plumbingforums in the picture thread of bad plumbing. Mind if I post it over there?

Was up most of the night worrying about my dog. She wasn't feeling well and I kept trying to get her to drink water or behave like her normal self. She was clearly feeling bad, had thrown up, wouldn't eat and was lethargic. I got her to drink a little. She ran and hid from me this morning when I tried to take her to the vet. Didn't show up until afternoon. I also wasn't feeling very well so I didn't go out to look for her. Made the mistake of eating Ramen last night and it didn't sit well with me.

Vet did blood tests, gave her subcutaneous fluids, checked her fecal samples, etc. Diagnosis was "trash gut". She had gotten into the trash and ate something that made her feel sick. She got antibiotics and has to fast until tomorrow afternoon. I'll have to give her meds for a few days after that. I put her in my brother's room for now so she can't get out to get to food or water. She probably won't go for food. She can have ice to lick but is not supposed to have enough water to make her sick or throw up. Bill was $299 & some change. Ouch.

 

[Ron Van]

Ron, that illegal p-trap fitting is worthy of being put on the plumbingforums in the picture thread of bad plumbing. Mind if I post it over there?

Yes, that would be okay with me and my BIL won't know because he isn't on this forum but I was trying to figure out if it was indeed illegal (against code) or just a sloppy unprofessional job. I researched the code and found that IPC 2006, what Alabama goes by, says…

IPC 1002.2 Design of traps. Fixture traps shall be self-scouring.Fixture traps shall not have interior partitions,

This is interpreted by most plumbers to mean no accordion style hose allowed.

1004.1 General. The materials and methods utilized for theconstruction and installation of traps, interceptors and separatorsshall comply with this chapter and the applicable provisionsof Chapters 4 and 7. The fittings shall not have ledges,shoulders or reductions capable of retarding or obstructingflow of the piping.

Accordion style pipe (hose) is just not good practice and shows poor workmanship.

Was up most of the night worrying about my dog. She wasn't feeling well and I kept trying to get her to drink water or behave like her normal self. She was clearly feeling bad, had thrown up, wouldn't eat and was lethargic.

It’s horrible having a sick pet for many reasons.

Vet did blood tests, gave her subcutaneous fluids, checked her fecal samples, etc. Diagnosis was "trash gut". Bill was $299 & some change. Ouch.

yes, vets are expensive. Ruby and I have 5 dogs. Too many in my opinion.

 

[Ron Van]

No, you got rid of the blue tape holder? I thought that was a perfect place for it, at least in my house I would know when "someone" used the last of the roll and forgot to tell me!

I found an ingenious solution for losing the blue tape holder! It came to me in my sleep last night. What do you think about this?

 

[Ron Van]

I got the hardware mounted in the shower today.

 

[zannej]

Nice blue tape holder, Ron!

Every decent plumber I've talked to has said the accordion fittings don't meet code. I offended a self-proclaimed contractor who told me he puts them in every house he does. I asked for his company/business name and then told him I was making a mental note to tell everyone I knew not to hire him bc it violates plumbing code and even if it didn't, those things are garbage.

Dog is feeling much better today but we had a thunderstorm and power went out for a few hours. I could hear the wind howling. The dog jumped into my arms and cowered. So I put a blanket over her to make her feel safe and took a nap. Stomach was bugging me again. Went to Walmart to get stuff I forgot last time-- although they were out of some things. A lady in line at the pharmacy told me she just going a Cummings brand generator for her house and it cost something like $12,600 but that it powered her entire house AND some things at her daughter's house next door. Cooked for Mom after putting away groceries (and getting the AC to work again).

Discovered that my APC is pretty much toast and won't stay on when power goes out now so the search begins for one that will work. Want at least 1500v/900w. Something that isn't too sensitive to frequency variations. Although, I found out some APCs can be programmed (I never bothered) and I wonder if the ones in the living room just need to be programmed to be less sensitive. Should find a forum about backup batteries or something to ask for assistance/guidance. Currently searching for a replacement that I hope won't be too expensive.

I've heard Amazon Basics won't honor their warranty but don't know about other brands.

 

[Spicoli43]

Amazon Basics is worthless in my experience. The batteries are pretty equal to Kirkland or the Dollar Store brands. Their Ziplocks are horrible as well, they leak all over the place, had that happen multiple times in the one box I had. It could have just been that lot of course, but just the name "Basics" tells me it's made by the lowest bidder in China.

