Darthphere Presents: Geeks with Hammers, the Home and Garden thread.

[twylight]

I love IKEA! I think it's convenient and I know the 'quality' of their stuff comes into question a lot but they're better quality than the cheap stuff at Target/Wal-Mart, easier to put together and for the most part a comparable price.

Also the food is yummy.

[Darthphere]

Putting together IKEA furniture is like some elaborate puzzle.

"Here's a manual, it only has pictures so deal with it."

[Immortalfire]

Darth, you need to start a home improvement journal.

Day 1; I begin the quest to build a new bookshelf.


It would be an instant hit with Hype readers.

[Darthphere]

Hmmm maybe.

[NHawk19]

Painting is the one job I really hate.

So far though since we bought the house I've installed 3 lightfixtures, a new faucet in the kitchen, new mixing valve for the shower in the master bath, and switched some valves in the basement which were starting to go.

For those about to undertank a plumbing job, I recommend using the sharkbite fittings. They're more expensive but you dont need a torch. Also if you hook up a water tank or any other fixtures you can remove them later pretty easily without scrapping all your connections.

Anyone know of a good way to remove wallpaper? The downstairs bathroom is next and the previous owners wallpapered the crap out of it.

[Erzengel]

Originally Posted by twylight

I love IKEA! I think it's convenient and I know the 'quality' of their stuff comes into question a lot but they're better quality than the cheap stuff at Target/Wal-Mart, easier to put together and for the most part a comparable price.

Also the food is yummy.

I had IKEA stuff when I was in college but yeah that stuff is being pushed out of house and the first opportunity.

[PemLam]

Originally Posted by NHawk19

Painting is the one job I really hate.

So far though since we bought the house I've installed 3 lightfixtures, a new faucet in the kitchen, new mixing valve for the shower in the master bath, and switched some valves in the basement which were starting to go.

For those about to undertank a plumbing job, I recommend using the sharkbite fittings. They're more expensive but you dont need a torch. Also if you hook up a water tank or any other fixtures you can remove them later pretty easily without scrapping all your connections.

Anyone know of a good way to remove wallpaper? The downstairs bathroom is next and the previous owners wallpapered the crap out of it.

It the wallpaper was put up correctly the first time, then you're in for some grueling work. They sell stripping tools but anything you do is going to be time consuming. Did they use glue or was it the semi-popular self adhesive stuff I've been seeing occassionally?

[NHawk19]

Originally Posted by PemLam

It the wallpaper was put up correctly the first time, then you're in for some grueling work. They sell stripping tools but anything you do is going to be time consuming. Did they use glue or was it the semi-popular self adhesive stuff I've been seeing occassionally?

I'm guessing they had pros do it. Which is part of the reason I've been putting it off. The lines are too clean for weekend warriors.

[PemLam]

Originally Posted by NHawk19

I'm guessing they had pros do it. Which is part of the reason I've been putting it off. The lines are too clean for weekend warriors.

Sorry but there's really no easy way of removing wallpaper that's been put on correctly. Good luck.

[NHawk19]

Worst part is this isnt the most wallpapered room in the house. In one room they did a theme which involved putting in on the ceiling I may sub that job out because I'm afaird the ceiling will need skimmed afterward.

[PemLam]

Just installed a new front entry door (with one 14in. sidelite) a couple weeks ago. I think next time I'll just pay the $300 installation cost to have professionals do it. It looks good and works like a champ but the 3 to 4 hours it would take the experienced people to do it ended up taking me nearly 10 hours.

I've replaced nearly all the lighting and bathroom fixtures throughout the house, but thankfully haven't had to do any serious electrical work. Messing with wiring and plumbing (other than stuff I listed above) scares the bejeezus out of me because I know I'll come home to a pile of ash or a swimming pool in my basement if I do something wrong.

[Darthphere]

Start ripping that **** off and order a pizza, you're going to be there a while.

[POWdER-man]

I have assembled so many book shelves, office desks, chairs, tables, entertainment centers, computer desks...basically anything that comes in a box I have assembled, and probably more than once. But I wouldn't really consider that being a handyman.

