Home Improvement

Selix · Jul 9, 2014

Anyone have any experience building a ground deck using deck blocs? Basically concreate blocks for the posts to sit in instead of digging holes and anchoring them into the ground.

https://deckplans.com/

I know it's a bad idea for a deck of any kind of height off the ground but the deck I'm planning will be close to 8 inches from the ground.

lurkingdirk · Jul 9, 2014

Depends where you are. If you're in a place that gets frost, you have to sink at least some of your posts below the frost line. These will move around. A lot.

Oldbased · Jul 9, 2014

Selix_sl said:
Anyone have any experience building a ground deck using deck blocs? Basically concreate blocks for the posts to sit in instead of digging holes and anchoring them into the ground.

https://deckplans.com/

I know it's a bad idea for a deck of any kind of height off the ground but the deck I'm planning will be close to 8 inches from the ground.

The only time I ever use deck blocks is when I pour a foundation under them first. This applies under the house for jacks, or decks that may be moved/altered over time( rental decks for people or plans to change eventually) Do not use them unless on a concrete pad, just placing them on the ground is asking for issues down the line.

While this defeats your purpose of not digging holes, it is easier to dig a big wide hole and fill with concrete to use as a foundation for blocks than it is to stage holes for posts in some instances. Such as uneven ground, design choices after the fact and so forth. In other words more forgiving.

This is especially true based on climate, saturation of soil and other similar things that may allow the ground level to sink, swamp or whatever.

I should add that while they show them in pictures and so forth if you look closer for a normal sized deck they are utilizing many many more blocks than you would use in a normal deck with posts secured in the ground. I've actually seen homeowners trying to DYI a deck using like 4 blocks for a 10x10 deck. Where in reality the product wants you to use 20.

Heylel · Jul 9, 2014

Figured I'd post an update on our basement rebuild as it nears completion. It's basically a whole different space from what it once was.

We went from this:

To this:

Still have a little sanding and paint to finish up tomorrow, and then flooring should start going down this weekend. The bathroom tile is already done, and the accent wall is nearly finished as well.

Home stretch! Cannot fucking wait.

Oldbased · Jul 9, 2014

Looking damn good. Seems like it took a week longer than expected for whatever reason but nice man. Enjoy the new basement!

Heylel · Jul 9, 2014

Yeah, it has taken a bit longer than we anticipated, but I'm not really upset. The contractor has definitely been here and been working, and has had open communication the whole time. His electrician canceled on him a time or two, which delayed the start of painting, and then the contractor had a funeral to deal with. It happens. He's honestly been a nice enough guy to deal with that I really don't care.

We did end up with one change order, which is those two base cabinets. After we got started, we decided to use that nook on the wall for built in shelving. It isn't cheap (bout $675 total), but once it is complete it will give us a TON more storage on that level. Should look a bit like this:

No window, clearly, but it'll be a nice space for a picture or something decorative.

Noodleface · Jul 9, 2014

I'm a fan of built ins and those look pretty awesome!

Fence company is coming Friday and then Monday. Kind of shitty that we'll have half of a fence installed on Friday and have to wait over the weekend. Originally was Thurs + Fri.

I'll try to grab some pics tomorrow, realize I never posted our new house.

Xarpolis · Jul 9, 2014

Selix_sl said:
Anyone have any experience building a ground deck using deck blocs? Basically concreate blocks for the posts to sit in instead of digging holes and anchoring them into the ground.

You have to check with your township to see what is code in your area. I am 100% unable to use those. I had to have 4x4 posts at least 36" deep in the ground.

Xarpolis · Jul 9, 2014

Noodle, you really should have a Surveyor come out and mark exactly where your property line is. That way there's zero chance you'll have to tear the fence down and replace it. (That would be 100% on your dime, not the fence builder).

As a point of reference, one of the neighboring houses of the association I live at decided to put a fence up 2 feet into our unused common ground. In fact, it was an area covered in weeds and thick bushes that prevented anyone from using anyway. They parked their metal fence right up to the edge of the bushes. Anyway, my association demanded they take it down and put it where it belongs. They took it down and moved it in a foot (that's what they thought their property line was) and my association had them take it down a second time. All of that cost them an additional $1k or more. Just spend a few bucks to bring out a surveyor and do it right the first time.

Remit_sl · Jul 9, 2014

In my area, a surveyor will easily run into the thousands. But yeah, unless you can find previous known points, I would have it surveyed as well.

Falstaff · Jul 9, 2014

Olebass_sl said:
Ya post a pic, but from not seeing it, insulate around the box, put in a ceiling medallion spray painted to color of choice and a new light/fan over medallion.
Westinghouse 10 in. Ceiling Medallion-7703700 at The Home Depot

Hole be gone

This is it. Can get closer or a different angle if you want to see it.

