How to Fix Stuff

[Bronze]

Yes, sometimes it pays to know what you're getting into. Our house is 15 years old, and I was going to replace the backsplash. I do & fix most things around the house, and had done a little bit of tile work maybe 15 years ago with my brother, who did tile installation for a while, so I figured I could do this easy. Bought the tile, tile saw, nippers, grout, etc. Watched about 40 videos on how to remove the old tile. Lots of methods, all looked pretty easy.

Luckily, I figured I'd start in a small area - the butler's pantry. I quickly learned that none of the people in the videos were facing what I was. It was utterly impossible to remove the tile without totally destroying the drywall behind. And I don't mean slight damage. Every piece of tile that came off brought the entire piece of drywall behind it. I figured, I was ready to make a mess, and skimcoat the whole thing, but wasn't willing to remove all the drywall, about 50' sq., and replace it. I learned finishing my basement before that I don't like drywall work, and knew safely removing all of it was more than I wanted to do. And even if I was inclined, I'm kind of .... myself and not the fastest worker. My wife wouldn't have stood for dealing with the mess that long.

Got bids from contractors, and picked one. I asked him how he was going to remove the tile, and he told me he was going to remove the entire walls, down to the studs - that if the original tiles were installed directly on drywall, with no primer or paint, it was basically impossible to remove the tile without taking out all of the drywall. Lesson learned. The installation might be easy, but the demo was hard!

So I returned everything but the tile, and now I'm in the middle doing something I know I can do start to finish - painting all the stained wood kitchen cabinets white, saving over $6,000.

 

[MostlySunny]

Yes, sometimes it pays to know what you're getting into. Our house is 15 years old, and I was going to replace the backsplash. I do & fix most things around the house, and had done a little bit of tile work maybe 15 years ago with my brother, who did tile installation for a while, so I figured I could do this easy. Bought the tile, tile saw, nippers, grout, etc. Watched about 40 videos on how to remove the old tile. Lots of methods, all looked pretty easy.

Luckily, I figured I'd start in a small area - the butler's pantry. I quickly learned that none of the people in the videos were facing what I was. It was utterly impossible to remove the tile without totally destroying the drywall behind. And I don't mean slight damage. Every piece of tile that came off brought the entire piece of drywall behind it. I figured, I was ready to make a mess, and skimcoat the whole thing, but wasn't willing to remove all the drywall, about 50' sq., and replace it. I learned finishing my basement before that I don't like drywall work, and knew safely removing all of it was more than I wanted to do. And even if I was inclined, I'm kind of .... myself and not the fastest worker. My wife wouldn't have stood for dealing with the mess that long.

Got bids from contractors, and picked one. I asked him how he was going to remove the tile, and he told me he was going to remove the entire walls, down to the studs - that if the original tiles were installed directly on drywall, with no primer or paint, it was basically impossible to remove the tile without taking out all of the drywall. Lesson learned. The installation might be easy, but the demo was hard!

So I returned everything but the tile, and now I'm in the middle doing something I know I can do start to finish - painting all the stained wood kitchen cabinets white, saving over $6,000.

I almost took on the job of doing my own cabinets, got super lucky and found a wonderful guy with a great reputation that needed a cash job in a financial pinch. Kitchen, 2 bathrooms and my laundry room $1800! Couldn’t pass that up. It’s a messy smelly project and would have taken me forever.

Best of luck with the cabinets! I love the white. It just gives a whole new feel.

 

[76bridget]

I need to know how to talk DH into letting me have the cabinets painted, lol! Custom oak cabinets, 16 years old. Maybe in another 10 he'll let me..

 

[Bronze]

I need to know how to talk DH into letting me have the cabinets painted, lol! Custom oak cabinets, 16 years old. Maybe in another 10 he'll let me..

You could go in two opposing directions. You could nag him to death or you could go the opposite direction (I’ll leave that to your imagination). Both can be effective at certain times in certain situations. Only you would know.

