Home Improvement no BS

[f6john]

  Been putting off this job for a while. Living room has 16’ ceilings and 8 can lights. We don’t believe in painting around things so all the can light trims had to be removed and the ceiling fan taken down since we are changing it out too. Ceilings the same color as the walls has been popular around here for a while so we’re going that way which will make the job easier too. I had one 6’ tall scaffold and Rural King ran a sale on the same size for $119.00 two weeks ago so I grabbed one. Everyone has been telling me I’m too old to be climbing up that high but I have the solution for that.




Let the wife do it!





She’s a good sport about it and takes a lot of satisfaction in a job well done.

[..]

She's a keeper.

Life insurance up to date 

[f6john]

She's a keeper.

Life insurance up to date 

Let me check on that!

[carolinarider09]

Our great room is similar ceiling is about 24 foot above the floor of the great room.

No ceiling fan.  I used a scaffold to doing the painting and trim as well.  If I know how to post I pic I show you.

The only issue I have is that I'd rather not bring the scaffold back in the house now that it is finished (mine is a three tier or stack system) so, I hope to be able to change out the lights, if they go out, with one of those suctions thingy extending arms things.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x1pk32upzpkpji6/DSCF1462.JPG?dl=0

[..]

Our great room is similar ceiling is about 24 foot above the floor of the great room.

No ceiling fan.  I used a scaffold to doing the painting and trim as well.  If I know how to post I pic I show you.

The only issue I have is that I'd rather not bring the scaffold back in the house now that it is finished (mine is a three tier or stack system) so, I hope to be able to change out the lights, if they go out, with one of those suctions thingy extending arms things.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x1pk32upzpkpji6/DSCF1462.JPG?dl=0

https://postimages.org/

Create an account using the SIGN UP box top right.

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Once uploaded put your cursor on the image you want to put on the VRCC forum

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Click on it
Now copy the "Hotlink" for forums.

Now go to the VRCC post you want the photo to appear in and right click and paste.

Once you then post your comment the photo should appear for all to see.

[carolinarider09]

Thanks Britman.  I went back to look at the "Posting images" thread but...

I got a screenshot of your instructions and will endeavor to make it work.

Thanks again.



It worked.  Now to make it bigger 

[f6john]

Thanks Britman.  I went back to look at the "Posting images" thread but...

I got a screenshot of your instructions and will endeavor to make it work.

Thanks again.



It worked.  Now to make it bigger  

Yes that would be a lot of work to do now that the room is finished. This house is 20 years old and was built by an elderly couple who just lived in it and any repairs they did or had done are very suspect. My living room has had all the trim removed to be sanded and repainted and the floors pulled up down to the sub floor so we can be a little sloppy with the paint and not damage anything. My hardwood flooring install has been hostage to getting this done. I’ll be out of excuses this coming week!

[Rams]

Let the wife do it!



She’s a good sport about it and takes a lot of satisfaction in a job well done.

Just curious if she'd be interested in an all expense paid trip to beautiful Mississippi?

Rams 

[f6john]

Let the wife do it!



She’s a good sport about it and takes a lot of satisfaction in a job well done.

Just curious if she'd be interested in an all expense paid trip to beautiful Mississippi?

Rams 

As long as she can see the Gulf from her bedroom window . She has assured me that this remodel is her last hurrah, I told her ok but that I hoped I had several more hurrahs in me yet!

[scooperhsd]

It's a joke to even consider speaking to wife about these high jobs - she can barely go up and down 1 flight of stairs...

Not to mention that I'm around 6 feet tall, 255-260 pounds right now, and she's about 5 feet even and has more weight than me.

[f6john]

It's a joke to even consider speaking to wife about these high jobs - she can barely go up and down 1 flight of stairs...

Not to mention that I'm around 6 feet tall, 255-260 pounds right now, and she's about 5 feet even and has more weight than me.

