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This Morning's slight rant - contractors

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I am so thankful for my handyman, Doug. While we do use contractors we also do our homework. We find that a person’s recommendation is usually the best. We most always stay local and fingers crossed have never been disappointed. When putting in a new concrete apron we also installed a heating system for snow melt. We contacted 3 electrical contractors and the estimates ranged from $2000 to $13,000. When we checked around found the $13,000 quote with talk of having to increase the voltage to our house was from a contractor with many lawsuits.

I agree that workmanship/manual labor/repairing seems to be a thing of the past and throw-away has become a way of life.
 
DrEntropy said:
:lol:

Total sympathy here, JP. I see Mitsy looking at 'stuff' around th' hovel and wondering if she's attempting to ~s l o w l y~ wear me out!

Death by a thousand cuts, and all... :smirk:
Click to expand...

Yeah, about that, I gave up "wondering" a long time ago - I know. :grin:
 
So, sitting here working up the energy for a Home Depot run. :rolleyes:

Thinking about 2 things.

1. "You can do it, we can help." Sure you can, with a compressor and two nailers (framing and finishing) and a circular saw and a chop saw and a variety of pry bars and a sledge hammer and a long level and a short level and a reciprocating saw and hammers and screw drivers and and and. I "love" DIY programs that suggest that you can knock this out in a weekend with the tool kit you bought at Walmart. :rolleyes: Seriously though - much likke our cars, there are things you just can't do. (as we well know)

2. In Canada we have a guy named David Chilton who is a financial planner - his book on "simple investing and planning" is called "The Wealthy Barber." (with a recent update - The Wealthy Barber Returns. He maintains the most expensive letters in the alphabet are HGTV.

Have a great Saturday all - and let us know what you are up to.
 
I have to laugh out loud every time I watch one of those DIY shows on TV. Everything fits the first time, nothing breaks, etc, etc. If only. Same on cars. Try removing a starter bolt on an RX-7.
 
JPSmit said:
.....He maintains the most expensive letters in the alphabet are HGTV.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ.... for me the most expensive MONTHLY letters are ESPN. My wife is a ESPN junkie that can't give up her addiction. I want to cut our cable provider but until she can get ESPN elsewhere I'm connected to my cable company via my credit card :rolleye:
 
My birthday present to myself is to replace the toliet tank refill valve, wouldn't shut off. Read the instructions, something i try to do before i start, for something that looks so simple it sure has a lot of instructions with tiny, tiny pictures.
 
Bob McElwee said:
My birthday present to myself is to replace the toliet tank refill valve, wouldn't shut off. Read the instructions, something i try to do before i start, for something that looks so simple it sure has a lot of instructions with tiny, tiny pictures.
Click to expand...

My next project on my bucket list is to do a complete make-over of my master bath. Going to attempt all of it by myself with possible exception of tub install.
 
Tub install? Mine got cut in two and rested inna back yard for a few weeks. I put down a "mud bed" and built a shower in the space vacated. In our case it was a huge improvement. Put a "rain pan" overhead for Mits and dual shower heads, separate controls for each.

tubcut.jpg


Finished product:

shower4.jpg
 
Hmmm, looks like a heated tub to me Doc! No wonder you had to replace it! :highly_amused: PJ
 
:lol:

As the "contractor" I had to allow "customer" Mitsy to choose the tile, she brought home those rectangular ones... I was not fond of the idea of horizontal "subway" patterns in my shower so to change it up I decided on a "Tuscan" look. A real PITA to install but worth the effort in the end.
 
Bob McElwee said:
My birthday present to myself is to replace the toliet tank refill valve, wouldn't shut off.
Click to expand...

I have a suggestion that probably comes too late.

Buy the basic Fluidmaster float valve product. It lasts several years, is reliable, cheap, and is easy to install. Once you install the first one, subsequent installations can be SUPER fast. There is a vertical plastic pipe that you install in the tank. The valve is mounted on a second tube (with collet closure) that slips over the one in the tank. After a few years when you want/need to replace the valve, just shut off the water, flush, undo the collet and remove the valve. Slip the replacement valve in place, tighten the collet, do any minor float level tweaking, and you are done. The first installation may take you 25 minutes. Subsequent replacements of the valve take about 5 minutes.
 
:iagree: Been using one for years now. Even keep a spare valve in the cabinet under the sink.
 
Love a job with sparks and noise
and in a bath tub none the less hats off to ya Doc
now have and adult beverage
 
Adult bev in hand, a CAB. The rest of the bathroom overhaul to be continued. Replumb th' vanity and toilet, paint and trim.

It never ends!
 
Even that is not complete. The intent is to go three courses of glass block on top of that short wall, LED lights in clear plastic tubing between each layer. And a door swinging from the left side, outward.

...we'll see...
 
Doug, yes you were too late :encouragement:. However, I have lived in this house 51 years and can't remember the last time i had to replace the refill valve in this toilet. I know i've done it in both the upstairs and downstairs ones because they both use to have the ball floats in them.
Wasn't bad, but instructions were not all that clear for something so simple.
To Doc - SWMBO wants to remove tub and convert to a shower. I'm hesitant because i'm not sure what it will do to the resellibility. Of course, if it is the kids selling it i guess i shouldn't worry!
 
Bob said:
SWMBO wants to remove tub and convert to a shower. I'm hesitant because i'm not sure what it will do to the resellibility. Of course, if it is the kids selling it i guess i shouldn't worry!
Click to expand...

:lol:

The conversion here was the best thing we've done for ourselves as a bathing aid. I don't recall the last time we'd used the tub as a tub, the thing was restrictive (and slippery) when trying to shower. Only been in this house for 32 years. I figure the next owners can put in a tub if they want. But it'll be a bugger of a job busting up that concrete! :smirk:
 
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