Xequecal · Jul 9, 2014

I'm wondering if anyone has ever dealt with this before:

The wallpaper on the ceiling in my kitchen is starting to peel away where the ceiling meets the wall. Is there anything I can do to stick it back down/prevent the problem from getting worse or am I going to have to replace the wallpaper entirely?

Noodleface · Jul 9, 2014

Xarpolis_sl said:
Noodle, you really should have a Surveyor come out and mark exactly where your property line is. That way there's zero chance you'll have to tear the fence down and replace it. (That would be 100% on your dime, not the fence builder).

As a point of reference, one of the neighboring houses of the association I live at decided to put a fence up 2 feet into our unused common ground. In fact, it was an area covered in weeds and thick bushes that prevented anyone from using anyway. They parked their metal fence right up to the edge of the bushes. Anyway, my association demanded they take it down and put it where it belongs. They took it down and moved it in a foot (that's what they thought their property line was) and my association had them take it down a second time. All of that cost them an additional $1k or more. Just spend a few bucks to bring out a surveyor and do it right the first time.

Not really any way I can do that since they're coming in 2 days. He had his yard surveyed and I can see the property metal spike. Might just tell them to use that line as reference. I'm worried about them building too close to the street.. I mean, the fence contractor said "6 feet" but the guy who got it surveyed said 9. Not sure..

Oldbased · Jul 9, 2014

Eya- ya ceiling medallion that, you can buy a mini bag of insulation in the window/door section then use a medallion painted to color of choice( I would go silver ). The picture I posted was a 16" medallion, but a 10" one would be fine. All in all you are looking time to take fan down, $20 for medallion can of spray paint and a little bag of insulation and time to put fan back up.

Xeq they make a paste in a tube made for wallpaper repairs. I can't tell what that white strip is under ceiling in that photo, if it is trim or just unpainted the last 2 inches, due to blurry, but you can also put up a small crown or some time type as well to prevent it from happening again. What is happening is most likely humidity in the home getting under the paper at the edges, and gravity going from there.

Xarpolis · Jul 9, 2014

I don't think it's wallpaper on your ceiling. That looks like joint tape. Typically when doing drywall, they use tape, then spackle over it. Over time, the thin spackle "breaks free" from the wall which leaves you with this type of situation. Gluing it down won't really help that much. Your best (and more permanent) fix is to buy some more spackle and a 6-8" blade and redo the seam. It might take 2-3 passes, but you'll have to paint when you're finished.

Oldbased · Jul 9, 2014

Xarpolis_sl said:
I don't think it's wallpaper on your ceiling. That looks like joint tape. Typically when doing drywall, they use tape, then spackle over it. Over time, the thin spackle "breaks free" from the wall which leaves you with this type of situation. Gluing it down won't really help that much. Your best (and more permanent) fix is to buy some more spackle and a 6-8" blade and redo the seam. It might take 2-3 passes, but you'll have to paint when you're finished.

I'd agree that is the question is it wallpaper or the tape joint. Old houses used to wallpaper the ceiling so it may be and from the picture it seems it is wallpaper( Tape seams would be out from the wall not in the corner) but as I said the image is blurry so we really need a better image to see what's going on.

Edit- I stall can't tell where the real corner is in that picture if it is at the brown/white or above it. Seems to be too wavy for a corner seam there, like it was never painted to ceiling. We need a better picture and clarification.

Xequecal · Jul 10, 2014

I got up as close to it as possible to try and get better pictures. This is the corner:

This is about halfway across the wall where it's stopped peeling:

Xarpolis · Jul 10, 2014

I still think it's a tape joint, because the edge was wavy as well. That's because the paint was on the tape, so as it dropped from the ceiling, it made the edge appear to wave.

Wow, that picture showing the corner was really nasty. I'm inclined to think that it's also tape, but it's so big.

Noodleface · Jul 10, 2014

Asked before but got no response. Has anyone used ductless high efficiency AC/heating units?

Brother in law is going to install it on one side of the house (two head units) for cost, probably beer for labor. It's going to be around $3500-5000 depending on what units we go with. Wondering if others have used them and can vouch for awesomeness/shittiness.

Oldbased · Jul 10, 2014

Xarpolis_sl said:
I still think it's a tape joint, because the edge was wavy as well. That's because the paint was on the tape, so as it dropped from the ceiling, it made the edge appear to wave.

Wow, that picture showing the corner was really nasty. I'm inclined to think that it's also tape, but it's so big.

That is definitely a tape joint with the updated pics. It looked like to me before the tape joint was 2 inches above the brown and it wasn't painted to corner( see first response)

Xeq is you look in the left corner in the first picture, that is water damage, down both ceiling and wall seams.
If this is a exterior wall you either have gutters needing cleaned, or no drip edge or a roof leak someplace higher and water is penetrating into your home. If it is a more interior wall, you have a leak somewhere on roof.
Do you own this home? Post a picture next of the roof above that area please( from the ground is fine )

Noodle-Sorry no experience with them.

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