I had my doubts about Judy getting up there myself. I kept bringing up the job with other people while she was in hearing distance and would tell them Judy is doing the ceiling and everybody would laugh. You know the saying about telling a story enough times and it become fact. It worked this time anyway. Paint work is outrageous in cost and only worth it if your get a really professional finish. Whatever the previous owners paid for the homes only repaint was too much. The woodwork was worse than the walls and is taking a lot of time and effort. I figure we have saved enough on just the painting to pay for many of the upgrades that she wants in the kitchen. We had a nice working class home before but nothing too fancy so I’m trying to give her the things she has always wanted and still be able to buy groceries and pay the electric bill when we’re done.

[msb]

 Been putting off this job for a while. Living room has 16’ ceilings and 8 can lights. We don’t believe in painting around things so all the can light trims had to be removed and the ceiling fan taken down since we are changing it out too. Ceilings the same color as the walls has been popular around here for a while so we’re going that way which will make the job easier too. I had one 6’ tall scaffold and Rural King ran a sale on the same size for $119.00 two weeks ago so I grabbed one. Everyone has been telling me I’m too old to be climbing up that high but I have the solution for that.




Let the wife do it!


She’s a good sport about it and takes a lot of satisfaction in a job well done.

Interesting concept, painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls.... I guess with high ceilings it'll look good. I'd be interested to see how it turns out, hope you post "after" pics as well.
Not a hope in h*** I'd get the Mrs up even a few feet above the floor to paint, let alone up there. We too have a high (18') ceiling in our great room... thankfully we're all good as far as up to date paint goes. I did manage to find a real handy 20' extendi-tool to change all the pot lights out to LED's when we moved in a few years ago... don't think I'll need to  be getting up there for some time thankfully 

[Rams]

My hardwood flooring install has been hostage to getting this done. I’ll be out of excuses this coming week!

Never again.   I've paid for top quality hardwood flooring in the last three homes.   Going with vinyl (they call it luxury something).   My wife likes to move the furniture every time there's a full moon it seems like.   It costs a bundle to get them repaired and refinished.   As I said, never again.

Rams

[f6john]

My sons house is a little over 10 years old and all his walls and ceilings are the same color and the wife likes it so therefore..... It may have been a builder ploy to save time but it seems to have caught on in this area.

[f6john]

My hardwood flooring install has been hostage to getting this done. I’ll be out of excuses this coming week!

Never again.   I've paid for top quality hardwood flooring in the last three homes.   Going with vinyl (they call it luxury something).   My wife likes to move the furniture every time there's a full moon it seems like.   It costs a bundle to get them repaired and refinished.   As I said, never again.

Rams

Fully understand and somewhat agree in the maintenance and constant dusting. I like the new vinyl floors and I feel like they will perform well but the main floor is mama’s and she said hardwood and tile.

[Rams]

My hardwood flooring install has been hostage to getting this done. I’ll be out of excuses this coming week!

Never again.   I've paid for top quality hardwood flooring in the last three homes.   Going with vinyl (they call it luxury something).   My wife likes to move the furniture every time there's a full moon it seems like.   It costs a bundle to get them repaired and refinished.   As I said, never again.

Rams

Fully understand and somewhat agree in the maintenance and constant dusting. I like the new vinyl floors and I feel like they will perform well but the main floor is mama’s and she said hardwood and tile.

Yeah, we're putting some kind of Italian tile in the rest rooms and some really stupid looking rock on her counter top in the kitchen and rest rooms.     Let's not even discuss what that crap costs.   

Rams 

[Rams]

As long as she can see the Gulf from her bedroom window

Before I make any promises I can't keep, let me ask this, just how good is her eyesight? 

Rams   

[msb]

My hardwood flooring install has been hostage to getting this done. I’ll be out of excuses this coming week!

Never again.   I've paid for top quality hardwood flooring in the last three homes.   Going with vinyl (they call it luxury something).   My wife likes to move the furniture every time there's a full moon it seems like.   It costs a bundle to get them repaired and refinished.   As I said, never again.

Rams

Fully understand and somewhat agree in the maintenance and constant dusting. I like the new vinyl floors and I feel like they will perform well but the main floor is mama’s and she said hardwood and tile.

Yeah, we're putting some kind of Italian tile in the rest rooms and some really stupid looking rock on her counter top in the kitchen and rest rooms.     Let's not even discuss what that crap costs.   

