Soffits Begone
We’re making slow progress. I’m tearing a little out at a time so I can fill our 64 gallon garbage bin to the hilt every week, thereby minimizing the weight I wind up trucking to the dump and paying (by … Continue reading
Tag Archives: home improvement
Master Bedroom Lighting
Expanding the master bedroom lighting. When completed, it will run the full fourteen foot length of the soffit.
Another Builder Ripoff
While exposing the framing in our house, I noticed that the builder used 2x4s which are made of cutoffs and scraps that have been finger jointed together. The entire kitchen is framed with this shite. I’m absolutely astonished – and … Continue reading
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Tagged home, home improvement, kitchen remodel, lot 4
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The Kitchen – Part 2
The trim and cabinets are a very cheap grade of particleboard (sawdust and glue, actually) with a plastic coating that serves as a finish. In some places, the bond has failed, and the surface coating is peeling away from the … Continue reading
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Tagged home, home improvement, kitchen remodel, lot 4
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Legerdemain and PFM – 5
When removing cabinets alone, it is helpful to stack sawhorses as a support while you remove the mounting hardware. I have two horses, a saw pony (what else would you call a 1/2 sized sawhorse?) and scrap 2 x 4s … Continue reading
Posted in PFM
Tagged home, home improvement, kitchen remodel, lot 4, tools techniques
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The Kitchen Begins
In terms of scope, time, energy and cost, the kitchen remodel is probably the largest project we will ever undertake on our home. Of course, it will also give us our single biggest boost in equity position as well. I … Continue reading
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Tagged home, home improvement, kitchen remodel, lot 4
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Ladder Standoff
We have two fiberglass extension ladders made by the same company, and I decided to make a standoff that will fit both of them. I finally finished it today. It is made from 1-1/2″ PVC pipe and anchored to the … Continue reading
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Tagged home improvement, lot 4, tools techniques. home
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The Spa Comes Home
We hired the same Samoan guys that brought the tub to us in Everett (when we first bought it). Three amazingly strong guys… This is all they do – and they do it well! So the tub is here, with … Continue reading
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Tagged concrete, concrete pad, home improvement, hot tub pad, lot 4, patio
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Concrete Pad – Part 6
At last! The culmination of weeks of hard work – the concrete is going to be poured today! Owen Davis (Start to Finish Concrete) came with a helper (Ty), and had the whole pad poured in about an hour and … Continue reading
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Tagged concrete, concrete pad, home improvement, hot tub pad, lot 4, patio
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Interview Deja Vu
It’s deja vu all over again! I had a job interview this morning with the Snohomish County Assessor, and I think I “presented” well. Certainly much better than last time. Of course, going through the process a second time tends … Continue reading
Posted in Family
Tagged concrete, concrete pad, home improvement, hot tub pad, lot 4, Mi, patio
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Concrete Pad – Part 5
Because it is the wet season, I was advised to cover the whole area with plastic, so that the concrete guys would not have to guess when they would have two successive days without a lot of rain. I put … Continue reading
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Tagged concrete, concrete pad, home improvement, hot tub pad, lot 4, patio
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Concrete Pad 4
The rebar is installed! I’ve used broken pieces of cinder block to support the rebar so it stays in the middle of the four inch slab. I’ve managed to get this far in the project with a minimum of smash … Continue reading
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Tagged concrete, concrete pad, home improvement, hot tub pad, lot 4, patio
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Concrete Pad – Part 3
I rented a compacter from Home Depot, and this was my first time using one. They look pretty unimpressive – smallish, but really heavy. I’d seen other people use them, and it looked pretty easy. So imagine my surprise when … Continue reading
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Tagged concrete, concrete pad, home improvement, hot tub pad, lot 4, patio
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Concrete Pad – Part 2
The power disconnect for the hot tub has to be at least six feet away from the tub, to prevent people from doing stupid things – like grabbing the main disconnect while they are still in the water. This presents … Continue reading
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Tagged concrete, concrete pad, home improvement, hot tub pad, lot 4, patio
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Concrete Pad – Part 1
Now that the wall is set, we can move forward on the hot tub pad, which will be about twelve feet square. I need to install four inches of 5/8 minus gravel, compact it, install rebar into the house foundation, … Continue reading
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Tagged concrete, concrete pad, home improvement, hot tub pad, lot 4, patio
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