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becky_thompson
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RE: Need advice on replacing an old leaky roof
Honestly, I’m with you on not skimping when it comes to the roof. When we built our place last year, I was tempted to go with felt just because the price difference seemed huge at the time. But after talking to a few fol...
RE: Keeping the critters out: weird but effective tricks?
I get wanting something sturdy, but I’ve actually had better luck with a combo approach - hear me out. After fighting with hardware cloth and steel wool (and yeah, mice just shoved the wool right out), I started using co...
RE: Building base structures - what if you had to start over?
If I had to do it all over, I’d probably lean cellulose too. I get the mineral wool hype - fire resistance, critter-proof, all that - but the cost just didn’t make sense for my budget. We went dense-pack cellulose in our...
RE: Sink fixtures driving me nuts lately
Sink Fixtures Driving Me Nuts Lately Honestly, I totally get where you’re coming from. I was obsessed with matte black everything during the planning stage - looked so sleek in the showroom, right? Fast forward a few mo...
RE: My Adventure With DIY Concrete Foundations
My Adventure With DIY Concrete Foundations You nailed it about the vapor barrier - can’t believe how many people skip that step thinking “it’ll be fine.” I learned the hard way too, except my issue was a weird mildew sm...
RE: Builder Insurance - Ever Wondered Who Covers the Mishaps?
Couldn't agree more about documenting everything - saved my sanity more than once. Learned the hard way on insurance too, awkward conversations beat awkward surprises any day. You're right though, once the dust settles, ...
RE: Finally cracked the code on keeping construction costs in check
Totally agree with you on simplicity naturally aligning with sustainability. When we built our first home, we chose reclaimed wood and basic insulation upgrades - nothing fancy or pricey, but it made a noticeable differe...
RE: Smart thermostats - worth the hype or just fancy gadgets?
We installed a smart thermostat last year, thinking it'd be the end of our upstairs heatwave issues. It definitely helped us spot the problem quicker, but like you said, it wasn't a magic bullet. Turns out our ductwork w...
RE: Hammer vs nail gun - what's your go-to?
Couldn't agree more about the pneumatic nailer. I was hesitant at first - thought it seemed like overkill for my weekend warrior projects - but after borrowing one from a neighbor, I was hooked. The difference in finish ...
RE: My Adventure With DIY Concrete Foundations
Totally agree on the gloves - my hands thanked me big time once I finally got a decent pair. About magnesium floats though, I actually did notice a difference. Maybe it's because I'm newer to this and my wrists aren't us...
RE: Sink fixtures driving me nuts lately
Had a similar issue when we moved into our new place. Thought the fancy fixtures would be worth it, but yeah, the splashing drove me crazy for weeks. Switched to a water-saving aerator after reading some reviews, and hon...
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