 

[Brewdawg1181]

Ummmm....ever get the feeling you're being followed across all internet platforms?
Posted about my cabinets Saturday (yes, I'm using an HVLP sprayer), and get a first of its kind suggestion from FB the next day, "suggested for you." Just a coincidence. I guess you all got this suggestion. And by the way, I've set no tracking, no targeted ads, & max privacy on everything I do, and opted out on DAA/Ad Choices. And I've never posted anything about the cabinets before Saturday. I look at FB for entertainment sometimes, but never post anything there.

Can't wait to get their new currency now that they're ensuring everything is so private and secure.

 

[LAwaters]

Ummmm....ever get the feeling you're being followed across all internet platforms?
Posted about my cabinets Saturday (yes, I'm using an HVLP sprayer), and get a first of its kind suggestion from FB the next day, "suggested for you." Just a coincidence. I guess you all got this suggestion. And by the way, I've set no tracking, no targeted ads, & max privacy on everything I do, and opted out on DAA/Ad Choices. And I've never posted anything about the cabinets before Saturday. I look at FB for entertainment sometimes, but never post anything there.

Can't wait to get their new currency now that they're ensuring everything is so private and secure.
View attachment 823115

I’ve read articles about FB’s tracking. By having an account you agree to their tracking. Any computer that you use to login there will set FB’s background tracking. It goes on even after you log out. It continues even if you use their app, and even when the app is closed.

Your currency comment cracked me up. BTW, these bitcoin or blockchain currency claims are false. The basis of blockchain is complete anonymity and the impossibility of tracking transactions. Not all digital currencies being trotted out are true anonymous blockchains. Certainly not the ones coming from FB, Apple, Microsoft, etc. Most are just renamed credit card style payment systems. They get their cut and they track it all.

 

[Bronze]

I’m considering getting security cameras for the house at some point. No hurry. But I am researching to see how these things work, cost quality, features, blah, blah, blah.

Three brands I am currently looking at. Ring, Arlo, and Blink.

Anyone have a home camera security system?

 

[LAwaters]

I’m considering getting security cameras for the house at some point. No hurry. But I am researching to see how these things work, cost quality, features, blah, blah, blah.

Three brands I am currently looking at. Ring, Arlo, and Blink.

Anyone have a home camera security system?

I don't have a recommendation other than to say I hope you're aware that nearly all such systems are highly hackable, particularly if they allow you to check your system remotely.

One couple was recently in the news because their newly installed system was hacked and the two guys who did it were swearing and insulting the woman when she was home alone. Their system had speakers. Her husband worked from home and it was rare for him to be out. The hackers waited until he was gone to start tormenting her.

 

[MostlySunny]

I’m considering getting security cameras for the house at some point. No hurry. But I am researching to see how these things work, cost quality, features, blah, blah, blah.

Three brands I am currently looking at. Ring, Arlo, and Blink.

Anyone have a home camera security system?

I have the ring on my doorbell. It is helpful but not mind blowing “omg I’m so safe now!”. I can see when someone’s at my door. That’s about it. It’s helpful for when I’m not home for little things like “who’s that boy bringing Chloe pizza while I’m in CA”. I am looking into the Arlo system. In one of my post chemo haze days the tv landed on HSN. They had a nice bundle.

 

[Bronze]

I’d want more than a doorbell camera. I’m thinking front door, back door, and especially garage.

Didn’t think of the hacking angle.

 

[MostlySunny]

The doorbell was a baby step.

I don’t like that there isnt a designated ”screen”, it’s all done over my phone. Sometimes there’s a lag, I’d like to get the flood light cameras for the garage and back yard. Let us know what you find.

 

[LAwaters]

I’d want more than a doorbell camera. I’m thinking front door, back door, and especially garage.

Didn’t think of the hacking angle.

