Home Improvement Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
13
votes
4 answers

How do you secure wood framing to a concrete basement floor?

I'm using Pressure treated lumber for the bottom plate in a basement finishing project. What should I use to seperate the wood from the concrete? What are ways to secure the bottom plate to the floor?
Randyaa
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13
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3 answers

Name for a partially-circular metal clasp that fits into an indentation in a tube

What's the name of the "circle" that the arrow points to? In the picture is the end of a barbell. That thing that arrow points to is put onto the tube. The tube has a "dent" where that circle fits. There are eyes in the end of the circle that are…
B J
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13
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2 answers

Is it acceptable to have two circuits with a shared hot but different neutrals?

I am working on cataloguing the hodge podge electrical system in my old house. There is an old fuse box that was converted to a junction box when they put the breaker box in. Inside this box there is one hot coming from the breaker panel that is…
Murenrb
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13
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9 answers

What is the name of this metal bar with holes at the ends?

I need to find a metal part that looks a bit like this: hole for bolt strong metal | | ___|____________________________v_______ / v \ ( (_) …
Village
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13
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4 answers

Can a GFCI outlet intentionally and explicitly be used as a switch without violating code?

I'm working on adding several outdoor outlets in the eaves of my roof for holiday lighting. I have a switch in my garage for these outlets right next to the garage light switch. Thing is, I keep flipping the switch for the holiday lights instead of…
Sidney
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13
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2 answers

If an AC guy checks a system and finds it 100% out of refrigerant, what is the correct next step?

I'm doing a sort of feasibility follow up regarding a visit from our neighborhood AC repair person. He checked our system and found it was completely out of refrigerant. He added 7.5 lbs. I'll add more to this after I see some answers, but I wanted…
jason
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13
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1 answer

How can I fix the noise level in my home?

When anyone walks above me in our two level home it sounds like a herd of elephants stomping through. Is there any way to fix this?
Liz
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13
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3 answers

Can filling up a 75 gallon water heater tank without opening a faucet cause damage?

Had a bit of a snafu at home today that resulted in an empty 75 gallon tank getting refilled without opening a faucet. Faucet was opened only after the tank was full, which resulted in a long burst of pressurized air coming out. I'm worried this…
sw1337
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2 answers

What should I keep in mind when building my house myself?

I inherited a piece of land and want to build a house on it. Nothing fancy: one floor, 2-3 rooms. Since I don't really have the money :D to build it "in one go", I'm going to build it over a longer period of time, bit by bit. Also, I want to build…
user9898
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12
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5 answers

Pulley setup to raise a laundry drying bar levelly

I bought a bike hoist which I modified to use to raise and lower a bar that acts as a drying rack for damp clothes in my laundry room. I now have the following setup: The problem is that when I pull on the rope attached to the wall, the right side…
derNincompoop
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12
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6 answers

Why do I have to hold the handle down to flush the toilet?

I have to hold the handle down to flush my toilet completely. I took a look inside and I am wondering if it has something to do with the chain or the flapper. I am noticing that the flapper does not stay up unless the handle is being held down. Does…
Josh Pennington
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12
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3 answers

Turn one light bulb ON and another OFF at the same time with one switch

I am trying to operate two AC current light bulbs with one switch so that while the switch is in the OFF position, bulb B1 is OFF and bulb B2 is ON, and while the switch is in the ON position, bulb B1 is ON and bulb B2 is OFF. Only one bulb needs to…
user56865
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12
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3 answers

Causes of Corroded or Burned Wires

Beginning Disclaimer - I am not a Serious DIYer. (I'm more of a Seriously Try to Avoid Paying Someone Else to Do Iter). So anyways, I've been having trouble with lights flickering or not working in a room. I checked the voltage, and found that 3…
user56722
12
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6 answers

Are CFL bulbs safe for enclosed fixtures?

I just got 3 dozen CFL bulbs for free, and was planning on replacing all the non-downward exposed fixture lights in my home with these bulbs. In the past I haven't even considered switching to CFL because of the light temperature, but after seeing…
Nicole
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12
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1 answer

Can I raise a sagging shed roof by winching the walls back into place?

TL;DR Can I fix the sag by slowly jacking up the ridge, simultaneously tightening some steel cables attached to the top of each wall? Measuring between the top of the wall and the top of the ridge, I see about a 3.75" dip in the middle. Details I…
3Dave
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