Rams 

Hey Now!!! No need to go bashing tile and stone     34  years in the industry and I can tell you it is the best  choice for durability,  cleanability,  stain resistance,  and adding value  to your home. Much the same can be said for good hardwood...even engineered hardwood. A good maintenance tip for both....a steam mop works wonders on  either, as well as the tile grout. No chemicals or cleaning solutions to keep clean and stain free.
The new luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) look nice, stand up a bit better than they used to (don't drop anything sharp though) and are easy to clean. Look out though if they ever get wet from a leaking fridge or sink, or a large spill...not good. Also most are made in China, etc...have to check closely the volatile organic content (VOC), otherwise they can off-gas.

[Jess from VA]

I'm tired just looking at all this work going on. (Beautiful homes BTW.  )

I have saved all that work for myself with a simple solution.... I just keep the lights down low at all times, and everything looks OK to me.  

Whether I sell or die in place, the next owners can do it.  

I still run the vacuum once in a while, but am considering using my backpack blower to just blow dust and dirt out the open doors and windows.

[Rams]

Love hardwood floors but, durability is the issue.   Reference the vinyl flooring, we're getting "commercial grade".   It looks good and shouldn't have any issues with moisture.  There's no bio-degradable substances (I'm told).   Same stuff on the local Indian Cycle Dealership floor.  Not going to suggest it can't be damaged but, seems pretty tough and looks very nice.  Costs a bit more but, worth it so I don't have to do repairs nearly as much.

As far as the counter top rock, I don't remember the name but, it's not very attractive and costs more than most Valkyries for one slab.   Sorry for going on a rant.   I just think it's a waste of money when that same money could have put another Valkyrie in my new garage.  

Sorry John, didn't mean to hijack your thread.   I'm done now.

Rams

[pais]

F6, your post brings a couple things to mind.
1) While she's up there, replace those can lamps with LED, if you have not already. Simple conversion and I'm confident it will be the last time the light(s) will need changed.
2) Your post made me realize that in all the years of knowing my wife(34 knowing her and 28 married to her), I've never seen her on a ladder. Very confident in the fact she wasn't on one when I wasn't around. .

[f6john]

F6, your post brings a couple things to mind.
1) While she's up there, replace those can lamps with LED, if you have not already. Simple conversion and I'm confident it will be the last time the light(s) will need changed.
2) Your post made me realize that in all the years of knowing my wife(34 knowing her and 28 married to her), I've never seen her on a ladder. Very confident in the fact she wasn't on one when I wasn't around. .

LEDs have been one of my ongoing projects. The house was full of surface mount polished brass and glass cheap Lowe’s light fixtures. I got a deal on a bunch (18) retrofit led recessed lights that just clamp onto the sheetrock after you cut a hole to size. So that meant having to get in the attic and elimination the nail on ceiling boxes. That project worked out great and I have much better light. The living room and the master bedroom are the only rooms left that I haven’t converted to led but I will get to them too.

You guys feel free to use my pictures to inspire your wives to get up on those scaffolds and ladders but be prepared, from that height she will get a different perspective and that usually results in more money being spent.

[Robert]

She’s a good sport about it and takes a lot of satisfaction in a job well done.

that is a beautiful room you have made.  I bet the guitar sounds great with those acoustics 

[f6john]

I'm tired just looking at all this work going on. (Beautiful homes BTW.  )

I have saved all that work for myself with a simple solution.... I just keep the lights down low at all times, and everything looks OK to me.  

Whether I sell or die in place, the next owners can do it.  

I still run the vacuum once in a while, but am considering using my backpack blower to just blow dust and dirt out the open doors and windows.

I feel ya . While all this work is going on we have been living in the unfinished basement and I have become quite comfortable down here. There is a full functioning bathroom in the basement which was the clincher for the wife along with the fact that though unfinished it does have hvac down here too. This is not how would have liked to spend my early retirement time or all the extra money being thrown into this house. Financially all I can say about it is investing in this place will probably get me a better return that being in a bank. That return will probably only ever be realized by my son and his family when we are no more.

[Rams]

F6, your post brings a couple things to mind.
1) While she's up there, replace those can lamps with LED, if you have not already. Simple conversion and I'm confident it will be the last time the light(s) will need changed.
2) Your post made me realize that in all the years of knowing my wife(34 knowing her and 28 married to her), I've never seen her on a ladder. Very confident in the fact she wasn't on one when I wasn't around. .