In different segment I saw, the reporter had a guy outside in the car with a laptop. He was interviewing a woman about all of the Internet of Things "smart" stuff she had in her house. As they talked, her blender suddenly fired up and scared the daylights out of her. Then it happened again. Then her "smart lock" on her back door started unlocking and relocking. Of course, it was the guy with the laptop who'd easily hacked in.

 

[Brewdawg1181]

I’m considering getting security cameras for the house at some point. No hurry. But I am researching to see how these things work, cost quality, features, blah, blah, blah.

Three brands I am currently looking at. Ring, Arlo, and Blink.

Anyone have a home camera security system?

I'm no expert by any means, but have to answer your question with questions. What are your goals? Make your wife & family just feel safe? Have you had issues you're concerned about? Do you need specific alerts? Just mainly want to watch the front porch because things have been stolen?

I ask, because of course, they all focus on different things. And I've seen friends and family buy stuff that looked cool, at a good price, but didn't really do what they wanted, and were disappointed and abandoned it.

So it sounds obvious, but I'd nail down what you want to do with it, exactly, and research which ones do what you want better than the others. For instance, having many cameras at high def in low light won't do you much good, if you have to review hours and hours of video to see what you need, and don't get alerts in the mode that works for you.

 

[Bronze]

I'm no expert by any means, but have to answer your question with questions. What are your goals? Make your wife & family just feel safe? Have you had issues you're concerned about? Do you need specific alerts? Just mainly want to watch the front porch because things have been stolen?

I ask, because of course, they all focus on different things. And I've seen friends and family buy stuff that looked cool, at a good price, but didn't really do what they wanted, and were disappointed and abandoned it.

So it sounds obvious, but I'd nail down what you want to do with it, exactly, and research which ones do what you want better than the others. For instance, having many cameras at high def in low light won't do you much good, if you have to review hours and hours of video to see what you need, and don't get alerts in the mode that works for you.

Well, my goals are in flux at this point because I don’t know all the things these systems are capable of. I’m in the beginning stages.

For example, I find out these things have sirens and voice capability. I can see where that could thwart a thief in the act. But then what would signal me there was an intruder? Motion? Yes. But how effective would motion detection be? I have lots of wildlife here. If snakes and squirrels set the thing off I wont get any sleep with the alert constantly going off. There is also deer coming thru frequently. So what does the motion detection actually detect?? I like the idea of thwarting an intrusion. I’m armed here and will not hesitate blowing the brains out of anyone who is in my house with nefarious intentions. But I just assume avoid such a confrontation if possible.

The video could also be useful to the cops if any of these low lives come sniffing around.

While I live in a neighborhood, this remains a relatively thinly populated area. We all know we are targets. We know we are responsible for our own safety. When seconds count the cops are only minutes away. So most of us are armed as in 80%+. Smart intruders know this so they stay away. But the large majority of intruders are dumb so it is a problem here to be sure. And I have been robbed three times that I know of. Petty theft of tools in the garage but also someone came in the house once and stole a firearm after the garage door malfunctioned and was open all day.

So I guess my main objective is to prevent an intrusion in the first place as an initial line of defense. The second line of defense would require a mop and bucket crew and I just assume it not go that far if it can be avoided. So I want to learn what these things are capable of, how effective they are, then decide what my goals are within the limits of these capabilities.

 

[MikeE3]

There is also deer coming thru frequently.

We have a "RIng' doorbell on our front door. It sends alerts to our phones. We have to disable the audible alerts on our phone during sleeping hours because of the deer traffic in front of the house. That's OK for us, our primary reason for the ring is to see who's at the front door not really using it for security purposes. You do have some control over it's sensitivity, like how far out it will sense motion. But that's a trade off if set for only motion closer to the door, you wouldn't get an alert if someone was prowling around your front yard but not close to the door.

