What kind of projects can you do around your house?

teachercd

teachercd

Active member
I want to tile around my fireplace and I totally feel like I could do it and make it look nice but at the same time I know I suck with being a "handy man"...

I would like to rip out my deck boards and lay down composite boards but again...I feel like I would somehow burn down my house.

What kinds of projects do you all feel comfortable with doing and where did you learn it from?

 
I replaced my deck last fall. I can do demolition, but hired a contractor to build the deck (its a covered deck that matches the house) I have replaced the old deck planks years ago. I'm a teacher, so repainting the house (inside and out) is part of the job. This summer or next I'm going to tear out my carpeting and replace it with flooring.

 
With YouTube and Pinterest it's pretty easy to get a feel for how to do just about anything around the house or yard.

I've been thinking about tiling my fireplace too. And I'm way overdo to clean the chimney too. Never cleaned it before. And I burn a LOT of real wood fires in the fireplace each winter.

 
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I have the ability to do anything except electrical work or tape/texture sheetrock. Also fairly weak on carpeting or most flooring. But, that doesn't mean I do everything I can. Just don't have the time, energy or inclination to do many things I could. Plus some things are just too dang much work, like roofing/shingles and I really do not enjoy painting that much.

I have a really strong construction background in plumbing, concrete work, general carpentry etc. So I can and do a lot of things but anymore I leave the bigger jobs to the processionals.

Edit- Actually I have the ability to do tape/texture on sheetrock....I just suck at it. Like most things, there are tricks to the trade and it's an art of sorts. I just haven't developed the required level of proficiency.

 
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NUance said:
With YouTube and Pinterest it's pretty easy to get a feel for how to do just about anything around the house or yard.

I've been thinking about tiling my fireplace too. And I'm way overdo to clean the chimney too. Never cleaned it before. And I burn a LOT of real wood fires in the fireplace each winter.
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Get that chimney cleaned!

My brother's caught on fire many years ago because it had not been cleaned. Not a good deal.

 
El Diaco said:
NUance said:
With YouTube and Pinterest it's pretty easy to get a feel for how to do just about anything around the house or yard.

I've been thinking about tiling my fireplace too. And I'm way overdo to clean the chimney too. Never cleaned it before. And I burn a LOT of real wood fires in the fireplace each winter.
Click to expand...
Get that chimney cleaned!

My brother's caught on fire many years ago because it had not been cleaned. Not a good deal.
Click to expand...
You ever clean a chimney? I haven't. I hired it done at the last place I lived. I'm thinking about tackling it myself. My wife is going to be out of town for a couple weeks in June visiting her parents. I might try to get it done then. Either that, or I'll just play golf all the time.
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I will try just about anything. I have built a bedroom in the basement, poured concrete for a driveway, took out a deck and replaced it with a raised paver patio...etc.

I just got done remodeling a bathroom where I had to custom build the cabinet for the sing.

However, there are some things I really don't have a desire to do. We just replaced the flooring in our kitchen/dining room and I hired that done. They are just so much faster and it would look nicer. One of my next projects is putting a bathroom in the basement. I will hire the plumbing and possibly the electrical work done.

I can do things but, as usual, if you looked really really close, you can tell I did it instead of a professional.

 
I'm actually thinking about buying a welder. I welded in junior high shop class then took a welding class as an elective in college. I really enjoyed it but haven't done it since.

 
I did my own floors and you can tell in some spots...painting I do but I get bored with it. I did my own baseboards and you can tell in some spots with that too.

I did a paver-stone patio with wood fire pit...Good lord...it might be the worst thing ever.

 
Anyone do their own composite deck?

Here me out...I was thinking of just taking up the 16 deck boards that I currently have...then just replacing them with the composite boards...Do you know what I mean?

 
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teachercd said:
Anyone do their own composite deck?

Here me out...I was thinking of just taking up the 16 deck boards that I currently have...then just replacing them with the composite boards...Do you know what I mean?
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I've dealt with the composites some. The stuff works (cuts, saws, drills) pretty much just like wood. If you can handle doing it in wood, no reason to shy away from doing composites.

 
NUance said:
El Diaco said:
NUance said:
With YouTube and Pinterest it's pretty easy to get a feel for how to do just about anything around the house or yard.

I've been thinking about tiling my fireplace too. And I'm way overdo to clean the chimney too. Never cleaned it before. And I burn a LOT of real wood fires in the fireplace each winter.
Click to expand...
Get that chimney cleaned!

My brother's caught on fire many years ago because it had not been cleaned. Not a good deal.
Click to expand...
You ever clean a chimney? I haven't. I hired it done at the last place I lived. I'm thinking about tackling it myself. My wife is going to be out of town for a couple weeks in June visiting her parents. I might try to get it done then. Either that, or I'll just play golf all the time.
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I haven't ever cleaned one. Seems like one of those things to let the guys who know what they're doing, and who have the proper equipment, handle it. Personally, I'd hire it out and drink a couple brewskies while watching them work.

 
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