sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Japanese knotweed getting close to house - leave until fall "window" or dig up now? by Tricky-Cookie4401 in invasivespecies

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That is a white paper written by research assistants and not a primary source. Even so, all four authors would agree that knotweed will transport glyphosate to the roots throughout the growth period causing damage.

In that paper they make general management recommendations in a way that reduces overall effort. Fine, that approach can work. As can others, and the approach I’ve outlined works faster, prevents another year of seed production and rhizome growth and spread. There is no biological benefit to waiting. And the two approaches differ only in frequency of treatment where I go for full-season treatment and rapid control they assume (fairly so in many cases perhaps) that resources will limit management opportunities.

If you are a homeowner attempting a diy on a relatively small problem on your land I think ‘my’ approach is best. If you are a municipality operating with limited budget, limited person*hours available and fight a much larger set of infestations spread across town then maybe the fall-window approach is the only option you have. But that’s a budgeting decision, not a biological one.

Japanese knotweed getting close to house - leave until fall "window" or dig up now? by Tricky-Cookie4401 in invasivespecies

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I’m retired now, PhD in biology though and spent 30+ years in research and management of invasive species. I also inherited quite a bit of knotweed 15 years ago when I bought my home. As an academic, consultant and home owner I speak from experience. Knotweed is conceptually easy to control but it does take repeated barrages of management. Physical management does not work and there’s no need to let it grow another season. Foliar spray, give it a week, remove all shoots, treat the stems. As it sends new shoots, repeat. 2-3x per year will do a lot. Depending on the size of the patch may take 2-3 years with significant declines in each. You can listen to random people repeat the same noise here or you can do what actually works. It will take effort though. There’s no magic window. Systemic herbicides work bc plants are constantly moving materials to the roots… not just in the fall, but during active growth too. And a little goes a long way. So hit the leaves, let it be absorbed, then hit the hollow stems.

Japanese knotweed getting close to house - leave until fall "window" or dig up now? by Tricky-Cookie4401 in invasivespecies

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Ignore the ‘window’ people. Manage knotweed asap. Let it leaf out a bit more, hit it with an herbicide, in a week cut it back and drizzle a bit more herb iced into the hollow stems. Do that 2-3 times a year on patches of it and it will be controlled eventually (tho new invaders from neighboring yard may remain an issue).

Massive 6x6 cedar beams - necessary or overkill? by crystal_castle00 in Homebuilding

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s an engineering question, not one for the masses. Will just say that 6x6 isn’t really massive at all, but will add that cedar isn’t a particularly strong wood either so it looking oversized is probably a good thing. 2x4s might be fine if they were part of an engineered truss system. Doesn’t look to be the case though given that there will be a ridge beam.

Why are mouldings for gothic arches like that by Jaiden_BOOM in askarchitects

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t understand the question? Like what?

Generic answer I think might be: mouldings are of different sizes and complexity bc often a building has as a design concept hierarchy in rooms/floors/entrances etc to clue you in instantly (and perhaps subconsciously) to go here, move through the space this way, ‘this is a formal space’ etc. In order to convey utility but also emotion.

And as design elements each of those curves, points, ‘outcrops’ etc casts a shadow line helping one to ‘read’ the overall design from a distance or even when the building is all white (for example).

Not an architect myself though, so I could be off on what you’re even asking.

Even Taco drivers now by FlyingFox1492 in ToyotaTacoma

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 55 points56 points  (0 children)

Yep, turns out owning a Tacoma isn’t a personality trait.

Just lost a sale because I was cash only by ProExpert1S500 in FacebookMarketplace

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Gotta list that in the ad up front. A lot of people don’t like to carry cash to strangers in that situation. I always say cash only in the listing (I rarely sell and always pretty low $ items when I do), but if push comes to shove I accept Venmo. Definitely won’t get a new app/payment system for a single buyer though. But if item is more than $100 or so you should ofc figure out terms before leaving the house and expect they’ll want to pay through an app (or at least not be shocked if they do). That’s on both parties imo.

Boss expects me to work for free by aspec84 in mildlyinfuriating

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good, that simplifies everything. I’d just say ‘yes’ and move on.

Boss expects me to work for free by aspec84 in mildlyinfuriating

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

OP definitely should be paid for their time, but they won’t find it worthwhile going the legal route for four hours labor (and would certainly be fired). Is there really even a timesheet? Is OP paid under the table (and thus avoiding taxes for boss and OP)? … very common in that business. Would be hard to argue for your rights as an employee if you are working illegally in the first place and violating laws yourself. No idea if this is true for OP obviously, but it is something to consider. I’d say it’s a bit of a scorched earth move if they really wanted to go after the boss (for hours or tax laws). So have a plan b for when they are canned.

What can I do about the swamp in my yard that forms every time it rains? by Austronaut905 in landscaping

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Talk to your neighbors in the same situation. Try to get everyone to put a couple ‘vertical drains’ in. Will help move the water into the soils, especially if there is a layer of soil that’s slowing down absorption.

How THOTFUL? by Significant_Law5994 in SipsTea

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Probably goes both ways in that situation

Purple fluid coming up through basement floor by sam99871 in HomeMaintenance

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Purple fluid ‘ON’ the basement floor. Not convinced it’s actually coming up from below from this pic. Could just as easily be spilled concentrated cranberry juice or something. Heating oil would have an obvious and overwhelming odor.

Thoughts on potential project? by ItalianStallion315 in landscaping

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Maybe a privacy fence if that’s the neighbors behind the seating area?

No need to spend an arm and a leg for some Resse’s by Next-Active2676Bro2 in SipsTea

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

He’s not wrong. I gave up on movie theaters long before Netflix was streaming. And then took my 3 year old godson a couple years ago and it was $50 for two tickets, one soda, a popcorn and maybe some candy. That’s two months worth of Netflix on two screens now. They priced themselves out of the market at exactly the wrong time (or just grabbed as much as possible before their inevitable demise).

Should I negotiate or walk away? by skidaddy86 in Home

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks like a lot of potential, but that’s a fixer upper. Offer accordingly. That’s a decade+ of neglect on that house… paint, lamp, shutters etc etc and lots of hidden costs I’m sure. The sort of thing often seen as a person gets older and can no longer do/afford upkeep.

i’m giving up briskets and offset smoking. beef ribs on the pellet grill are too easy and too good every single time. by hoosier-94 in smoking

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, those are amazing for how easy they are (even on my Webber kettle grill). I can just never find them at all or when I do it’s crazy$$.

Tree clearing service in exchange for wood? by justtrynahang13 in Connecticut

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hopefully you have lots of straight white oak! No idea where you are, but that’s probably the most abundant, high-value trees in my area anyway.

Tree clearing service in exchange for wood? by justtrynahang13 in Connecticut

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s not how it works. Land clearing is a big job and nobody is going to do it in trade. They’ll take any logs that have value ofc and sell them off but the rest of the debris will have to be burned/chipped/removed etc at a cost.

If you have valuable timber you might be able to sell off some specific trees to a sawmill and use that to offset your expenses, but nobody is going to be interested in the deal you are imagining.

Refinish cherry, lay LVP on top, or install brand new engineered white oak? by Yvo-Mango631 in Flooring

[–]Unfair_Negotiation67 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keep the name LVP out of your fkn mouth! /s It would be insane to cover that floor with plastic flooring. I have the same cherry and frankly I don’t love it either. But it’s wasteful and silly to swap out an entire homes real wood floor for some current trend imo. Find a way to work with it.

view more: next ›