do all projects end like this?

Today's project: replace the sink strainer in the kitchen sink (it was of unknown - probably geriatric - age, stopper didn't seal, couldn't find a replacement stopper to fit) along with the P-trap (was PVC, one fitting was cracked and leaking) ended up having to get a new tailpiece extension as well as the new strainer was shallower than the old one, also some hose and clamps for the dishwasher drain as that looked pretty shaggy. Ended up having to Sawzall out the old strainer assy. as it simply would not come out of the sink. Put everything together, pat self on back... remove old sprayer hose etc. from the sink, as it isn't hooked to anything and looks like crap... ended up having to Sawzall that out too, couldn't bust it loose to save my life. Total bill so far about $80 (had to buy a strainer wrench too as I didn't have one, and didn't have a wrench big enough to tighten the strainer nut...) girlie washes some dishes, there's still water on the floor of the cabinet. Crawl under, it's coming from underneath the faucet. Well, there's no sense pulling and resealing the faucet even though it's a decent Delta faucet, because it doesn't have the sprayer hose attachment and the girlie wants that. To add insult to injury, was laying on my back looking up at all this stuff and here while the sink is stainless steel, the little rails that the clamps that hold it to the countertop clip to are mild steel, rusted to s**t, and disintegrating. So now I'm waiting for her to come back from wherever she's at to drag her shopping for a new faucet AND SINK...

Do all around-the-house projects end up like this? If so, I might just have to stop fixing stuff and start placing buckets strategically.

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel
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yeah sadly jobs do grow, espically when stuff is let go or old. look at the brite side a plumber would of likely charged 500 bucks

Reply to
hallerb

You could have bought a drain stopper; large (5"), circular, flat piece of rubber. About fifty cents.

Yes.

I don't know about buckets, but I did once see this bit graffiti:

Differences between Univ of Michigan girls and toilet seats:

  1. Toilet seats always go down for you.
  2. Holes in toilet seats don't get stretched out.
  3. You can get used to the looks of a toilet seat.
  4. You can talk to a toilet seat.
  5. You don't have to kiss a toilet seat to use it.
  6. Toilet seats take a lot of shit without complaining.
Reply to
HeyBub

In the long run it'll probably be cheaper to replace the girlie. I doubt a dog will care if you have a strainer, stopper or sprayer. ;-)

Reply to
DerbyDad03

Be more charitable next time - help support your local plumber :o)

Reply to
Norminn

female really wants a new kitchen, its only a matter of time

Reply to
hallerb

Consider yourself fortunate if it stops there. There have been cases where it progressed to replacing the house. ;)

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

Houses are cheap. Women who will let you live inside are priceless....

aem sends...

Reply to
aemeijers

A dog ain't as much fun to have around. (Leastways, I hope not...)

aem sends...

Reply to
aemeijers

"Nate Nagel" wrote

It's because you called her "girlie." Chicks hate that. She cursed you.

Reply to
Gini

Of course not. Most are worse. Last time I decided to paint the family room (1 gallon for ceiling, 2 for walls) I ended up spending $3000 and two weeks.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

I wouldn't call the last plumber to come out here for anything; I think he is responsible for at least some of the mess. I know that there was a minor water incident down the wall below the kitchen when the PO's had the dishwasher replaced immediately prior to us looking at the house; apparently he thought hose clamps on the drain tubing were optional... sheesh. There still were no clamps on the hose from the air gap to the tailpiece, I added some when I replaced the hose.

Which brings me to the question - I have a single, 6" deep sink right now. I'm thinking of possibly replacing it with an 8" deep one, or maybe even cutting the hole in the countertop bigger and putting in a double sink.

questions:

1) in a small kitchen, is a double sink really worthwhile, or is it generally not fully utilized? Obviously this is one of those personal-experience type questions. I'm fairly certain she would prefer a deeper one as well, and I do think it might keep the counter neater by minimizing splashing.

2) I think the girlie would really prefer the look of a white porcelain enameled sink to another stainless steel one. Do these tend to hold up well without scratching? The only houses I've lived in with them came with them and by the time I got there were of such an age that I couldn't really tell if any new scratches got added.

3) All of the sinks that we looked at at the Despot (only place that was open on a Saturday evening) only had four holes for fixtures. Is an air gap actually required for a dishwasher drain? ISTR in my parents' house that there was no air gap, the drain hose was simply looped up high and then came down into the tailpiece of the sink drain. Or is it just SOP for an installer to cut another hole if a dishwasher is installed? If so, how would one do that in a cast iron sink?

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

Oh, that's a given. Not going to happen for a few years at least though, because step one would be to remove the window from the back wall and install a shorter one, so the counter can continue around the back wall of the house (I've already been kicking around ideas in my head...)

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

Projects like that can be costly. Since the window is smaller, you have to fill in with something outside. Next thing you know, it is a 20 x 30 deck and new siding for the entire house.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

It's brick, that's why I haven't even started yet. And the inside walls are plaster. Two materials I have no experience working with.

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

We have a double sink and never use one half. Most of hte time it is coved witha cutting board to get more counter space. I'd go for deeper. Each haf is not as wide as a single sink too makingit even worse. We hate it.

Get a good porcelain covered cast iron. Cheap enamed stell ones tend to chip easier.

Sme local codes call for it. I don't have one and never had a problem.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

It will be easier to match the brick than siding, IMO, In my last house I had to do the same. Window was not only shorter but narrower. The match was not perfect, but close enough. If you've never worked with brick, try to get some help. It is not hard but takes practice to get perfect.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

My last house was built in the 1920's.

NOTHING was as it seemed. and every one-day project took a week.

One memorable event involved trying to fish electric cable thru 2 floors of lath & plaster wall.....

BTW; Lath&plaster will dull a circular saw blade in about 15 seconds....

Reply to
Anonymous

Nate Nagel wrote on 01 Dec 2007 in group alt.home.repair:

Personal preference prevails here. Deeper is better. One big or two small sinks each have advantages. I'd rather clean a paint roller cover in a large sink. I'd rather soak a dirty pot and simultaneously prepare supper in two sinks. At least go for a larger sink.

I like the looks of the big/small combos that have a garbage disposal on one side in a small sink, but I've never used one.

Again, personal preference. Porcelain shows marks from pots that have to be scrubbed off. Stainless gets the same marks, but they're permanent, plus they PUT marks on things. My home has a black composite sink of some kind, and I love it. It marks like porcelain, but they don't show much, so cleaning can wait. It doesn't make marks on dishes. I've looked, but I can't find any manufacturing information. I'd like to know so I can recommend it to clients.

Another poster pointed out that code requires air gaps in some locations. My city doesn't require them, so I fill the hole with a soap dispenser. Some people fill it with instant hot water or filtered water faucets.

Reply to
Steve

Not sure about "all", but certainly most do.

I'm finding that many things nickel and dime me to death. My "free" computer that I got this year. Just needs an ethernet card and a bigger drive. Drive from Ebay, $50, and then take it to my computer wizzard to get it upgraded. About $125 later, I've got an ethernet card. Worked for about six weeks, and then something died. Back to the guy, to charge me $25 to tell me it's beyond repair. So, I've got $200 invested in a free computer. Well, for $300 I could have had a new surplus one from Pricewatch.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

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