I'm sure they can do whatever style you want to be honest. Maybe not but I'd be surprised. For example, just about every example project my potential kitchen contractors have on their site or showed me have ornately detailed edge profiles (most likely because they think it is fancier/more impressive). I of course told them that I wanted an eased or 1/8" pencil-round edge and they could all still do it.

11/20/2013 1:46:13 PM

The plain edge is way easier and less time consuming to sew, so I hope they could figure it out. At this point I'm really tempted to just buy the sewing machine for $500 and then not have to deal with trying to find someone that's probably going to charge close to that to sew it anyway (+ materials). My current sewing machine pisses me off because it complains about sewing jeans and can barely make it through that, so it would definitely be something I would use a lot for curtains and other things too.

11/20/2013 1:56:48 PM

http://www.thehulltruth.com/carolinas/405945-looking-boat-canvas-guy-raleigh-area.html

The boat canvas guy recommended in this thread could probably do something like that pretty easily. I've never used his services, so this isn't an endorsement, but I remembered this thread and thought it might help you out.

11/20/2013 3:11:11 PM

After some recent breakins lately (who the hell breaks in to a house in the middle of nowhere johnston county) just ordered some motion sensor floods for the house. Now to figure how I want to run wire to the otherside of the back of the house, since the deck floods are up wayyy to high to be useful (for both a reachability and sensing standpoint). Front is a 10ft height over the garage so it will be easy.

11/22/2013 10:38:43 PM

Middle of nowhere Johnston County? They were looking for guns.

11/23/2013 8:12:31 AM

or meth

11/23/2013 9:33:56 AM

Quote :

"who the hell breaks in to a house in the middle of nowhere johnston county"

uhh, that sounds like exactly the kind of place most at risk for a break-in.

11/24/2013 9:52:59 AM

Yeah...Country houses are easy targets unfortunately. Some thieves will damn near move you out of your own house if they catch your home unoccupied for the weekend with no alarm. They'll pull the vehicle(s) around back where they can't be seen from the road and go to town.

[Edited on November 25, 2013 at 11:28 AM. Reason : l]

11/25/2013 11:28:15 AM

More like an appliance woe, but didn't want to start a new topic...

The inside (drum?) of my frontload washer has a small piece missing (maybe an inch wide). But it seems to be putting holes in our clothes (mainly my wife's). I'm going to assume that its an expensive fix (probably a new drum, plus having to pay someone to install it).

Just found the same washing machine on sale at Lowe's for $500 (originally $700). Should I just go ahead and buy it? I have a stackable washer and dryer...pretty much the only way I can fit a washer and dryer in my house. Wondering if I should start looking on craigslist or just replace this one with the one on sale at Lowe's. Only thing that's keeping me from doing it is the negative reviews it has. It averages three stars...but there are a ton of 1-star reviews. Its worked well for me for over three years...but seems like you get a piece of shit 2 out of 5 times.

11/25/2013 2:06:28 PM

How exactly does the drum get a piece missing from it?? Maybe its worth it to buy a better quality machine?

11/25/2013 3:06:42 PM

Eh...I didn't pick it out. The seller built the house and fitted it with the appliances. It wasn't a cheap set...price-wise at least, but I probably wouldn't go with Frigidaire when shopping for appliances. I feel like I'm stuck with this brand so that it will fit with the dryer that's already there. I guess I could sell them both and look for a new set...but that would still probably run me a couple hundred bucks more.

As far as a piece missing...the inside drum is a hard plastic material (I think?). Looks like a piece got "chipped" out.

11/25/2013 3:34:18 PM

Could you just fill it in with a plastic epoxy? Maybe you could add add a mesh screen patch to help cross the gap since it's such a large section and cover it all with gobs of epoxy. Then hit it with a sander to knock down any rough spots that might damage clothes.

[Edited on November 25, 2013 at 4:52 PM. Reason : l]

11/25/2013 4:50:31 PM

I would say shit like that is normally out of my wheel house...but I'll look it up. Something like that wouldn't wear down over time and many many wash cycles?

11/25/2013 5:31:59 PM

...as long as the gobs dont catch on clothes, that might work.

But why would replacing the washer with a different appliance require getting a new dryer? Unless you were getting some sort of package deal, or both were shot, why not replace one at a time? Its not like this is going in your living g room.

11/25/2013 8:16:21 PM

Quote :

"Yeah...Country houses are easy targets unfortunately. Some thieves will damn near move you out of your own house if they catch your home unoccupied for the weekend with no alarm. They'll pull the vehicle(s) around back where they can't be seen from the road and go to town."

Thats why Im glad theres a house behind me (just how they did the roads).

Na cops think it was migrant workers, grabbing before they leave the country till the spring. Theyve had a few reports lately of easy breakins.

