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1500 questions
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10 answers

Do I have to remove the old thinset before installing new tile?

I will be installing some new 12x12 tiles in two bathrooms approx 25 sq/ft each. When I pulled up the old tiles, there was no thin set that had made contact with them so the removal was very easy. Now, the thin set on the floor is a different story.…
Carl B
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Should cement board be glued and screwed to the studs?

I've seen some people recommend that cement board be glued and screwed to the stud framing for wall and ceiling application. I haven't seen this recommendation on any of the manufacturers install specs, but it seems to come up often enough in DIY…
Matthew
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How difficult is it to repair or replace a preserved wood foundation?

I am looking at buying a house that has a PWF (Preserved Wood Foundation) foundation. Though there are some benefits to having one there seems to be varying opinions on such a foundation. I'm wondering if anyone has had experience/issues with…
Martin Giffy D'Souza
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4 answers

Confusion over 220 and 230 volt outlets

We have a 220 outlet for our A/C. We are shopping for a new unit and all I am see is 230 volts on the units. Will we have to rewire with a new outlet for a new A/C?
Shelia Abshire
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Must I remove asbestos from my heating vents?

I've got an old house with some asbestos tape on the heating vents, and some old floor tiles which are asbestos suspects as well; duct cleaning firms won't do cleaning on the vents with the tape present. Do I really need to call in the space suit…
SqlACID
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What metal is most suitable for a ladder submerged in an underground water tank?

I need a ladder in my underground water tank at home, to enable easy access for cleaning and maintenance operations. The water from the underground tank is used for drinking, apart from other household chores. What would be the most suitable metal…
Bharat Khatri
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4 answers

Is it safe to use two single-pole breakers for a 240 V circuit?

I recently had an electrician come out and replace my electric panel. He seemed very knowledgeable and overall appears to have done a good job, even went through and labelled most of the panel... Except for three breakers at the bottom of the…
schizoid04
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4 answers

What's a doorway that doesn't have a door called?

A doorway? passageway? archway? lintel? soffit? I have to label one on an architectural drawing, and it occurred to me that there may be a more technically accurate term for it than "passageway" or "archway." Don't know if this question is more…
Michael
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2 answers

Are USB sockets on wall outlets live all the time, even when the switch is off?

I got a USB wall socket fitted. When it was installed, I tested the USB port with a tester with the switches off, but the USB outlet was live. Is this normal?
sean kelly
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Is a roofing delivery truck likely to crack my driveway slab?

I am having shingles delivered. The truck weighs 62,000 lbs, will this crack my concrete slab driveway? Also, they plan on a dump truck in the driveway to throw shingles from the roof. I am not sure what weight the dump truck is.
Ruth Blanch
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What is this large pipe coming out of my roof?

I've looked at the other "What pipe is this?" questions, and none of them that I've found seem to match... I don't know what the large metal pipe is (on the right side). Can anyone identify what it's purpose is (or was)? It does not seem to be…
Jeremy
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What's the best tool for cutting holes into duct work?

I've cut a few supply and cold air returns into my main branches and it's been a PITA. Need to cut another 6" hole for a return, it's just standard rectangle ductwork, probably 14" wide x 10" high.
BigLake
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6 answers

Should gloves be worn when working with concrete to prevent it from coming in contact with skin?

I was told recently that concrete is slightly corrosive. Should gloves be worn when using concrete or is it fine to handle concrete as long as its not done on a regular basis?
PriestVallon
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5 answers

What is the industry term for house wiring diagrams?

I am doing electrical work in my own home. Primarily replacing old sockets and fixtures. Through the course of this work I am finding odd, but not unsafe, wiring paths. I want to document these paths so that I can develop a plan to improve them. I…
Freiheit
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Should I solder stranded wires when connecting them to a plug?

I'm about to perform a few electrical changes in my house in order to be able to control lighting fixtures (230V, 30 to 200 mA) from a PC. I have some doubts about the way stranded wires should be connected to the plugs. For instance, I suppose the…
Arseni Mourzenko
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