Handy Man or Handy Women Corner

[Goober]

As we all from time to time get really bad advice on how to repairs - upgrades this or that - same with crappy products that are sold I thought that this thread would be a good place to ask for help, information on home repairs - lawn care etc.

We have all been told this and that when looking for something and I have seen and heard of some pretty bad advice or directions received and so called professional work that is well away from professional.

And we have a wide variety of people on this Forum so I am sure there would be very little that one or the other has experience with.

 

[AnnaG]

If you get the urge to fix something that has broken, unless you like fixing things like this, it'd be a good idea to figure out whether it is worth fixing in the first place or better to recycle it.
Hubby is good at making metal parts to replace plastic ones that break, but sometimes he goes to extreme lengths of time to fix something like an item that probably only cost $10. lol

 

[Goober]

If you get the urge to fix something that has broken, unless you like fixing things like this, it'd be a good idea to figure out whether it is worth fixing in the first place or better to recycle it.
Hubby is good at making metal parts to replace plastic ones that break, but sometimes he goes to extreme lengths of time to fix something like an item that probably only cost $10. lol

If it only happens now and again - it is noting - sometimes we think it is going to be a quick and easy fix and then it is not - So he is tenacious - That can be a positive quality as most give up on many things to easily. Or do not have the brains to figure out how to fix something - again another positive quality - he has the brains to think.

 

[talloola]

Oh I like this thread a lot, and I'm sure I will coming
in here, whining about something or other from time to
time, in fact there is probably something I could ask about
now, just can't think of it. lol

I'll be back.

 

[Goober]

Oh I like this thread a lot, and I'm sure I will coming
in here, whining about something or other from time to
time, in fact there is probably something I could ask about
now, just can't think of it. lol

I'll be back.

Is that what not friends are for - to listen patiently while a friend whines - gets something off their chest.

 

[talloola]

Is that what not friends are for - to listen patiently while a friend whines - gets something off their chest.

yes indeed

 

[In Between Man]

I took four years of both wood and metal shop, plus I work for a lumber store so feel free to ask me anything!

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Me too. I'm a very experienced and successful home handyman, I can do wiring, plumbing, general carpentry, cabinet making, redecorating... Over the years I've built dozens of decks, garages, sheds, stairs, bookshelves, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, etc., for myself and others, I've developed basements from concrete caves into useful and attractive spaces, done all the wiring and plumbing required for those, and nothing I've built has ever burned down or flooded, so I think I know what I'm doing. :smile:

 

[talloola]

OK, heres one for you. We are framing in our patio, so
that we can let our cats out and they can't roam.

So, we have put nice cedar siding on the outside, and
windows will have wire mesh coverings, and the roof, which
was allready there is fibreglass with it's own drain mechanism and down pipe.

It will be just as cold or hot as the outdoors, so what
can we put on the 'inside' of the framed walls to sheet it
in, so we're not just looking at two by fours.

I bought some faux wood venetian blinds and we are going
to install them on the 'outside' right under overhang,
as they can stand high humidity, and if they do drip from
moisture, when they are down, it will drip on the lawn and
not inside the patio.
Blinds will keep out hot sun, afternoon and evening, and
also some dampness and breeze, and when they are pulled
up they will be protected, right under overhang.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

...so what can we put on the 'inside' of the framed walls to sheet it in, so we're not just looking at two by fours.

I've often thought about doing exactly that to our patio, for the same reasons. In that situation, I'd probably insulate between the 2x4s, put up a vapour barrier, cover it with 1/4" exterior grade plywood, and paint it. Use an exterior grade paint, it's going to be subjected to the outdoor temperature cycle and interior paint just can't take that. I'd insulate it because at some point you, or some other owner of the home, might want to turn that into interior space, and it'll add only a tiny fraction to the cost to do it now. It'll also make it a little warmer in there than the real outside temperature, which your cats might appreciate, unless the windows are really just screens and the space isn't really sealed against the outside. But if you have even single pane windows in there, it's worth insulating. It's like adding more insulation to the house's exterior wall, it'll reduce your heating costs and make that space usable for you, not just the cats, for a greater part of the year.

 

[talloola]

I've often thought about doing exactly that to our patio, for the same reasons. In that situation, I'd probably insulate between the 2x4s, put up a vapour barrier, cover it with 1/4" exterior grade plywood, and paint it. Use an exterior grade paint, it's going to be subjected to the outdoor temperature cycle and interior paint just can't take that. I'd insulate it because at some point you, or some other owner of the home, might want to turn that into interior space, and it'll add only a tiny fraction to the cost to do it now. It'll also make it a little warmer in there than the real outside temperature, which your cats might appreciate, unless the windows are really just screens and the space isn't really sealed against the outside. But if you have even single pane windows in there, it's worth insulating. It's like adding more insulation to the house's exterior wall, it'll reduce your heating costs and make that space usable for you, not just the cats, for a greater part of the year.

Yes, the windows are only screen. OK, 1/4" plywood, that's
good, just wanted something that would withstand the cold.
We haven't even discussed sheeting on the inside of the
walls, we were just going to leave it as is, but I have been thinking about it, for looks, so I will make that suggestion to my husband. Good advice about the paint, I'll
remember that.

Since our old cat died, I have decided to keep our new ones
from roaming around, my one cat is a registered maine coon
kitten, and the agreement on the contract, requires me to
keep her in, so I have to do that. I have had cats since
I was a little girl, never ever thought about keeping them
in, seems mean to me, but I have taught the siamese kitten
to go on the leash, and he allready is like a dog now, seems
to like it, and while I work in the garden I tether him to
a pole, and he can roam in a 16ft radius, and the lead will
pull longer or shorter with him, so he doesn't get tangled,
(only in the rhodos).
Thanks.