Custom homes discussions and local services.
christophers73
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RE: KEEPING THE COLD OUT: MY STEP-BY-STEP FOR DRAFT-PROOFING DOORS
Funny timing - I just noticed a draft sneaking in around the strike plate on my back door, not even the keyhole. I tried the incense trick and it was like a little wind tunnel. Anyone ever tried those brush-style door sw...
RE: If you had to rig up your own home security on a tight budget, what would you do?
TITLE: If You Had To Rig Up Your Own Home Security On A Tight Budget, What Would You Do? Funny thing, I used to think cameras were the end-all for security until I watched a neighbor’s footage of a guy just walking righ...
RE: Choosing between energy efficiency or water savings for green building points?
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS? That’s true, but I’ve actually seen the opposite happen when folks focus too much on water savings first. In my last place, we swapped in ...
RE: Why does my browser keep forgetting stuff?
That’s the tradeoff, isn’t it? I’ve had my share of lost notes too - once dropped a field notebook in a puddle during a blower door test. Digital tools are great for searching and syncing, but when the browser forgets yo...
RE: Cramped spaces and weird tile choices - anyone else?
That really resonates. I used to be all about gutting anything that didn’t fit my taste, but after living with some truly odd avocado-green tiles in a bathroom, I started to see them differently once I added a few plants...
RE: No more dead zones: how I got wifi in my backyard shed
No More Dead Zones: How I Got Wifi In My Backyard Shed I hear you on the trenching - when I built my little backyard office, I thought about running ethernet too, but the idea of tearing up my native plant beds just did...
RE: When Progress Hits a Wall: Surprising Facts About Failed Experiments
That’s actually spot on. I’ve seen this with “smart” thermostats too - people buy them for the energy savings, but end up using them mostly to check the weather or settle family debates about indoor temps. It’s funny how...
RE: Finally upgraded my living room lights - anyone else tried smart bulbs?
Funny you mention the physical switch - I had to go that route after my “eco” brand bulbs kept dropping offline every time the WiFi hiccupped. I do miss just flipping a switch and knowing the lights will work, but at lea...
RE: Anyone else feel awkward talking to their TV?
I’ve actually tried hanging some old moving blankets from the ceiling corners, just as a test. Not exactly pretty, but it did help with that weird “hollowness” in the room. I get what you mean about thick rugs - thin one...
RE: Looking for affordable land - any hidden gems?
Funny timing - I once bought a little patch of land on the edge of a floodplain, thinking I’d scored a deal. Turns out, “affordable” sometimes means “bring your own boots.” I spent the first spring watching my mulch and ...
RE: Building base structures - what if you had to start over?
I’ve definitely seen the “future sauna” scenario play out - my neighbor had a whole corner of his basement plumbed and wired for one, but ten years later it’s just storage for old bikes and paint cans. It’s easy to get c...
RE: Just put in a new kitchen sink and wondering if anyone else struggled this much
That’s exactly how I see it. There’s something about a kitchen that looks like it’s actually used - those little scuffs and dings are just part of the story. I tried one of those silicone grids after getting fed up with ...
RE: Finally visualized my apartment layout and it changed everything
Funny you mention the curtains - when I moved into my last place, I thought I was being clever with the fancy window film. Turns out, the draft from the 1920s windows just laughed at it. Heavy curtains and a couple of th...
RE: Just put in a new kitchen sink and wondering if anyone else struggled this much
JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH I hear you on the “custom” plumbing - my last place was built in the 60s and nothing lined up with modern fittings. I tried those flexible ...