Home Improvements

[Diomedes]

It had better be screwed down.  Either face screwed or blind fastened with those hidden clips/cleats.  Never seen anyone nail that stuff..do people do that?

The only Trex deck I did, we had to pre-drill for all the fasteners because even the special double threaded Trex brand screws snapped.  What a bitch that was.

[shorebird]

I've seen it nailed but the deck around the nails mushroomed up. Looked like crap. The way I've seen it face screwed was with the stainless self tapping trim screws that have the drill bit tip.



But, the blind fastening systems you're talking about are the way to go, imo. Looks better and the screws go in better even if it's more time consuming. Only problem for Biscuit would be he already has the holes in his decking.

[Diomedes]

Yeah, that and his material likely isn't grooved to accept the biscuits.

The screws I used looked like this:  

We did not plug however.  Part of the problem on that job was that we did not have an impact driver, so the screws were all set with a standard drill.  With an impact driver, I'm not sure we would have had to pre-drill.

[shorebird]

I've tried using those screws but I've never seen them with the plugs or the bit with the depth gauge on it. Those things were a pure pain in the ass and are what drove me to the stainless self tapping ones. But I didn't have an impact driver either, it probably would have made it easier.

[Diomedes]

Now that I own one, I can't imagine not having an impact driver.  Easily one of the best tools I own.  No more roached screws, no more divets where my bit slipped out and hit the material I'm trying to put a screw into, etc. 

[shorebird]

What kind do you have? I've been wanting the Dewalt with the lithium battery, but have been waiting for a sale.

[Diomedes]

A Bosch, though I don't mean to say that this particular tool is necessarily better than another.  Just that having an impact driver is better than not having one.  Now I use the drill for just that..drilling, and the impact driver for running in all my fasteners. 

I've used various makita impact drivers and this Bosch one, can't speak to the DeWalt.  I'm sure it's good, though.

[Seabiscuit36]

Your welcome man.

Biscuit, I have to say also that Brazilian Cherry is some of the most beautiful flooring I've seen, and I think you'd be more than happy if you have it re-finished. It sounds like you really struck gold with your purchase. Is the Turkey Point lighthouse you're talking about by Elk Neck State Park? It's right across the bay from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Also, I think there is another one up in Havre De Grace.

Also, do you think you can save the Trex when you re-frame your deck? That would save you a ton of money. I hope it's screwed down.

The floor just pops when its clean after wetting it down, just sucks to see it go back to a hazy color an hour later.  The neighborhood is called http://www.chesapeakeisle.org/ and yeah its the neighborhood that is smack dab inbetween the state parks.  We're on the side closer to the lighthouse.  The view here from our deck is the  Big Elk River heading up to the canal. 

Aberdeen is definitely next door as they shot something off around 5pm that that rattled my teeth.  As far as the Trex, we're going to try and save it, probably use it in some capacity.  But its pretty old looking, being about 10 years old i'd say its near 2nd generation of Trex.  They did use screws thank god, and i really need an impact drill too. 

[shorebird]

A Bosch, though I don't mean to say that this particular tool is necessarily better than another.  Just that having an impact driver is better than not having one.  Now I use the drill for just that..drilling, and the impact driver for running in all my fasteners. 

I've used various makita impact drivers and this Bosch one, can't speak to the DeWalt.  I'm sure it's good, though.

Friend of mine has one that we used hanging cabinets. We had one cabinet with an extreme bow in the stile, so bad that a clamp didn't quite get it. His impact driver ran that bitch up tight in an instant. Brrrp! It was something I'd never seen. Just been waiting for the right price, and to get my money right. I haven't seen the DeWalt for anything less than $325. I'd want the 18 volt because every other DeWalt cordless tool I have is 18v. You can get it cheaper without the case or the charger, but whats the point?

[shorebird]

Nice veiw Biscuit. A place like that and 145k instant equity? Real nice.

[Diomedes]

I'd want the 18 volt because every other DeWalt cordless tool I have is 18v.

