Custom homes discussions and local services.
frodo_chef
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RE: If you had to rig up your own home security on a tight budget, what would you do?
I hear you on that - my cousin loaded up on bargain cams and now he’s got hours of grainy squirrels. I’m still figuring out my own setup, but I keep wondering if smart door sensors are worth it or just overkill? I like t...
RE: Color combos that oddly please the brain
Totally get that - those sample pots seem cheap until you’ve got six half-used ones collecting dust. I actually started using large white poster boards and painting them with just a bit from one sample. You can move them...
RE: What if your city paid you to use less water?
What If Your City Paid You To Use Less Water? I totally get the value of demo gardens, but sometimes I wonder if they’re a bit intimidating for folks just starting out. Like, I walked through one last month and it was g...
RE: What if your city paid you to use less water?
WHAT IF YOUR CITY PAID YOU TO USE LESS WATER? I totally get what you mean about the “efficient” fixtures not always living up to the hype. I just built my first place and went with all the recommended low-flow stuff - s...
RE: Trimming down expenses on project supplies
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES I’ve wondered about this too, especially since I’m trying to keep costs down on my own build but still want things to look intentional, not just patched together. I totally g...
RE: Struggling with ventilation inspection requirements lately
That “equivalent materials” thing really does seem to be a moving target. I’ve had the same experience - one inspector was fine with our kitchen vent, but another flagged it for not having a sticker that apparently wasn’...
RE: Smart home ecosystems worth checking out
Smart Home Ecosystems Worth Checking Out That’s actually super reassuring to hear, since I’ve been stressing about whether to go all-wired or just accept some wireless spots. The PoE access point trick is clever - I nev...
RE: Digging into property easements - anyone else find online tools confusing?
DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS - ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING? I totally get where you’re coming from. When we bought our place last year, I thought those county GIS maps would make things super clear, but.....
RE: Struggling to keep walls straight when building with lumber
Have you noticed any difference in battery life between brands? I'm thinking of grabbing a green laser for my deck project, but I don't wanna be swapping batteries every hour...
RE: Keeping track of your construction loan payments without losing your mind
Haha, I totally get the appeal of Airtable - tried it briefly myself but got a bit overwhelmed by all the options. Curious though, have you found a good way to handle reminders or alerts for upcoming payments? That's bee...
RE: Builder Insurance - Ever Wondered Who Covers the Mishaps?
Wish I'd read this earlier... we had a similar issue with our countertops. Contractor's insurance said it wasn't their fault, homeowner's policy wasn't sure either. Took weeks to sort out. How'd you manage to speed thing...
RE: Casting vs injection molding - which method works better?
Interesting points here, but I'm wondering if you've considered durability from another angle. I get that injection molding is often recommended for high-use items, but I've seen some pretty impressive durability from va...
RE: Dealing with itchy pink nightmare in my attic
I haven't personally done the cellulose thing yet, but your experience is making me seriously consider it. Right now, I'm stuck with fiberglass batts and yeah...the itchiness is no joke. Even with gloves and long sleeves...
RE: Need advice on replacing an old leaky roof
Interesting points, but I'm wondering - couldn't the effectiveness of fans vs. insulation depend a bit on your local climate or attic setup? I mean, insulation is definitely important, but what if your attic has decent i...
RE: Keeping track of your construction loan payments without losing your mind
Totally agree about Google Sheets being a lifesaver for version control. Did you guys run into any issues with people accidentally overwriting each other's entries, though? We had a few hiccups early on - someone would t...