Here comes the acid test.

[Projectguy]

Good On you MisterMike. You are now paying yourself. Just think with the money you're saving by vaping will help you payoff the mortgage a lot sooner. When things settle down set up a savings account, pop in your vaping savings once a year and you'll build equity and save on interest.

 

[fourtytwo]

Once again, I appreciate the well-wishes.

Still going strong without even the desire for an analog, even though most of my day was spent discovering things I didn't like. Such as in the first basement (we're in a side-split) where we were going to rip the drywall out and replace it because it had honest-to-goodness stucco on it, turns out it was framed (thankfully only partly) with 2x2s and has some electrical issues, such as live wires running under the carpet. Not to mention that the drywall was on top of barn board which was on top of faux wood paneling. Oh, and it was nailed about every three inches at the widest points, so it was a royal bugger to get off. I'm figuring I could sell the nails alone as scrap steel for a good chunk of change.

So, yeah. A simple re-drywall turned into a "we're gonna have to cut this framing out and rebuild it, and fix the electrical and, and and...."

Also, our kitchen drainpipe was leaking because I stupidly didn't cap the pipe after unhooking the dishwasher, so I decided to cut a length off and cap it. My motto being "Ready, fire, aim!", I grab my reciprocating saw and hack through it without getting a bucket first.

Ten plus feet of pipe disgorging years of built-up sludge onto the floor isn't something you ever want to see. Or smell. Spent my whole afternoon mopping.

So, yeah. Tensions ran high, but I was still ok.

Nothing in the world like completing a project and knowing it is now done correctly.
Keep in mind that you don't have to complete every project right now. Prioritise and do each to the highest standard you can.
One thing I have been doing whenever I open any wall in my house is installing conduit for wiring everywhere. Not for power, for audio/visual, CAT6 and fibre optic. I don't trust wireless that much. You don't have to put in cabling now if you don't need it but it makes it easier in the future if you do.

 

[Dusty_D]

I've come to terms with something after moving into our new place. There will ALWAYS be projects to get done. If there's nothing to be done, you will make something better than it was. Better to tackle them in an orderly fashion than do it all at once in a haphazard manner.

Hey Fourtytwo.. know anything about fishing cable through drywalls?! I've jerry rigged my 7.1 system on the outside of the walls in our basement, but ideally would like to see them hidden behind the walls. How much damage does it incur to punch and pull cabling?

 

[fourtytwo]

I've come to terms with something after moving into our new place. There will ALWAYS be projects to get done. If there's nothing to be done, you will make something better than it was. Better to tackle them in an orderly fashion than do it all at once in a haphazard manner.

Hey Fourtytwo.. know anything about fishing cable through drywalls?! I've jerry rigged my 7.1 system on the outside of the walls in our basement, but ideally would like to see them hidden behind the walls. How much damage does it incur to punch and pull cabling?

Fishing cable is not my favourite thing to do. That is why I put in conduit whenever I open up a wall. I drill out the studs and lay in the conduit when I have a chance. I also leave kite string through the conduit so when the time comes, I'm all set to drag the line. I also try to plan carefully so all conduit for computer and AV does not run parallel to any power cables and only crosses them at 90 degrees.

 

[Toronto_Mike]

Walls will generally have studs every 16" on center. Behind the 1/2" or 5/8" thick drywall(gypsum), for outside walls, there will be a plastic vapour barrier with insulation. A trick I use for insulated walls is to fish the tape or rods in between the vapour barrier & drywall. It preserves the insulation & helps guide the fish. It sometimes takes a few tries to get it. For inside walls with no insulation, just drop a small weight with thread or small string.

Ceilings are another issue, alltogether. Drop ceilings are your best friend.

 

[therealcmac]

I hate handyman crap....give me an iPhone to fix or a stereo to wire any day.....I had to install a new faucet a while ago, I would rather roll in dog poo.

 

[Dusty_D]

I love handyman crap, even planning on building my own 4x8 workbench in the garage in the next few weeks, once current projects are done. I'm just worried about getting behind the walls, because before I know it, I will be punching holes in them..

 

[fourtytwo]

I love handyman crap, even planning on building my own 4x8 workbench in the garage in the next few weeks, once current projects are done. I'm just worried about getting behind the walls, because before I know it, I will be punching holes in them..

Dusty, here is a really good forum on woodworking.
http://forum.canadianwoodworking.com/forum.php
If you do a search on it, there are a number of excellent threads on workbench building.
Judging by your propensity for collecting PV's, I have no doubt that your workshop will soon look like this guys.
Jacques Jodoin's amazing workshop

 

[therealcmac]

I love handyman crap, even planning on building my own 4x8 workbench in the garage in the next few weeks, once current projects are done. I'm just worried about getting behind the walls, because before I know it, I will be punching holes in them..

I can come help you punch holes in the walls, seems to be the only thing I am good at when handymaning

 

[Dusty_D]

Dusty, here is a really good forum on woodworking.
Canadian Woodworking and Home Improvement Forum
If you do a search on it, there are a number of excellent threads on workbench building.
Judging by your propensity for collecting PV's, I have no doubt that your workshop will soon look like this guys.
Jacques Jodoin's amazing workshop

That's not a workshop, that's the combined stockroom of HD, Lowes and Rona in there..

 

[rachelcoffe]

I love handyman crap