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1500 questions
19
votes
6 answers
How can I stop a toilet seat from rapidly loosening?
The seat on my toilet always works itself loose. It has plastic thumb-screw-style nuts that tighten on to bolts on the underside of the toilet. The left nut works itself loose over the course of a few days of normal use. I can tighten it again…
Jean-Paul Calderone
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19
votes
6 answers
Should I use nails or screws to refasten my subfloor to the joists?
My subfloor is squeaky, and there's a small window of opportunity I'll have to fasten it down before/during my carpet being replaced. I have available to me a nice corded drill, and an air-powered framing nailer. My chief concern is longevity of…
Bryan Boettcher
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19
votes
7 answers
Where could all these flies be coming from?
Now is the transition from spring to summer. The house I am now living has some strange things happening.
In the daytime of one day last week, I found many flies gather on the inside face of the window in the front living room. I then opened the…
Tim
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19
votes
4 answers
Why is my table saw blade burning oak boards as I make rip cuts?
Bought a new saw blade, most expensive one I've seen and it still burns the wood and takes some pushing to get through.
I am ripping 1 3/4 thick oak with the grain.
Blade is Orange Chrome Heavy Duty Multi Purpose Carbide 10" x 0.126"
60 TCG
Am I…
user3561494
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19
votes
10 answers
Should gaps be left between sheets of drywall for any reason?
My cousin says I should leave 1/4" space between all edges of drywall so that mud can be pressed into it. Everything I've read online say to butt them tight. When is leaving a gap a good idea?
Jerry
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19
votes
3 answers
Small branch stuck in electric wire
A few weeks ago a small branch became stuck in the telephone and cable wires leading to our house. I hoped it would blow out, but the latest snow storm has put it in it's current position.
Is this a concern? Could it mess up our electricity or…
user20127
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19
votes
8 answers
Broken door jamb - What's the easiest way to fix this?
My screen door arm bracket started pulling off of the door jamb. Unfortunately, it was a few days before I noticed, so I've already lost one corner of the bracket (I plan to replace the bracket, because it's also a bit bent up). More unfortunately,…
Sean Duggan
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19
votes
10 answers
Could a layman build a house from plans?
i am looking at pre-made architectural house plans on the Internet ranging from 300 to 800 square feet, some multi-level. I have no housebuilding experience. I don't imagine many of the millennials for which these are designed do.. I'm not even an…
DVCITIS
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19
votes
3 answers
New home with gaps in stairs
The stairs in our home being built (production builder) is concerning. The gaps in risers and treads doesn't seem right. When seeing all other homes in same neighborhood under construction they do not have gaps and risers are plywood allowing a butt…
T.Tautfest
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19
votes
14 answers
What kitchen counter material would you recommend and why?
What are the pros and cons of various kitchen counter top materials?
Granite
Corian
Concrete
Laminate
Quartz
Silestone
Other
jlpp
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19
votes
2 answers
What is causing/caused these brown circular stains in my cabinetry?
Recently moved into a 1950s-built home and have unearthed a number of brown, circular stains on the wood inside various closets. These rings don't appear on the plaster walls, but rather on the wood shelves or siding in the closet. Here is a picture…
Scott Mitchell
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19
votes
7 answers
How can I change light bulbs in a fixture located 20ft above the ground?
We made the unfortunate decision of having a ceiling fan with lights in our two story family room, so the ceiling fan is about 20 feet above our heads. At the moment, all four light bulbs in the unit have burnt out and need replacing.
Safety wise,…
LarsTech
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19
votes
6 answers
What sorts of appliances will malfunction on a reversed AC outlet?
The house I recently acquired had some wiring done in the basement by the previous owner. I've identified 3 outlets (all on the same circuit) where the live and neutral wires are reversed. I've switched off the breaker to that circuit so people…
Octopus
- 633
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19
votes
5 answers
How can I cut off 1/8 inch from ceramic tile?
I have a couple of 4"x4" ceramic tiles that are cut just slightly too wide. I need to take off about an eighth of an inch. I expect that's too little for the standard score-and-snap approach. What's the easiest way, given that I don't have any…
Jeremy Stein
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19
votes
5 answers
How can I effectively use Google Sketchup to render walls, doors, and windows?
This question falls dangerously close to being a software question, but it's definitely specific to DIY...
My house is around 100 years old. Off-the-shelf home design programs have nice libraries of drop-on components like walls and windows that can…
richardtallent
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