I know Kirkland is probably made in the same factory, their yard trash bags that look like they want to imitate good brands have straps that break consistently, that's been going on for years but I keep buying them because they are in the store when I'm buying other stuff. Their protein bars failed heavy metals testing a few years ago, and their AAA batteries burn quicker than any other brand I have seen. Their AA's last a long time in my smoke detectors, but they use a micro amount of power.

We are conditioned to accept that almost nothing works since the ushering in of "Energy Star" garbage appliances. I would think the Green Revolution people would want LESS plastic appliance materiel in the landfills or on the side of the road, less plastics produced by using fossil fuels... Nah, I'm just the Idiot...

 

[havasu]

I had an accordion p trap at my home that my inspector noticed. He claimed it was illegal to install one. The seller pulled out the code book, which stated "although they are not encouraged, there is nothing in the books preventing the use of an accordion hose."

 

[Ron Van]

I worked on finishing the new shower wall today. It needed Sheetrock and then to be taped and joint compound applied.

This is the wall before the HardieBacker and tile was put on.



Here it is yesterday with Sheetrock and the first coat of joint compound.


Here it is today after sanding and a coat of paint. The black stripes are shadows.


Close up of the corners.


This edge came out really well.


Close up of tile to Sheetrock transition. It came out better than I had hoped.


Tomorrow I’ll do the crown molding and baseboard. That will finish the en-suite bathroom!

 

[Spicoli43]

Ron, were you a professional contractor or did you just pick up the hobby with the new house?

 

[68bucks]

Ron, were you a professional contractor or did you just pick up the hobby with the new house?

He's a carpenter trapped in a pilot's body.

 

[havasu]

Next, they are going to say he crawled out of a cave after being nailed to a cross

We're not worthy!

 

[Ron Van]

Ron, were you a professional contractor or did you just pick up the hobby with the new house?

No, I watch a lot of YouTube and get advise from you great guys on this forum!

 

[Ron Van]

I installed the crown and baseboard today.




I need to touch up the crown molding tomorrow and then call it done for now. We’re going to use a curtain for a while until we can figure out what kind of glass we want. I think it’s too small for a sliding door. The opening is 47”. A swing door would probably work.

 

[havasu]

Beautiful work buddy!

 

[Snoonyb]

I installed the crown and baseboard today.

View attachment 31675

View attachment 31676
I need to touch up the crown molding tomorrow and then call it done for now. We’re going to use a curtain for a while until we can figure out what kind of glass we want. I think it’s too small for a sliding door. The opening is 47”. A swing door would probably work.

I installed the crown and baseboard today.

View attachment 31675

View attachment 31676
I need to touch up the crown molding tomorrow and then call it done for now. We’re going to use a curtain for a while until we can figure out what kind of glass we want. I think it’s too small for a sliding door. The opening is 47”. A swing door would probably work.

Paper towels, instead of beach towels, a novel approach.

 

[ekrig]

Discovered that my APC is pretty much toast and won't stay on when power goes out now so the search begins for one that will work. Want at least 1500v/900w. Something that isn't too sensitive to frequency variations. Although, I found out some APCs can be programmed (I never bothered) and I wonder if the ones in the living room just need to be programmed to be less sensitive. Should find a forum about backup batteries or something to ask for assistance/guidance. Currently searching for a replacement that I hope won't be too expensive.

So, you don't like the way the APC works (when it did) or it that it doesn't right now? If the latter, and it simply doesn't hold when the power goes out, it might just need a new battery. (Like a car, they need to be replaced every few years.) If you open it up, you can see which type it has. Most likely, it is a sealed lead acid battery. Both Lowe's and Home Depot sell replacements of those and, I think, will take the old one to be properly disposed of.

 

[Ron Van]

I took a shower in the new shower tonight. The pressure was great. The drain worked well. No water leaked out onto the floor. The only problem is that the shower sprayer drips for a while after the water is shut off. This happened in our shower in the old house too. I installed a vacuum break where the shower hose connects to the water supply elbow and it fixed it.






Vacuum break Right here

 

[davidjohnsir]

Today got done with my most awaited tile project with Ferreira's.

 

[havasu]

I took a shower in the new shower tonight. The pressure was great. The drain worked well. No water leaked out onto the floor. The only problem is that the shower sprayer drips for a while after the water is shut off. This happened in our shower in the old house too. I installed a vacuum break where the shower hose connects to the water supply elbow and it fixed it.

View attachment 31677

View attachment 31678


Vacuum break Right here
View attachment 31679

Ron, please explain how this vacuum breaker is installed. I too have a constant drip I'd like to fix.