11/25/2013 10:13:14 PM

This is the piece that's "chipped out"/missing. I don't know why I thought the whole drum was plastic. Just these parts.

11/26/2013 8:09:21 AM

is there no way to replace it? Looks like it is attached in a way that would be removable.

11/26/2013 8:10:52 AM

Searching now. I didn't see the screw on the outside until I looked at the picture.

Always thought it was connected from the inside or with some adhesive.

11/26/2013 8:16:05 AM

those are replaceable and easily done... as long as WP doesn't do something funky with their fins.

plastic welding may work... I don't know though... it can be kind of brittle

11/26/2013 8:18:47 AM

Part ordered. Found diagram online and I'm still a little surprised that it only takes one screw for that entire vane. I have a feeling there will be a little more to it. Oh well...don't make a taking a crack at it for only $70 as opposed to a $500 new washing machine.

Quote :

"But why would replacing the washer with a different appliance require getting a new dryer? Unless you were getting some sort of package deal, or both were shot, why not replace one at a time? Its not like this is going in your living g room."

Because they are stacked on top of each other...like perfectly. This is my first time using stackable washer/dryers, but would I be incorrect in assuming that different brands don't fit flush on top of other washer/dryers??

11/26/2013 8:24:17 AM

Firstly, let me say I don't know if stackable units have some common standards, but I would bet not, just so companies can retain more business.

However, there may be universal stacking kits that can handle two different manufacturers...

You are using a stacking kit, right?

That fin or agitator probably just has plastic clips that help hold it in place

11/26/2013 8:40:15 AM

I didn't stack it (builder had my appliances installed before I moved in)....so I have no idea. I'm going to assume so, because it's been stacked pretty well for the past 3.5 years.

11/26/2013 8:43:02 AM

haha. is there some type of metal bracket between the two? a stacking kit secures the dryer down onto the washer.

11/26/2013 8:45:36 AM

Yes...there is. Its just all white so it looks very uniform.

11/26/2013 8:55:48 AM

Ah. The stacking makes sense.

11/29/2013 5:24:59 PM

you don't even need to replace that part. most dries have 3 of them and 2 is plenty to properly work. hell, one is probably enough. my parents had one break off years and years ago and their dryer still works as normal

11/29/2013 11:23:16 PM

Figured this is a good place to ask...

We are having a freeze down in Texas and my rental company said I have to cover the outside faucets and if they break it is my fault. Without buying something to cover them with, because it is not my fucking house, how can I cover them up to prevent them from getting messed up? I doubt it will be a huge issue since it will be above freezing during the days (freezing at night) with the exception if a couple days. Problem is our house was built in the 40's so I am sure it is more prone to issues.

12/5/2013 2:12:06 PM

If you cover them and something happens, are you still responsible?

If no, then just go buy some spigot covers from lowe's and be done with it. Keep the receipt and take pictures. Email to rental agency.

[Edited on December 5, 2013 at 2:18 PM. Reason : .]

12/5/2013 2:17:40 PM

Not a bad idea

12/5/2013 2:32:20 PM

I am getting frustrated with the cost of labor for home improvement projects. How is it that it costs $10 a square foot to lay tile, or $300 to install a window that I purchased? Sometimes I think I should have skipped college and gone to work for a home renovator...

12/5/2013 9:40:00 PM

tile is high. replacing the window doesnt seem too unreasonable

12/5/2013 11:06:32 PM

What's a reasonable labor cost for laying tile?

12/6/2013 12:25:17 AM

Avoid Tar Heel home improvements

I should have known with Tar Heel in the name lol

Anyways this kid was doing some walking around handing out flyers and I have a very small crack in my foundation from where the previous owner remove the tree and there's no real damage it just needs to be remortared and I'm not handy like that.

So anyway on the flyer i see they do that kind of stuff and I asked him to take a look at it. he said sure they be able to take care that it wouldn't take that long. his dad comes by the next day and he's the owner of the company. Immediately he tries the upsell me on like five different things including some cheap looking gutter helmets and replacing all the vents around my house with thermal vents.

Anyways I had that a little bit of research on this guy found out he had an F from the Better Business Bureau. So I told him that and all I wanted was the crack fixed and if a good job was done it would hire him for more work that I need done.

We scheduled an appointment for Monday for him to come by and fix that he said it would cost about 150 bucks and take about an hours worth of time. Well I haven't seen him at all this week. I called him once left him a message and he's never call me back. So I feel that this is a telltale sign of some dude trying to rip people off. I feel that if I would've accepted his up sales on shit that I don't even won't done right now he would've came back and done all everything that I needed. Having the grade of F really concerns me so I lucked out

Can anyone with Angie's list look this dude up

The number is
(252) 290-4163

12/6/2013 11:48:19 AM

Not on Angie's List, and probably for good reason.