I feel you.  When we set up for a job in the morning we've got three or four different battery chargers to plug in..a makita 14.4V and 18V, a bosch 18V and a ryobi 18V.   That's just two guys.   When it's a bigger crew, we've got a whole table full of chargers, it's ridiculous.

I gave up trying to keep all my cordless tools on the same kind of battery after I was given the Bosch.  It would be nice to have just one type but I can't restrict myself to only Makita.  They make great tools but it just doesn't always work out that you can get what you want in the same make as everything else you have.

For example, I saw a great little impact driver the other day, a tiny little thing made by Milwaukee.  Great for cabinets, and places with very little room to fit a tool.  It's now on my (very long) wish list.

If I were Emporer, I'd immediately decree that batteries and chargers be standardized.  The waste that goes into making all these different chargers is perfectly unnecessary.  I'd also standardize all those goddamn credit card/ATM swipe consoles you have to used everywhere.  There is no reason in the world for each one to be different...competition in the market is helping no one.  Just standardize them and move on with a simpler life.  They finally figured this out on cell phone chargers...why not everything else?

[Seabiscuit36]

I need an impact Driver as i realized getting some of the heavy screws into the door i was installing today.  I'm like a zombie anymore, been painting all weekend, got a door in, moved in a washer/dryer/stove.  Couldnt fit the fridge into the trailer(height), so i have to get an open trailer this week.  Should have clean water this week if the water guy gets out and installs the water softener type deal, and if he gets in the reverse osmosis system.  By Saturday i should have a viable well water system, that is giving us clean water, and actually heats up the water with a hot water heater.  Cold irony showers suck. 

The painting in the master bedroom/bathroom is done, only thing left is to get our ceiling loaded with another coat of paint.  Behr paint sucks ass.  I really cant believe i let my wife talk me into buying so much of it.  Sears paint was always infinitely better.  I'm excited that the shoveling we had to do friday, about 3 hours worth, made the wife decide its plow time.  I think i'm gonna go full redneck and get a 4 wheeler, then go to TSC and get the snowplow attachment.  yee haw

[Diomedes]

Behr paint is awful, you're right. 

And in case anyone here doesn't know...there is no such thing as primer and paint in the same bucket.  That's a gimmick.  If you hate painting so much that you want to skip using actual primer, then just don't paint.  Save your money and call in a pro.  Otherwise, you're just wasting your time and money.

[Diomedes]

I'm excited that the shoveling we had to do friday, about 3 hours worth, made the wife decide its plow time.  I think i'm gonna go full redneck and get a 4 wheeler, then go to TSC and get the snowplow attachment.  yee haw

Get a tractor.  Much more useful than a giant truck--and much more redneck too-- if all you really need the monster for is pushing a plow blade.   Not to mention, way way cheaper.

Here's a decent prospect:

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/grd/2188595776.html

[Seabiscuit36]

Definitely not there  fun factor wise.  I want to do some offroading, and then use the plow i conjuction with a snow blower.  The plow wont be able to get the heavy stuff, buti can rip around and have a good time all year is what we're thinking.  Though a bucket loader works better for me to harvest wood from the lower parts of the property. 

As far as the waterdeal.  I had setup a water guy to comeout and address the high iron content in our water and to stabilize the PH level which jumped a slight bit over the past 3 weeks.  I get a call from a good buddy who's dad is doing a hot water GE Geospring Hybrid sytem, and a tankless(specifically to run the  aux heat from our geothermal heating system.  The current setup has it busting its ass, and without a viable heat source the geothermal cant get optimal performance.  So the one guy we originally called  quoted me 3500 bucks which he dropped to 3000 when i said it was too high.  My buddy's dad who does this stuff on the side said he would do everything from the Hot water heater setups, to the water treatment forthe well.  Sounds like he may be the cheaper option and the one who i can trust because i know him and his family.  This shtein sucks when you have so many scheisters in the business arena.  I'm not going to pay 3k for them to address the water, and find out in 6 months our water sucks and we need a crazier system. 

Find a John Deer and my wife will be forever gratefull Dio.  There's actually one up the road from us i can check out.  Its next to some really weird church, Hart's methodist Amphitheater.  They do masses when the suncomes up.  Its beautiful, but not my scene.