Met my wife 41 years ago, been hitched 38 or 39, can't remember.  

Never seen her on anything more than one of those two step garden variety step ladders.   The last time she got on it (a couple years ago) she stepped off and missed the bottom step and fell breaking her shoulder.    Since then, I do all the higher tasks.  

John, you've got a beautiful home, I'm sure you and your adventurous lady will love it.   I do wish you'd hurry up and get it done though, I could use her help.  

Rams

[carolinarider09]

Regarding lighting:

When I was getting the plans for my house drawn up by an Architect (another story there), I also had a separate person draw up the lighting.  I met this gentlemen when the company I worked for needed to have lightning in a room that was used for emergencies and was filled with computers.  The need was to have not reflection on the screen.  The answer was simple and was well received.

Anyway, I asked him to do the lighting design for my new house.  I don't think I gave him any parameters just asked him to give me a plan that would provide lighting for all the rooms and the wrap around porch.  

As a result, we only have three table top or floor lamps in the house (three bedrooms, two bath).  The rest of the lighting is either in the ceiling or track lights.  

Its an awesome lighting system.  Almost have associated wall dimmers and that is the rub (at least when I was looking at LED lamps).  LED lamps, at least the ones I purchase four or five years ago, don't dim well at all.  So, I switched back the halogen lights.  

The other rub is that the Great Room (living room) is very open.  I had considered putting in floor receptacles but that means (even if you do the flush ones) you can have cords running across the floor if you re-arrange the furniture.  

[carolinarider09]

My wife does not really like to climb ladders as well but my daughter did help me finish the rood (metal roofing).  But my wife can use a "chop" saw. 

[Rams]

Regarding lighting:

When I was getting the plans for my house drawn up by an Architect (another story there), I also had a separate person draw up the lighting.  I met this gentlemen when the company I worked for needed to have lightning in a room that was used for emergencies and was filled with computers.  The need was to have not reflection on the screen.  The answer was simple and was well received.

Anyway, I asked him to do the lighting design for my new house.  I don't think I gave him any parameters just asked him to give me a plan that would provide lighting for all the rooms and the wrap around porch.  

As a result, we only have three table top or floor lamps in the house (three bedrooms, two bath).  The rest of the lighting is either in the ceiling or track lights.  

Its an awesome lighting system.  Almost have associated wall dimmers and that is the rub (at least when I was looking at LED lamps).  LED lamps, at least the ones I purchase four or five years ago, don't dim well at all.  So, I switched back the halogen lights.  

The other rub is that the Great Room (living room) is very open.  I had considered putting in floor receptacles but that means (even if you do the flush ones) you can have cords running across the floor if you re-arrange the furniture.  

Sounds like you did it right.    

We're changing everything over to LEDs.  Installing outside canister lighting in the soffits (LEDs) and putting a few electrical outlets in the floor of my bonus room to avoid those pesky extension cords.
My wife wanted something different for the porch and driveway pad lightening, she found a lightbulb that resembles a gas light flame.   Looks pretty cool.
Rams

[f6john]

They call it mission creep, I think.



Had a leak around the fireplace when we bought the house. They said it was fixed, uh no.

It was bad enough that it had rotted out a section of the sub floor including under the fireplace



Had to pull out the fireplace to fix the floor and in doing so the insulated piping had to be removed. Since I’m planning to go with gas logs that was a plus



And that is what has lead to the mission creep



Previously it had a wooden mantle around the fireplace and from there on up just solid blank wall. Since the chimney chase will no longer have any pipe in it, I started cutting openings with no real plan of exactly how I will use the space or how I will trim it out. It will come to me I’m sure. A small tv will probably find it’s way in the lower opening and a large portrait of Trump in the top opening

[f6john]

Still no sunshine for really good natural light to take pictures. We got a first coat
on everything and I’m happy with the look. It’s not a huge room and with the 16 foot ceilings it made it look somewhat like a silo with the white ceiling. The decision has been made to do a second coat since,as my wife said, this is our last hurrah went it comes to remodeling ourselves.