 

[Jwaterski]

Ummmm....ever get the feeling you're being followed across all internet platforms?
Posted about my cabinets Saturday (yes, I'm using an HVLP sprayer), and get a first of its kind suggestion from FB the next day, "suggested for you." Just a coincidence. I guess you all got this suggestion. And by the way, I've set no tracking, no targeted ads, & max privacy on everything I do, and opted out on DAA/Ad Choices. And I've never posted anything about the cabinets before Saturday. I look at FB for entertainment sometimes, but never post anything there.

Can't wait to get their new currency now that they're ensuring everything is so private and secure.
View attachment 823115

The key is to do searchs for everything from aardvark food to zxylophone tuners, overwhelm them! Give them a moving target.

 

[rosesense]

I’m considering getting security cameras for the house at some point. No hurry. But I am researching to see how these things work, cost quality, features, blah, blah, blah.

Three brands I am currently looking at. Ring, Arlo, and Blink.

Anyone have a home camera security system?

I like simplisafe and no contracts. A la carte items, the foghorn one is great, scared my intruders off at a vacant house that was for sale. I got the system after they came in and stole the new carpeting, broke new doors and took workman tools (was renovating to sell).

I don't currently use the camera but it was great when I did.

 

[Brewdawg1181]

But how effective would motion detection be? I have lots of wildlife here. If snakes and squirrels set the thing off I wont get any sleep with the alert constantly going off. There is also deer coming thru frequently. So what does the motion detection actually detect?

There are 2 technologies for detecting motion - ultrasonic and infrared. Maybe not as true as it was a decade ago when I was in the lighting technology bus., but the better units used a combination. So you should definitely look at which tech they use. You should be able to aim and adjust sensitity of the better ones, and choose by the type/size/shape of where you want to detect. But if a deer comes onto your porch, or a bear peers into your garage, it'd still set them off.

While I live in a neighborhood, this remains a relatively thinly populated area. We all know we are targets. We know we are responsible for our own safety. When seconds count the cops are only minutes away. So most of us are armed as in 80%+. Smart intruders know this so they stay away. But the large majority of intruders are dumb so it is a problem here to be sure. And I have been robbed three times that I know of. Petty theft of tools in the garage but also someone came in the house once and stole a firearm after the garage door malfunctioned and was open all day.

So you've already been a victim multiple times. You'll be wanting a unit that integrates with a laser guided aiming and firing mechanism for your remote mounted 12ga Mossberg 500 tactical shotguns.

Seriously, though - most of the stuff I've seen about hacking the system was user ignorance. They were using factory default passwords, or not setting them at all. Any good system should be just as secure or hackproof as a wifi router.

But you're a pretty sharp guy- I'm sure you can study this and get the components you need for an overall system that'll work for you. I'd consider a combination of motion activated cameras and lights, with the more sophisticated stuff at points of entry. And something that lets you customize the alerts to a phone - for instance, if you find the wildlife is more of an annoyance, that you can set it to get alerts only at those potential points of entry. Something with flexibility and a decent UI to add, remove, and customize.

Wish I had more specific recommendations. But wait....no I don't. 'Cause that'd mean I'd had issues to make me research and install one.

 

[MostlySunny]

I need to know how to talk DH into letting me have the cabinets painted, lol! Custom oak cabinets, 16 years old. Maybe in another 10 he'll let me..

In another 10 they’ll be on trend again

 

[Brewdawg1181]

In another 10 they’ll be on trend again

True, that.
If you want to convince him, just do what my wife does: Make sure HGTV is on TV 90% of the time I don't have sports on. Pretty soon, your whole house will be "open concept" loaded with ship lap, subway tiles, rolling barn doors, and bare Edison bulbs, perfect for entertaining.

I'm not going for the other trends (well, we've always had kitchen open to living), but when I saw a neighbor's similar house done, I finally caved on doing a white kitchen. I realized my beautiful wood cabinets reminded me of the dark walnut paneled dens of the '60's. Plus, it's making her VERY happy!