Question 1

Actions of a prior owner

Accepted Answer

This is probably a legal question but I hope someone has delt with asimilar problem.I bought a house and the survey showed that a shed with concrete padwas over the back line on anouther lot. (woods and stream behind mylot).The owner of the property is now telling me to remove the shed. I didnot put it their but have been using it and cutting the grass to theboundries that the previous owner had used. This is 6 or 7 years afterI purchased the house, Anyone have a similar condition?

Question 2

Frigidaire Quality?

Accepted Answer

Shopping for a side-by-side refrigerator.  The model which best meets our specsis a Frigidaire, but I know nothing about their quality.  Anyone have experiencewith this brand?

Question 3

PEX - Using hose clamps

Accepted Answer

OK, I posted about PEX clamping.  I made the mistake of stating myopinion about it, which is not in favor of it.  Thus the wholediscussion thread went in that direction and the original point of mypost was lost.  So, I am posting it again, with the intended question.1. There are two types of PEX Clamping Tools (Crimp Tools) and twotypes of crimp bands being sold.  One is just a solid metal ring thatsomehow (magically) shrinks when the tool is applied.  The other looksmore like a common auto hose clamp minus the screw, and requires adifferent tool.  Which is better?2. Why cant someone just use a common hose clamp?  Hose clamps are atad bit more costly for the actual clamp, but the average DIYhomeowner is not going to spend $100 (or even $50) for the tool to doone job.  In the end, hose clamps are cheaper if the cost of the toolis included.  Better yet, hose clamps are easily removed and replaced.It would seem to me that they would actually be better.  I amsurprised they are not just...

Question 4

Fiberglass or aluminum screen?

Accepted Answer

Client wants me to replace her screen-door screen. I'm not sure whether to use aluminum or fiberglass. What would you use, and why?House is in Oakland, CA, mild climate. (It is exposed to PM sun.) The old screen is AL and is literally in tatters in some places; I asked owner how long ago it had been replaced, and they said 10 years ago, which I find odd: how could aluminum screen deteriorate that much that fast? I know that air pollution corrodes AL, but this is ridiculous. So I'm thinking fiberglass. How long should it hold up here?

Question 5

Temporary Natural Gas line.

Accepted Answer

I can convert my RV heater to NG very easily, probably take about 30minutes and I have the parts. I am going to need it to house guest ofthe holidays. I was wondering if there is a gas line that would bepractical for a temporary connection. It would be about a 40ft run andI would only need it for a couple of weeks, maybe less. I was thinkingof using PEX. and connecting to my Gas Log connection. I can set somehay bales on it to protect it from sun and people driving over it andsuch.

Question 6

Side-by-Side Double-Hung windows

Accepted Answer

I am about to close off the existing opening in a rear exterior wall that  now contains a set of double doors plus a sidelight window on each side of  the double doors.  The plan is to end up with a closed wall in that space,  and just two side-by-side double hung windows -- no door.  The window(s)  will be new double-hung exterior vinyl windows, not "replacement" windows. I think that I probably already know the answer to my own question, but I  thought that I would throw it out here just in case I am wrong. My question is: 1)  Do people in this situation special-order a one-piece window unit that  is already made up of two side-by-side double hung windows in one unit?; or, 2)  Should I just buy two same-size double-hung windows and just frame it  out so that the center post between the two windows built by me (us), and  then just mount each window in its own pre-framed space? My guess is that the standard answer is "2", not "1", but I decided to ask  anyway. And, of course, any other...

Question 7

A/C size and short cycling

Accepted Answer

I have not had a manual J done.  However, based on the past 10 years experi ence with a 4 ton A/C system, I've been able to keep the humidity down and  be cool during the summer here in central Florida.  However, there are usua lly a few times during the summer - when it is extremely hot outside and/or  we have many guests - oven on all day - people coming in and out, etc. whe re we have not been able to get the temperature below 79 or 80.  These days , I swore I would get a 5 ton unit when it was time to replace it.  But now  I am having second thoughts because I am more concerned with short cycling  and having higher humidity. One installer said this is not a big concern, because a 5 ton, dual stage c ompressor with variable speed air handler would work at a reduced rating to  help keep humidity low and would only boost up to full capacity when it wa s needed during those few times a year.  And he also mentioned being able t o control humidity with the thermostat. Thanks.

Question 8

wood screws breaking off

Accepted Answer

I'm having trouble with wood screws breaking off under pressure (thatis, when I'm screwing them in).  I'm using steel wood screws,pre-drilling holes, and using white oak.  They seem to be breaking offquite easily.Are there better screws to be using?  All local hardware stores seemonly to carry steel.Ideas?Thanks.

Question 9

How deep into the wood should a screw go?

Accepted Answer

Just a quick question and forgive me if it annoys you, how deep intothe wood should a screw go? A 1/3 of the width of the wood? 2/3s?Thanks and many regards.

Question 10

Hanging a heavy(ish) mirror above fireplace

Accepted Answer

I'm open to suggestions on this, i've got a mirror, probably about 25lbs in weight, and need to mount it above the fireplace.This house is only about 20 years old, so i'm wary that the in-wall chimney will be quite shallow centrally, so might be a bit of an issue trying to mount it via a single fixing and very strong wire :-}The mirror has two large triangular hooks / fixing points already mounted, but i'm also wary that they won't allow any "tweaking" to get it straight if either of the holes happen to a bit off...What sort of fixing method would you suggest please ?...and if I use the existing fixing points, would you suggest normal countersunk screws and dangle the hooks over them, or what ?I did use a central fixing with something like a 3" no.12 screw on a picture of a similar weight in my old house which worked well, but again, this is on a "modern" flush chimney breast so perhaps not quite so advisable...

Question 11

Garage door sensor current draw

Accepted Answer

Just did the measurements. Results:Door partially open:       4.5mADoor ascending:            4.5mADoor descending:          30mADoor open and stopped:     4.5mADoor closed and stopped:   4.5mASo it's clever enough not to bother sensing when ascending. The figure is notconstant during descent, but it's a good enough number and doesn't affect anycalculation given the low load factor of the descent stage. It also varies abit in other phases.This means that the cheapo AA have in fact a capacity of 750mAh or so, betterthan I expected. Anyone know what decent Energiser or Duracell might do?

Question 12

How many hours would it take to build a simple 10 x 12 shed?

Accepted Answer

Hello all,How many hours would it take to build a simple 10 x 12 shed?I?m trying to find the cost of labor for building a shed. An elderly friend of mine who doesn?t use the Internet asked me the question. She wanted to get a few estimates but nobody has bothered to come by.She is thinking of a simple shed that she will store some household items. She doesn?t want to buy a pre-fabricated shed kit from like of Home Depot. Unfinished walls, sloping roof with sheet metal corrugated.We?re talking about experienced carpenter or handyman hours here.Thanks!Deguza

Frequently Asked Questions