I am a quite capable handyman, with building two outside decks, installing and replacing many windows and doors, installed siding, changed roofing shingles, built kitchen cabinets from scratch, installed laminated, hardwood and ceramic flooring, etc...so many projects that I could go on.

I have dabbled with electrical and plumbing but I am not as confident with those two. I am capable of remodeling a bathroom right down to the floor joists (which I have done) but I wouldn't setup and install plumbing to a whole house. Same goes with electrical work. I can replace a fixture or an outlet but I wouldn't rewire my house.

I have just about every hand and power tool a person needs to get most projects done. Of course I don't have everything but that's when I decide if I need to add it to my collection.

[NHawk19]

Originally Posted by PemLam

Just installed a new front entry door (with one 14in. sidelite) a couple weeks ago. I think next time I'll just pay the $300 installation cost to have professionals do it. It looks good and works like a champ but the 3 to 4 hours it would take the experienced people to do it ended up taking me nearly 10 hours.

I've replaced nearly all the lighting and bathroom fixtures throughout the house, but thankfully haven't had to do any serious electrical work. Messing with wiring and plumbing (other than stuff I listed above) scares the bejeezus out of me because I know I'll come home to a pile of ash or a swimming pool in my basement if I do something wrong.

Yeah I paid the install for that reason when I did it too. I've helped people do it and probably could've done it but I hired a guy to put it in. Then I worked on the trim, paint, and touch-up.

Just couldn't find a free day to do it and didnt want to risk leaving the doorway open overnight if I couldnt finish. I'll probably do the same with the windows we want replaced mainly because at the back of the house I dont have anything that could reach.

Darth what do you like on your pizza cause I think I'm gonna enlist your help

[Darthphere]

You're probably just better off painting over the wallpaper.

[WompuM]

I put together a kitchen table from Target that had sleeves on hinges and a drawer between the legs, and those mother ****ers left that back off of the drawer. And when I tried to go to Target to get the missing part, they said I'd have to bring the entire table in for an exchange. I'm angry.

[TheCorpulent1]

That's what you get for wanting tables, you commercialist pig.

[Darthphere]

Originally Posted by WompuM

I put together a kitchen table from Target that had sleeves on hinges and a drawer between the legs, and those mother ****ers left that back off of the drawer. And when I tried to go to Target to get the missing part, they said I'd have to bring the entire table in for an exchange. I'm angry.

That's ridiculous but makes sense at the same time.

[Erzengel]

I'm putting extra shelves in my downstairs closet.

[TheCorpulent1]

Originally Posted by Darthphere

That's ridiculous but makes sense at the same time.

Yeah, how do they know you're not some drawer-back fetishist who made the whole thing up just to score some quick drawer backs to feed your freaky sexual needs?

[Lord Valumart]

I've done a lot of stuff I think. Dug out and lined a fish pond, put up shelving, made my drawers and wardrobe, put up my desk and put up my two glass cases. I did damn good jobs of them, although the fish pond is no longer there and is now a hole waiting to be filled but thats becasue the fish all died due to an unrelated chemical accident...

I like building things...

[TheCorpulent1]

I assembled a chair about a month ago. That's the last home improvement project I undertook.

It's a very comfy chair.

[Pink Ranger]

Originally Posted by TheCorpulent1

I assembled a chair about a month ago. That's the last home improvement project I undertook.

It's a very comfy chair.

With soft cushions.

[TheCorpulent1]

Yes. Soft and leather. The Inquisition ain't got nothin' on me and my chair.

[twylight]

Originally Posted by Darthphere

Putting together IKEA furniture is like some elaborate puzzle.

"Here's a manual, it only has pictures so deal with it."

But.. it's like a comic book!

Originally Posted by Erzengel

I had IKEA stuff when I was in college but yeah that stuff is being pushed out of house and the first opportunity.

Maybe I'm buying the wrong stuff at IKEA? I don't have this mentality at all. I have a ton of antiques that were passed down to me, so I only use IKEA to supplement them. Wall shelves and whatnot, love my floating shelves! Not major pieces of furniture.