12/6/2013 2:20:56 PM

my tile guy comes to raleigh from wilmington for 6.5/ft floors and 8.5/ft walls

12/6/2013 8:17:43 PM

Has anyone ever had an issue with an entire strand of christmas lights burning out?

I understand the way that lights are designed, and due to the cheap nature if one bulb goes out it could cause it all to go out. But I mean that all of the lights are actually burnt out, and if I remove any of them and plug them into a working set they do not work. All of the lights have a singed black spot on the bulb.

I've replaced the fuse in the plug, I've used one of the lightkeeper tools to try and close any shunts that aren't working, but I can't figure out anything else to do. I broke down and just started replacing all of the bulbs, and about halfway through I plugged one in and the strand briefly blinked, and then the bulb I just plugged in was singed and a few of the new ones I just replaced were also out.

These are lights on an outdoor garland, could some water have gotten in and shorted it out? These are pre-wired to the garland so it would be a lot of work to get them off and back on again.

12/15/2013 3:30:54 PM

That's... Odd.

12/15/2013 6:13:07 PM

heat is broken
I think it's a thermostat problem (well, hope it is) because i it has had a low battery for a while and I replaced it yesterday. The AC works, the fan works, but the heat only came on for a couple of minutes but won't come on any more.

12/16/2013 8:53:38 AM

As someone who has had multiple tile projects, let me give you a word of strong advice...

When selecting a tiler, FORGET ABOUT THE COST. If you are focused on the cost, you are going to get a crap tiler, and the results will follow. You need to focus on finding a tiler that has a lot of experience, has a book of his tiling work, and that can give you names and numbers of people that are references.

You need to have the design plan, in writing, associated with the cost. If doing something particularly technical, like a shower, you need to be especially careful.

12/16/2013 9:25:11 AM

replaced the batteries in the thermostat and the heat came on for a few minutes again, but then cut off... anyone encountered something similar?

I might stop at lowes and get a new thermostat and replace it to see if that solves the problem. (I hope it's the thermostat, but i have a sinking feeling it might be the unit... I've had the same unit since the house was built in 1993.)

12/16/2013 10:19:27 AM

replaced the thermostat... it did the trick

12/16/2013 8:28:41 PM

good did you replace like for like or was it any sort of improvement over the older thermostat?

12/17/2013 7:54:28 AM

Assuming you have level floors and some time on your hands, tile work is not that hard unless you want a complicated design.

12/17/2013 9:23:42 AM

Quote :

"good did you replace like for like or was it any sort of improvement over the older thermostat?"

I just got a 25 dollar programmable one... Since I wasn't sure it was the problem it didn't make sense to drop 250 bucks for a Nest (but i'm buttering my wife up to get one... although she thinks it's creepy looking and will try to murder us like HAL...)

12/17/2013 10:25:50 AM

makes sense - I was just curious. The Nests are cool, but I really like our Honeywell wireless programmable. 7 day programmable and wireless (as in the thermostat doesn't have to be mounted on the wall, not cell-phone access), and it was less than $200.

I'd like to see more thermostats start incorporating wireless zone tstats and allowing you to do an average or weighted average regardless of whether you have a dampered/zoned system. That could provide some additional control on top of the programmability.

12/17/2013 12:08:50 PM

I'm just waiting for variable-speed AHUs and for improved ceiling/floor vents that are wired up to be dampers themselves and you can program per room.

12/17/2013 1:31:53 PM

Variable speed is around residentially, but obviously it's not cheap to do (especially true variable speed). Friend of mine just got a VAV system for his big 70s modern house he is renovating. One variable speed AHU unit with essentially 4 VAV terminal boxes (serving a zone with multiple vents). You'll probably never see individual vents be modulating in homes as I don't think it would be cost effective. That isn't even done commercially really.

If you do want room-by-room control and aren't wanting to stick with forced air, you can go with variable refrigerant flow systems and put several zones throughout a house that way.

[Edited on December 17, 2013 at 2:43 PM. Reason : ]

12/17/2013 2:42:34 PM

I've got my Nest (1st gen, original order) hooked up to the Nest control devices in the house now. one each in the kitchen, living room and my bedroom.

12/17/2013 5:22:55 PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see future versions of nest come with sattelite units for room monitoring. Then you can manually adjust the dampers coming off the mixing box, or individual registers, and trend what's going on in your house.... Also, you can understand how your set points impact individual rooms.

Maybe they'll implement it into their smoke detector product, since there's already a power source.

Either way, I'm curious where nest, and competitors looking to get a leg up go.

12/17/2013 10:48:20 PM

carpet seam is showing through in my hallway. and there's a spot where the carpet has worn off and is now showing through to the matting. just over a year old. ugh.

12/18/2013 10:33:20 AM